The Girl Without A Wolf

04

“You rotten b***h!”

A harsh slap whipped across my face, instantly splitting my lip. I fell hard. Why does it always have to be like this? A slamming pain bloomed in my temple, and I couldn’t help but cry out.

“How dare a trash like you hurt my precious daughter?” A vicious kick landed on my side. I didn’t mean to… I screamed, clutching the spot as I curled into a fetal position.

A sharp heel pressed into the side of my neck, the owner’s deadly intention clear.

“You should have been killed the moment everyone knew you were a glitch. Your existence has been nothing but trouble.” The heel pressed down harder. Maybe they’re right… Maybe I really am just a curse. I began to choke.

“Why don’t you do the whole world a favor and end your pathetic existence? I’m pretty sure nothing will miss you…”

My breaths were cut off, and black spots danced at the edges of my vision. This is it… This is how I die. Just as I was certain I would meet my maker, a commanding voice rang out, “Stop.”

“What?”

“Release her.”

“But why—”

“Release her.”

The heel was lifted off my neck and I gasped desperately for air. Careful, muted footsteps approached. A rich, dark woody cologne filled my senses just before I looked up and met stormy grey orbs.

The man crouched with fluid, predatory grace that sent a chill through my heart. He studied me carefully, his gaze lingering on my busted lip.

“Does it hurt?” His husky, rich voice carried an unexpectedly gentle, almost inquisitive tone — as if he actually wanted me to complain to him. It was too good to be true.

I nodded slowly, uncertain.

For a split second, something dark and cruel flickered across his face. Then his expression hardened into pure disgust.

My head slammed back onto the rugged floor as a vicious slap connected with my cheek, this time with claws extended. The pain was blinding. I screamed as the side of my face burned like acid had been poured on it.

“Now listen to me very well,” a large hand yanked my head back by my hair. I winced, staring into eyes blazing with volcanic anger.

“You had better pray that your sister wakes up from her coma. Because if she doesn’t, I will personally end you myself, Glitch.”

“D-Dad—”

My head was flung aside. “Take her to the underground room before I snap her neck.”

Iron-like hands clamped around my elbows, harshly dragging me to my feet. “D-Dad, I didn’t mean to hurt Bianca. Please forgive me!” I pleaded, struggling against the two male wolves who half-dragged me toward the exit.

“Dad, please! I didn’t mean to!” I tried to look back but couldn’t. “Dad, don’t let them take me away!” My desperate cries were ignored.

“Elle, Elle!”

My mom bolted toward me the instant I was dragged out. Her hair was disheveled, and her face etched with worry. She tried to reach me, but the guards stationed outside held her back firmly.

“Mom! Mom, please help me!” I sobbed. The salty tears made the claw marks on my face sting sharply.

“Elle, don’t be frightened, okay? I promise I’ll get you out.”

“Mom!”

“Don’t be scared, Elle. I will think of something.”

I was taken down the flight of stairs on the right side of my father’s office. The air grew colder and heavier with every step, thick with the stench of mildew and old urine. When we reached the dungeons, I was shoved into a cold, stinky cell. The gate slammed shut and locked with a heavy clang that echoed through the darkness.

Scrambling to my feet, I rushed to the bars. “Wait! Please don’t leave me here!” I begged, my voice cracking. They ignored me. The thick metallic door that sealed the dungeons shut with a resounding bang.

For a while, I just stared into the gloom. The reality of my situation slowly sank in as it became clear they weren’t coming back.

I dropped to the filthy floor like a bag of flour, my palms slapping against the grime. The stone was damp and freezing, slick with something I didn’t want to identify. My throat tightened as heavy sobs broke free. I didn’t try to stop them.

Why did I do that? Yes, Bianca had always been cruel to me for as long as I could remember. Still, I had never done anything like what happened today.

It was like something else took over. A vengeful wraith had consumed me in a single snap. No wonder everyone saw me as an abomination. No wonder they treated me worse than dirt.

I deserved this.

I didn’t know how long I remained in that dungeon. There was no window, only a single flickering bulb overhead that cast weak yellow light and created deep, shifting shadows. The air was thick with the sour smell of rot, rust, and waste. Every breath left a metallic taste on my tongue.

Snot and dried tears coated my face. The side of my cheek throbbed relentlessly from the deep cuts, sending sharp sparks of pain every time I touched it.

Despite the heavy sorrow in my heart and the grim reality of my situation, I eventually dozed off. I jerked awake several times whenever I heard the scurrying rats drawing closer. I was just about to drift back into the welcoming embrace of Morpheus when I heard a key slide into the lock, twist, and the metallic door creak open.

