Nah

My voice shaking

Becca's POV

My body was heavy and worn out from everything I had had to go through earlier, and I got home late that night. Every breath served as a reminder of the agony still gnawing at my bones, and every stride felt like a punishment.

Despite my weakness, I realized I still needed to get home. If I wasn't available to complete whatever tasks or errands my stepmother wanted to assign me, I wasn't prepared for what she would do to me. Every step I took was accompanied with fear. Even when my strength was almost gone and my limbs were shaking, I pushed myself ahead.

Home was something I detested.

I had always.

I had stayed up many nights figuring out how to get out of here. Despite my constant want to flee, I had remained patient and hopeful. I thought that everything would change and that I would finally be free of my family's influence once I found my destined mate.

As I relived the previous events in my head, a tear ran down my cheek. I made an effort to ignore the memories, but they persisted.

But since I didn't want any more hassle, I returned home.

I had just entered the compound when I saw my father, Moonstone Pack's Beta, walking around outside. He moved tensely and sharply, as though he had been anticipating something or someone.

I let myself think for one stupid moment that he was trying to find me. That for once he was worried after hearing what had transpired. That perhaps he was still interested.

Ronan had rejected me, but I hadn't accepted it. I suffered it in silence despite my broken heart since I understood the importance of mate relationships in Moonstone Pack. Both fate and the law applied to them. Whether they chose it or not, mates were compelled to be together.

I assumed he was waiting for that reason.

I believed that he would coerce the elders into accepting me as Ronan's mate by using his power as the Beta.

Ultimately, his goal had always been to bind his child to the Alpha's son. It was customary. Mate ties bind the beta and alpha families together.

It was me who was bound.

I thus thought he would at last recognize me. That he might be kind to me, even if it was just for a single night, and then use me to further his political position within the pack.

Unfortunately, I should have been more aware.

My father, Beta Maxwell, came charging at me and gave me a forceful slap across the face as soon as he saw me. In the still evening, the boom reverberated loudly.

"You useless, shameless child!" he yelled.

Kattie and her mother left the house right away due to the loudness.

I refrained from arguing. It wasn't the first time he had done this, after all. The comments still hurt more than the smack, though. Not for the first time, I questioned if I would have found myself in this predicament at all had he not exercised his position to impose himself on a servant who was never able to say no.

He shouted, "Where have you been, you useless girl?"

Before I could say anything more, my stepmother interrupted, her lips curving in distaste, "probably flinging herself at every man in the pack, exactly like the daughter of a w***e that she is!"

Kattie knew exactly where I had been, but she remained silent. She was aware that I had been kept in the pack's old, abandoned storage area and abused because of her. She had held me there for additional hours after giving her friends the command to do it.

I had remained there till I was strong enough to get out and head home.

And I was welcomed in this manner.

Why?

In any case, why were they searching for me? They didn't seem to care about me.

My father remarked forcefully, "We've been waiting for you to start the ritual for hours." "Enter now before you cause this family further embarrassment!"

I went cold. A custom?

My mind was racing, and I was at a loss for words. When I did manage to speak, it was hardly audible above a whisper.

"Papa, what ritual?" I forced myself to look him in the eye as I asked.

"Obviously, to get rid of your aroma!"

My father stared at me and spoke in a harsh, hateful tone. "Do you think I'd let you make this family look bad? Instead of being a disgrace like you, Kattie is the one who should be matched to the Alpha's son! Given that my useless omega daughter is the one mated to the Alpha's heir, how am I supposed to live? Every pack will be aware that I share your illicit humiliation!

His comments were heavy and cut through me.

The mother of Kattie stepped forward and said icily, "The priest is already waiting." Kattie will get your fragrance, and you will get hers. She will be the one to mate with the Alpha. You are the Alpha's destined partner, so how dare you make my daughter look foolish?

Shock rooted me to the ground as I stood motionless. How they could so nonchalantly decide to take away my fragrance and give it to Kattie was beyond me. Even worse, why had Kattie consented? She had always labeled me a lowlife and hated me. Why would she desire my scent now?

"I'm not going to do that," I murmured feebly, my voice shaking. "You understand the agony of a ritual of scent-stripping!"

My cheek was slapped again.

This was a more difficult day, but it came before I finished my video.

Dad yelled, "Becca, I never asked for your opinion!" "I wouldn't care if it killed you! Your passing would be the greatest news I've ever heard in my life, provided Kattie ends up becoming the new Luna!

"Papa!" My senses were clouded by amazement as I sobbed as tears fell down my face. Did he really dislike me this much? Was this the extent of his guilt at my presence?

"That worthless servant's refusal to abort you wasn't enough!" he added ruthlessly. "She made the Alpha Council adopt you as my daughter against my will! You are also too weak and wolfless to possess my beta qualities! Becca, you are the biggest regret of my fifty years of life!

As if he hadn't just broken what little was left of me, he turned away and entered the house. Kattie and her mother didn't look back as they followed him.

Two servants came at me.

I realized right away that they had been despatched to pull me inside for the ceremony of scent-stripping.

I tightened my hands at my sides.

Why did I have to sacrifice everything for Kattie every time?

I had sacrificed everything.

In order to make Kattie appear prettier, her mother made me take a daily bath in bitter herbs, which dulled my complexion and took away my glow. She lived off her leftovers when she felt generous, so I was never fully fed. At other occasions, she tossed the food away, only to see me go hungry.

Since I was five years old, I had served her.

I paid for her transgressions. Fearing that I could outgrow her, they denied me an education and prohibited me from going to the free she-wolf classes.

They had done all in their power to make Kattie shine, even if it meant breaking me instead.

In order for her to take my destiny, they now sought to deprive me of my identity?

I took out the hairpin my mother had given me before she passed away as the first servant reached for me. I pierced her arm and pushed her away with a howl of rage and terror. The second servant froze, uncertain whether to follow me or assist her.

I took advantage of the opportunity to run.

With my eyesight blurry and my chest burning, I raced as fast as my legs would allow. There was no longer justification for remaining in this pack. Nobody desired or loved me.

I had nothing left except to leave.

I just managed to stay upright as the collision drove me stumbling backward. Fearing that my father's wolves were not far behind, I turned and prepared to run again, panicking.

Then I was abruptly stopped by a voice.

"Becca."

I went cold.

I slowly turned around, staring at the guy in front of me while remaining silent. I was wondering why, of all people, he had to be the one answering my problems.