Chapter 2

Maeve’s POV

It was nothing like I felt before. My stomach twisted with uneasiness as I laid on the bed. Something was wrong, something was definitely wrong.

This wasn’t like my other nightmares, when the world was in turmoil and there were people dying every day. This felt different somehow, it made me uneasy, unsettled and out of sorts. And that was a feeling I hated, one that always left me uneasy.

My wolf growled inside of me, trying to warn me of impending danger and she wanted to be free but couldn't because all of her power had been spent fighting against the intruder within myself. 

Me. 

I was trying to make her not act irrationally.

It didn't feel right to have a creature trapped inside for so long but my wolf was more than capable of protecting itself, of course, but I still needed help, some reassurance that nothing would happen and she'd keep an eye out. She could sense the unease rolling off me and responded by trying harder to calm down.

I stood up from the bed as jealousy filled my veins, where did this feeling spring up from? I couldn't tell, it wasn't anything new but the way I felt, I was sure it had to do with how he and Avery acted earlier. It couldn't be, the only person he was with was Avery and they couldn't possibly be… oh my goodness.

I began to make my way to the study but before I even got there, their moans and voices echoed through the hallway.

“Harder! I want all of you” I heard my sister's voice and I stopped dead on my tracks, the sound of their groan of desire causing shivers to spread all over my body. 

What was happening here?! My first instinct was to burst the door open and tear them apart but what if I was imagining that? They were probably just too busy with each other, right? What if this is a bad sign? 

They continued moaning and making noises until their sounds became incoherent and I started walking again in order to get away from them but they didn't stop until the sounds came to a halt and they fell silent.

I didn't know I was crying until I realized I felt the tears streaming down my face. I took in a couple of deep breaths and forced myself to take a step back to compose myself before continuing on to my room. I didn't want to hear their whispers anymore.

He betrayed me! He cheated on me with her, with my sister. They both betrayed me.

I should be furious and upset at him for disregarding our union like that but all I could feel was disgust and jealousy and anger, not directed at him but at myself.

I wasn't going to lie, they looked so good together, so much that my eyes burned with tears whenever I see them act like a couple. How much longer until I realize he doesn't love me? That he will never love me?

The pain in my chest was unbearable, almost painful enough to drive me out of my mind. The more my wolf tried to get out the more my heart ached and my thoughts raced until I finally reached my door and slid to the ground, curling up into a tight ball on my floor.

Everything was overwhelming me, everything seemed wrong and my wolf kept whimpering and growling and warning me of imminent danger. Everything felt wrong and I was terrified.

I was scared because now it all added up. All those little things, the way he smiled at her, the way his fingers would linger a little longer on hers, the way they would hold onto each other during the times they'd walk home together.

He had been lying to me the whole time. He was cheating on me.

I felt sick. I had trusted him. 

My wolf was screaming but I ignored her voice trying to focus.

He never looked at me like that, I couldn't remember the last time he did.

There was something off about him, a feeling that was so familiar yet I could never put my finger on it.

But now... now there was no denying it. Now that my feelings were confirmed, everything else fell into place. He had lied every single time I asked him about he and my sister. He manipulated me and the fact that he wasn't completely honest with me hurt. It hurt me a lot.

I closed my eyes and held my head, trying desperately not to think but it was impossible. 

Every memory from the few days we were engaged until we married popped into my head and stabbed me with guilt and self-hatred.

I don't know how I managed to sleep off but eventually, I did.

When I woke up the next day, it felt like I had been run over by a truck.

I was sore everywhere, especially my ribs which ached every time I moved and I noticed I still had bruises covering my entire stomach.

Thanks to Alphonso who hit me sometimes, hurting me and hurting out bond.

But I wasn't done yet. I had to fix what was broken. I had to fix this and then I could go find Alphonso and probably confront him- I wasn't going to, it was a dead end.

There was a knock on the door and before I could open it, he opened the door and stepped into my room.

“I am sure you've gotten enough rest. You should go down in a few minutes, I wouldn't like to repeat myself,” his rich baritone voice echoed through the walls of my room.

I nodded weakly, still too exhausted to speak. I watched as he ignored me, moving downstairs.

His eyes didn't give anything away, he didn't act like he had wronged me at all.

When the front door slammed shut I finally managed to get up. I held on to the edge of my bed as if my life depended on it. I was hurt from heartache due to the pains of discovering what Alphonso and my sister did yesterday, coupled with pains from the last time Alphonso hit me. I needed food and sleep badly. I sighed heavily and walked out of my room.

As I stared down at the stairs, I knew I would be dead before I made it down. So I decided to take my time but the fear of Alphonso’s wrath sent me down the stairs, wincing and gritting my teeth every few steps.  

I wasn't any different from the maids here, they even stopped respecting me, I was beneath them, and Alphonso made sure of that.

I was a panting mess by the time I reached the bottom step. I leaned heavily on the wall as my whole body protested at moving. The sight of Alphonso waiting for me made me hesitate for a brief second but then he turned around and his gaze locked onto mine, sending chills through me. He walked towards me and I froze my heart racing.

He stopped in front of me and I stared at him nervously, afraid to say anything in case he got mad again. Alphonso reached for the collar of my shirt and lifted me slightly, forcing me to meet his eyes, making my breath hitch.

“I'M SORRY!” I screamed, tears streaming down my face as I struggled against him. His fingers dug painfully into my neck and I cried out in pain, my voice breaking.I don't know what I was apologizing for.

“Shut up! I'm not interested in hearing your pathetic apologies!”Alphonso snapped, pushing me down roughly, almost making me collapse.

“Useless!" he spat angrily, "Just get back upstairs, I don't want to be seen with a filth like you," he added before walking away.

It was one of my labels, it usually ran from “Useless, worthless, slut, daughter of a slut” and a lot more.

My vision felt blurry as I tried to stay awake.