SCARRED DREAMS

CHAPTER 1: SCARRED DREAMS

GREECE,

455BC

 DECEMBRE,

ALTHEA'S POV

 "Ah!" I screamed the moment I felt something pierce my sole. I was running barefooted, the rocks on the earth were merciless as I ran between the hovering trees. The moon cast her light upon the earth, but darkness danced amongst the leaves.

 The night was alive, as though it breathed with pulsing dark energy, the air thick with tension and trepidation...every sound was amplified and there the leaves were rustling like whispering sounds, the wind howled through the trees, brushing against my skin as I limped through the forest.

 Fear was slowly clawing against my chest.

 But what would I have myself do if not flee? 

Flee far away from my tormentors...I had earned too many scars...endured so many whips.

Eerie shadows were cast upon the ground...the night was alive and filled with something oddly sinister.

 I continued to limp as darkness pressed around me...my heart thumping loudly in my chest. 

Then I heard a sound that sent chills down my spine. I gasped out of fear.

"No...no...they can't...they mustn't catch up with me..." 

But they seemed fast, four legs running against my two legs and there my blood ran cold as something gripped my ankle.

 A growl echoed thorough the night followed by mocking laughters.

"Gotcha!" 

"Ahh!" I screamed again as the hand wrapped against my ankle pull, causing me to land on the ground, chest first. Then another pull, dragging me against the ground.

"Did you really think you could run away? How far do you think you can go before we catch you?" The grip tightened as the laughters echoed into the air. 

"You really wish to end up like your sister do you not?"

Thaleia....

"Please...just let me go, I'll do anything...just...spare me."

The image of the magistrate getting ripped apart by the King as the moment he beheaded my sister was a fresh memory in my head.

I was glued to the ground...forced to watch the predicament that had befallen my sister and family in horror.

Every pleading was hopeless. Every tear was useless as the soldiers, being so cruel made me watch the beheading of Thaleia.

I hoped her sprit followed me every where I went, but in situations like this. I didn't think she was present.

Then I saw a figure advancing towards me aggressively. I covered my ears to evade the noise.

"Stop...stop...ahh. Ahh!" I jerked up from my sleep. A felt a sweat drop on my hand and looked down at myself. 

Even though it was dark, we wolves had night vision. I was all sweaty and panting, then I looked towards my left, seeing Dionne.

We were the chosen maidens has we were considered the most beautiful in the empire and ready for marriage.

And we were here, locked in a room so we would not be able to get out.

Countless times, I tried to escape. It was fruitless. 

So here we were, anticipating the worst and the best for who will be betrothed to us.

"Another nightmare?" She questioned softly, eyes not leaving mine. I nodded and she sighed before sitting up. 

We were roomies, while all the other omegas were asleep in other room. I was grateful for this kind of privacy at least. 

"You seem so bent on trying to leave." She stated. "And I understand... it is just that, I do not want you to leave, because it is dangerous. If you are caught you know if is instant execution. I do want what happened to your siste...." She hesitated. "But look on the bright side. It is possible to find your mate in the betrothal test." She convinced.

The thought of meeting the one fascinated me, because I was terrified that he would reject me like every other person did. 

I was the omega of my pack, the lowest of ranks and I was still the lowest in the rank of the omegas. 

I couldn't fight for myself, couldn't speak for myself even though my life depended on it. And the way I managed to become eligible for marriage

"What if..."

"What if he doesn't? You keep saying what if he rejects you? Can you look at the bright side of things for once?" She cocked a brow at me. Her question made me think but it wasn't convincing enough.

How could someone like me look at the bright side of things when nothing bright has ever happened to me since I was born. 

My mother was another omega who was mistreated just like me and I was just like her. 

My father on the other hand had rejected her the moment the marriage was consummated. 

He refused to have me as his child the moment my mother told him she was pregnant with me.

I still remember the nights she would narrate the stories in her sleep, calling his name as though she still wanted him to be there with her. 

And she would always tell me, the moment I asked her about him that he was dead. Why? Was always my question?

 But then again why else would he gave rejected her if not because he had not hated her status in the pack? 

Ladies like me could be pretty but our status also matters. Just because a woman was beautiful didn't guarantee her a happy life.

Shouldn't I be scared and terrified that my goddess given mate would reject me?

It made me wonder if Thaleia had not died, would the Caesar of Greece have treated her well?

What were we women to the the society? 

"Look, just because it happened to her doesn't mean it would happen to you. Your mate is your only hope Althea. If you really want to leave this life of torment, then you better hope that you find your mate anytime soon and hope it's not one of the omegas. If it's someone higher then your authority will be above that of the omegas. If not, you're going to have to endure for much longer." She said, laying back down. Her words made me ponder deeply. 

She was right. If I didn't find a mate anytime soon,I was stuck here forever. 

And how could I run away when this pack was heavily guarded? 

Soon I heard her sleeping and found myself staring into the darkness. 

I felt alone and lost and didn't know what I could do to end it. 

I shut my eyes, trying my best to push the thoughts away but all the kept doing was coming back.

I got down from the bed before walking towards the window, to find that dusk had dawned. 

Sometimes I wished that there was no tomorrow. 

Perhaps then I wouldn't have to face the torment that this omegas kept giving me.

 The scars that were imprinted on my skin yesterday and the ache hadn't left my body.

I knew that soon, they would walk in here and pour cold water on me or very hot water. 

I turned so I could get to bed but something I caught something lurking in the bushes from the corner of my eyes. 

And yes, there was a strange presence that I wasn't quite comprehending. 

I made a full turn towards the direction...but before I could make out anything and why I felt so strange. 

I was doused with hot water. I screamed impact because this time the water was heated.

The heat stung my flesh like momentary fire before it started to cool down.

 Fortunately, I was a wolf who could heal, but my healing capacity was slow. 

I slowly turned...coming face to face with Kathryn and her two smirking partners. Dionne was sitted on her bed, awake, staring helplessly. 

She never stood up for me once in front of anybody. I guess she didn't want to experience my misfortune and I didn't want her to either.

"I do not care if you are the prettiest in the land. A real woman should never lazy about. Now get up."

I wanted to cry, but what choice did I have?