I hated dinner before it even began and I loathed every single second of it after. Father made me sit next to Alpha Hunter and it took every single inch of my control to keep forcing food down my throat with his disgusting scent filling up my nose.
‘So Liana,” Alpha Hunter began, “Do you have any special skills?”
“I always thought that people got to know each other before delivering marriage proposals or did I get it wrong?” I asked and I saw dad’s jaw clench but Alpha Hunter just laughed it off.
“Of course you didn’t but that is why I am trying to get to know you now.” He said with a smile that revealed his yellowing teeth, “So tell me Charlotte; what do you do?”
“Nothing,” I replied with a shrug, “I stay home all day and do nothing.”
He looked shocked but father spoke before he could react, “Charlotte likes to joke around a bit too much sometimes,” he shot me a warning look, “She plays the piano, harp and violin, she is an amazing cook and she did a bit of ballet and gymnastics growing up.”
“You consider all that nothing?” Alpha Hunter asked and I shrugged, ‘Overly modest I see; play something for us.”
I choked on my water as he spoke, not just because of his words but because he placed his large, sweaty palms against my upper thighs. I tried to shrug it off but he moved his hand higher and gripped my thigh tightly.
“I haven’t played in a while,” I managed to say
“I know you still have your violin upstairs so why don’t you go bring it Charlotte,” dad said but from his tone I knew it was an order.
I started to rise but Alpha Hunter pulled me back into my seat, “I’m afraid I’m not quite ready to let go of Charlotte yet; I’m sure Liana would be more than happy to help Charlotte get it.”
“She won’t know where I kept it,” I rushed out but Alpha Hunter sent me a feral smile.
“Well then she will just have to check the entire room; however long it takes.”
Father nodded towards Liana and she rose from the chair. I sent her a pleading look but she kept her face carefully neutral and I prayed that she would find it in her ice, frigid heart to actually hurry up.
Father and Alpha Hunter continued their conversation and I felt him begin to slide my dress higher so I grabbed his hand to halt him. He turned to me and raised a brow and I pried his fingers off my thigh carefully.
“Don’t touch me,” I muttered under my breath and I saw surprise flash across his features.
“Is everything okay over there?” father asked and I nodded. “You look constipated Charlotte.”
“It’s nothing, probably just some parasite under the table.”
Father didn’t have the chance to respond because Liana walked in with my violin and placed it on the sofa and I couldn’t have been more relieved. I started to get up but Alpha Hunter grabbed my wrist in a tight grip.
“What are you waiting for Charlotte?” father asked, “Play us something.”
“I would but my hand,” I said gesturing to my hand and Alpha Hunter let go.
“Forgive me, I was just enjoying your company way too much.” He said.
The skin around my wrist was already bruising and it hurt to move but I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he hurt me so I smiled and made my way over to the sofa and placed the violin under my chin and played.
I played a song about sadness and despair because that is what my life is right now. The notes were low and drawn out and you could feel the despair radiating from every pore in my body and every note. When I was done I placed the violin back in the case but no one spoke.
“Well that was a bit depressing don’t you think?” father joked.
“Actually,” Alpha Hunter said, “I think it was exquisite.”
For the rest of dinner Alpha Hunter kept his hands to himself but I had already lost my appetite so I didn’t really eat much. The moment father finished eating I flew to my feet and started clearing the tables, anything to get me as far away from there as possible.
Father and Alpha Hunter went to the study to talk while we females did all the clean-up.
“You must feel so proud of yourself right now Charlie,” Liana began and I shot her a confused look, “I’m sorry, I forgot that you go by Charlotte now.”
“What has gotten into you Liana?”
“Now every one of us must bow to your whims,” she said, “How does it feel to be able to hold that power over us?”
“What are you even talking about? What do you mean bow down to my whims?”
“You couldn’t even get up to go get your own violin,” she said with a short laugh, “You sat there like a queen, while I your humble servant went through your mess of a room to look for it.”
“You think I didn’t want to get my own violin? You think I wanted you in my room?” I asked incredulously, “You know what? I’m not having this conversation for you.”
“Of course, when her highness says it’s done then it is done.” She spat, “Just because you’re going to be whoring yourself out to an alpha does not mean that you are in any way better than me.”
“I never said I was better than you.”
“Then stop acting like a spoilt stuck up,” she began but Carmen walked in.
“Enough! Both of you,” she said and after she made sure we were quiet she turned to me, “Your father wants you in his study Charlotte.”
“Of course he does,” Liana spat and Carmen shot her a hard look.
I gave her one last look and made my way to father’s study. I knocked on the door and let myself in but was surprised to see that father was nowhere to be found. It was Alpha Hunter instead.
“I’m sorry, I thought my father wanted to see me,” I said, “I’ll be going now.”
“I’m the one who wanted to see you,” he said and I stopped, “Please Charlotte sit down.”
“No, it’s okay, I would rather stand.” I said but then I noticed he was standing in front of me. He grabbed my elbow hard and pushed me into a chair.
“I said sit,” he said in that same calm tone and all I could do was swallow down my fear, “It would seem like you aren’t pleased with this alliance am I right?” I didn’t give him the satisfaction of answering and he gripped my elbow tighter, “I asked you a question.”
“No I’m not,” I finally said.
“Well that is sad because I want you and I will get what I want whether you like it or not,” he said, “I think it would be a lot better for you if you at least tried to hide your irritation better, it irks me. Am I understood?”
“Yes,” I said and he smiled then pulled me to my feet and to the door. Just as I opened it I saw father standing there. His eyes fell to the forming bruise on my upper arm but he looked away as if he didn’t notice it.
