The Alpha I Never Knew I Needed

Chapter 2

My cheek was instantly aflame.

But the shock I felt far surpassed the physical pain.

Aunt Margaret slapped me.

She'd never hit me before.

Her punishments were gruesome. I'd scrubbed the whole house floors three times in one day, stood for hours on tippy-toes and hands lifted, with weights tied to my arms, was tied under a thunderstorm for hours, been locked in the pitch black basement with rats and insects scurrying around, starved for days…

The list went on, but she'd never ever hit me.

Hot tears rolled down my cheeks as I stared at her in disbelief.

“Don't you ever lay your filthy, rotten hands on my daughter again! Do you hear me?!”

A whispered sob escaped my lips.

Her hands lunged out and she grabbed my hair with a death grip, causing me to cry out in pain.

“Do you hear me?!”

“Yes! Yes aunt Margaret!”

“You filthy orphan scum!”

I cried out again as she slammed my head against my bedroom door.

I slid weakly to the floor, my unending tears flowing freely caused my vision to blur.

I heard her soothing Emily and helping her up, but their voices were drowned out by my loud and uncontrolled weeping.

Through my tears I caught Emily's smug smile and the look of pure hatred and repulsion Aunt Margaret threw at me.

With weak hands, I pulled myself off the floor and went into my room, shutting the door and sliding down to the floor again.

_______________

The next few days went by in a blur. I stayed in my aunt's shop.

Tending to the flowers.

She never paid them much attention, I often wondered why she'd open a florist shop if she wasn't kind and gentle enough to care for the fragile flowers.

I stayed in because I didn't want anyone to see the ugly bump on my forehead that formed when I had my head slammed into my bedroom door or the scratch marks on my arms that Emily had left behind.

I didn't want to give them more reasons to mock me.

I tugged at my faded grey hoodie. I'd worn it so much it was thin and had a few holes I'd tried my best to patch.

The ringing of the doorbell snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Hey Samantha”

My breath caught immediately and I spun around.

A familiar voice I knew so well. My heart swelled.

“H-hi… Rowan.” Suddenly I felt small. A blush warmed my cheeks.

“Haven't seen you in a bit, so I decided to stop by.”

His warm grey eyes fixed on me.

I couldn't stop the warmth spreading in my chest.

Rowan was tall and broad shouldered. Chestnut brown hair that was always styled perfectly and a chiseled jaw. He had to be the most handsome werewolf I'd ever seen.

His blue sweatshirt complimented his eyes and a small gold chain hung loosely around his neck.

His grey eyes always seemed to convey warmth. It made my insides tingle.

He was the Pack Beta's son, so he was going to be the Beta when he grew up.

I'd had a big crush on him for a long time, but I never had the courage to walk up to him, so when he asked me to be his girlfriend six months ago, I was beyond ecstatic. It was like an answer to a silent prayer.

I took it as a sign, a good sign, that the goddess still had good in store for me, despite how tough it seemed at the moment.

I stood stunned for a few seconds, processing his words, before nodding in acceptance, tears pooling in my hazel eyes.

“I didn't know you were back,” I fidgeted nervously with my fingers and averted my shy gaze from his.

He was always away training. He and other high-ranking werewolves.

That's what he'd told me.

“I returned a few days ago. But I've been really busy at home.”

He took a seat near the large window and gazed outside.

“Oh…welcome-”

“How's Emily?”

My throat went dry. He always asked about her. But then he was a really nice person and cared about everyone.

“She's good…I think she's at the arcade with some friends-”

“Do you think she'll still be there?” Suddenly he had a serious look on his handsome face.

“Probably…I'm not sure.”

“Okay, guess I'll be on my way then,” he gently stood and headed to me.

“Tell your aunt, I said hi,” he ruffled my thick brown hair with his fingers, a small smile on his face.

My heart did a cartwheel.

“O-okay, bye-”

I wished he'd stay longer, but he was out before I could even finish.

It wasn't his fault though, he had a pretty busy life, but he still made out a little time to come over to see me.

He cared.

I couldn't help a shy smile from breaking out.

The day dragged on slowly till it was finally time to pack up and go home.

Only a few customers came by, as usual.

But my mood was lifted. Seeing my boyfriend, Rowan, always made me feel giddy with joy.

