Twenty

*AALIYAH*

My body hurts so badly that I can't care what the other people are chatting about. Nikki and Linda aren't here; instead, they're either doing the laundry or preparing breakfast for the others, except for us.

I'm fighting so hard just to get up. It will take a lot of effort to get my ass there and into my bed because it is so far away. Lady Sasha's treat won't derail any of my efforts because if I don't exact my retribution and keep my head, I'm no better off than dead. It would be worse to be dead than to spend my entire life confined behind these walls and treated like a slave. Where would I flee to even if I managed to escape? Have Beta Nicholas have his way with me this time with my now-dreadful pack? This also is never a choice.

Since it's still early, I still have time to clean Alpha Hudson's room and leave before he gets back. He's having breakfast with his siblings and the Beta at the dining room table.

I wipe the mud off my clothing as slowly as I can to avoid h