Stranger Of The Night:His Wolfless Mistress

Chapter 2

PRESENT DAY

I dropped the last book in my hand into the shelf and breathed a sigh of relief. It was just a few minutes past nine in the morning and Bella had gone to the market to get some foodstuff. Dad was back to the packhouse for an official meeting, leaving just me in the cave as usual. I looked around the room to see if there was any more work to do but there was none.

Bella had swept and done the dishes before she left. I had relaid my bed and arranged my books. I also did some dusting before rearranging my books again. I sat down to reread a few books but got bored and had to keep them back. I had been reading the same set of books for over a year now and could tell virtually everything each book is talking about without missing anything out.

I dropped the books back to the shelf and decided to take a stroll down the stream and maybe get some fruits when I get there. I got dressed in blue jeans and a red shirt and picked up a basket before heading outside. There were just a few guards outside the cave and they seems to be engrossed In a serious discussion, making it easier for me to leave without their knowledge.

I walked past them carefully, hiding my shadow behind trees. Soon, I was walking in the path of the stream. I met with two female pack members who gave me a disdained look but I ignored them. I had gotten used to such attitude from pack members. They muttered some inaudible words to themselves and scurried away. I could tell from their actions that they must have talked about my curse and ran away thinking I could infect them.

This had not been the first time I got such treatment from pack members. Some go as far as saying it to my face. Some just simply avoid me while others will throw things at me. In the past, I have always told my dad, about such treatment, every time I get home. And he would fish them out and punish them but I soon realized reporting them won't stop them from bullying me and that will only make me look weak so I decided to handle the situation in my way which has always been to ignore them.

I watched them leave. I shrugged and then continue with my journey, clutching my basket tightly in my hand. I soon got to the place I had tied up my horse five years ago and decided to sit down. This had been my usual routine for the past five years to stop by that place hoping to meet the one who had saved me. No one knew about what had happened to me that day as I had decided to keep it a secret until the day I finally met him. Though I do not know what he looks like because of the mask he had on, I had thought that he might come back to check on me or maybe come back to get the coat he left with me but he never showed up.

Every day for the past five years, I visit this place hoping to see him. I stood up from the ground and stared at the tree for the last time before heading towards the stream. I met a few other pack members on the way who either pave way for me or throw curses at me. I made sure to ignore them until I got to the stream and then dropped my basket on the floor. I climbed up the tree to plug some pears.

"Look who is up there" I heard someone say and I looked down to see the daughter of the Beta of the moonlight pack. A girl was standing beside her, whom I guess to be her friend, Jane. She stared dangerously at me and I wondered why. There had been no quarrel between us even though we hardly talk to each other.

"Hi, Helen. It's good to see you" I said waving at her but she ignored me.

I decided it was best to mind my business and not get involved with them. I plugged some pears and was about to throw them into the basket when I saw Helen pick up my basket. She looked at me with a smirk on her face and turned the basket over. I stared at her in shock as all the pears fell to the ground while some rolled into the stream. She threw the basket into the stream and folded her arms and I frowned. Jane busted into a series of laughter.

"That serves her right," Jane said after her laughter subsided.

"H-Helen, why did you do that?" I asked stuttering slightly.

"You mean this?" She asked in a reply, stepping on some of the pears and splitting them into pieces.

She had a smile on with no remorse and I got really angry. I jumped down from the tree and moved closer to her.

"You should apologize" I demanded and she scoffed.

"Apologize. To who?" She asked looking around.

I felt disrespected but decided to keep my cool. What she wanted was a fight and I won't be giving her that. I sucked in some air, mentally patting myself for doing a great job in not completely pissing off, and then turn to leave but was held back by Helen.

"Are you running away?" She asked and I sighed.

"I don't want trouble, Helen. Just let me go"

"To that cursed cave of yours?" She asked and Jane busted into laughter.

I frowned but said nothing.

"Helen, I don't think you should be touching her, or she will transfer her curse to you," Jane said and Helen released her grip on me.

"I can't get cursed," Helen said

"I am not cursed" I defended and they laughed.

"Who was born on the day the moon goddess cursed the werewolves?" Helen asked.

"Valerie, of course. Isn't that the reason she is made to live in that cave?"

"Of course it is. She can't even have a mate or a wolf. Isn't that unfortunate?"

