Curses & Cure: My Seven Werewolf Daddies

Chapter 6: Evelyn

Evelyn's p.o.v.

Makeup, it could be referred to as our second skin, I thought as I blended the foundation on my pale white cheeks. It has the power to not only enhance our physical appearance but also conceal the sadness that lies deep within our hearts. Like a tool that we can use to mask the pain and struggles that we face in our lives, not just the scars that may be visible on our faces.

Just like right now, this concealer is hiding the ugly bruise on my jaw, even fooling me that there was no scar to begin with, which means I shouldn't be angry or sad or disrespected about last night. There is no scar, so Bob never punched me last night. Simple, isn't it?

I smiled, looking at my pretty face. See, makeup is like magic. It hides everything. All the pain, all the bruises. Everything is gone.

Standing up, I picked up my tiny little black bag, tugged it over my shoulder, and gave one last glance at myself in the cracked dirty mirror....blue boot-cut jeans, I bought last month from a theft store and a white tank top...which makes my tiny boobs look a lot bigger. Turning around I gaped at my perfectly round ass. Good.

My body is the only beautiful thing I'd left, the only asset. And I am not ashamed to use it when needed.

Yeah...you can call me a slut if you want to. I am a stripper after all...But when you grew up in an environment like this, with drugs and thugs and perverts, things like morals didn't matter anymore.

All that matter is survival. And I am surviving at all costs for the past nine years. I'll do just fine this year too.

Leaving my long black curls wet and open, I left my room and walked into the kitchen downstairs. And just as usual, found it spotless. Aunt Melanie is such a clean freak...but then, my eyes shifted to Bob, waiting for me at the dining table with his disgusting black eyes on my boobs.

Ugh, when did she going to throw that garbage?!

Probably never. She loved Bob. Not anymore though. Now, she is dependent on him. Bob is like cancer, it grows and grows and grows until every cure becomes useless, and all you can do is suffer and wait for death.

In short, Aunt is addicted to drugs, and only Bob can provide them without taking money in return. He took other things from her, I rather not think about. My eyes softens as I noticed Aunt Melanie taking something out from the fridge, her back facing me...I sighed, she is trying so hard to leave drugs though.

After Austin, my cousin born last year, she finally decided to open her eyes and change for good.

It's too late for me, she never protected me. But I am happy she decided to do that for Austin. He deserves a good life, away from this s**t. I just hope Aunt Melanie chooses her kid over drugs and won't repeat the same mistake she did with me...

I shrugged my shoulder. Okay. Too many gloomy thoughts...these birthdays made me freakier than usual. I always started thinking like some sad lonely sociopath. And I don't have enough time to waste on these life-related thoughts anyway, I have an exam to crack!

So, I pushed my thoughts back into my mind and walked towards the open kitchen. The countertops gleamed under the dim overhead lights, and the sink was free of dishes. As I glanced around the room, my eyes landed on the dining table, which was set with last night's leftovers. Despite being a day old, the food still looked appetizing and I couldn't help but feel tempted by the delicious aromas that wafted through the air.

Gulping my drool, I pushed a chair back and crouched down on my usual seat, at the left of Bob. I smiled up at him, as brightly as I could.

" Good morning.", I greeted and he nodded.

Always smile in the mornings, greet properly, and don't be a wimp...Rule one.

" Have you learned your lesson last night?"

My jaw clenched at that question, I looked up at Aunt for help but like always her back was facing me... she was probably acting like she hadn't heard her husband, like always. But I'd never hold that against her, she has her own demons to deal with. And I gave up on the hope a long time ago that someone will save me. So this ignorance didn't bother me anymore.

I clenched the spoon tightly, maintaining my bright smile as I stared back at him, " Yes sir, I did. I will not steal from you again.", I said with sincerity.

Always call me sir. Not uncle, not dad, or other bullshit...Rule two.

" Good."

I sighed and focused on shoving the food in my mouth before I puke all over his ugly f*****g face.

" Here.", Bob passed a glass of papaya juice to me. It's his favorite. Not mine though. The mere smell of papaya made me want to vomit.

" Drink it."

I picked up the glass and drank that disgusting fluid in one breath, without putting up any fight.

Rule three...Never say no to me. Never.

These were some rules Bob had made me follow. His roof, his rules, remember? Obviously, I wasn't always good at following the rules. I put up a good fight...even called the copes ones. But nothing happen to him, they didn't even question him.

Because Bob is in Cartels, a dangerous gang. Even if he was murdering someone in front of those officers, they would have preferred to look the other way instead of saving that person. And I... I was only a teenager, accusing him of forcing me to let him watch when I bathe. It wasn't a big deal for them, at least not enough to endanger their and their families' life.

