The Lost Heir of Silver Fang

Aria’s POV "Run, Aria! Run and don't look back!" My mother's scream echoed in my ears as I stood frozen, tears welling up in my eyes. I glanced at her and then at my father's lifeless body on the floor, surrounded by a pool of blood. "Run! Please!" Her voice cracked as she begged me. Then one of the men grabbed her throat. One of them looked up at me, and I ran. I ran as fast as my little legs could carry me, the cold wind howling in my ears. Tears blurred my vision as I fled down the path, away from our mansion, struggling to see where I was going. Behind me, my mother kept screaming. The sound grew farther and farther away, but I could still hear it. The thorny bushes tore at my legs, causing me to bleed. Despite the darkness, I didn't stop running until I slipped. I hit my head on a rock; it was a hard impact. The world spun around me, and everything faded to black. That was the last time I remembered who I was: Soriel Maddox, daughter of Lyra and Ashen Maddox of the Silver Fang pack. ** "Hah!" I woke up suddenly, gasping for air. I felt a sharp pain in my chest as I tried to catch my breath. It was always like this. Every night, I had the same dream. But when I woke up, I couldn't remember anything from it, only the lingering pain and fear that gripped my heart. What did it mean? Why did I keep having this nightmare? Bang! The door to my room slammed open, and I knew instantly who it was. I jumped out of bed and stood beside it, clutching my white nightgown tightly as my heart raced in my chest. "You woke up late, I see." My stepmother's voice was cold as ice. She walked toward me slowly, her eyes looked me up and down. I could see the disgust on her face. With each step she took, my body trembled more. "No, Mother," I whispered, keeping my eyes on the floor. I couldn't bring myself to look at her. She raised her hand, and I flinched, anticipating a slap. Instead, she gently tucked my hair behind my ear. "Can you stop acting like an i***t all the time?" she muttered. My throat tightened as I struggled to find the words to explain myself and apologize. She had saved my life, taking me in when no one else wanted me, providing me with shelter and a family. How could I ever stand up to her? "Time for your medicine," Mother said gently as she brushed my cheek, her nails lightly grazing my skin. Something about the way she touched me made me shiver. It didn't feel like love. It felt wrong and dangerous. I lifted my head and looked at her. She smiled at me, a warm, motherly smile. I had a sickness that required me to take medicine every single day; I didn’t know what it was, no one would tell me. Mother made sure I took it without asking questions. She held out a small cup. The liquid inside was dark and thick. The smell hit my nose, and my stomach turned. I wanted to refuse, but I opened my mouth anyway. The medicine was so bitter that it made me gag, and some of it spilled down my chin. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Mother's hand struck my face hard, causing me to blink back tears. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to," I begged. I hugged myself, trying to make myself smaller. "Do you think you're a child? Why can't you behave?" She continued scolding me, her voice growing louder and angrier. I could tell I had completely ruined her mood. "Ouch!" I cried out as she grabbed my ear and twisted it. She dragged me out of my room. I stumbled, trying to keep up with her. I didn't dare resist. She forcefully pushed me into the hallway, causing all the servants to stop working and stare at me. Their smirks and judgment were evident. My face burned with shame. "Mother, what's happening?" My adopted sister Lysa walked down the stairs. She looked like an angel. Her golden hair shone in the morning light. Her face was small and delicate, with innocent eyes and a sweet smile. We were nothing alike. She was heaven, and I was dirt. At least, that was what father and mother said all the time. "It's Aria," Mother snapped. "She can't behave herself. Always acting like a child." "That's okay. Don't be angry." Lysa took her mother's hand. "I'm sure she didn't mean it." Mother huffed and turned to glare at me. "I want you out of my sight right now." "Aria, why don't you apologize to Mother?" Lysa walked over to me. She took my hands in hers. I looked at her perfect face and whispered, "I'm sorry, Mother." The pain in my chest intensified, and tears streamed down my face. Lysa called one of the maids. "Mother, why don't you have some rest?" The maid led her away, and the other servants scattered, going back to their work. "Aria, walk with me." Lysa smiled sweetly. She hooked her arm through mine and pulled me toward her room. Her nails dug into my palm. I felt blood, but I didn't make a sound. As soon as we were inside and the door was locked, Lysa shoved me to the ground. I hit my head on the sharp corner of her table, causing a sharp pain to explode in my skull. When I touched my forehead, my fingers were stained red. "Do you know what I hate the most?" Lysa's voice changed completely. It was cold and cruel, her eyes turning dark. The sweet girl from a moment ago was gone. I shook my head. She grabbed a huge chunk of my hair and pulled my hair backward. "Keep up, sister, I hate you. I hate how you desperately try to make everything about you, make everyone worry about you. You like being the center of attention, don’t you?” "No, sister. I would never—" I begged. "Shut up!" she chided. "I don't want to hear your voice." She picked up a glass vase and threw it at my head. I ducked just in time. It shattered against the wall behind me. I knew this was my chance to escape. I began crawling towards the door. "Where do you think you're going?" Lysa's voice was sickeningly sweet again. "Clean this up." She pointed at the broken glass on the floor. I grabbed the broom and started sweeping. "No, use your hands." My throat tightened. The familiar sting of tears burned my eyes. I bent down and started picking up the glass pieces with my bare hands. I was filled with anger and frustration towards myself. I was tired of feeling weak and pathetic. Every fiber of my being urged me to fight back, to stand up for myself, and to stop allowing her to hurt me. But I couldn't. I was too afraid. "Ahh!" I cried out in pain as Lysa's shoe pressed down on my head. She pressed my face against the floor, the broken glass cutting my cheeks as blood streamed down my face. "You are a dog," she hissed. "And you will always be one." Tears trailed down my face as I struggled to get up. "Get out!" I ran. Tears and snot covered my face. I stumbled down the hallway to the bathroom and washed my face. I had to make myself presentable. Mother hated it when I looked sloppy. After I cleaned up the blood, I went back to work. I was walking past Mother's bedroom when I heard her crying. "You always do this!" she screamed. I stopped in my tracks, feeling my heart race. I knew I shouldn't listen, but I couldn't make my feet move. "I know I messed up, but I've fixed it already," Father replied. "I have a plan." "A plan? What plan? How can you fix this?" Mother was sobbing now. "Why can't you let go of your gambling addiction?" "He wants a wife in exchange for the debt," Father said quietly. My blood ran cold. "No!" Mother shouted. "That man is fifty-eight years old! Whatever idea you have in your head, let it go. My daughter will not marry an old man who isn't even human." Not human? I felt my body start to tremble and my eyes widen. What did she mean by that? "What are you thinking?" Father's voice was sharp. "Why would I send my jewel to that bastard?" There was a pause. A long, terrible pause. "You mean..." Mother's voice trailed off. My heart raced in my chest as my stomach churned. Despite not fully comprehending, I had a sinking feeling. I already had a sense of what they were going to say. "Yes, I meant Aria." Fear twisted inside me, but beneath it, something sharper burned. It was anger. "We've fed her and clothed her since she was a child," Father stated. "It's time she pays us back. That's the least she can do." I pressed my hand to my mouth, feeling the urge to cry, but I held it. I wouldn't cry because I've been crying for so long.