Chapter 1

Chapter 1

ZARA'S POV

"Whoosh!!"

The sudden sound of cold water rushing all over my body. My mouth involuntarily gaped open to regulate my hyperventilation as I opened my eyes to see my whole body and bed covered in water.

In a bid to understand what just happened, I searched around for an explanation, only to see Miriam, my stepmother with an empty bucket dripping water, her hands on her waist and her eyes full of hateful mischief.

"M... Mum-"

"If it wasn't that you were wet right now and I don't want to stain my palm with the dirt on your skin, I would've given you a dirty slap. How many times have I warned you never to call me your mother anymore? Do I look like a dead witch to you?!", She threw harsh words at my face, but I was trying not to shiver as the early morning attacked my skin.

"I... I'm sorry, Miss Miriam", I muttered as I avoided her face.

"Were you born into this world to be some sleeping beauty? Do you want to sleep your life away? Don't you have chores that you're supposed to do?!", She questioned in anger.

I raised my head a little to take a glance at the rusty wall clock hanging at the corner of my room.

"B... But, Miss Miriam, it's still 6 in the evening. Plus, I did every chore that was assigned to me before laying my head-"

"And so? Are you going to tell me when you'll wake up and do the chores? In my own palace, after feeding you?!!"

To avoid saying anything that would lead to trouble, I apologized, got up and left my room for the kitchen.

I remember washing all the plates before going to bed last night, so I didn't know how they got dirty. Maybe my older sister had her friends over again, but I couldn't make any arguments.

I got to the kitchen and saw a heap load of ceramic plates soiled with oil and sauces. They didn't look like they were used for anything, but I couldn't dare complain that Mariam intentionally stained the plates just so she could yell at me for something.

I was already used to it.

I silently washed all the plates, even though it took me forever because I was fighting sleep.

I kept ignoring all the grumbling protests in my tummy because I hadn't eaten since yesterday afternoon, because I knew what would become of me if I complained.

I was finally on the last plate when I felt a presence behind me. I turned back to see Miriam at the door.

"Right from birth, you always worked like a sloth. Sometimes I wonder what your use is in life", she condemned me, her eyes sizing me with irritation like I was some community piece of trash. "When you're done, I need you to go over to the border to get wolf peppers for me. Your father's expecting guests, and I need to cook for them."

"All the way to the border?" My body weakened at the mere thought of the distance. "Why can't we just buy from the farmers around? Plus, I'm hungry. I haven't eaten anything since yesterday, but I've done all the chores in this house. Is it not fair that I have something to eat before I continue-"

Before I could complete my appeal, I saw her hands go high in the air before meeting my face for a resounding slap that dazed me.

"Are you mad?! Who the hell do you think you are to tell me when to give you my food?! Are you now challenging me?!!"

"What's going on here?"

We both turned to see my father, Alpha Donovan, standing at the kitchen entrance. Immediately we sighted him, all of Miriam's rage melted into tears of pain and hurt

"My king, your cursed daughter has done it again", she ran to him and stood behind him like she needed protection from me. "I just told Zara to help me get some wolf peppers when she's done so I can make dinner, and she cursed me, telling me that I was nothing but a second wife to you, and that I should know my place", she cried bitterly.

My eyes widened in shock at the creativity and spontaneity of her white lie.

"Mariam!! How could you-"

Another hard slap - from my father, this time - sent me to the ground and sent sparks of pain coursing through my entire head.

"You must be dumb to think that you can insult my wife like that!", He yelled at me, his eyes carrying rage.

But more than the pain I felt in my head, my heart was heavy with agony as I got up from the ground

. "Your daughter was wronged by someone, and without even giving her a chance to explain, you hit her? What have I done wrong to you? Why do you hate me so much? Why would you believe her over me?!", I tried to let out my pain, but I only ended up shedding tears.

"Because she's not a murderer."

The words he said and the hate in his eyes when he said it made me feel like a vermin.

"Obey your stepmother now before I give you another slap!!", He ordered, and I had no other choice than to drag myself out of the palace, beginning the journey of tens of kilometers on foot and an empty stomach.

This was what my life was. Miserable and pitiful.

Everyone called me a murderer because of something I had no control over. My late mother went through a lot while she was pregnant with me, and on the night she bore me, she died out from excruciating pain.

My only sister hated me too.

From then on, I had a tag on me before I even knew my left from right. The whole RedMoon pack named me a killer, because I was the reason my mother died. Everywhere I went, I was treated like a criminal, despite the fact that I was the Alpha's princess.

If only my mother was alive to see what was going on with her child...

I was so deep in my thoughts that I didn't see a car coming from a sharp bend. I raised my head up, and I screamed in fear when I saw it coming at me.

I was shocked at how fast everything was happening that I didn't know when my legs gave in and I crashed to the ground. The car screeched to a halt immediately, and I was so surprised that I was still alive.

That surprise was short-lived however.

"You motherfucker!! Why would you opt to drive if you don't have any experience?! Do you want to kill me?!!", I yelled in rage.