The Alpha's Abused Daughter

Chapter 5

Rowena

As we drive down the road, I notice that we just passed the sign that points to the town. I lean forward and tap Aria on the shoulder. When she looks back at me, I point to the road that is now behind us. "Oh, we decided that shopping may be a bit too much for you. So, there are a few places on pack lands that we want to show you. There will be fewer people at these places. We can introduce you to a few pack members as well." I nod, thankful that they are thinking of my comfort. "We can take you to my office when we get back and let you order some furniture and things online instead of going into the crowded town," Beau adds, focusing on the road. I try to smile at them but it feels more like a grimace to me. I frown at myself, realizing that I don't know how to smile.

I keep to myself in the back seat for the remainder of the drive, looking out the window and watching the scenery pass by. The pack's territory is two or three times the size of Crimson Hollows from what I remember of my childhood. The families here have more space between the houses. Larger yards, larger... well, everything. Everything here seems so much bigger than what I remember from Crimson Hollows. It's been so long since I was allowed to roam the territory that I don't know if any of it had changed. I was too focused on getting away that I couldn't pay attention to the little details. The schools here are bigger, they even had a couple of daycares. There is a whole quarter of the territory that is like its own mini town. There is a little flower shop, a cute little cafe, a small movie theatre. "We have a movie theatre there, and we have a movie room in the packhouse. Both are used pretty frequently. There is also a large library. Ours is a little different than what you would find in human territory. Ours has a section for the students that are in werewolf specific classes. Werewolf history, werewolf origin stories, similar to the humans' Adam and Eve stories. There are a few different classes that the schools teach the young wolves, so we have sections for each age group." Beau's voice startles me from my sight-gazing, making me turn to face him.

Not knowing how to address my question, I simply point to me. He frowns at the little mirror at the top of the window. "Aria, we need to get her a phone or something with a text-to-speech app so that she can ask her questions in a way we can understand." He sounds a little frustrated, so I just put my hands back in my lap and continue gazing out the window. Just in time to see a little ice cream stand. I guess I made a little sound when I saw it because the car stops. Lyall's ears push against her furry head in my mind, making me press myself against the seat and watch Beau as he gets out of the car. As he walks away from the car, Aria turns around in her seat and hands me her phone. "I have it on a text-to-speech app that I just downloaded. Tell me what you were trying to ask and I will relay it to him when he gets back into the car." Her voice is soft, I like talking to her better. I nod my head before looking down at her phone. I tap the screen, making the little keyboard come up. "Is he mad at me?" Is the first thing I type.

When I show it to her, she frowns. "No, honey. He's not mad. When you made that sound, he thought you wanted ice cream, so he stopped to get a cone for you." She explains before handing the phone back. I erase what I wrote and type again. "What grade will I be in for school and when will I get to start?" I hesitantly show her, afraid of making her mad. I had asked mommy the same thing once and it was one of the few times I had ever seen her angry before. I didn't understand why she was mad, but I decided that I didn't like anyone being mad. When I show her the screen though, she smiles softly at me. "I will talk with Shaun and Beau about your schooling. Most likely, you'll have to start in homeschooling to help get you caught up with the other kids your age. You should be middle school grade but we will have to do a placement test to see where your knowledge level is. What was the last grade you ever finished?" Her question sounds thoughtful to my ears, but it still upsets me. I type some more. "I never got to go. I had to help mommy cook for the pack and clean up after them once I could walk without stumbling. I never had time for school and the Alpha never allowed me to be enrolled."

After she reads what I typed, she looks like she'll cry. I begin feeling scared, unsure of what Beau will do to me for upsetting her. "I will talk to them later tonight. I will do everything in my power to get you that placement test and help you catch up with everyone else." Her determined words feel me with a hope I am still scared to trust, so I just nod and go to hand her the phone back. "No, Row. Keep it for now. It will help you communicate with us. We will order you a phone later so that you can fill it with what you want." She hands the phone back to me, smiling a bright smile at me. I look at her and nod. Then my door opens, startling me. I look over wide-eyed and see its just Beau with an ice cream cone in hand. "I wasn't sure what to order so the girl behind the counter made you a mint chocolate chip and cookies N cream double scoop cone. She said it was one of their more popular treats with girls your age so she thought you might like it." He tells me as I reach up to take the cone and tissue. I lick the top scoop, getting a sweet taste from the light green ice cream. I nod my head to tell him I like it.

We begin driving once again after Aria tells him they have things to discuss with Shaun later. I go back to absent-mindedly staring out of the window again. It wasn't long before the car was pulling over again, this time a little further off the road. "We walk the rest of the way. I'll get the wheelchair out of the trunk." The sound of Beau's voice makes me look forward again, this time to see him getting out of the car. A couple of minutes later, he is opening my door and helping me into the wheelchair. Pushing me in front of him, he and Aria begin walking down a small path. On either side of the path, there are little figurines. A short ways away, there is a lattice wall with vines going up both sides. We turn at a bend in the path and my eyes widen at the sight. There is a pond in the middle with a few different types of fish in it. Around it, covering the entire area except for the path, there are various types of flowers. Lillies, roses, tulips. There are fruit trees against the building we are outside of. Apple, oranges, pears, and peaches. It's beautiful and I know this will be my favorite spot to come to when I'm stressed.

They continue pushing my wheelchair along the path until we reach a bench. It had an area of covering over it to protect it from the elements. It has a large cushion over the seat and back to make it more comfortable. The wheel me up next to it before taking a seat on the bench. They position themselves on the bench so they could look at me. "Row, we want to ask a few questions if that is okay with you," Beau stated softly. I guess some of the things they want to ask me will be hard, they are both hesitating. I think of what to type that will reassure them I can handle it. 'Go ahead. If you ask a question I can't deal with right now, I'll just shake my head. But for the most part, I should be able to handle the questions. I know there are things you need to know about my past and who I am.' They stay silent for a moment before Beau nods. "Alright, well, let's get started." As he said this, Aria pulls out a folder from her bag. Oh boy, this is going to be so much fun.