The Unworthy Mate

Chapter 2

Anaya spent the entire evening in the basement. She fell asleep soon after she laid down and woke up naturally a few hours later. No one came up banging on her door to wake her up or called her to do chores. It only meant that she wasn't needed yet.

Even after waking up at night, Anaya didn't go back outside. She could hear some music playing upstairs. It was the birthday song that the other kids were singing for Lupe. Anaya sat up with some difficulty.

"OMG! What have I done to deserve all this? she whispered to herself and started crying.

The blood on her back had already died and pulled at her skin. It was painful but nothing Anaya had not felt before.

The pain was the only familiar sensation she felt these days. Anaya slowly hummed the song in the basement.

Her low voice echoed after the song.

It made the basement even more gloomy. She drew a small cake shape into the dirt with her finger and blew on it when the song finished.

She is officially sixteen today.

"Happy birthday Arnold." Anaya whispered, "I miss you."

There wasn't a single day in Anaya's life when she was reminded of her brother. Every time she looked in the mirror, every time her parents looked at her with displeasure.

It always reminded Anaya that Arnold was not there anymore. Anaya wasn't too bothered by the change in her parent's behavior after Arnold died.

She was just five at that time. She didn't understand anything, let alone the deep emotions of mourning and hate.

She was told that she was

too much like Arnold and she reminded them of him. Anaya could understand that.

She also felt guilty and accepted her life as it came. But after Lupe was born, Lupe had an epiphany.

Lupe looked like Anaya too. She also took after their mother. But Lupe was treated like a princess. Why so? Wasn't she also just like Arnold?

"Lupe was given to us in exchange for Arnold. The goddess does pity us and she has given us his soul back. Lupe, isn't she just like Arnold? Her smile is just like his. "

Her father had spoken those words while he played with his two-month-old Lupe. Anaya had listened in. Her six-year-old self was left confused.

As she grew up, she finally completely understood. They hated her for taking away Arnold and treated Lupe as the goddess's gift and a replacement for their son.

Anaya was not loved or wanted in the house. She might as well have died in that rogue attack that killed her brother. At least in that way, her parents might be a bit remorseful towards her.

The singing had come to an end. More than two hours had passed and Anaya didn't realize. She sighed and put on her sweater.

It is too late to think about those things now. Since she didn't die at that time, Anaya had no plans to die anytime soon.

Although the pain and suffering seemed endless now, it wasn't forever.

Anaya knew there would be a day when she wouldn't have to suffer like this. When she will be free from this prison and fly up in the sky like a free bird. She didn't know when that day would arrive, but she was looking forward to it.

Anaya's bones were left by the aftershocks and it became hard to walk. She somehow went to the door and opened it.

Outside, it was quiet and dark. She crept her way out and went back into the attic. Everyone was asleep by now. It was already midnight.

In the attic, Anaya latched the door and changed out of her sweater. Her camisole was ruined. With her naked back exposed to the chilly night air, the wound didn't feel so painful anymore.

Anaya used a spatula to apply ointment to her back and clumsily wrapped a roll of bandage over it to help the ointment seep in.

Then she changed into a thin t-shirt and a pair of old cotton pants and laid down on the mattress with her stomach down.

The mattress had two pillows and a good enough quilt to cover her up on chilly nights like these.

But Anaya liked the cold. It made her numb to everything. She only wished it numbed away her thoughts and emotions as well. It would have been better if the cold had taken away her breath and soul too.

She found the line between life and

death almost as thin as a strand of hair. Neither were valuable to her and both were precious.

These thoughts were depressing but true for her. They were what gave her nightmares. Anaya hummed to herself on the lonely night. Her birthday had passed.

She had wished Arnold but no one wished her.

Teardrops soaked the single pillow under her head. Anaya didn't stop her tears anymore.

When no one was around, she let go of control over her tears and let them flow. Only by releasing them now, will she be able to control them tomorrow.

The night owls hooted at a distance, telling her that the night was still long.

Anaya wiped her tears and pulled the other pillow under her face. She felt drowsy from sleep.

Her eyes were blurred due to tears and sleep. She was a blink away from sleeping when a voice whispered.

The night owls hooted at a distance, telling her that the night was still long. Anaya wiped her tears and pulled the other pillow under her face.

Anaya felt drowsy from sleep. Her eyes were blurred due to tears and sleep. She was a blink away from sleeping when a voice whispered into her heart.

Very gentle and soft, it sounded like the comfort that Anaya craved. 'Happy Birthday Anaya'. Her wolf wished in a very gentle tone.

An

Paya smiled and said," Thanks Wolf!' before sleep took over her consciousness.