Chapter 12: Chapter 12

DUSK

I woke up with a start, and my chest immediately heaved down to wash away the rising panic that brewed in my chest. Shutting my eyes tight, I counted to ten before releasing a breath that contained all the tension that had built up in my chest.

The nightmare was still heavy in my mind, my hands were still sweaty, and my breathing was still harsh, no matter how hard I tried to hide it.

Hastily getting up from the bed, I rushed to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. That wasn't enough to calm the heat that built up in me—my sister's face glaring down at me, my dad's disappointed face as I was sprawled on the floor. The worst of it all was when he chased me. Why?

Why do I have to be so distraught? Why can't I have peace of mind even in my dreams? Is that how pathetic I have become?

I dipped myself into a cold shower, willing myself to stop my mind from overthinking; it didn’t work, but remembering that Seline and I had planned a secret breakfast away from the bullying eyes of Ariadne and Dalia. I was confused a bit. Why was Seline willing to go below her prestige to be with someone like me? In terms of powers, Ariadne and Dalia didn't stand a chance against her; not that I am complaining, but maybe it was me being paranoid, but I felt all wasn't right.

Seline was a powerful witch who just migrated to become a mage. I have watched her practice secretly in the dark once or twice; maybe it was because she didn't want to make me feel intimidated. Well, I already was. I pulled on a tiny strapped flowery gown, packing my hair into a ponytail. I willed my fears into control and walked out of the room.

But to my disappointment, Seline wasn't there. So much for having a very hopeful morning. In as much as I would want to deny it and not let her know to her face, I knew that the encouragement and help had kept going, and I was not only grateful for that, I was willing to do something for myself.

I head over to the makeshift kitchen to gather our breakfast; maybe I could catch her somewhere in the pack doing some chores. The hallway leading to the kitchen was empty. I sighed. In relief, it was a little too early, and at least before the monsters woke up and started their daily bullying, I would have had my peace of mind.

I was beginning to think that the moon goddess gave me a life of wishes that would never come true because before I could even pick up the tray, it was snatched away from my hands. A familiar aura filled the air, and I fisted my hands, unwilling to do anything harsh.

"What are you doing here? Are you so pathetic that you resort to stealing while everyone is asleep?" She lifted a brow, slipping me a suspecting glare; her hands fisted and she placed them akimbo on her waist.

"I just came here to grab a little breakfast. And it's not termed stealing' the last time I remembered; we all have the right to the kitchen." I replied, and the octave of my voice dropped just like my hopes of having a peaceful morning. Why was she being so petty?

This was a general kitchen, not even for the royals. As Lucius mate, I should be given better treatments than this, but like I said earlier, I just wish that would never come true.

Ariadne rolls her eyes and turns her attention to Dalia, who walks with an exaggerated yawn, muttering something along the lines of Ariadne not giving her enough time to sleep.

"What right do you think you have to come here and take food at will? You haven't done any task for the day, and you are here claiming fools right to eat." Ariadne sneered.

"I worked yesterday, Ariadne! I worked; I did everything you asked me to. Isn't that enough to have a little break?" I yelled in anger before I could even realize the weight of my statement. I watched as they both shared a surprise look, and the next thing I felt was my ears blazing hot and my eyes blazing with hurt tears.

She just slapped me. Because I was saying the truth? Because I was letting them know to their faces how wicked they are?

"Now let me warn you." Ariadne growled, gripping my jaw painfully, her claws digging into the soft skin of my cheek and pooling blood. "With or without Seline, for you, I call the shots, and you do exactly what I want you to do, or you know what's next? Now go and prepare the rooms for everyone in the pack house," Ariadne orders coldly.

I hung my head low as I fought back the tears. I sigh heavily and pick up the tray, following a maid, Mariah, as she makes her way towards the packing house. We spend the next few hours cleaning and preparing every room in the pack house, changing the sheets, and doing laundry.

By the time we finish, I am exhausted and emotionally drained, and my feet are aching from all the walking.

My cheek still hurts from the painful slap Ardiane gave me this morning. I haven't seen Seline around yet, and it bothered me. She always made sure to let me know where she was and where she was heading, so I wouldn't get worried. But I wasn't just worried about her; I was scared for myself. I wasn't sure I would be able to put up with their animalistic act for another second; my head hurts, but I had no choice.

