8. Raven
The cold breeze and the smell of the jasmine flowers from my mother’s grave surrounded my tiny room, the same room that used to be a*****e in the attic. I knew they were from her grave because that's the only place in the pack where there were jasmines. They were her favorite.
In fact, I used to have the best room in the house when my mom was still here. It had the best view of the orchard behind the mansion, the expanse of the forest and it received direct sunlight all day long.
I remember the day Morgan demanded my room, saying that it was painted and arranged to her taste and that she liked it. My father, Alpha Maddox, didn’t think twice before ordering the maids to throw my belongings into the storeroom and give the room to his daughter, Morgan. Since then, the attic had become my room.
“Follow your instincts darling!”
“Mother? Mother, are you here?” I asked, my body shivering from the cold within.
I was sure I had heard her voice, even though I couldn’t see her. I knew she was around. Her voice came through like a whisper in the wind, and I couldn’t quite grasp her words. I could feel her presence with me.
“When he comes, follow him! Go with him and don't hesitate.”
“Mother!” I called desperately, my eyes darting around the room.
My heart thumped in my chest, and my hands were glued to the cold floor. My head moved left and right so quickly I was sure it would ache later. The tears were long gone.
Deep down, I knew it was my mother. She had promised she would always be with me and protect me, but still, I was scared.
Who wouldn’t be scared of a soul that had already left the living world and was now probably with the Goddess?
I bit my lower lip, pulling myself together.
“M-Mother, what message do you want to deliver to me?” I asked, my voice trembling as the words escaped my lips.
The chilling wind that had tossed my books to the floor suddenly disappeared, leaving behind only the emptiness of the room, and the one in my heart. Now, I could hear only the thudding of my heart. She was gone.
“M-Mother? Mom? Are you still here?” I whispered. Surprisingly, I had been scared when she was here, but now that she was gone, I missed her already.
Slowly, I got up from the floor. The pain from before was gone, replaced by a deeper sadness clouding my heart.
I still couldn’t believe that I was going to be sent off to Alpha Kane, the monster of a man who slept with any woman he came across.
Sighing, I wiped the tears from my cheeks and decided that I had to do something. I couldn’t keep pitying myself. No one was going to get me out of my misery except me.
Sometimes, I wished I was Morgan. Her life was perfect. She had her mother, who would do anything for her. She stole my father, and both of them did everything to make her happy. She had loyal friends who followed her every command. A lot of male wolves wanted her. She was the apple of the Alpha’s eye. And she was strong too. She had turned and could defend herself and best of all, she had a man who loved her. My former mate, Alex.
But what about me? I had no one. Not even my wolf. I hadn’t turned. How could I, after all the pain my own family had made me endure, locking me in the dungeon for an entire week?
A bitter laugh escaped my lips, and I breathed heavily. My life was nothing like Morgan’s.
If my mother was still alive, maybe things would be different. At least I would have someone to stand by me. Unfortunately, wishes weren’t horses.
A sudden idea popped into my mind, and I rushed to the small window in the store.
Maybe it wasn’t over after all.
A smile broke out on my face as I stared out the window. This was enough for me. I wasn’t very big anyway. With all the beatings and torture, I had become as pale as a sheet of paper and as thin as a needle. I didn’t even like looking at my reflection anymore.
Back when my mother was alive, I used to be a beautiful girl with dark, curly hair that was hard to manage, but my mother made sure it was always styled. She made me look beautiful, especially with my deep blue eyes. She used to say my eyes were a gift from the Goddess of the sky. That they would make me a queen someday.
Another bitter laugh escaped my lips. That was all just imagination. Who would want a girl as thin as me for a mate let alone marry her as a queen?
“Dammit!” My heart pounded as another thought surfaced.
He had said he wanted me to be his, even if it was just to be his breeder. That stranger. Who was he? Quickly, I shook the thought away. That had only been a dream. Hadn’t it?
But then… did he really do something to me?
Of course he did. Why else would he say I had pups in my belly? It must have happened through s*x. And I was very hot last night. And now, my body was in pain and tired.
But strangely, I didn’t regret it. It was better that stranger than alpha Kane.
I had heard that the first time always hurt, that one might not even be able to walk afterward. But I didn’t feel anything like that though. Just a slight discomfort.
Quickly, I rushed to the bathroom to inspect myself.
“Goddess, he ruined my life. That stranger ruined my life!” I screamed into the toilet as I examined myself.
No one would want to be mated to me now. I could only end up with that fatty Alpha.
But what if that handsome stranger came for me?
“Ven, stop dreaming. That stranger only exists in your dreams.” I sighed at the nickname. My mom used to call me that. Even Alpha Maddox used to, until my mother died and everything changed.
A knock on the door pulled me back from my thoughts. I quickly adjusted my dress and stepped out of the bathroom.
Before I could even reach the door, it was pushed open and there stood Morgan.
Just looking at her made my blood boil. My fists clenched at my sides.
“Dear sister,” she said mockingly as she pushed me aside and stepped into my tiny room, the former storeroom that had now become my entire world.
I shivered at the look she gave me. Every time Morgan came to me with that smile, it meant disaster.