No one knew about our relationship. Rowan insisted we keep it a secret. He wanted to take things slow and honestly, it was fine by me.

Passing by the arcade on my way home, a familiar figure in a blue sweatshirt caught my attention.

Rowan?

I was heading in his direction before I even knew it, a shy smile on my face.

I couldn't wait to see his pleased smile when he saw me.

He'd surprised me earlier today, I might as well pay him back.

We'd never actually been together in public, but oh well…there was always a first time for everything.

As I got closer, I got aware of the number of people that were actually around.

I hated crowds, especially crowds made of people my age but… Rowan was there.

He was all the courage I needed.

I wouldn't talk to anyone else, just him.

Getting closer, he seemed to be talking to someone. His back was to me, and he shielded the person with his imposing frame.

Whoever he was talking to would have to wait.

This was my boyfriend.

I did my best to ignore the mocking gazes that were being thrown my way as people around started noticing me.

My hands trembled.

I'd underestimated how many people were present.

“Ro-” my shaky breath caught in my throat as I caught sight of who Rowan was talking with.

Emily.

She was dressed in a ridiculously short pink dress and black platform boots.

Her fake blond hair in perfect curls and her hundred layers of lip gloss seemed to reflect the colorful lights from all around.

They also were doing more than talking. Rowan had his hand wrapped possessively around her waist and she leaned on him, their faces barely apart.

Her seductive gaze and wide smile dropped as soon as she caught sight of me.

Something in me urged me to turn around and sprint out, but my legs had turned to lead, locking me in place.

Rowan turned around following her gaze.

I expected him to rush over.

To apologize, to explain what I'd just seen, to tell me everything was okay and that I had absolutely nothing to worry about, that it was a mistake…

He just stared.

His once warm gaze suddenly looked cold. Like a bucket of freezing water dunked on your head on a cold winter's morning.

He didn't look at me with disgust or repulsion like the others, he looked at me like…he didn't know me.

And somehow it hurt more than anything. More than the punishments, more than the mockery, more than the slaps.

This had to be a bad dream…perhaps I'd fallen asleep in the flower shop and—

“Come to find the guy you stayed out screwing with last night?” Emily's mocking voice permeated my thoughts.

Muffled laughter and gasps sounded around me.

A small crowd was gathering.

Great.

Now everyone has a new rumor to spread about me.

“N-no I wasn't…I didn't come here for that-” I tried my best not to stutter but failed miserably.

“Liar!” Emily spat out.

Rowan still stood with his arm around Emily. An unbothered look on his face.

“I didn't meet anyone yesterday… and I came here for Rowan.” my voice was weaker than I'd intended.

I turned my sad gaze to him. A sliver of hope still burned in me.

Emily's smirk fell.

“What?” Her sour gaze raked over me with disdain. “You…came here for Rowan?” she scoffed and tossed a blonde loc over her bare shoulder.

I tried my best to ignore the surrounding mumbling.

“Do you even know her?” Emily turned to Rowan, her voice carrying a fake sweetness.

“No…is she a friend of yours?”

My heart dropped.

Sorrow pooled in my chest and spread out into my whole being like venom eating away at its miserable victim.

This can't be happening.

Did…did my boyfriend just…deny me?

I opened my mouth to say something…anything, but nothing came out. I couldn't stop the tears that ran down my cheeks as I stared at Rowan in disbelief.

He stared back, his gaze seemed to get colder by the second, not a drop of guilt behind those eyes.

Eyes I once thought I knew, but seemed so foreign all of a sudden.

How…how could he?

Why…?

“I always knew you were a slut, didn't know you were a lying one,” Emily said aloud, obviously to make sure everyone heard. Laughter sounded around me again.

“You think Rowan here would stoop so low to mingle with something like you?”

My fists clenched helplessly at my sides. I didn't care about what she was yapping. My gaze flickered back to Rowan.

How could he look and act so harmless, and kind, and yet stab me in the back…or in the front in this case…while maintaining that calm, harmless look?

I didn't force him to ask me out…I didn't beg him either.

Yet here he was, making it seem like the opposite.

I wanted to scream at him.

To ask him why.

Was everything some sort of plan? Was this all some stupid prank to him? Was I a joke?