I clutched my fist and tried to hold myself together.

"T-that's enough," I said calmly, trying not to flare up.

"And if we decided to keep talking what will you do?" Helen asked.

"Or do you want to threaten us with your curse?" Jane asked.

I could feel tears gathering up in my eyes as I tried so hard not to flare up completely. I could feel my body shaking with the wave of rage that swept over me.

"Helen, Jane. I said that's enough!!" I yelled.

"A-and if we don't," Helen said, pushing me roughly.

I glared at her and she chuckled nervously.

"I said that's enough," I said calmly.

She scoffed, I guess getting her courage back.

"We won't," Jane said pushing me further.

I wanted to let it go and not do anything but when I turned to leave, Helen dragged me by my hair towards her and I whined. I held my hair and tried to push her off. Jane held my hands to the back, allowing Helen to drag my hair even further.

"Please, just stop. I don't want any trouble. Just let me go"

"And if I don't what will you do?" Helen asked pushing me to the floor.

I bruised my elbow in the process but still decided it doesn't worth fighting for. I stood up and turned to leave.

"You killed your mother you witch," Helen said and I stopped moving.

"Don't talk about my mother" I answered, turning swiftly.

"And who are you to tell us what to talk about?" Helen asked.

"Your mother is so unfortunate to have you," Jane said.

"I am sure she regretted having given birth to you" Helen pressed further.

"Just stop. Please stop," I said, tears already streaming down my face.

Helen seems to have enjoyed hurting me caused she kept talking.

"Your mother..."

Without letting her finish up her sentence, I dashed at her and grabbed her by the hair.

"When I say that's enough, I mean it's enough"

She tried to pull her hair away from my hand while Jane dragged me by my waist. I pushed Jane off with my leg and held Helen so strongly.

"Y-you're pulling my hair off. Get off me!!" she yelled trying to free herself from me but my grip was strong.

Jane dashed towards me with her fist clutched tightly but I was quick to see her and turned Helen towards her instead. Her fist landed on Helen's back and she whined in great pain. Jane staggered backward in great shock. I could tell Helen was in great pain but I wasn't satisfied with the result yet. I landed a slap across her face. It was so hard her lips busted. She grabbed my hair and bit me by my hand. Jane joined Helen and they inflated some injuries on me.

It took me time to get them off me. I was bleeding from my nose and also on my hand. While I was trying to nurse my wound, Jane ran towards me with a stone. She threw it at me and it landed on my knee. I whined slightly trying to endure the pain. Helen dashed at me but I pushed her away to nurse my knee. Jane ran towards me, allowing me to grab her by the hair. Helen ran off leaving Jane to me.

Although I knew my dad and Bella will be furious when they hear about what I did and I was also bleeding furiously on my right knee and other parts of my body, I couldn't help but beat her up to my satisfaction.

**

I walked into the cave limping slightly only to meet the angry eyes of my father and I could tell he was angry. Bella was pacing around the cave and had stopped when she saw me. She ran towards me.

"Va-Val. Are you alright?. You look badly hurt" Bella said, concern evident in her voice. I smiled wearily at her.

"I-i'm fine. You don't have to worry about me"

"You don't look fine to me. Look? Your knee is badly hurt. You have bruises all over your body and face. You..."

"That's enough!!!" Dad yelled, staring dangerously at me.

Bella flinched while I remain in my position. Dad walked toward me and I tried to look as calm as possible. He slapped me across the face and I staggered backward. Bella rushed towards me and tried to hold me but dad held her.

"Leave us alone," he said in a calm voice.

Bella looked at me and I had to give her an assuring smile even though right inside of me I was shattered. Bella sighed and finally left, leaving just me and my dad. There was an awkward silence as I waited for my fate.

"Why did you do it?" My dad spoke up and I stared at him.

He wasn't looking at me but I could tell he was trying to be calm.

"I-i... I-i'm sorry dad"

"Why did you do it!!!" He yelled and I flinched.

His voice was resounding and fearful.

"I-i... I-i..."

"Don't make me repeat myself, Valerie Hudson" dad said.

That was his first time calling me by my full name and also using the Alpha tone on me.

"T-they cursed my mom" I replied and he frowned.

"T-they cursed your mom?" He asked. There was a hint of surprise in his voice and his face had softened completely.

