Chapter 7

 "It's been almost a week since anyone saw you, Luna." Lacys concerned voice isn't surprising.

Staring blankly at the closed curtains, I give no sign of response. I'd stopped responding a few days back, after giving the same answer time and time again, I didn't see the point in talking.

Three weeks.

Three weeks since I arrived here, and it feels like a lifetime ago. At first I carried on smiling, I talked with the pack and held up the act of the gentle Luna that I know they all believe. I tried so hard to keep them happy, I tried to pretend like I wasn't stuck here, I tried so hard to just be happy. But I couldn't do it, every minute it got harder, every day my smile began to fade and after a week ... I considered ending it all.

The pack expected perfection through the day, and by night Hardin comes in and does as he pleases with me. The past two nights he hasn't been back, I tried to deny him, which resulted in me slapping him. I assume he's still enraged, and I'm still frightened of what punishment he'll give me. But let's be real, he deserved it. 1

"I've brought food." Lacy says, and I hear the door being pushed further open.

"Get out." My voice rings with ice, anger that none of them have seen before rising to the surface.

Don't do it. The little frightened girl inside of me pleads, the person that I once was not so long ago. Part of me knows she's right, Hardin won't like my attitude. Do I really wish to anger him more?

"I'll leave it here, I hope you eat something, Luna." Lacy whispers, the door shutting not two seconds later.

Closing my eyes, I ignore the smell of cooked food, my stomach twisting with the urge to vomit. I've never been a huge eater due to my parents, but being treated as Hardin's dumpster slut is seriously messing me up. The more I try to deal with my new life, the more I try to accept it, the more sickened I become. Less energy, less hunger, less everything.

 Maybe I'll fade away completely one day? Will I then be free?

Even with my eyes sore and closed, I didn't sleep. Such things are a privilege now, and it doesn't come often or by choice. I'm awake until I become completely exhausted, then I pass out for a while.

Remember who you are, don't let them change you. My brother's words ring clear through my skull, a promise that I regret making, it's getting harder to hold onto who I was.

~ONE WEEK BEFORE ~

His fresh seed seeps from between my clenched thighs, the familiar feeling of utter humiliation consuming me. I didn't move an inch, nor until I heard the door close as he leaves to do his daily pack business.

Sniffling back the tears, I pick up my phone, my finger hovering over the name that I so desperately wanted to talk to right now. But could I? How could I pretend to be fine?

The screen suddenly flashes, and his name appears, my phone vibrating. My entire body stiffens, turning cold with fear, but I didn't ignore his sixtieth call.

Answering it, I press the phone to my ear.

"Kalli!? Tell me what's going on, mom said you married some Alpha from up north. What the hell were you thinking?" My brothers infuriated, yet equally worried tone only breaks my heart.

My lip trembles, tears brimming my eyes. Tightening my grip on the phone, I pull my aching knees to my chest.

"Kalli?"

" ... Sebastian ... " My voice trembles, breaking as tears flood my face. Feeling crushed, all the built up pain and mixed emotions consume me completely.

"What's wrong?" His icy demand is one of anger, not at me, but the one hurting me.

"I can't ... I can't do this ... It hurts ... " I sob my heart out, begging my little brother to fix it, to do something, to save me.

"What hurts?" Seb whispers, more terrified than I've ever heard him. I hated that he's scared of me, but I needed him to know, I needed someone to know.

"Everything ... I don't want this, I can't do it-" I whisper, but Seb cuts me off.

"Kalli, you are the strongest person I know, whatever you're going to do ... don't do it." Sebs voice is gentle, frightened, pleading.

My heart twists in agony, my glassy eyes staring at the knife on the bedside table. It sits next to the half eaten apple from earlier, just where I'd left it.

"I have people tracking your location as we speak, I'm going to come and get you. Promise me ... promise me that you won't do anything until then." Seb begs me.

He's going to come and get me?

My first emotion is utter relief, a feeling that doesn't last more than a second. My hope deflating as I realise that Seb won't stand a chance against Hardin, my brother is Alpha and vicious, but he's no match for Hardin, Seb isn't first born.

"I promise, I won't ... Seb I need you to swear to me that you won't come for me." I whisper, hoping that no one is eavesdropping on the other side of the door.