No one can escape Bob.

So eventually I stopped fighting. People will call me a coward or maybe I am...But I just wanted to survive, survive at any cost. And after what he did to me because of that cop incident, I hadn't left any strength to fight anyway.

Living with Bob made me realize that there are a lot worst things than death.

I peeked at his bald tattoed head to his ugly face...seeing his face every day made my insides cringe...

" Happy birthday, pumpkin."

My body suddenly jerked hearing Aunt Melanie's excited voice, her smiling face dragged me out of my dark thoughts. I smiled back at her, she is doing better now. And I believed in second chances, she is trying to protect me now, and that's all matters.

With a gentle touch, she patted my head and then reached for a small cake, placing it in front of me.

" You don't have to do it...", I exclaimed, looking between her and the cake, " Thank you."

The cake was adorned with a single, tiny candle, its flame flickering in the dimly lit room. As soon as I caught a glimpse of the cake, my mouth began to water - I could already taste the chocolate vanilla goodness.

My aunt had always known how to make me happy, and this cake was no exception. The delicate layers of moist chocolate cake alternated with creamy vanilla frosting, creating a perfect harmony of flavors. With each passing moment, my anticipation grew, and I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into the delectable treat that lay before me.

" You are finally eighteen hunn?"

But then... Bob opened his filthy mouth and just like that, I snapped back to reality. My life is no fairy tale. How can I forget?!

" No, seventeen.", I muttered lowly, giving a side glance to him. But he just laughed with food in his big mouth, " Ah, it doesn't matter anymore, does it?"

" We talked about this, Bob.", Aunt interrupted. Her voice was a little loud, making me surprised too. Her emerald eyes glared back at him, " She will not join until she turned eighteen."

Bob shook his head and stood up, " Fine, fine...just one more year.", he chuckled and left the room, leaving me in sweat.

My eyes looked down at the delicious cake, but I don't have any appetite for it anymore. So I also decided to leave for school after giving a quick peck to Aunt and Austin. He giggled when I left sloppy kisses on his cheeks. My baby cousin is so adorable.

I only wish, unlike me, he will be able to escape his monster of a father.

I wrapped my hands around my torso as I walked on the empty street. This side of town is dangerous, people got shot here almost every other week. And judging how every shop is closed and only a dog and some homeless kid is roaming in the street...there's definitely been another shooting incident yesterday. I heard the sirens last night.

My legs were moving, eyes were glued to the street but my mind was repeating those words again and again. Just one more year. It's not enough time.

But Bob will not wait. I was already working as a stripper for his boss...and if next year I hadn't managed to get out from this hell, he will make me join prostitution. Bob will make sure to recover all the money my mom borrowed from him...I am nothing but a bad investment to him.

However, selling my body means more money, I could pay him fast and could finally be free.

But I had a feeling that once I did that, it will be no way out, that I will cross a line, I could never return from, that I will be stuck there forever...selling my body every night. I frowned. That's not how I want to survive. And it's not like it's something about morals, I don't have any morals and I am no place to judge any job anyway. But still... I don't want to do that, don't want another monster above me again.

I will not be able to take that.

As I walked down the deserted street, suddenly a shiver ran down my spine, causing me to look over my shoulder. Once again, I had that inexplicable feeling that someone was following me. It's happening too often now. This feeling of being hunted.

But this time, I didn't let my fear get the best of me. Instead, I slowed my pace, trying to gather my thoughts and figure out what to do next.

Suddenly, I felt a warm presence close behind me. Without hesitation, I turned around and bumped into someone, knocking them off balance. As the person fell to the ground, I couldn't help but feel a mix of fear and confusion. My heart started pounding, so fast that it felt like it wasn't even beating before. My eyes stuck to that person, my breath hollowed...and my body, its shivering, as if tingles running through every inch of my flesh.

I wanted to run, I should run. But I stepped closer anyway. My body was still shivering, mind alerted as if stepping closer to a wounded wild animal.

" Why are you following..."

I stopped as he tilted his head up and our eyes met...what's happening to me. He stood up, but I couldn't move. I was just stuck in front of him, captivated by his...scent? What the hell...why my senses are suddenly at their peak? And what's this scent, his perfume? But it felt so...so familiar, like home.

My head tilted up, he is tall...so tall, I thought as the sunshine touched his pale white skin. And then, I saw a young man with the most beautiful grey eyes staring back at me. His black hoodie had slipped from his head, revealing his soft, jet-black hair.

Wait... He not only smell familiar, but he looked familiar too. I took a step closer, but he backed away, biting his lips nervously as I took yet another dangerous step close to him, making him again back away. I smirked.

Now the hunter is being hunted...