I nodded. "Yes, father. I did not mean to fight them. They called me a cursed child and when I told them to stop they wouldn't stop. They were the first to pour my fruits away and threw my basket into the stream. They said..."

"That's enough," he said.

I stared at him and he sighed, brushing his hair backward in frustration, I guess. "Bella" he called.

Bella ran out. "You called me"

"Take Val to her room and attend to her wounds. Bring her to the packhouse after that"

I batted my lashes, knowing the only reason I got summoned to the pack house is for punishment. I wondered what sort of punishment the people who don't love me will ask that they give me and if my dad will accept it. He wasn't looking at me when he spoke to Bella and I was sure he won't look at me when I stand in front of the elders. He doesn't have much say when it comes to my issues and I guess that was the reason he is angry. I watched him leave while Bella moved closer to me to hug me. I let out the tears that had gathered up.

"I-i'm so sorry, Bella. I am..."

She placed her index finger on my lips.

"There is nothing to be sorry for, Val. I know you had your reasons. And your dad knows that too"

I sniffed. "D-do you know the punishment I might get?"

She stared at me worriedly. "You haven't done something that deserves much punishment but with the elders and so many angry pack members, I think you might be getting a punishment that is more than you deserve"

I sighed. I knew that too but I was too afraid to accept that. "Can you take me to my room?"

Bella nodded. She helped me get back to my room and then began to attend to my wounds.

"How did dad find out?" I asked.

"News circulated that the cursed daughter of the moonlight Alpha had beaten up the daughter of the Beta and her friend and she is unconscious"

I batted my lashes. "W-who is unconscious?"

"Helen is"

I sighed. She wasn't unconscious when she ran away. I did not even beat her up like I beat Jane up. "I-i did not beat her to stupor, Bella. I did not. She was ok when she left. It was not at fault, Bella"

"I know"

"They started first. They gather up against me. I was the victim. I..."

"Val, should I be sincere with you?"

I nodded.

"They seem to be the victims. Though they might have started the fight and you are the victim, no one will believe that. Everyone is begging that you get punished severely," Bella told me

I stood up slowly. "Let's head to the packhouse, Bella. I will face whatever punishment I am been given"

Bella stared at me and I smiled. We both knew there was no way I would prove being the victim. No one liked me and no one will support me.

**

I walked into the packhouse as they threw things at me and called me different names. Bella tried to stop them but they were too much for her and she ended up getting some rotten food on herself too.

I was dragged by some pack members to my dad and the elder and was made to kneel. Though I had bruises all over me, they seems to care less about that. I stared at my dad who looked away immediately leaving me to the fate of the elders. I had expected them to ask me what had transpired between the three of us but instead, everyone began to suggest the kind of punishment they think I deserve.

"She is a murderer" someone yelled and I batted my lashes.

I did not kill anyone. I looked around for Helen but did not see her. Only Jane was seated and she had bandages all over her body. She stared at me with a smirk on her face and I knew immediately Bella was right. Helen could be unconscious. But I did not beat her up.

"What if I was set up," I thought "And the people had bought their lies as true. What will become of me?"

"She should be hung to a tree and fed to the vulture" someone suggested.

"She should be tied to a horse and dragged around the village until she dies" another suggested.

Everyone who suggested a punishment suggested the one that will lead to my painful death. I watched them argued about which punishment best suits me and wondered why they had refused to let me speak.

"Enough!" One of the elders yelled and there was silence. "Valerie Hudson is guilty of attempted murder. No one knows when the Beta's daughter will wake up. I suggest the Alpha should decide what will be done to her," he said and I batted my lashes.

There was silence as everyone stared at my father to hear what his judgment will be. I held my clammy hands together, hoping my dad will have mercy and give me a mild punishment.

"S-she will be killed at the training ground, tomorrow," my dad said and my jaw dropped. Everyone gasped in surprise. "Take her away and lock her up," he said standing up.

I was lifted off my feet. "Dad. Dad!. Dad!!. They can't take me away. I have done nothing wrong! Dad!!!"

As I was dragged away, I kept staring at my dad. All I wanted was for him to look at me but he did not. Only Bella was wailing and every other person stared at me. And though they had all wanted me to die, they had not just surprised looks on their faces but also worried looks.