The Alpha's Abused Daughter

Chapter 9

Rowena

It's been a week and a half since we were moved into our house. I've gotten to know more about Jesse. He's 19-years-old, graduated from the local high school a year ago. He was more of a nerd than he liked to admit and was bullied because of it. I couldn't help but wonder what "being bullied" is like, it seems to have affected Jesse similarly as being abused affected me. So, I assume it's just as bad in its own way. He loved math and English but struggled with science. He loves the color blue but, he doesn't really wear much of the color on his clothes. He claims he has a wolf with odd color and that he doesn't like being in wolf form around other pack members, so not many people have actually seen his wolf. I had tried to ask why he was nervous around Beau, but he was quick to change the subject.

Speaking of our Alpha, Beau and Aria had given him the go-ahead to start slowly introducing me to the pack. He usually brings one or two members over each day and I'll learn things about them. I doubt I'll ever be able to remember everyone's names, but that's okay. Each time members of the pack are brought home, Beta Shayne stays in the living room, supervising everything. I noticed by the third day of this that I didn't feel the same amount of dominance from him that I do around Beau, he didn't make my wolf quite as anxious. Which is another thing that confuses me? Even though he was so kind to us and adopted us as his own, there is something about Beau that puts Lyall on edge. I can't get her to tell me what, but she doesn't trust our new Alpha.

"Row, are you ready to go?" The sound of the Beta's voice startles me from my reverie. I look up at him before nodding. Today is the day of my check-up with Shaun. He's been monitoring my progress since Jess and I were moved here. According to him, my wolf can grow stronger each day, without the added stress of living in the packhouse. He seems happy at the progress my wolf has been making at becoming stronger. So, now we're going to find out how much of my body she has been able to heal. I nod my head before allowing him to wheel me out to the car. While my wolf seems more comfortable around him compared to our adoptive father, she still isn't comfortable with him touching us, so Jesse is the one to help me into the car. I've asked her about that little oddity, all she could say about it is that she feels some kind of bond with Jess and Aria. She just wasn't sure what kind of bond. I was so young when my family was suddenly separated that I couldn't recall if I had any aunts or uncles besides Sam and Charla.

"Rowena, I'm curious. Do you have any family out there somewhere? Maybe a sibling or two that we can try searching for?" Not knowing how to answer Shayne's question at the moment, I shrug my shoulders. My wolf keeps saying to be careful with who I tell. Not that the crypticness gives me any clues as to who I can trust. When we reach the side of the packhouse that the hospital wing is on, Shayne gets my wheelchair so that Jess can help me into it. Shayne starts pushing to the doors where I notice Aria is waiting by herself. "Thank you, Beta Shayne. She seems to be a bit more comfortable with you than some of the others here." Aria says happily. I feel Shayne stop moving and I looked up at him with a frown. He has a shocked look on his face that confuses me. Why does he seem shocked at Aria's words? He seems to recover quickly, throwing a quick smile in her direction before nodding to her. "It's not a problem, Luna. Though, I'm not sure if comfortable is the right word. More likes she tolerates me more than others because I'm not a brooding animal. Now, if you have no further need of me, I have some words I need to get to. Jesse, let me know if you bring more members to the house tomorrow." He salutes before turning and walking away. Frowning at his retreating form, I shake my head before facing forward as Jesse continues pushing me toward the hospital.

"Ah, there's my favorite patient. How have you been, Rowena?" Shaun's easy smile appears in the doorway as he opens the door for us. I nod my head towards him, not really able to actually answer him yet. He sighs at my lack of voice. "We'll get there eventually. One step at a time for now." Came to his response as Jesse helps me onto the doctor bed thing. Shaun brings over the big machine to start x-raying my ribs and femur. "I'm hoping they are close to being healed. It would be nice to start her on her exercises. It'll be a while before we can start her training because she needs to work her muscles first. Once she's physically strong enough, I'll have Jesse and the Beta start with her training." I listen as Shaun explains everything to Aria, who is sitting next to me with my hand wrapped in hers. Before checking the x-ray, he begins checking the smaller injuries I had sustained from my former Alpha's abuse. "Most of them have healed nicely. There are some slight bruising left but I bet they'll be gone in a few hours. Not much in the way of scarring either which is good. A young girl shouldn't have to carry too visible scars for the rest of her life. The little bit she has can't be seen if the person doesn't get too close to her." After he finishes removing the last of the bandaging over parts of her body, he moves over to his computer. "Let's check those x-rays now." He moves the computer table towards her bed. "First, your ribs. There are still some minor damages to heal, but for the most part, it looks like the breaks have healed. I imagine you're still going to be sore for a few more days. Your leg looks to have fully healed, thanks to everyone making sure you stay off of it and getting you away from stress. Let see how you do walking." After Shaun says this, he moves his computer before stepping in front of me, holding out his hands. Hesitantly, I place my hands in his and he slowly pulls me to my feet.

Being that it's only been just shy of two weeks since I last walked, I didn't really expect my legs to shake like a newborn fawn's before I can take my first step. Frowning down at my stubborn legs, I make sure to use slow steps, holding Shaun's hands for balance. I make it about five or six steps away from the bed before my legs decide to defy my mind's commands and I begin falling to the floor. Shaun is quick to catch me, taking me back to the bed. "Well, it's a step in the right direction at least." He comments more to himself than any of us in the room. After the lovely almost fall, he begins showing Jesse the leg exercises he needs to do with me twice a day. Once in the morning and once before bed. By the time we leave the hospital wing, I am exhausted. But I'm not ready to go home yet. So, I whip out my phone to type something to Jesse. 'Can we go do something before going home?' I play the question for him once we're in the car and parting ways with Aria. He looks over at me before focusing on the road. "What do you want to do?" He always lets me decide what we do if we have any outings. 'Pick up May and go to town, please.' He smiles at the sentence. I always try to bring May with us.

Pulling up to her house, he makes his usual promise to be back shortly with her. While I wait, I think about what I want to do once we get to town. When I notice Jesse and May get closer to the car, I see his hand hovering at her back and she looks like she is scared. I also see some new bruises peeking out from under her long-sleeved shirt. I frown at the sight, my eyes narrowing as I check for more visible places like her face or hands. There are some faint bruising on her face as well. I plaster a fake smile when she climbs into the car. When Jesse is back behind the wheel, he looks pointedly at me. Looks like there's going to be a pit stop back at the packhouse before we go into town.