THE LYCAN KING’S BRIDE

FLORIDA'S POV “Mother please don't leave me!” I desperately clung to my mother's legs, begging her not to leave. “I have to go, Florida,” My mother said, trying to push me away as she held the door. My eyes watered and streamed down my cheeks as I sobbed, "Please, Mommy, don't go! I need you! Please don't leave me!" However, my mother's face was cold and hard, and she nonchalantly pulled away from my grasp. “You can't stop me," she said, her voice devoid of emotion. "I can't stay here any longer. You'll be fine without me in the pack." She added coldly, not minding the tears that kept rolling down my pained face. “No!” I cried out vehemently, shaking my head vigorously as I held her as if she was my last breath... Of course, she was. Regardless, my mother shoved me aside, grabbed her luggage, and left, never to be seen ever again. “MOTHER!!!” I screamed my lungs out, my heart broke as I watched her walk out the door until she faded away. I collapsed on the floor, my body trembling with grief mixed with sadness. I was left all alone. All alone in this wicked world! My beloved father died two years ago in a rogue attack, and it didn't take my mother a second thought to get remarried even when apparently the man wasn't her second-chance mate! Soon after, Damian, My stepfather started to show his true colors. Every second, minute, and hour, he was always in his beastly form, tormenting my life. Each time my mother would try to keep me protected from him, but it wasn't enough, and Now, my mother had left me. She has left me behind to deal with the monster she brought into my life. She could no longer protect me not more than herself. Just as I was wallowing in sorrow, the devil incarnate chose to show up! “What's all this crying about, girl?” he growled with malicious eyes. "Didn't your mother teach you not to be a mutt?" He entered the living room, his presence reeked of alcohol and cigars. Just as he attempted to approach me, with his cruel hand outstretched, I recoiled from his touch in deep fear. "Plea-please, j-just leave me alone," I stuttered, begging, but my stepfather seemed not ready to heed me. He aggressively lung forward and I gasped in terror, he snatched my arm more tightly and with his claws digging into my skin. "You are just a weak wolfless i***t,” he glared at me murderously, “You'll do as I say, girl," he hissed. “Y-yes stepfather,” I shuttered fearfully, not wanting to agitate him. “Good Girl,” he sneered, showing off his ugly brown set of teeth. He hesitated for a moment, grabbed my chin forcefully, and whispered dangerously. "If you ever dare to act stubborn, I'll send you straight to the packhouse," He threatened. My eyes widened, and I knew he could feel my body tremble in a nightmare. “You know what they do to wolfless girls like you there. I'd be doing you a favor if I just got rid of you now." He smirked. My heart knotted in fear, I knew he was right, I mean when he mentioned the packhouse; it was a place of horrors for wolfless girls like me. The pack members hated us with disgust and hatred, their loathe grew increasingly when I was unable to transform into my Wolf like every other average Wolf would. If he, by any means sends me over to dwell in the packhouse, I would be overly mistreated like a slave, beaten and abused like never before. I was already frightened of my stepfather, but the thought of the packhouse filled me with even more dread. “I… I will be good,” I stammered like a fish out of the water, I promised him just to keep my head alive. My stepfather snorted with disgust and threw my head away, he stood and kicked my belly. “Set the table for dinner!” He stormed out of the house. I whined in severe pain and clenched my belly tightly as I balked on the ground. After a few minutes of recuperating, I struggled to stand on my feet before I headed to the kitchen to start dinner for him. I knew I had to be careful, the slightest mistake could set him off, and I didn't want to face his wrath. As I stepped into the kitchen, despite my aching body, I started to rummage for the food items to get his meal prepared. However, while I moved about the kitchen, my unsettled mind was racing with thoughts of escape… I knew I couldn't stay here any longer, I had to find a way out, or else he’d chop my head off. My mother has left to save herself, she abandoned me to my fate. I'm all alone now with no one to defend me and I needed to find a way out, all alone. While I tried to focus on the task at hand, my thoughts kept wafting to my freedom. I knew Demian despised me just like everyone else in the pack, and that he only married my mother just to have a roof over his head. He was merely an omega, his mate rejected him and went after the man she loved. As a cause of this, his brutality grew and he was deeply subjected to drinking and gambling. Sometimes I wonder why my mother made that regretful choice to take the plunge with him. Possibly because of his sugarcoated words? Abruptly, I heard my stepfather's approaching footsteps, my heart raced into a wave of anxiety as I quickly forced myself to calm down. No matter what happens, I will escape tonight! ‘Perhaps, how about I drug his meal a little just to weaken his stability before I make the perfect run afterward?’ I thought intently. “You silly girl! Florida, ain't you dine yet?!” I heard Demian’s growl. Darn him! I wish I had my Wolf, I wished I wasn't weak and vulnerable, I wish I was strong enough to encounter him. “I'm coming!” I raised my voice so he could hear me as I hurriedly arranged his meal on his tray. I trembled as I placed the food in front of him, my heart pounding in my chest. He picked up the spoon, ready to greedily dig in and I was more than happy. After all, my plan will soon come true! All of a sudden, Damian looked up at me with his eyes cold. “How sure am I that you didn't poison this food?" he asked, his tone mocking me and berating me as usual. “W-what?” I was too scared to speak, my mind started to race with anxiety. Did he see me put the drug in his food? Yes, I knew I drugged his food, but I'm not capable of killing someone. I'm not a murderer~ Deep down I knew that one wrong word could set him off, and I didn't want to anger him further. “N-no, I won't dare poison you, my stepfather,” I simply replied, hiding my nervousness as I prayed that he would accept my answer. “Hmm, stepfather?” He sneered repeatedly while mocking me more. I gulped down drily, and my hands behind me tightened. The air was thickened with tension “Then why don't you have a taste first, my beloved stepdaughter?” He said ironically as he pushed the plate forward to me. What! I deadpanned. I was doomed. This man was no fool, have I forgotten he had once lived a rough life in the slum? “I… I… I'm not hungry,” I shuttered, and beads of sweat broke out of my face. “You thought I'm a fool? You better eat before I lose it… Florida Cummins!” He stated with a tone of finality, his eyes darkened.