ROSELLA
As I was about to step out of our room, I heard footsteps advancing, which sounded exactly like that of Alpha James. A wave of fear washed over me, I froze on the spot, trying to get my mind to think of something quick, but the fastest way was hiding under the duvet on the bed. He wasn’t supposed to be back this early, and I needed enough time to escape, or else or my plans were going to be futile. There was not enough time to undress or hide those clothes, so I did the only logical thing I thought would work for me.
Before he got to the door, I jumped onto the bed and wrapped the thick duvet over my body, revealing only a tiny fraction of my hair. I turned my face away from the door so that he wouldn’t notice anything. I started breathing a tad bit higher, trying to make it look like I was genuinely asleep before he came in.
The door opened before he banged it against its hinge loudly; with the way he opens the door like a lunatic, the door would come undone one day. “Get up and get dressed right now; we’re going for the council meeting in Black Moon pack,” he ordered with a loud voice, and I took a sharp breath. I needed to develop a solution, or my plans were going down the drain, and He would beat me again. I wanted to act like I was asleep, but it would make him come close and remove the duvet from my body. That would be a disaster and only make things worse. If he finds me in this outfit, I would be dead faster than I imagined.
“I…I’m sorry, Alpha, I’m too weak… I can’t get up,” I managed to say with a shaky voice, scared to the bone. Saying that would probably go two ways, him leaving me or getting mad at me for admitting that I was weak; he reminds me countless times of how much he hated vulnerable people. I hope he bought those theatrics. I smiled as I saw the way he looked at me as if he wanted to throw me across the wall and stab me to death, maybe. He sighed before leaving my side for the dressing mirror side. That means he bought my story.
“What? How dare you remind me of how damn weak you are?!” he snarled ferociously, shoving everything on my dresser to the floor. He was clenching and unclenching his hands as if he was restraining himself from doing something tragic to me, but I prayed he didn’t. I can’t escape while I’m bruised. He threw another dirty look at me before
“Answer me!” He shouted, and I took another gulp in fear. I wasn’t expecting him to go off on me like this.
“I’m sorry,” I whimpered with low sobs.
“Is that all you can say? Sorry? I wanted to put your worthless life to good use today, to get the reward of my money, use you to take the Alpha King title by introducing you as my Luna to the Council of Elders, but you choose to be sick today of all days. Useless bitch!” he taunted me with his gut-wrenching words.
Still holding my breath, I tightened my grip on the sheets, letting the warm tears stream down my eyes.
“I’ll be back by evening, don’t even think of using any drug. Stay that way till you get better; that’s what a real Luna would do. Bear all the pain like a pro.” he spat at me before taking out clothes from the wardrobe and walking out of our room. He banged the front door so hard again, and I sighed; I stayed put in case he forgot something.
I stayed that way till I heard the sound of the Limo driving out of the garage. Everywhere became calm and quiet again. I wiped my eyes and got out of bed. Stepping out of the room quietly, I wore the hoodie over my head so the guards standing outside would not recognize me. Not that they do anything all day, they would probably not notice me leaving if I was honest. They would mistake me for one of their alpha’s concubines.
Coming out with the black hoodie and joggers was easier than I thought, and I successfully strolled out of the packhouse without anyone noticing. There wasn’t much money on me as I was never allowed to have any money, so I walked a long distance, constantly looking over my shoulders and filled with anxiety. I hoped he wasn’t turning back to pick me up like that or something.
I shivered from the evening wind, but sweat trickled down my brows due to my skyrocketing temperature. I could barely carry myself now, but I didn’t stop. I would rather die than go back there to continue being treated like shit. I feel like shit anyway, and death seems like a better solution.
Unable to walk further after an hour, I waited and fell on my knees. It appeared luck was in my favor because a taxi finally passed, and I waved down and hopped in. I was heading straight to my parent’s place in the outskirt of the Green Moon pack, where most omega wolves lived with few poor humans. I didn’t know why I was headed there, even when I knew they couldn’t save me from him. A girl has to try, though.
It was almost dark now; I hurried to the almost dilapidated house my parents currently lived. I banged on the door repeatedly when I got there, knowing they were inside, but my father and stepmother were always hiding from debtors. They might be thinking I was one of their debtors who came to harass them for their money. They’ve been living like this since I was growing and I hated it. I wonder why my father won’t find a job like a real man.
I noticed a sound coming from inside, and my father finally opened the door; his eyes widened like saucers as soon as he saw me. I know they would be shocked to see I ran away because he rarely let me visit them. Since we mated, I’ve not called home. This place might look poor than the palace, but I don’t care because I didn’t get beaten every day here.
