Vows of Silence

12

The water finally felt cool as it ran over my skin. I was leaning over the sink and starting to lose the feeling in my arm when his voice rang through the hallway. Derek walked into the kitchen carrying a plate with bread and sausage. On his plate was an empty ketchup bottle. I looked back to the sink so I could pretend to ignore him, but he saw me anyway.

''We're all out of ketchup. So I thought I'd help and bring some out. Figured I'd make myself useful since you're apparently injured.'' His voice was anything but kind. I could feel the slimness of his attitude covering the room.

''I don't need the help.'' I know that's technically rude to say, but he would never be nice for nothing.

''I don't mind. You can always return the favor after. I'm sure I can think of something for you to do.'' I rolled my eyes to myself. I'd get in trouble if he saw me and he decided to go run and cry to someone about how I was mean to him. I kept myself quiet and took advantage of the dish soap and sponge and started cleaning some of the pans.

''Look at me when I speak to you.'' I gripped the sides of the pan, but I forgot my hand was hurt from the burn. It slipped into the sink and landed with a thud. Soap and water jumped at my face from the flash.

''I am working. If you don't have a problem, then please leave, so I may finish.'' I kept my voice calm. I was angry on the inside. I want to scream in his face and hit him with the pan in my hand. It was quiet. I relaxed my shoulders and started rinsing the soap of the pots when I felt the heat from a hand on my shoulder. I took a deep breath, and that's when I smelled him. Over the smell of their dish soap and wet sausage grease, the smell of something strong like old beer and maybe trash or onions or something else gross was coming from behind me. I had never smelled Derek before. Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever smelled anyone before. Well, maybe just Alpha Damian but I think that's because he's the alpha and everyone can smell him. I wonder if it's because of my wolf. Was I missing out on all these things because my wolf decided she wanted nothing to do with me? I turned around with a cup of dirty soap water in my hand.

''Let me go," my voice did not sound serious at all, I didn't even think that was my voice.

''You will respect me! You have no right to question me about anything. I haven't done anything wrong.''I splashed the water from the cup onto him. If he truly believes he's done nothing wrong, then I did nothing wrong when I splashed him. I felt a hand connect with my cheek as my head was turned to the side. The pain was slow at first, like it was still finding its way to me. I pulled my hand back from my face and saw small drops of blood on my palm. My lip was bleeding. He broke the skin of my lip when he hit me. I was still dizzy with shock when Derek grabbed my hair and pulled my head up to face his. It felt like he'd rip my hair out of my head if he pulled any harder.

''That's the last time that you throw something at me.'' His voice was scratchy with anger. His sharp claws start digging into my scalp. He was so angry, he was shifting. He threw me to the side and I stomach and hip hit the edge of the counter before I fell down. The handle of the drawer dug into my side just before I fell. I pushed my hand against the pain in my side and prayed that I would go away. Derek watched me from the kitchen island where he was standing. His hands were shaking at his side as he kept making fists and stretching his fingers out. I wanted to shout for help. My wolf was growling whilst she looked at me. I know she wanted me to do something. She had driven me to throw the water at him. It felt great, freeing until I realized what I had done. I know she means well, but there's no way for me to fight against anyone here. It's one against an entire pack that would rather see me dead than defend me against one of their own.

I did the opposite of what she wanted me to do. I dropped my gaze to the floor and braced my hands to get up. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Derek get ready to leave the kitchen. He passed by me and I thought he had left until I saw the brown shoe that I had polished many times before stepping down on my hand. I gasped with the pain as I heard the cracks of my fingers under his foot. He spat at me as he left the kitchen and the warmth dripped from my face and onto the floor. I don't know how long I was on the floor for. The dining room got quiet and I heard footsteps walking towards the kitchen. Rebecca walked in looking refreshed. She smelled like soap and something minty. She was wearing a long dress that covered her chest down to her feet. It was colored with different types of flowers.