“We were just finishing up here, isn’t that right Charlotte?” Alpha Hunter asked and I nodded, “Now go up to your room.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. I ran upstairs without looking back and slammed the door and made sure to lock it. I can’t believe I’m getting married to a monster.
Today is the ball and I am absolutely dreading it. I have been blessed enough to not have encountered Alpha Hunter again since the incident with him in father’s study but I know I won’t be able to avoid him today.For today father got professionals to do my hair and make-up and I fought them at first when they tried to cover up the bruises that Alpha Hunter left on my skin but then father came and restrained me to a chair so I wouldn’t fight.I was only let out when it was time to put on my dress and I secretly prayed that it would look hideous on me. Even as I was led to the mirror I was still praying with my eyes shut but when I opened my eyes I felt all hope deflate from my body.The dress itself is beautiful and it fits me like second skin. It has a single spaghetti strap over my left shoulder and it hugs my upper body and then the bottom of the dress just falls straight to the ground.
I can’t sleep.I keep thinking of the fact that my wedding (just thinking about it makes me want to throw up) is next week. I don’t know how Carmen is going to figure something out before then.I was pacing around the room when I heard a soft but urgent knock on my door, I paused mid-step to make sure I wasn’t hearing things.I heard the knock again; more urgent this time and I slowly made my way over to the door. I opened it slightly to figure out who was there when the door was pushed open and Carmen rushed in. I looked out to make sure no one followed her then quickly locked the door.“How long does it take for you to open a door?” she whisper yelled but I was still staring at her in shock and wondering what she was doing in my room. “Stop staring at me like you’ve seen a ghost.” “I- I&r
“No!” I whispered under my breath and hoping that I was seeing an illusion. “No, no, no, no, no.” I repeated the words as if they would save me but I knew I was doomed.I turned on the ignition but the car wouldn’t start. I tried it again and again but to no avail and I finally started to cry when he lifted his left hand and I saw a few wires.“Get out.” I heard him say but I shook my head, “I will not repeat myself again.” I opened the door slowly and got out and he smiled. “Now come to me.”I took a step forward but then changed my mind last minute and turned on my heels and ran. I heard him chuckle slightly before he started to follow.I ran as fast as I could into the woods. I could hear him behind me and prayed I could outrun him. I would rather die than let father catch me. I had barely finished the thought when I felt him grab m
True to Alpha Hunter’s words a doctor came in to treat my injuries as soon as he left but to my surprise he didn’t bandage me up and he didn’t give me a pain killer so I couldn’t sleep all through the night because of the pain. When Alpha Hunter came in the next morning I had barely slept a wink and he noticed because he took one look at me and shook his head in disappointment.“If you won’t sleep on your own Charlotte then I will be forced to have you drugged. I can’t have you looking like a zombie.” He said as two guards came in and set up a hospital bed at the far end of the room.I looked at it in confusion and turned back to Alpha Hunter who just gave me a small smile. “On the bed,” was all he said and I obeyed because I knew it would reduce my punishment. I stood on shaky legs and made my way over to the bed.“On your stomach.” He clar
I have been here for five days and if my calculations are correct then the wedding should be any day from now. It could even be today for all I know.Since Liana came I haven’t gotten any visitors except Alpha Hunter who comes every morning and evening unfailingly to give his daily dose of torture. I was waiting for his arrival this morning and I had already braced myself for whatever torture he had cooked up for me, but I was shocked when he opened the cell but didn’t walk in. I shot him a confused look but he simply smiled and held out his left hand.“Come Charlotte; you get to be free today.” He said but I still stared at him, “I don’t like to be kept waiting; get up now before I change my mind.”A part of me wanted to tell him to suck it and stay down here forever but then I saw the look he sent to one of the guards and I realized what he issue was; he felt disrespected.
I couldn’t sleep all night. Each tick of the clock was a reminder that my freedom was slowly slipping away and I had very little time left to do anything about it.I spent the entire night thinking and brainstorming ideas, anything that could get me out of this wedding and short of being pregnant for another man, I couldn’t think of any more options except running away but I know after the last attempt they wouldn’t be so careless with their security.I heard the door knob rattle and I turned just in time to see Carmen and Liana walk into my room. I instantly sat up straight and watched them as they strolled into the room without a care in the world.“What are you doing here?” I couldn’t help but ask but they both ignored me and came to stand by my bed. “Get up,” it was Carmen who spoke.&l
The stream was about five minutes away and I immediately jumped in and tore my dress off and let it float downstream.True to Aubrey’s words there were some clean clothes and I quickly put them on and continued my journey.I don’t know how far I ran but I ran until I came to a busy street and from the smell that assaulted my nose I knew it was dominated by humans. I can blend in here and no one will ever find me.I made my way over to the payphone but cursed when I realized I didn’t have any money on me.“Are you okay dear?” I heard a woman ask from behind me and I turned and gave her a small nod. “I am thank you.” I said with a small smile.“I think I have a few coins here if you need one,” she said as she rummaged through her purse and handed me a quarter. “You lo
I have been staying with Greg for two weeks and honestly it’s not as bad as I initially thought. I was scared of him at first but now I know that Greg is just a teddy bear underneath all that aggression.I’ve been helping out at his grocery store to earn my keep and so far I haven’t heard or even seen a single person from my old pack. I’m finally free and it feels so good although it hasn’t stopped me from glancing over my shoulder every time.It was awkward at first having to stay with someone and accept favors from someone I don’t even know but we got into an easy routine by the second day and he has only two house rules.Don’t forget to spray the potion every day.Do the chores and clean up after yourself.I’ve also been