"What? No-"

"Don't come for me Seb, my punishment from father will be far worse than this." I sniffle, wiping my snotty nose as I hold back my tears.

To keep my brother away, I'll have to guilt trip him. He knows our parents have always been harsh with me, he also knows that if I return to them it'll be far worse for me. They'll ensure they get me back, just so they can punish me. Even now, I'm trapped, afraid of a power couple a thousand miles away.

"I can't leave you there-"

I cut him off quickly. "He will have you killed before you get within howling distance of me, I won't allow you to die for nothing. I need you alive, Seb ... you're all I have."

Layering on the guilt, despite the words being true. Right now I'll say anything to keep my brother where he is, the last thing I want is for him to make a suicide rescue that'll only enrage Hardin.

"I will find a way to free you from him, Katalayha, I swear it." Sebastian speaks in a low beaten tone.

I know he's promising to stay away, even if he loathes the mere thought of doing so. Deep down he knows I'm right, there's no use dying if it doesn't help me.

" You stay safe, and remember that you have me, you're not alone. Don't become one of them, don't lose who you are in order to gain his love." He states.

I feel a ghost of a smile pull on my face, very faintly, my heart clenching with sadness.

"I promise." I sniffle, my nose snotty from crying.

~ PRESENT ~

Why would I make such a foolish promise? This world has never been kind to me, and yet I am sworn to be kind, to be gentle and silent even as my world gets darker with every passing day.

I laid on the bed, so long that by the time I finally showered and changed into pajamas it's long past midnight. Even as I climb into the bed, sleep didn't comfort me.

Barely an hour passed before I hear the door opening, the familiar scent of masculine sweat and desire filling the room. I don't think I'd ever forget that smell, Alpha Hardin.

"You haven't eaten." Is the first thing he says, not jumping right to ripping my clothes off like he usually does.

My body gives no response, almost numb to his presence.

"Don't act like you care, Hardin." My voice is a breathe, the words escaping me before I could stop them.

I freeze the second I hear my own voice, at the same time I didn't regret them, I wasn't afraid of speaking the truth.

"We both know why you're here." I finish in a slightly bitter whisper.

I didn't know what to expect, I didn't want to care but I found myself listening for his response.

Instead, Hardin grips my ankle and yanks me harshly down the bed. I give a small yelp out of shock, my hands reaching for the bed in attempts to stop him.

Why did I say that? Why would I be that stupid? I wonder silently, the panic setting in. His large body looms over me, making me feel smaller, so very small. I hated it, the intimidation.

"You're my chosen mate, Katalyha, the one that I hand picked from a tsunami of she-wolves to be my wife. Do you think I will watch you starve to death?" The fury in his demanding tone challenges me, daring me to question his intentions again.

My eyes slowly meet his bright ones, my skin tingling as our eyes connect for the very first time, I felt the threat of his stare.

"Considering there's a tsunami of she-wolves worthy of taking my place, I'm going to say yes." I respond in a small, yet firm voice.

Finally opening my mouth to him, it gives me a strange feeling, I feel satisfied, powerful. An entire dictionary of truths hang on the tip of my tongue, ready to come flying out any second.

"Your attitude tonight is appalling, I might just have to punish you." His husky tone immediately has me wincing.

"No, I'm sorry." On instinct I turn my head away, avoiding eye contact,a silent plea for his forgiveness. It felt wrong, but it's an action I've done my entire life, the one thing that always kept me from being hurt.

Punishment. Have I finally gone too far? Pushed him over the edge, I'd have assumed the slap would do it but nope, it's a bad attitude.

"A Queen does not submit to anyone, least of all me." Hardin tells me, unblinkingly.

My heart stutters, his words taking me by sheer shock for a moment. No one had ever said such a thing to me, especially someone with authority. I'd only ever been forced to obey, beaten when I didn't submit.

"That would make you King, and you are no King." I whisper cruelly.

While I fear the consequences of my words, I'm glad I said them. Does he really assume he holds such power? That I hold such authority?

"In time, you will accept your place here, you will know there is no hope of leaving." Hardin mutters, his voice soft but his words give no comfort.

Keeping my head turned away, I close my eyes as Hardin's mouth warms my bite. I didn't fight him, just like every other time he's forced me to want him. Too exhausted to even think about denying him, I lay silently and let him get on with it. Hoping it'll be easier on me if I do.