“What are you doing here?” he asked after recovering from the shock. I was surprised because, for someone who hadn’t seen his daughter for almost a year, he wasn’t excited to see me. I hated how Alpha James messed up my life without so much effort; I wonder what kind of threat he must have threatened my parents to make them so unwelcome.
My awful stepmother came into view as soon as she heard our voices. This woman was the sole idea of making me get mated to Alpha James. She came up with the business plan, and she made sure to drop hints until he finally suggested it himself. I hated her but not today though, I needed them to keep me safe for now. I hurried inside and jammed the door before turning to face them both. Tears welled in my eyes as I dropped to my knees. This was my last hope for freedom, and if they threw me out, I’m done for. I don’t mind doing menial jobs to help pay back their debts; I just don’t want to go back to that hellfire.
“Save me, dad. Please hide me here, don’t let me go back to that hell, I have nowhere else to go, please I beg of you!” I pleaded with tears streaming down my face, and I watched him look away in hurt. How could he not put me first?
“What the hell are you doing here? You want to put your father and me in trouble? Why can’t you be a useful daughter and stay where you are kept?!” my stepmother interrupted us, glaring at me with so much spite and disgust.
My father didn’t utter a word; he remained silent, staring above my shoulders like he was uncomfortable with my presence. He had an awful attitude for someone who hadn’t seen his daughter in one year. Maybe I had imagined that my father loved me here; it’s something I’ve always known, yet I let them fail me again.
“Dad! Dad!” I burst out into wails, tugging at his trousers, “Take me back, dad, I’m sorry for whatever wrong I might have committed for you to sell me off to that monster, please, he might end up killing me if I continue to stay there….” I begged my father, but he shoved my hands away heartlessly.
“There’s nothing I can do anymore, Rosella; please go back to him before he comes looking for you himself,” my father retorted coldly and walked out on me.
“Mom…” I sniffed and hiccupped, turning to my stepmother, but she slapped me hard across my face.
“Don’t you ever call me that in your miserable life, your mother is dead! All you bring to people is bad luck, I don’t want that in my life. Just get back to your alpha, and maybe you’d be able to pull us out of this debt.” she bawled, hissing with disdain. I never felt so unwanted in my life, it’s official, and my life is doomed.
Just then, our door burst open forcefully, and I turned to see Alpha James, standing at the house entrance with some guards behind me. A cold grin was plastered on his face. He looked like he was in perfect control of this sick game, and indeed he was. I knew it was over for me, so trying to run away from here would just result in me being severely injured, and I might not be able to recover again.
Immediately, my stepmother fell on her knees with her head bowed to him. “She came here on her own, Alpha; we were trying to send her back to you before you came in, but—”
Alpha James raised a finger, shutting her up instantly. He strode to where I was crotched; a smile that sent shivers down my spine played on his lips. I knew that smile too well; he was going to show me through hell.
“Get up, lowlife,” he growled at me, yanking my hair and using it to drag me up.
“Aaah!” I let out a loud shriek as a searing pain shot through my scalp. I wasn’t prepared for that.
He grabbed my hand and twirled me to face him. “You think you can run away from me?” he ran a finger across my face causing me to shiver with dread, and then he tilted my chin up, digging his sharp nails into the soft skin of my chin. I gasped, paralyzed with horror. I was dealing with a beast, and I knew it.
“Whatever made you believe you can escape my grasp? I own you bitch! You’re my property, which means I can do anything, and I mean anything I want with you. The sooner you realize, the better for us.” he drawled with an icy tone. He dumped me back on the floor before turning to face my stepmother; my father was nowhere in sight.
Then he walked to my stepmother and threw some wads of notes to where she knelt, telling her the money was for her troubles. She swiftly grabbed onto the money greedily, thanking the alpha with a broad smile on her face that irked me. These people sold me out without an iota of shame, and now they did it again. I should have known and made a solid escape plan somewhere else; I was a fool for thinking they would still want me even after a year.
“Take her back to the car,” he ordered his guards, who bowed and hurled me out of the house. They pulled me disrespectfully on the floor, and I had no strength to say a word. I just let them pull me with them, not that I have any choice. Either that or I got more punishment for disobeying my offer. I was in deep shit already, no need to dig a deeper hole for myself.
They shoved me into the Limo, and as soon as Alpha James came in to join me, the car started, heading back to the hellhole I was running from. Henceforth, there was no escape because the alpha would tighten the security around me, and I would suffer double what I sue to go through before. Only death would be able to save me, and the end didn’t sound too bad, anything to help me get away from here.
I am officially ruined.