Irene's revenge

My head was underwater. I wished it were a dream or a nightmare because then I would be able to wake up. My mate's hand on the back of my head forced me into the bathtub filled to the brim with water. My throat clogged up as I splattered and splashed, using all my strength. It was futile. I mean, it wasn't like I could overpower one of the strongest werewolves in the pack, especially not the heir apparent. My wolf whimpered within me, not daring to fight back. How could she when her fighting spirit had been broken? Shattered. Bubbles escaped from my mouth as my body almost went limp from the struggle, from the amount of water I had forcefully drunk. Maybe it's better this way. I should just die. Before life completely seeped out of my body, the hand on my head pulled me out of the water, dragging my hair with it. Air gave me instant life as I inhaled, gasping violently and, at the same time, trying to struggle out of the pain I felt from the tight grasp on my hair. “How dare you talk back to me? Is this how you're going to treat me when I become Alpha?!” Ethan's voice boomed in my ear, rage filling the air. “I'm sorry. Please. I didn't mean to, okay? Please, Ethan,” I said in between gasps. “No, you're not. Maybe this will teach you how to respect me.” He dunked my head back in the water. **** “What did you say to him that made him go extreme on you today?” my sister, Clara, said casually as she passed me the cup of tea while I sat in her living room, curled up on a brown leather couch. One would think we were talking about the weather. I sniffed before drinking. Moringa tea. My eyes watered as the taste of green eased my mind and the tension along my spine, but not the pain in my heart. “I told him I was tired of the abuse and the way he maltreats me. I threatened to leave him,” I said softly, wrapping my hands around the cup and letting the warmth from the heat seep into my fingers. I sniffed. “I wish I knew why he hates me so much. I can't seem to do anything right in his eyes. One time, he hit me for breathing too loud… I—” My throat tightened. “I don't know what to do, Clara.” The tears ran freely from my eyes. “Look at me, Irene. Look at me,” Clara said as she sat beside me. I brought my gaze to hers. “You're losing sight of things. You can't let something as measly as your mate hitting you cloud your senses.” Her eyes hardened. “Listen. You are going to become Luna soon. All this is going to go away once you have the power, and you will see the respect you will be able to command from everyone, especially from Ethan. So, don't let this bother you. Okay?” A warm smile caressed her lips, her eyes softening. She was right. I shouldn't let this bother me. It wasn't like this hadn't been a normal thing for me and Ethan. But I knew that with time, we would become better. He would grow to love me, and our relationship would improve. I forced a smile on my face, nodding my head slowly. This was why I loved my older sister; she helped me see reason. I didn't know what I would have done without her. She opened her arms in a wide embrace, and of course, I fell into it, letting the warmth she brought seep into my bones. **** My breasts were heavy, my nerves were on edge, and my skin crawled. The rain splattered heavy drops onto the curb, soaking my clothes and my body. The way I felt was understandable. The pack's healer had said, when I'd complained about how heavy my breasts were and how on edge I felt, that I was pregnant. Those words still held me in disbelief, and even though I felt overwhelmed, I couldn't quite fathom the fact that I had a wolf pup growing inside me. But in all, I couldn't help but have hope for the future that Ethan would finally accept me now that I was having his pup. My chest surged with hope even as the raindrops blurred my vision. The grey sky was decorated with lightning that was followed by a resounding thunder as I paddled along the paved road leading to where Ethan and I lived. It had been a year since I shifted for the first time and was instantly mated to Ethan. My sister had said I was lucky. It was rare for shifters to find their mate on their first shift. I had been lucky to have been mated to the heir apparent of all people. In the Platinum Pack, power was everything. It was what most shifters here lived for. Here, whatever the higher-ranking officials spewed out of their mouths was law. And as someone who was born into a family of low ranking, I was privileged to be mated with someone of such power. It was probably why I endured. Because I didn't want to go back to the life my sister and I once lived. The huge mansion, fit only for an apparent heir, came into view. It had twelve rooms and highly arched windows. Secluded among trees on one of the most exclusive streets in the area. This was my home. I inhaled deeply. The smell of damp earth and green leaves tickled my nostrils. Excitement wove through me. I couldn't wait to tell Ethan the good news. Thunder boomed in the gray blanket that was the sky as I made my way to the front mahogany door. Nervousness ransacked my bones as I made my way to Ethan's study, where he usually was anytime I got back home from my shift. The empty room greeted me when I opened the door. That was new. Where was he? My wet dress clung to my skin, and I made a decision to get changed before breaking the good news to him. I paddled to our room, pools of water left as a trail as I walked. Moringa. Rosemary. The scent hit my nostrils. I tilted my head. What was Clara doing here? My feet carried me to where the smell became stronger. I sniffed. Peppermint. It was Ethan's shampoo fragrance. I halted. Curiosity crept down my spine. Why were they both in here? I didn't know what it was, but something told me not to make my presence known. So, I tiptoed. What were they talking about? The loud splatter of the rain against the roof only allowed me to know that they were both speaking, but their words weren't clear enough for me to hear. Closer and closer. I finally pressed my ear to the door. Then, I heard it. “Tell me you love me again, Ethan. Tell me you'll leave my b***h of a sister for me. Say it.” My eyes widened, and my heart pounded so loudly in my ears that it was almost deafening. No. “I love you, baby. I'll leave your stupid b***h of a sister for your fine piece of ass. Now, cum.” Clara's loud cry rang through my ears as Ethan said those exact words back to her. I stood there in bewilderment, my heart getting dissected into two as if those words I heard were daggers running straight through my heart. Despite the wetness on my body, it felt like cold water had been poured on me. Words from my sister telling me to endure Ethan's abuse filled my mind, and I clenched my fist. My blood boiled. Clara had been sleeping with him all this time. All those times that I'd come to her for comfort and cried my eyes out. She had been f*****g sleeping with him. They had both been deceiving me. I was seeing red