Tormentors

Clara

I wanted Sisley to choke on her words.

Yes, I was technically her family. It must have galled her, for her power-hungry father to take me into her family.

Sisley’s father Bernard Dover, that filthy Gamma, “adopted” me after my parents’ death. Bernard took me in as his ward. The pack thought he did it out of kindness and mercy. But no. It had nothing to do with goodwill. It was just a pathetic political plot. Bernard had always eyed the position my late father once held. He had always wanted to be the second-in-command, the Beta of Moonstone.

But our Alpha had the last laugh. When the leader announced to the shock of all that he would abolish the rank of Beta in the pack, Bernard flew into a fury.

I still remember the look on his face, and the red tinge in his eyes. It was as if I had been the one to dash all his dreams of power.

I was just a child. He tore into my flesh with his teeth and punched me repeatedly until my bones cracked. I still have the scars on my back, where the bones did not mend well.

“You… damned… Grey! You mongrel!” he had screamed at me. “All my work! All of it! All of my flattery of the Alpha, my loyalty, and for what? Just for the Alpha to spit on my face! You wretched, wretched girl! You’ll pay!” he screamed at me.

Bernard’s wife Cordelia and Sisley had watched with amusement as I wailed in pain and terror. Not a single word left their lips.

I would have died, if it wasn’t for Hazel. She had seen me after my “step-father” had finally cast me out of the basement, taken pity on me, fed me, and nursed my wounds. She’s the only one who cared about me in this pack.

Oh, once there was also Prince Griffin.

He had been my hope, my love, and everything I needed to endure this abusive life as the pack’s punch bag. He said he would bring me out of this living hell.

But what had he done to me? He abandoned me. He picked my abusive step-sister as his mate. He said he would love her on the last mating ball when I was alone, waiting him in the forest for our sweet secret date like a fool.

I lifted my head high to stare at Griffin.

His freckles faded a little over time, but the bright sweetness of his emerald eyes had never dimmed.

I won’t lie; he looked beautiful tonight. His shirt was opened slightly at the top, and I could see a hint of his lean, but muscular chest.

There was a hunger in my belly that went beyond innocent kinship with a childhood memory. I could feel a tight pressure and ache in my chest.

“Yes. She’s lovely,” Griffin said.

His voice was emotionless and controlled. Despite all that, I could sense his sincerity behind his words. “It will be easy to find a suitable mate that may raise your standing in the pack, Clara.”

His words were addressed to me. The fact that he spoke directly to me would inspire salacious gossip for weeks. I could not help tilting my head. Was this a confession of still caring for my well-being? A consolation that I might be able to escape this hell?   

Murderous rage flashed over Sisley’s features for only a second, but I saw it.

I wanted to laugh at her, but the hopelessness of this situation quelled any joy I might have had at still holding a place in the heart of her mate.  

Naïve fool! I wanted to shout at Griffin.

Why didn’t you wait for me, then? Why didn’t you grow some backbone and defy your father? Why did you whisper all those sweet words when we were children?

But I remained silent.

Silly, silly. Elena barked with cruel laughter. You still fancy yourself in love with him, don’t you? Idiot.

Shut up, Elena. I hissed to her.

Her head suddenly swiveled, as if she heard something in the distance.

But I was too slow to react. A rough hand grabbed my shoulder and twisted me down into a low bow. I winced at the pain.

I could recognize the rich perfumes of musk and amber of my oppressor and step-father, Bernard Dover.

I have long associated that scent with pain; bile rose to my throat instinctively. Through a haze, I remember seeing his furious red eyes and feeling his knuckles shattering my cheekbones.

I shuddered.

“How dare you even look at the Alpha Prince, you worm,” he snarled. “Bow! You should be sniveling on the ground like the insect that you are. Have you forgotten your place already?!”

Claws ripped into my shoulder blades. I gasped in agony. The bitter scent of my own blood reached my nostrils, and I could feel it trickling down my back.

That brute! Elena screamed, wanting to take in control.

But I forced her back.

“No,” I said with gritted teeth to my tormentor. I had to suppress the child in me that still shrank in fear at this monster.

“Keep that flapping thing you call your mouth shut,” Bernard hissed. “Or I’ll tear out your wretched tongue myself. It should have been done a long time ago to spare us all your idiotic prattling.”

“Stop it. Lord Dover,” said Griffin.

Bernard then himself stamped his chest and saluted before Griffin.

“Your dedication to my standing is admirable, Lord Dover,” said Griffin, and he waved his hand nonchalantly. “But I would command you to let go of the girl. On this night, every werewolf should be unblemished and unharmed to show their qualities to their potential mates.”

They stared each other down, and Lord Dover bowed his head. His claws retracted from my shoulder, and I tried not to quiver as my right shoulder burned.

“Perhaps the effort of my dedication would be better spent on other matters,” breathed Lord Dover. “Your father and I are only concerned that you are much too soft on the daughter of the traitor who nearly killed the Alpha.”

Griffin’s face darkened.

I knew how his comments must grate on Griffin.

Loyalty to the Alpha and the pack, or continue a stupid childhood dream with me? Griffin had to make a choice.

Our pack valued ruthlessness, pride, and blind loyalty to the Alpha.

Other werewolves in the hallway watched us with bated breath. None dared to speak in the presence of Griffin, but I could see smiles and open-mouthed stares.

A cold smile crossed Griffin’s face. Then, he stooped down to kiss the top of Sisley’s hair. She basked in the affection and ruffled his flaxen hair.

His answer was clear.

He chooses her. He always does. You fool! Elena snorted.

For the longest time, I thought Griffin might have the guts to go against his father and mate me. But that was just my delusion.

My eyes watered. I quickly bowed to them and dropped my head down.

Sisley intertwined her fingers in Griffin’s hands and deigned to look at me. Her voice was deceptively gentle, but her words were a dagger in my side. “You should watch us, dear step-sister. Together we will open the ball with our dance. Perhaps it will give you a hint what a pairing blessed by Diantha looks like. Will you ever know what it feels like to have a mate intertwined in your arms?”

I murmured, “Diantha extends her mercy on whom she wills, but I have no need of her generosity. I will make my own fate.”  

Sisley’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. Lord Dover beckoned towards the glowing blue hearth hall with his gloved hand. “Enough of this farce. We need to go. The Alpha awaits.”

The iron doors of the leading to the hall creaked open slowly. An electrical current of excitement flowed through all the werewolves. They all flocked to the entrance.

“Do you see them?” whispered a young female wolf behind me to her friend.

“Who?”

“The Dark Shade! I can’t believe they’re here. It’s the first time they attend a mating ball hosted by another pack. I hear that their Alpha will be here. I believe he’s still unmated.”

“No way!”

The girls giggled.