"Is that lagging I see there?" I heard Dalia taunt, her hands in the air, as a stylist fixed a new set of nails for her. I shook my head and walked back into the main packing house to continue my duty. I wished all this would end; maybe the only thing that could save me this time was that Lucius finally recognized and acknowledged me as his mate.

…

After a long day of work, I finally make my way back to my chambers, feeling exhausted and drained. It felt like today was worse and more hectic than the other days, and it angered me as much as the fatigue crept through me. The number of works was just insane, and I began to wonder if the workers weren't actually doing what they were meant to or if Ardiane and Dalia had found a way of making them leave everything to me.

I collapsed onto my bed, feeling the softness and comfort of it beneath me. Tears pricked my eyes as I stared helplessly at the ceiling. A dreadful feeling of this being my new reality made my hopes choke tight. Did I really have a way of stopping all this? I closed my eyes, letting the tears pour freely, allowing sleep to take over, and soon I drifted off into a deep slumber.

But my peaceful rest was not to last for long. I was woken up by a sharp stinging pain on my back, and I jolted up, sweating and shaking. I turned around and saw Ariadne and Dalia standing over me, both brandishing wooden sticks. Dalia's pronounced pink nails were struggling to hold the stick, and if not for the sad situation, I would have laughed.

"You lazy fool! You dare sleep and forget that there is an important meeting tonight?" Ariadne barked at me before turning to Dalia. "Didn't you tell her that the officials would have a meeting? You can expect us to do the cleanings, can't you?"

"I did," Dalia lied through her teeth. My mouth sagged at that.

I scrambled off the bed, my heart racing. I struggled to get on my feet and stand firm. I gave Dalia an impossible stare.

"You told me nothing; you just told me...”

A stinging feeling on my arm made me shut up. I hoped for a miraculous intervention at this point because I knew clearly that there was no way I would get out of here unscathed with the way their eyes blazed with curry.

"No talking till you are asked to." Dalia said, and they both yanked me out of my chambers and into the open air. I could see the other wolves in the pack watching us, curious and intrigued by the commotion.

Ariadne and Dalia began to flog me, hitting me repeatedly with the wooden sticks. The pain was intense; each smack on my back wrenched a sob out of me. Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. But that was just for a while, for I found myself sobbing hard.

I tried to block out the pain, focusing on anything except the searing agony in my back. But there was nothing. There was no exciting moment I could look up to remove my mind from this searing pain. After a while, they got tired, and with a last kick on my stomach, they walked away with triumphant looks on their faces. I struggled to get to my feet, but everything seemed hazy. The trees turned, and it felt like my brain was moving in circles. After a while, I couldn't hold it anymore and succumbed to the darkness that called out to me.

---

My eyes slowly open, and I feel a sharp pain shoot up my spine as I try to sit up. My body feels like it's been crushed and shattered into a million pieces. I groan in agony, and my hand reaches for my back, feeling the bruises and welts that cover it. The impact of my hands on my skin brought tears to my eyes as the memories came flooding back.

"Shh, it's okay." Seline's voice breaks through my haze of pain. "I'm here; I'm trying to heal you."

I turn my head, seeing Seline kneeling beside me, tears in her eyes. She extends her hand, letting it hover over my back as she concentrates her powers. But I know it's no use. The injuries I've sustained are too severe for her to heal, and maybe she hadn't noticed it; I'm not a regular werewolf, so the self-healing process happens immediately. My sad and abused life might have added to my troubles.

I shake my head, trying to speak but only managing a small gasp. Seline ignored me and kept filing my acute points with soft flames emanating from her palms. They didn't heal my wounds, but the soft, warm glow on my body made me calm.

"Ethan," she calls out, "we need your help."

Ethan steps into the room, his eyes immediately turning to mine. He pulled out a pull from his side jacket. Seline grabbed it with glee, already pouring pieces into her hands seconds later before she stuffed them into my mouth.

I swallowed it, feeling the effects almost immediately. The pain begins to ebb away, and I close my eyes, relieved to finally have some relief from the agony. For once, I felt grateful to have people like the both of them, but was that the way I would continue? Always having them save me?

"Thank you," I whispered.

Seline and Ethan nod, each taking a seat beside me as I rest. We sit in silence for a while, each lost in our own thoughts. I can feel the tension in the air, the unspoken words that we're all afraid to say. I avoided Seline's stare like the plague. If not for my condition, I knew exactly what she would do: pull my ears for not being able to stand up for myself.

But she wouldn't understand what it meant to have your default system programmed to be abused.