ANIMAL FOR A FATHER

FIBI'S POV

“He’s here … Fibi… Fibi.. he’s here … get out of there … Fibi!” My mother was frantic, her voice sounding like a scared little child who was about to be caught stealing meat from her mother's pot.

I jumped down from the bed at once and rushed out with her, to greet my father who just returned from wherever he went. I mean, it isn't as if he has a job. It's not that we fear him, we only fear the beatings and molestation we get from him on a daily basis.

And if we delay one minute in welcoming him back home, he would beat us mercilessly again. While running to the main entrance door to meet with him, my eyes fell on the blue bruise close to my mother's left eye, and I almost burst into tears.

“Leave the sentiment and add more speed to your feet Fibi!” My mother was agitated.

I grunted loudly. “I regret having a father like him!” I muttered under my breath. I dared not say it out loud because we were already close to the door.

“Welcome back… welcome …” My mother greeted him first. I just bowed my head as I tried to regain my breath. My father hissed in response and bumped me roughly while rushing past us.

“Any food in this house?” He asked, eyeing us from head to toe. My mother nodded in affirmation, her body trembling as is usual whenever he’s around. I felt like punching him in the face for making us feel this way, but I dared not. I was weak and couldn't fight him.

The type of life we were forced to live with my father is beneath that of a slave or fugitive. We were always trying to avoid his frustrated and unexplainable anger.

I had already drawn the curtain against getting married anytime in the future. I couldn't subject myself to slavery under any man like my mother was doing!

“It’s on the fridge.” I called out to my mother, who was physically trembling as she searched for my father's cup. She smiled sadly at me and rushed to continue serving his food.

I kept my face bowed again, and focused on tapping my leg on the floor softly. I always do that to control my nerves. I dared not leave his presence until he released me to go. The last time I tried it, after standing in his front for over an hour without him dismissing me, he pulled me back and threw me to the wall.

My mother tried to protect me from his unnecessary rage, but he beat her into a coma. The poor woman had to undergo brain surgery. At that point, I swore to myself that if she died, I would slit his throat and end his life.

“Ehn… I have news for you. We are going out tonight, so get ready. Once it’s past eleven, wait for me by the door. But if you don’t like your life, let me get there before you. Now, get out of my sight!” He barked at me.

I groaned inwardly as I left his presence. The last thing I heard before shutting my small room door, was him screaming at my mother to be fast with his food.

Hot tears rolled down my face. I closed my eyes to stop them, but that didn’t work. So I let them flow and let my thoughts wander. What did I do to deserve such a selfish and uncaring father? I wouldn't wish him on anybody, he’s a curse and nemesis that no one should ever have to face.

For as long as I can remember, he has always been like this, hating my very guts. Sometimes, he looked at me like he would prefer to strangle me.

“You shouldn’t overlook him not wanting you to go to the mating ceremony, Fibi. Try to sneak to the place at least. Your mate might not be like him, not all men are.” My best friend, Ethan, had advised me when my father locked me up, preventing me from going to the mating ceremony for the second time.

The moon goddess alone knew why my father prevented me from meeting my mate, but I wasn’t even angered by it. I wasn’t interested in being mated or getting married, so I brushed it off. Ethan and my mother were worried about it, but I for sure didn’t care one bit.

Of course, telling my father that I didn't care about him barring me from mating, earned me a beating like no other.

It may have been bearable if he was wealthy. But no, he was a penniless man who depended on my mother's hard-earned money. In fact, he was in charge of her bank account and gave her little or nothing out of her own money.

Now what did he want from me? Where was he taking me to? This couldn't possibly be good. I sat still that night, pondering on this. My mother came to my room like she did every night, to bid me good night. I discussed my father's intentions with her.

“Fibi, you should run away. I’m scared and I don’t know what he has planned this time. Just go, I will be fine on my own.” My mother urged me, worry and fear creasing her tired but beautiful face.

I touched her chin and mustered up a sad smile. “He cannot kill me. The worst thing that can happen is … maybe he wants to take me to a private place to punish me better … or something. He’s my father, he can’t kill me.” I don't even know if I was trying to convince my mother, or myself.

But even as I spoke, my wolf wasn’t in support. She whimpered and kept running around in my head, my father couldn’t be trusted with my life.