“Elle! Oh, thank God, you’re alright!”

I jolted upright at the sound of my mother’s voice. She stood in front of my cell, gripping the bars tightly, tears brimming in her eyes. I rushed toward her, feeling like a lost chick finally seeing its mother.

“Mom, Mom, I didn’t mean to hurt Bianca. I don’t even know how it happened. You have to believe me.” I grasped her hands desperately.

“Oh honey, of course I believe you. I know the kind daughter I raised. You would never do something so terrible.” She gently touched my left cheek and I flinched, hissing in pain.

Mom’s eyes turned into a raging storm. “That bastard…! How dare he?”

I managed a small, weak smile.

“We need to hurry, Rebecca,” a deep voice said. A shadow appeared behind Mom. It was Ethan, my father’s beta.

Mom stepped aside as he quickly unlocked the cell door. The moment I stepped out, I threw myself into her warm embrace.

“Let’s go.” She pulled back abruptly. Taking a ruby red cloak from Ethan, she draped it over my shoulders and pulled the hood up, completely covering my head. “This will keep anyone from noticing it’s you.”

Mom grabbed my hand, and we hurried after Ethan, who led the way.

“What’s going on?” I whispered, threads of unease twisting in my stomach.

“Shh, don’t say anything. I’ll explain everything once we’re safely out.”

We moved swiftly through the massive halls, and the strangest part was that no one stopped us. No one even asked to see who was under the hood. It was as if I were invisible.

The sky had darkened outside. The large courtyard was lit by glowing electric lamps. A few men stood chatting by the fountain as we strode past them toward the main gate.

A sleek blue sports car waited just beyond the gate. Ethan unlocked it and we climbed in. He shifted into drive and sped away from the packhouse.

I pulled back the hood. “Okay, what’s going on?” I asked, glancing between Mom and Ethan. I was still surprised by the presence of the usually brooding man.

His unapproachable aura and austere face made most people avoid him entirely — his mere presence struck fear into anyone nearby.

No one answered.

Mom cast a worried glance out the window. Whatever she saw made her sigh in relief.

“No one is coming yet,” she said to Ethan, offering him a wobbly smile.

My father's beta scoffed, “It’s only a matter of time before they realize what happened. That gives us a small window of opportunity to get her on a bus.”

I frowned, bewildered and slightly irritated. Where are we even going? What bus? “What’s going on?”

Mom chewed her lower lip as she turned to face me. The raw fear in her eyes confirmed the dread pooling in my stomach. She took my hand and rubbed it gently. “Elle, I don’t know how to say this…You see, the thing is… it’s not really your fault but—”

“Your stepmother wants you dead and your i***t father agreed,” Ethan cut in bluntly. “You’ll be dead in that cell by first light.”

Wait… what? Dead? I broke into violent shudders.

“Ethan!” Mom snapped, her protective instincts flaring. “Did you have to be so blunt?”

“You’re beating around the bush and she needs to know the truth before she leaves. Besides, we’re here.”

The car pulled up to a bus terminal. Ethan killed the engine, then handed Mom a bus ticket, a thick wad of cash, and a small piece of paper with an address. “Say your goodbyes.”

This can’t be happening… They want me to leave right now?

With a final glare at Ethan, Mom pulled me out of the car and led me toward the waiting bus.

“Here,” she quickly took off her hoodie and made me wear it. “For your face,” she said softly.

Then she pressed the ticket, money, and address into my hands and cupped my cheeks, careful with my injured side. “You need to leave tonight. Go to this address. Your father won’t be able to find you there.”

“What? No, I—”

“I have to do this, Elle!” Mom cut in, her voice soft but breaking as tears streamed down her face. “I don’t trust your father not to listen to that b***h. You have to go.”

Leave everything behind? Just like that? “But what about you? Won’t Father suspect you?”

“Don’t worry about me. Ethan has a plan.”

I shot a distrustful look toward the car. “I don’t trust him.”

“Well, I do, and that’s what matters.”

A loud honk sounded from the car. Mom gently pushed me forward. “Go.”

My feet felt like lead. I couldn’t move.

“Go, Ashrielle. Please. Do it for me,” Mom sobbed.

Choking back my own tears, I walked toward the bus. I showed my ticket and climbed aboard. From my seat by the window, I watched Mom get back into the car. As it drove away, the dam finally broke, and I burst into heavy sobs.