Hate, Love, and Revenge

Revenge

Michelle

My mother and my sister often make me really mad, and Brian is no different. They accused me of getting fired without even giving me a chance to share my side of the story, which, honestly, I should be used to by now. My mother has never taken my side on anything; I was always the problem simply because I look like my father. I barely remember him, since he left us a long time ago when I was just four years old. His leaving has left a deep mark on my life. My mother’s hatred towards me seems rooted in her resentment towards my father for abandoning us and everything else associated with him.

My sister is a different story altogether. She has no real reason to harbor resentment or hatred towards me. When we were younger, I took care of her during the times our mother had to work late at night, and I always did my best to look out for her. Yet, this is the thanks I get for caring for my family—the ingratitude and misunderstanding. Meanwhile, Brian, on the other hand, is a jerk and completely undeserving of my love and affection. I find myself overwhelmed with frustration and disappointment, and I couldn't help but think so as I listened to my mother scream at me, feeling the weight of everything crashing down.

What happened next was something I never expected. I sincerely never thought they would be capable of harming me in such a way, especially not at the hands of people of my own family. After my mother slapped me in a moment of anger, Brandy, in a fit of rage, kicked me down the stairs, leaving me battered and broken. I truly believed my life was over when everything went dark, as if darkness had swallowed me whole, and I was stranded in a place of despair with no hope of rescue.

At some point, I gradually regained consciousness and saw Brian hovering anxiously over me. A surge of rage exploded within me as I instinctively pushed him away, feeling a mixture of pain and fury. "They should pay for what they did to us," Nama declared with unwavering determination. Her words began to resonate more deeply within me, and doubt started to fade. I couldn't ignore the truth in her statement any longer. As I lay there, a renewed sense of resolve formed—I was beginning to believe that seeking revenge for what they did to me was not just a thought, but a necessity.

I quickly rose to my feet, my muscles still trembling from the ordeal, and without hesitation, I bolted out of the house. My legs carried me forward with urgency, and soon I found myself at the pack house, the place I was desperately trying to reach. A wave of fear and vulnerability washed over me at the thought of Alpha Raymond seeing me in this humiliating state. I clenched my jaw at the idea— I absolutely did not want him to ever see me in such a weakened and broken condition.

I had been cautious lately about showing my true feelings around him, but now, the fear that he might pity me clouded my judgment. Perhaps that's the real reason he’s been helping me— because he pities my pain and suffering. Still, I refused to let him think of me as fragile or in need of his sympathy. Never again would I allow him to see me weak, vulnerable, or broken; I’d rather not let that happen.

It was still early in the night, so I moved quickly as I headed to the guest room Raymond provided. I was unsure how bad my injuries were, but I didn't want anyone to see me this way, especially Raymond.

I was able to sneak into the room unseen. I guess most of the pack members went to bed earlier. Once in the guest room, I immediately rushed into the bathroom to check my injuries in the mirror. I looked deep into the mirror and saw a blood stain on my forehead. The source was a small gash in my scalp. I got some tissue and alcohol to clean my wound. By tomorrow morning, it should be healed. That's one of the great things about being a werewolf.

"We might get at mother and sister. They tried to kill us," Nama stated. "I'm aware that they are not gonna stop abusing me physically and emotionally until I fight back. However, what can we do to seek revenge on them? I asked. "It's many things we can do for one. We can add glue to Brandy's shampoo or poison ivy and wolfbane to her body wash. We can even use Alpha Raymond against Brian," she stated. "No! I'm not using Raymond in any way. He has been nothing but kind and helpful to us," I yelled back. "Ok! Ok! Let's just start with something easy. But first, we have to know everyone's schedules when they are out of the house so we can sneak in," Nama informed me. "Sounds like a plan to me," I said.

I understand that Raymond believes revenge isn't the answer, but he doesn't realize the extent of everything I have endured over the years. Being blamed and hurt for circumstances beyond my control has taken a toll on me. I'm still contemplating which path to pursue, but tonight my mother and sister crossed a line that I never expected. I hope that if Raymond learns what I plan to do, he will understand the gravity of the situation and perhaps reconsider and understand my position.

After I patched up my wound, I decided to indulge in a long, soothing bubble bath to help me unwind, then carefully brushed my teeth. That bath was definitely necessary to help me relax after the stressful interaction with my family. Afterwards, I took a moment to thoroughly moisturize my skin before selecting a piece of lingerie from the collection Raymond had brought me. It felt wonderful to finally be able to lie down comfortably and let the tension melt away.

The following morning, I woke up feeling achy and stiff all over my body. I reached out instinctively for the phone Raymond had given me, eager to check the time and see if I had slept in. As I glanced at the screen, my eyes caught a message. It was from Raymond, who had sent me a text last night asking if I had made it home safely. Additionally, I noticed another message he had sent about an hour ago, wishing me a good morning and reminding me to dress appropriately for the hike planned for today. I was stunned to realize that I had completely missed both of his messages during the night.

I promptly responded to his message, offering an apology for not getting back to him sooner. It was almost 7 am, and I needed to quickly get ready for work to ensure I wouldn't be late. I made my bed neatly, brushed my teeth thoroughly, and then changed into some comfortable short shorts and a lightweight spaghetti strap top. Since the weather forecast indicated sunny and warm conditions, I thought this casual outfit would be appropriate for the day. After getting dressed, I hurried out of my room, making my way toward Raymond's office located on the first floor of the house.

I knocked on the door gently, and almost immediately, I heard his voice from the other side instructing me to come in. As I entered the office, I offered an apology for not texting him back sooner. At first, Raymond didn't respond to my apology; instead, he simply told me to take a seat.

Did you make it home safely? He asked, concern evident in his voice. I hesitated, unsure if I should reveal what truly happened last night. "I didn't make it home last night. I walked there, then decided to come back," I told him. He looked at me attentively, probing, "Did anything happen last night?" I met his gaze and said, "No, sir." He softened slightly, offering reassurance, "You know, Michelle, you can talk to me about anything that might be bothering you." I nodded, replying, "I know, Raymond."

After our conversation, we made our way out of the pack house and into the woods. I could feel Raymond's eyes on me now and then, and the quiet tension was almost tangible. "Alpha is checking us out," Nama whispered, a hint of amusement in her voice. I rolled my eyes and replied, "There's no way Raymond is checking me out." We continued walking in silence, the only sounds the crunch of leaves under our feet. Suddenly, Raymond cleared his throat, breaking the quiet. "I must say, Michelle, that outfit fits you very well," he commented, his voice warm. I nodded politely. "Thank you, Raymond. You have great taste," I responded. Nama chuckled softly and added, "Told you Alpha was checking us out." The woods seemed to close around us as we continued onward, the unspoken awareness lingering between us.