Chapter One

Amelia

As soon as my eyes opened, a cup of water drenched my face. I gasped and sprang up from my bed immediately. But before my anger could settle on whoever interrupted my sleep, I heard the heavy footsteps of Arnold, my stepfather approaching.

“Father is going to deal with you for sleeping till this time,” my step sister, whom I hated so much said. As if my step father’s cruel treatment wasn’t enough, Martha made it impossible for me to be happy.

Fear coursed through my veins as I waited for my step father to come into my small room. The door swung open violently, and Arnold barged in, holding a whip in his hand. The sight sent a shiver down my spine, and my heart raced with fear.

“Amelia!” his voice thundered through the room, his face contorted with anger. “Why are you still sleeping at this time? Who do you think would do your chores?”

I trembled, fear engulfing me as I stood before him, unsure of how to respond. The whip in his hand gleamed significantly, his cruel tool of punishment.

“Come here, you good for nothing idiot!” he hissed, his voice dripping with anger. “Time to remind you of your place in this house!”

The sight of the whip caught the dim light, and dread coiled in my stomach. I braced myself for the torment that I knew will surely follow.

Before I could utter a word, the first lash struck me with blistering pain. A cry escaped my lips, and tears welled up in my eyes. I pleaded, my voice filled with desperation, but he seemed deaf to my pleas. He kept whipping me until my body was covered in marks.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Arnold’s rage seemed to subside. “Go!” he commanded. “Go out immediately and start your duties. And then clean my room!”

Although every step caused a sharp sting of pain from the wounds on my body, I hurried out of the room, determined to obey his orders. My step sister followed me, giggling behind me with mischief.

I pushed back my tears, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing my pain. With a heavy heart, I continued down the corridor, heading towards Arnold’s room. Each step served as a reminder of the unjust torment I had endured.

Inside Arnold’s luxurious room, I couldn’t contain my tears any longer. They streamed down my face, leaving trails of sorrow and helplessness. But I quickly wiped them away as Arnold’s heavy footsteps approached. He entered the room, his presence suffocating.

When I finally finished, Arnold glanced at me, before grabbing me at the back of my neck and shoving me outside the room.

I quickly joined the other servants in our assigned posts, and tried to hide my pain from them. As I began to scrub floors, my tears flowed silently, mixing with the water and soap. The physical and emotional wounds stung, but I knew I had to carry on. After all, I was trapped in this place as a slave.

After finishing my chores for the morning, I joined the servants for breakfast. As I ate my food silently, I couldn’t help but pray for a way out of my torment. I needed a way to escape Arnold and Martha.

I imagined how my life would have turned out if my mother hadn’t tragically died. I tried to imagine how beautiful life would have been of destiny wasn’t so cruel to me. Arnold took everything my mother had after her death and treated me like I was nothing.

After eating the small portion of food given to me, I decided to have my bath in the bathroom I shared with the servants. As I walked in, my reflection caught my attention as I stared hard at it. My hair was a rare shade of black from root to tip, falling down to my hips. My eyes were a bright shade of hazel brown.

I was beautiful. I knew that, and everyone else did too. Even the dirt on my face, my un-kept hair, and tattered clothes could not hide it. Arnold had said I looked just like my mother, and I knew that too, even though I barely remembered her face anymore.

I peeled my face away from the mirror and took off my clothes that were already soaked with sweat, and blood from my wounds. Turning on the shower, I stood under it, feeling the water drip down my back and I whimpered in pains as the cold water ran through my slender body, washing away dirt but not my pains.

My life had taken a tragic turn at a tender age. My father, once a man of power and influence, met an untimely demise when I was only three years old. The weight of grief crushed my mother’s spirit, leaving me to fend for myself amidst her emotional detachment. It wasn’t long before my mother succumbed to the charm of Arnold, a man whose true nature remained concealed beneath a façade of false kindness. They married, and my mother passed away within a year, leaving her fortune and status in the clutches of her new husband.

Arnold, now the alpha of our once prestigious pack, revealed his true colors shortly after my mother’s death. He transformed into a monster, his sadistic tendencies unleashed upon me, an innocent young woman. I was stripped of my dignity, forced to share quarters with lowly servants and slaves. My days and nights were filled with endless torment.

Later that day, while I was drawing Arnold’s afternoon bath, he sat in a chair waiting. Suddenly, he glanced up from the chair and cruelly dropped a bombshell.

“I’m organizing an auction for the servants, and you’re on the list,” he said, his voice laced with an unexpected tone of amusement.

My heart skipped a beat, and I could hardly contain my excitement. This could be my chance to escape the clutches of Arnold’s cruelty. But my joy was short-lived as I noticed the shock that registered on Arnold’s face at my reaction.

“You’d do well to remember,” he sneered, a cruel smile spreading across his lips, “that if you dare step out of line, I’ll remove you from the auction. Is that clear?”

I swallowed my joy, my silence speaking volumes. Arnold’s threats held power over me, but deep within, I couldn’t help but celebrate the possibility of a better future. The auction offered hope, a glimmer of light in my dark existence.

As I finished and turned to leave, “Take this,” I heard Arnold say, his voice filled with urgency, as he handed me a vibrant blue dress. Without warning, he threw it at me, causing me to instinctively step back in fear.

“Go put it on immediately!” he barked, and I nodded timidly as he stormed out of the room.

Confusion filled my mind as I stared at the dress. It was unlike anything I owned. Usually, I received hand-me-downs from Martha, but this was a new purchase.

Examining the garment, I couldn’t help but admire its long, flowing design adorned with striking red flowers. Eagerly, I slipped into the dress, and as I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, a rare smile emerged on my face, bringing a sense of joy I hadn’t felt in weeks. The dress was truly beautiful.

Yet, a subtle sense of unease seeped through my veins, leaving me trembling with nerves. Questions raced through my mind. Why had Arnold gotten me this dress? It was an unfamiliar gesture, and my instincts as a wolf within me seemed to be whispering words of caution.

With hesitant steps, I left my room, passing through the hallway until I pushed open the door to find Arnold waiting outside, his car parked nearby.

“Get in,” he commanded, forcefully pushing me into the car before joining me in the driver’s seat.

The engine roared to life as we departed from the house. Each passing moment intensified my shivering, and a wave of nausea swept over me. Though a part of me longed to inquire about our destination, I knew better than to ask questions. Arnold’s response would inevitably be met with a physical blow, as it always was.

“You must conduct yourself as a lady where we’re going,” he declared with a stern tone. “Be on your best behavior, and only speak when spoken to.”

With a quick nod, I acknowledged his instructions. Eventually, we arrived at what appeared to be a bustling marketplace.

“Get out!” Arnold yelled, pulling me out of the vehicle and blending us into the bustling crowd. Various individuals hurriedly passed us, preoccupied with their own affairs. I was surprised when we didn’t stop to buy anything but instead, we stopped in front of a door with mysterious markings on it.

Surveying the surroundings, a sudden wave of dread washed over me. My inner wolf began to feel restless. There was something unnerving about this place.