''Get off the floor. We've got more things to do!'' She walked past me and spared a quick glance at my hand.

''Serves you right! You probably deserve worse after you abandoned me yesterday and I was forced to do everything with no help!'' She huffed and walked over to the kitchen. Why didn't she just ask someone else for help? I certainly don't think I'm the most capable person in the pack. Why was I so angry lately? I know everything is the same as it always is but now it's like my body is mad about it. Like there's another side of me that wants to break free.

''Rebecca, do we have any food left, I was late to come down this morning and there's only bread left in the tray-what happened?'' Allpha Damian walked into the kitchen as my hand was turning purple. Great, now it'll be my fault if he makes me take a break. 0

''She's stupid Alpha, pay her no mind, she probably fell or dropped something on her hand. It's no one's fault but her own.'' Rebecca didn't even bother looking away from the sink as she spoke. It's like I was another broken dish that she had to clean up off the floor and throw away before she could take out a shiny new one out of a box.

''It looks bad. Are you sure that's what happened? I've never heard of someone dropping something on their hand and causing an injury that severe. '' He crouched down in front of me and studied my hand.

''I can't lose her today. Not when there's so much to do for the Alpha of Black Eclipse and his guests are arriving tonight. I can't believe we're the first stop on their tour of the packs since the Alpha has come into position. It's so exciting! There's so much to do and cook and clean...'' Rebecca kept talking while Damian's eyes glazed over as if a cloud passed in front of them before they turned normal.

''I called Draine to come and take a look at her hand. She can't work with it like this anyway.'' Damian stood up straight as he leaned on the island. Rebecca slid a plate of food over to him. Draine? The doctor! He was coming!

''Now I told you, I need her to work. At my age, there's not too much I can do on my own without getting tired.'' Damian nodded while looking at me. He looked annoyed with Rebecca, but maybe it was because of my hand instead.

''He'll see if he can bandage it up so she can get back to work.'' Damian ate some of his food and when Rebecca turned to finish the dishes he took a piece of egg and bread and handed it to me. I grabbed it fast with my uncrushed hand and ate it. I ate so fast, I still don't think I can tell what eggs taste like. Dr. Draine showed up out of breath and carrying a white bag.

''Hey, Good morning.'' He was gentle as he picked up my hand and looked at my fingers.

''Good morning'' my voice was still weird when I spoke. I think it's because of my throat. "What happened? Thankfully, it's not too bad, and I think with a brace and some meds, you'll be okay." He laid my hand down and started digging through his bag.

''I hurt it, but will I be able to work with it?'' I asked before Rebecca could ask. She huffed again and waited for Dr. Draine to answer. He pulled out a thing with fabric that was straight. I don't know what it was, but it was black and made of fabric, but it could stand on its own. He took a look before taking a fast glance at Rebecca and sighed.

''I'll give you some medicine for the pain and I think as long as you take it easy and don't lift anything heavy, then you should be okay by tomorrow. But it doesn't look like it's broken. But, on the plus side, it does look like your healing has improved.'' He put on my hand in the black cage thing and it spread up my arm, almost to my elbow.

''Can I have a glass of water.'' Rebecca filled a glass with water from the sink and handed it to him. Dr. Draine pulled a big white pill out of a small container in his bag. He handed me the pill and held out the glass of water.

''I don't know how to take a pill.'' Rebecca scoffed as she folded her arms across her chest. "That's ridiculous! Everyone knows how to take medicine!'' Her hands were on her hips as she stood over me.

''I've never taken medicine before.'' It was true, and the doctor would know because he'd never seen me before yesterday and where else is someone supposed to get medicine from? Dr. Draine ignored Rebecca.

''You put it in your mouth as far back you can and then you swallow it with some water.'' I did what he said and almost coughed the pill back up. It was huge! I thought it would get stuck in my throat but it didn't.

''Alright, now get up! We have work to do!''