I'd spent months thinking of him, thinking of us…

Hoping we'd become something one day.

I was a fool…

“Hey! Eyes on me when I'm talking to you. You filthy wimp. One would think you'd be more sensible since you don't have a wolf occupying your mind, but you're so plain stupid” Emily's long claw-like nails dug into my forearms as she gripped my arm.

Pain shot through me and I let out a pathetic whimper, gripping her hand in panic to make her loosen her grip.

“Ow!” Rowan was by her side as soon as Emily cried out.

I stared in confusion as fake tears pooled in her hazel eyes. She cradled her arm like it'd been run over by a train.

“That filth scratched me!” Emily's voice broke as she sniffled.

“How could you?!” This time Rowan's eyes held anger, repulsion even.

What the hell?

I was the one in pain! I was the one with deep scratch marks, not her!

“She's faking it! I barely even touched her. She's the one that-”

I'd barely gotten a few words of defense out when I was stumbling back from the force of Emily's shove.

I landed hard on my ass.

Pain shot up my tailbone, causing me to wince.

The thick heel of Emily's black platform boots collided hard with my rib, knocking the breath out of my lungs and replacing it with a searing pain that worsened every second.

Her heel was down on me again before I could even react, hitting the same spot.

I doubled over in pain and cried out, making no attempt to hold back the tears that sprung to my eyes immediately.

Emily leaned over me and snatched my worn green duffel bag.

She flipped it over and dumped all its contents over my head before tossing it a distance away.

My side burned with pain that seemed to spread throughout my ribcage and chest, like tendrils of a parasitic plant, clinging to its target.

I struggled to slow my breathing, every teary breath amplified the pain.

This proved almost impossible as I choked on my tears and wheezed loudly.

Laughter sounded all around me.

Fingers pointing

Mouths jeering

I didn't expect any of them to help me, not even when my vision started to dim and my head felt like it was slowly filling with air.

I knew this feeling

I was going to faint

I couldn't

Not in front of everyone

Not in front of Rowan

With the last shred of strength and sense of direction I had, I pulled myself up.

Staggering twice, I tripped over my belongings that Emily had scattered all around me, causing a fresh shot of blinding pain to shoot through my seemingly damaged rib.

I didn't bother trying to gather my things. There was no point.

People had already started stepping over them.

I managed to limp out, the echoes of laughter trailing behind me.

I didn't realize how long I'd been there, because it was now dark outside.

Shit

How would I get home in my condition? I was tired, my left side was burning.

Like someone had injected lava into my bone marrow.

And the final cherry on top?

A light drizzle had started, a cold breeze accompanied it.

The sooner I got home, the better. So I took the shortcut through the dense forest.

Limping helplessly as I clutched my side, breathing as gently as possible.

The freezing night air whipped my thick brown curls around, causing it to obscure my vision. My worn hoodie did nothing to keep out the cold, I was shivering in less than five minutes of walking.

“Ow!” A thorn clung to my ankle, piercing my skin through my faded jeans.

Snap!

I froze midair…

Eyes wide…breath held.

I wasn't alone.

My heart rate was spiking in milliseconds.

I wasn't in the condition to withstand any more attacks.

It was dark, I could barely see my surroundings.

Like on cue, a heavy downpour broke out. Freezing droplets of rain pounded down on me, drenching me before I could even take cover under a large oak tree.

If I died here…would anyone look for me? Would they even notice?

I thought hard about who cared enough to seek me out if I went missing…

No one.

I'd be forgotten.

I'd rot away in this dense forest, and a tree would grow over my head—

Something strong and hard landed over my mouth, blocking any potential scream that could erupt.

A hand!

My eyes widened in fear and my heart started an erratic rhythm in my chest.

I'd wished death upon myself a good number of times, but now I was really faced with it, I realized I didn't want to die…not yet…

A sharp needle-like object sunk brutally into my neck, causing me to scream into the muscled hand, clawing at it frantically, legs thrashing wildly.

I swung my head side to side, writhing furiously in my captors hold, but whoever it was was built like a wall.

He didn't budge.

I ignored the burning in my side as my ribs protested against my frantic movements.

Suddenly, everything began to quiet down.

The feeling of raindrops lingered on my skin…but the sound was getting distant…

Everything went black.