Chapter 2
Chapter 2
I stumbled toward the bathroom and vomited. For nearly an hour, I was on the floor, curled in agony, rolling from side to side.
“Do you really think you can replace her?” Nathan’s voice came through the door, too calm for what he’d just done. “Sending gifts like she used to. Smiling like she did. They’ll never love you. It should have been you who burnt in the fire that day. I swear when I become Alpha, the first thing I’ll do is kick you out of this pack.”
Every word sank into me like venom, twisting my stomach tighter than any poison.
“I’m going to make sure they all hate you. Because you’ll never be my mother. Never.”
I clawed at the tiles, gasping, whispering his name, begging him to call for help.
“It’s better if you rot in there. At least I won’t have to pretend to love you anymore. You’re pathetic,” he spat, and then I heard his footsteps retreat.
A cleaner had found me and the doctor was called and quickly prescribed something before I lost myself.
The fire in my skin wasn’t just from the burns-it was everything I’d held in for five years.
I walked to the store inside the pack compound to treat my wound, and Nathan followed me in. He was angry that I didn’t react.
I didn’t yell, I didn’t cry-I just walked in. And Nathan was not satisfied.
“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have a broken family. You’re petty and ugly, that’s why my fathe will never accept someone like you. You should just leave. Your presence makes me sick.”
I looked at the child I gave all my love, time, and energy to-and felt my heart sink. “You don’t have to worry,” I said calmly. “I’ll be leaving tomorrow.”
I walked to the shelf to take the first aid kit and began to tend to my burnt skin when I heard the shattering of glass.
I ran to my room to find Nathan striking my jade necklace repeatedly with a stone.
“Nathan, stop!” I screamed, my voice cracking.
But he didn’t stop. He raised the stone again and smashed it down with all his strength.
I hadn’t cried when the pack laughed at me. I never cried when Nathan publicly humiliated me with the fire. I never cried when Damien treated me like a stand-in for my sister, using me to uplift the pack. But now, staring at the broken necklace my mother left me-l broke.
That necklace was the last thing I had from someone who truly loved me and cared about me. Nathan stood watching me, then he smirked. “Hurts, doesn’t it? To watch what you love destroyed? You should’ve refused my mother when she chose to save you and burnt instead.” That’s when I lost it. I looked at him-my voice hollow. “Pick the pieces up and put them back together. Now.”
Nathan stood up defiantly and kicked the shattered bits across the floor.
4:02 pm 2
“How dare you?” I grabbed him by the arm and dragged him forward. “Pick the pieces up. Now.” Shock flashed in his face-probably because he had never seen me in such a state. I had tolerated so much. But this-I couldn’t take it.
Damien rushed in and shoved me hard, sending me back to the ground. “Why are you yelling at him?” Damien glared at me. “All this over a pendant? He’s just a kid, Alice.”
I sat on the floor, stunned, staring at the man I gave my heart to despite knowing he didn’t deserve it. To him, it was just a piece of jewelry. But to me, it was a treasure-something nothing could ever replace.
Fifteen years ago, we were attacked by rogues. My mother fought against them, knowing she couldn’t win-just so I could escape. I lost her that day.
I ran to meet my sister, and that was how I ended up here.
Damien must’ve realized he’d gone too far. He asked Nathan to leave the room and came over ifted me from the floor, and laid me on the bed.
His voice softened, as if flipping a switch. “You shouldn’t let little things like this get to you Nathan’s just a kid. You are more mature than this.” He said, gently brushing away my tears “You made him terrified. You should apologize to Nathan.”
He trailed his finger along my face. “Since it’s your birthday, I forgive you for the incident at the Orphanage. But you need to get dressed. We’re attending a function. I can’t go without my mate and you know I can’t loose this prize.”
inhaled sharply and pushed his hand away.
looked up at him. The ache in my chest had settled into something still and final.
“Damien, I’m leaving the pack.”
