Alessia’s POV
“Adrian, look out!” my mom yelled as she turned the wheel and was thrown from the vehicle.
“MOMMY!” I yelled as I jolted straight up.
Glancing around, I realized I was seated on the bare floor. I remembered walking back from the packhouse and feeling like I was being watched. I must have fallen asleep on the floor after lighting the candles.
Standing to my feet, I felt a chill run down my spine. I glanced out the living room window. The dark night sky offered no comfort, almost as if it had turned its back on me. The Wolf’s Moon was upon us, but even its light seemed to be casting me aside.
I closed my eyes and let out a deep sigh.
“Mom, Dad, Goddess, I miss you both,” I whispered.
“Oh, I am sure they don’t miss you, little orphan,” Jared said from behind me.
I quickly turned to see him standing ten feet away from me.
“W-what are you doing here?” I asked, my voice trembling.
He laughed. “I’m here to make sure you don’t get into any more trouble. You know, like earlier today when you had that little accident.”
He stepped closer, a wicked smile spreading across his lips.
My eyes scanned the room, hoping to find an exit. I took a step back, my heart racing. He chuckled, his eyes filled with amusement. I knew I was trapped, and I had no way of escaping.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and Alpha Vince walked in, followed by Alpha Markus.
“Alessia, Alessia, Alessia, you continue to cause problems. Today’s little episode may have cost us the treaty we had with that wretched Hector and Daunte. Now I have to explain why you were never a pack member, how we found you, and how your pathetic parents died,” Alpha Markus said.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, took a deep breath, and stepped closer to me.
“You are only here because I need someone to clean my house, and you do such a good job,” Alpha Markus continued.
“I thought she was here because she is a...” Alpha Vince began, but his words were cut off when Alpha Markus growled at him.
Both of their eyes glazed over as they had a private conversation. Whatever Alpha Vince was going to say, Alpha Markus clearly didn’t want anyone else to hear.
“You boys have a mess to clean up. Do it quickly, but don’t kill her. Not yet,” Alpha Markus said in a sinister tone.
He turned and walked out of the house.
“Well, this should be fun for us,” Jared said as he rushed toward me and pinned me against the wall.
His hand gripped my neck so tightly that it began to cut off my breath. I held back tears, trying to remain brave in the face of his grip.
Jared grinned. “Time to get to work.”
He threw me to the ground, and I crashed against a table in the corner, hitting my head in the process.
I groaned in pain as I felt a trickle of blood running down my forehead. My vision blurred, and I could barely make out Jared’s form looming above me.
He grabbed me by the arm and dragged me to the center of the room.
“Hold her down,” Jared ordered Vince, who happily obliged.
Jared leaned forward and unbuckled his belt.
“You disgust me,” he sneered as he pulled it off and began hitting me.
I screamed in pain, struggling against Vince’s grip. I begged him to stop, but he just laughed.
Jared continued to beat me. He finally stopped when he was too tired to continue.
I lay on the ground, bruised and in pain, too exhausted to move. Jared stood over me, looking down with a smug expression.
“Come on, Jared. Let me taste her again,” Vince said with a laugh.
“Do whatever you want. I’m done with this b***h for now,” Jared replied before turning to walk away.
As he left, I felt his boots against my back, and my body shuddered from the pain and humiliation.
Vince stepped closer, and I closed my eyes, bracing myself for his touch. He leaned in, and I could feel his breath on my neck.
“Poor little orphan, I’ll show you some love,” he said as he sat on my legs.
“Alessia...”
I heard a faint voice and looked up. There was my mother standing in the doorway. She smiled as she extended her hand to me, her hair floating behind her.
She looked so peaceful.
“Fight, baby girl, fight,” she whispered as she slowly disappeared.
“NO!” I yelled.
I shut my eyes tightly, and when I opened them again, she was gone.
“You’re mine,” Vince said, pulling me from my thoughts.
I had to fight back. There was no way I could sit there and let him have his way.
I mustered up what little strength I had left and waited as Vince straddled me. As soon as he leaned in, I shoved my knee into his groin.
A scream erupted from Vince as he rolled off me in pain.
I scrambled to my feet and quickly ran toward the kitchen and out the back door.
“Jared!” Vince yelled as I opened the door and ran into the forest.
I ran until I came to the hill I loved so much. I stopped to catch my breath for a second when I suddenly heard growls all around me.
At that moment, I knew they had called the pack warriors. I had to keep running.
I gathered myself together and made a run for the fields that lay ahead.
I could hear their growls in the distance, but I kept running. I wasn’t about to let them take me back. I would rather die at the hands of rogues than return to them.
Although I could sense their presence behind me, I didn’t dare look back. I just kept running until I finally reached the fields. I knew they wouldn’t leave the safety of the pack.
“WE WILL FIND YOU, YOU STUPID b***h!” I heard Jared yell.
I kept pushing forward, not knowing where I was going or what trouble might be lurking ahead, but I didn’t care. I had to get away from the Crestview Pack.
A surge of adrenaline rushed through my veins as I ran, and I felt a sense of freedom I hadn’t experienced in years.
I kept running until I was sure I had lost them. Then, I collapsed in a heap, exhausted but relieved.
Seeking refuge, I crawled beneath the branches of a weathered willow tree. My breaths came in ragged gasps as I tried to comprehend everything that had happened.
I was safe for now, but I knew I couldn’t rest until I found a way to protect myself permanently.
I looked up at the night sky.
“Save me, please,” I whispered.
I closed my eyes and sighed deeply as I curled up next to the tree, hoping the Moon Goddess had heard my words.