The Alpha's Abused Daughter

Chapter 6

Rowena

"What is Row short for?" Came the first question. 'Rowena' "How old are you?" 'I turn 13 November 3rd.' "What pack are you from?" I pause at that question, nervous about answering them. I take a shuddering breath before typing. 'Crimson Hollows. Alpha is Micah Cattano.' Aria sobbed when she heard the answer. "You were the Omega, correct? Were there others?" 'Yes, I was the Omega and no, I was the only one.' "What all did you have to go through? How long were you alone as the Omega?" I hesitated, understanding that we are now getting into dangerous territory. My body begins shaking before eventually, all I could do was shake my head furiously as tears ran down my face. "Okay, we'll move on. Where are your parents? Did you have any siblings?" I sobbed at the question and continue shaking my head fervently. I can't do it. I can't relive what happened all those years ago. I can't tell them what I did, what I can do.

Aria stood and came to my side. "It's okay. We'll stop for now. You're safe now. It'll be okay. Just tell us when you think you can handle it." She gently rocked my body and she held me. I just sit here, hands over my face, sobbing uncontrollably for who knows how long. When I finally start calming down, I just feel completely drained. I allow myself to lean against Aria, too exhausted to hold myself upright in my wheelchair. "Let's get her back to the car. She needs to sleep." Beau stood before stepping behind my wheelchair. I'm too tired at this point after crying so much that I can't feel my usual nervousness about him being behind me. I vaguely feel myself being wheeled out of the garden and I make a silent promise to myself to return here to relax, then I am out like a light before we make it to the car.

When I start to wake up, I scent an unfamiliar person is in my room. Finally managing to open my eyes, I look around my room. Unsure of how close they are, I don't know if I should panic or not. But then, my eyes finally land on him. He looks so much like Aria but doesn't at the same time. His hair looks to be either light brown or dirty blonde. It is short and straight. He has a little bit of a tan but not as much as some of the other wolves. He also looks like he might be a few years older than me. How much older, I don't know. I decide that this is Jesse, Aria's younger brother. I think I may have met him earlier but I can't remember. My mind is still foggy with sleep. His eyes are closed, his breathing even, telling me he is asleep. He is sitting against my wall, leaning against my bed. I try to sit up and not make the bed move but I guess it didn't work because he sits up and opens his bleary eyes as I try to sit up.

I watch as he blinks through his sleepiness before turning to my bed. Upon seeing me awake, his eyes widen and he scrambles up. "I'm sorry, Row. Aria and Beau asked me to stand guard so that no one came into your room while you slept. I heard you thrashing and mumbling so I came in to check on you. You appeared to be in a nightmare so I sat beside your bed. I guess I must have dozed off at some point." He says in a rush. He seems to have nervous energy, though different than mine. He also seems like an awkward person. I can't help but wonder why. I shake my head, not even noticing that I don't feel scared around the awkward man. I look around for some way of speaking to him. Unable to find anything I look to him and pretend like I'm typing. "Oh!" He exclaims before pulling his phone out and opening an app before handing it over. 'You're Jesse, correct? Aria's younger brother?' When he hears his phone say my question he sits on my floor. "Yes, I'm your uncle I guess." 'How old are you?' I am guessing his twenties but he still has the awkward teenager feel I always hear about. "I'll be turning 20 in December." That explains the awkwardness. 'Can you take me to where Beau and Aria are? I want to ask them something.' I type in. "Of course, though... I need to pick you up to take you to them. Is that okay?" He questions nervously. I thought about it. I know that I should be afraid of the idea, or at least nervous. But, his awkwardness seems to be soothing to me. Giving in, I nod.

He kneels down and gently lifts me into his arms. Once I'm resting against his chest, I realize just how much taller he is than me. Now I'm afraid, but only because I don't want to fall. My eyes widen and wrap my arms tightly around his neck, burying my face against his skin. I hear his awkward laugh and peek up at his face. "I won't drop you, I promise." I relax a little, loosening my arms but keeping my face where it is. He carries me out of my room and down the hall. When he reaches a large door made from some kind of dark wood, he lightly taps it with his foot. Aria opens the door and her eyes widen when she sees us. "How on earth did you...? Never mind, come in." She steps out of the way and Jesse walks fully in before sitting me gingerly in a leather chair. I hear movement behind me, assuming Aria is hugging her brother. "Did anyone disturb her?" I tune out their conversation and focus on Jesse's phone. 'Can I do some online shopping? I want to get some things but I don't know how.' "Of course, here let me sit you in my chair." Beau stands and moves to come near me and I reach out and grasp the bottom of Jesse's shirt, making him pause in his conversation with his sister.

I can feel all eyes on me and my face turns red. I drop my hand and look down at my lap, wondering if I'll be hit for declining Beau. I don't understand what made me do that. I don't understand why I trust this awkward boy more than my adoptive parent. Why it's so much easier being around Aria and Jesse than Beau. He's my father now, I should feel safe around him, shouldn't I? I'm so turned into my thoughts that I don't sense Beau move away from me or hear the door open. I jump, eyes wide and darting when I hear the loud slam. I whimper in fear, clouded mind unable to process the sound at the moment. Suddenly, I'm being lifted into the air and my face is pressed into a familiar scent. Unable to understand my next actions, or control them, I wrap my arms around his neck and hold on for dear life while my body shook. "Sister, call Shaun in. See if there is anything he can give her to calm her anxiety." I hear his voice in my ear, speaking quietly before he starts moving around the room, rocking me like one would soothe a restless baby. Shortly after, Shaun walks in with some kind of medication. He also has something in a cup in his other hand. When he reaches the desk, he sits the cup down and opens the medicine bottle, pulling out a small pill. He grabs the drink and comes over to where Jesse was standing with me. "Take this, it will calm your out of control emotions." Jesse helps me with the drink as I take the pill. It's hard to drink the liquid while my body is hiccupping from crying so hard. Once the pill is down, Jesse sits in Beau's chair with me on his lap. I'm leaned up against his chest as we all wait for the pill to kick in.

After some time, I feel my emotions finally settle and my tears begin slowing down. "Jesse, did she have any nightmares while she slept?" Shaun asks calmly. "Yes, it was pretty hard to watch. I figured it was a night terror rather than just a normal nightmare so I didn't wake her, I just sat next to her to make sure she didn't hurt herself." Even Jesse seems calmer now that Beau is out of the house. That both worries and confuses me. "Alright, I want you to make sure she takes one before bed each night until she heals enough to start seeing a therapist. I assume they will be having you stay with her while she sleeps after what happened with Ramsley." I feel Jesse move, taking the bottle and nodding. "Shaun, why don't you start having her see a therapist while she is healing? Wouldn't that help her more?" I hear Aria's voice. "Normal, yes. But her body is so badly damaged just as her mind is. Her body needs to focus on healing one thing at a time, and right now, we must help her get on her feet. I think it will help her mind if we can get her more independent." Shaun explained gently to Aria. 'How will that help me? Being independent I mean.' Shaun turns to me. "Were you allowed to go out by yourself? Were you allowed to do anything for yourself?" His question is blunt but still gently. I shake my head. "You don't know how to rely on others, your mind struggles to allow it. If you can cook your food or bathe yourself or dress or, more importantly, walk on your own. I think it will help your mind be less afraid. You struggle with allowing others to touch you, even if its to carry you from one place to another, you are uncomfortable with allowing others to see your body without clothes. Being able to do these things without help, will help you keep calm." His words are practical and they make sense. He is correct about all of it, and that makes me feel weak. I look down at my hands, unable to meet anyone's eyes.