Heir of Luna

~5~

A quiet week passes by, I do my best to avoid Josiah and Issy at school. I study with Ricky a couple of times in the library before school. My father has been uncharacteristically quiet for the last few days. This is probably the longest he has gone without attacking me since I moved back in.

I walk up the driveway to our house and open the door slowly. I cannot hear anything, I don’t think he is home.

That is not good news though. If he’s out, then he will be drinking.

I hurry into the kitchen and find out a pack of ramen noodles. After cooking them I quickly eat and wash everything up. Then I proceed upstairs. I only make it halfway upstairs when the front door opens. My body freezes in terror, I thought I would have a little longer to prepare myself.

“She probably isn’t back from school yet,” I hear my father’s slurred voice. “Let’s grab a beer and wait for her.”

“I am glad we could reach an agreement.” An unfamiliar voice responds. Two sets of boots heading toward the kitchen.

I slowly take the next step up, ensuring not to set off any creaks. “If she’s willing then maybe we could make a regular arrangement to clear your tabs.”

My stomach drops but I will myself to keep moving. I need to reach my bedroom and lock the door.

“Willing?” My father scoffs a laugh. “She is my daughter, she will do as I say.”

I hear the fridge opening before before the snap of a beer cap.

I reach the top step and close my eyes in relief. Just to make it to my bedroom now.

A ringtone begins to blare and I grasp at my coat pocket. I press every button possible and the ringtone stops.

I glance down the stairs and find my father and an unknown man starring at me.

“So you are home from school then?” My father states with distain.

“Hello flower,” the man smiles and flashes his yellowing teeth. “Your father here owes me a little debt.” He begins to walk up the stairs. “He offered up your virginity as payment flower.”

What the actual f**k? I knew my father was a terrible person but I never believed he would go that far.

He is halfway up the stairs when I bolt across the landing. I make it into my bedroom and slam the door. Only it reopens before I manage to slide the lock into place. It slams into my face and I hear my nose crack. Blood begins to trickle down my face. I kick at the door and it bounces back at the man.

I dart across my bed and pick up the lamp before throwing it at the man. It smashes off his shoulder and falls to the floor. He dives across the bed and slams me into the wall. His hand wraps around my neck, pushing my head against the wall.

“I was considering going slow but I can see you aren’t going to cooperate flower.” His other hand slides up my stomach before squeezing my breast.

He moves us and throws me over the desk before grabbing at my waist band.

I find a pencil and ram my hand behind me, it finds its target. He shouts out in pain and his grip loosens. I shove at him and make a quick move. I dart out my bedroom door and down the stairs. I find my father sitting in the living room with his beer. I don’t wait for him to get up before I am running for the front door.

“Get back here!” My father bellows as I rip the door open and …

I slam into something hard and ricochet off. The man must’ve gone out my window and cut me off. Panic claws at me as I land on my ass. I kick out and scream as loud as I can.

“Cleo. It’s me.” Josiahs voice registers and I suddenly stop. I dive off the floor and wrap my arms around Josiah as sobs begin.

He holds me to him as he shushes me. “Let me see your nose.”

I pull back and let him look at the damage there.

He is furious, his body trembling as though trying to hold back his wolf. Of course, he doesn’t have his wolf until he turns eighteen in a few days.

He keeps me wrapped in his arm but snaps his eyes to my father.

“Beta Josiah, it’s not what it looks like.” My father stutters over his words. “It wasn’t me, it was the man upstairs.”

The audacity of his words hits me like a ton of bricks.

“Submit.” The order is flat but filled with venom. I hear my father’s knees hit the floor a moment later.

Footsteps hurry down the stairs as the man who attacked me joins us.

“I am glad you are here Beta. Look what that b***h did to me.” He snarls the words.

I turn slightly and peek a glance at the man who has a pencil protruding from his eye.

“Submit.” Josiah snaps again and the man drops to his knees, head down.

Josiah turns me and we begin to walk out the house as warriors swarm into the living room and arrest the two men.

“Come on, we’re going to the pack house.” He offers me a spare helmet for his motorbike.

I shake my head, “my things are inside.”

Josiah follows me inside and up the stairs. They creak as we walk up and shame slams into me when we reach my room. I stop before my door.

“Could you just wait here for me?” I ask before opening my room and slipping inside. I try to shut the door but Josiah’s foot stops me. He pushes the door open.