5: More Surprises

EDEN

I looked around the room, more confused than ever. The last time I was here was on my birthday when my father said I had to come.

It was Nelly’s eighteenth birthday and my seventeenth. They were throwing her a big party. Important guests would be here and God forbid he looks like an irresponsible father.

I hated coming here because his wife hated me. I didn’t even blame her. I was proof of his infidelity.

Ryker was there and it had been bearable because he stayed with me the whole time.

I was scared to think they were going to have an event today in her honor, and I’ll be forced to attend. I’ll be forced to watch her and Ryker together. He has probably marked her.

And knowing her. She’ll make sure she wears clothes that are revealing enough for me to see.

“Eden!!! If you don’t get here right now I’m going to kill you with my bare hands. I promise!”

My father’s angry yell made me get off the bed in a rush. I ignore the discomfort I feel between my legs. I don’t even want to get into that right now.

My head is also pounding. Breathing seems like hard work. I’m dressed in the same gown from last night. I could remember Angela and her red hair. So I wasn’t dreaming and this is actually real.

I’m guessing the alcohol is why I feel like I’m going to fall with every slight move that I make.

I rummage through my closet and thankfully find a long coat that’ll cover me fully. I wore it and sprinted down the stairs, fighting the urge to wince with every step that I take.

My father stands at the bottom of the staircase. His eyes blazing with anger and his wife beside him. She is dressed elegantly. Giving me dirty looks as always.

I quickly lowered my head as I neared them. As a result of that, I almost trip and fall.

“Good morning, alpha. Good morning, luna.” I greeted them in a shaky voice.

I was never allowed to call him dad. There was no way I would call her mom. She’ll tear my tongue from my mouth if I make that mistake.

I did it once when I was five. I heard Nelly calling her mum and it intrigued me, so I tried it. Safe to say, it took a lot for my father to get her to let it go.

“What is the meaning of this?!” He yells, making me tremble in fear.

I had no idea what he was talking about. But I guess it has to do with me coming here without being summoned.

The problem with that is. I don’t know how I ended up here. All I could remember was dancing with Angela in the bar. Everything else from there is blurry.

“I’m sorry.” I said the first thing that came to my mind.

It is always best if I apologize and hope they don’t punish me.

I heard the sound before the pain.

“You’re sorry for what? Embarrassing your sister in front of your entire schoolmates and calling her a whore?”

The loud voice grates on my ears and with how my head feels this morning. Tears immediately gathered in my eyes.

“You’re going to tell me that was a mistake? You worthless piece of garbage?” She was yelling and hitting me.

I couldn’t do anything but stand there and take it. Looking at my father for help was going to be pointless. So I didn’t bother.

“How dare you call my daughter a whore? The only whore here is you. You and your slut of a mother!” She spits, pushing me back until I land on the floor.

I was still by the stairs and the fall made me hit my back on the stairwell. Pain shoots through my entire system.

Bile immediately rises up my throat. I tried to clamp my mouth shut, but it didn't help. All the alcohol I took last night forced itself back up and retched right onto their foot.

The Luna let out a screech and kicked me with the muddy shoes. I looked up, ready to apologize. Something heavy came down on my head and everything went black.

I thought, peace at last. Finally.

*****

The sound of happy chatter grates on my ears. And I wish they’ll all stop. I gripped the handle of the door, trying to catch my breath.

Tears burned beneath my eyelids. But I didn't dare let them fall. Now wasn’t the time.

I’ve been crying so much in the past two weeks. It was almost like there wasn’t a day that I wasn’t crying.

Ryker and Nelly announced their engagement last night. And both my father and the luna were over the moon.

They didn’t care to lower their voices when they spoke about how perfect Nelly would be as a luna. Father said he was more than glad Ryker will take over the pack as alpha when he marries Nelly.

They were speaking like I haven’t been with him for three years. Like we didn’t plan on getting married.

It was because they never thought he would marry me. Or more like, they knew he wouldn’t.

His father might have been good to take me in when my father didn’t want me. But he wasn’t about to let his only son and heir be with a good for nothing bastard human.

The realization hurt more than everything else they did to me.

And now, I’m forced to serve them during their engagement party.

Nelly made sure I was one of the servers. I refuse to believe one of the one’s they hired simply took ill.

“Don’t you have work to do?” A loud voice makes me look up.

I looked up and glared at Nelly. She was standing with her usual ugly sneer on her made up face. She was lucky she was pretty. If only attitudes showed on face.

Though, it’ll be good for the world if they saw how much of a witch she was.

I ignored her and kept trying to catch my breath.

She came close and tried to tug me up with force. I don’t know what she feels that makes her jump back with a shriek but she looks at me full of disgust and disdain.

“Are you sick? You bitch!” I barely even felt the slap.

The other pains I was feeling in my body made her assault feel like nothing.

“You want to kill me. I know what your plan is. You want to riddle me with your diseases so you can get Ryker. Why don’t you just accept that he is mine now?! He was never yours and he never will be!”

Her angry yelling makes the people in the dining rush towards us.

My heart breaks more when Ryker rushes to her. He pulls her into his arms, hugging her like someone was trying to kill her.

“Baby, are you okay? What happened to you? What did she do to you?”

I didn’t know if to laugh or cry that he was saying that. That he believes I could ever hurt her.

I may hate her, but I know touching her would be a death sentence. Not to mention how much stronger than me she is.

“She was planning on killing me with her disease. I told you she was a crazy bitch.”

Her mother rushes to my side. I knew it wasn't out of care when she cradled my face and made me look up.

“Hunter, she looks kind of blue.”

Father comes forward as though he wanted to see for himself.

The second his hand touched mine, I felt myself fall.

A sharp slap forced my eyes open. I blinked up in confusion. I was on a bed. But what made me scared, was the angry face of my father, staring down at me.

He has threatened to kill me one too many times. But this is the first time he looks like he may go through with it.

“You whore!” He roars. “I knew you were going to be just like your mother. Who is it?”

I blinked, tears already streaming down my face. What is he talking about?

I was still in pain, it must be why my brain is finding it hard to catch up.

Who is who?

“Who is the father of your bastard child?!” he roars.

Father? Child?

My child?

Wh—what is going on?

“I should have killed you the first time your mother brought you here. You worthless slut. You’ve ruined everything!”