Chapter 2

Apphia

"Hey, freak, chef is looking for you," Rory, one of my greatest assailants, says. He is evil and once beat me to a pulp because I rejected his advances. He left me in the cold streets, bleeding. I still don't know how I survived that night. I found myself in the hospital the following day. However, I couldn't continue with treatment because I was not allowed any medical care. 

"  Dickass," I growl. 

 His eyes flash. Damn, I angered him again. Rory grabs my hair and pushes me against the wall. He raises his fist to punch me, but I kick him in the balls with my knee. He doubles over, cussing at me, and I run to the kitchen.

"Where the fuck were you? Dinner isn't going to make itself!" Jeff shouts as soon as he sets his eyes on me.  "We have many dishes to prepare. Alpha Amir is coming early to attend young Alpha Duncan's inauguration next week,"

I frown at the mention of that alpha. Amir is an insufferable, creepy Lycan from a neighboring pack who does business with my father. He is always staring or smirking at me. It makes me uncomfortable. He has a daughter named Aya. She is 24 years old and an unmated brat. Aya clings to my brother like her life depends on it and is desperate to be his future Luna since my brother hasn't found a mate. 

"Apphia, move your ass!" Jeff shouts in my face. I clench my fist and glare at him. "Don't glare at me with those cursed eyes, stupid girl!" 

Five hours later, I finished cooking dinner. I made pasta, sausage roll wreaths, potato wedges, chicken wings, and desserts. I managed to sneak in some bites carefully so that no one saw me. I ate slowly, savoring the taste as it would be my only meal.

A few minutes later, the beta female, Nancy, enters the kitchen. She is pretty with long dark hair and brown eyes. She and the beta have a son named Gavi Jr. He is good-looking and is not cruel to me, but he's not nice, either.

Nancy has a grimace on her face as she inspects what I made for dinner. I remember when she was kind to me. She'd give me ice cream or take me to the playground even if Mom said no. Her eyes, once filled with love for me, are full of disdain. 

"Bring out the food in ten minutes, and leave the hall quietly," Nancy snarls and leaves the kitchen.

As she said, I take the food to the dining hall with the help of omegas. Many pairs of eyes land on me as they are already sitting. Some members glare at me while others just smirk or ignore me. 

"Wine, young lady," Alpha Amir, sitting at the other end of the long table, raises his empty glass. He can see the fear in my gaze and is enjoying it, smirking as if recalling a private joke. I slowly go to him and pour his wine. I stiffen when I feel his large hand grab my ass. I shiver and get away from his touch, feeling disgusted. 

" If you continue to touch me. I will make a scene and scream pedophile," I hiss quietly. I was not bluffing, and he knew that well. Amir glared at me with venom, and I smirked, daring him. He grumbles something under his breath about needing to be taught obedience and drains his wine. I make a refill for him and stand aside.

"Apphia, you know I'm allergic to mushrooms!" Aya shrieks, pushing the plate of pasta away, "You're so worthless. How are you even allowed to cook!" 

"Sorry. I'll take the plate away," I smile sarcastically. I grab the plate of pasta to take away when I 'accidentally' spilled all its contents on her chic white dress. Aya screams and gets to her feet, slapping me hard and shoving me to the ground. 

" You ruined my dress, freak!" 

I get up instantly and slap her back as hard as I can. Gasps erupt in the dining hall.

"Next time, I'll hit you twice for smacking me once," I tell her with venom in my words. 

My father slams his fist against the table, quietening everyone. His eyes flicker with rage as he glowers at me. 

"APPHIA! Get out of my sight now!" he orders impatiently, his voice thunders against the brick walls. Was this man getting weak or what? I hardly flinched at his command. I roll my eyes and retreat.

"I wonder why she's still here causing trouble. You should have fed her to the rogue wolves. She's a curse," I hear the annoying nasal voice of Calla, the pack slut. She hates and bullies me the most. I give her a dirty look, and she growls at me in annoyance.

As I exit the hall, I hear Duncan's voice, and I turn. My heart fills with warmth to see my brother again. Duncan is hardly home because he's next in line to be alpha and goes away to do his duties.

My brother is tall with rippling muscles and chocolate-brown skin. He is very handsome, and every unmated girl in the pack pines over him. 

 Everyone stares at their future alpha, and the girls almost swoon in their chairs at his handsomeness. Next to him is Gavin Jr.; I blush when our gaze meets briefly. However, I see pain in his eyes, but he glances away, his face hard again. I must have imagined it.

"Duncan, look what that Scarface, Apphia, did to me," Aya cries, whining. What a little bitch.

Duncan's gaze meets mine. He glares at me, and I feel pain in my chest. Memories of our laughter as we play catch in the large garden flash in my head. Again and again. He was the best big brother to me. I banish those memories away and go to the attic, knowing he hates and blames me for our mother's death. 

 The attic where I sleep is dark and large, with a small window. I had a lovely princess bedroom, but Nancy gave it to someone more deserving after my mother's burial. 

In the attic, I have a thin, small mattress and a wooden table where I keep a small collection of novels and school books. There is a broken closet with a large mirror that no one wanted. I seldom use the mirror because, for half my life, Calla and other pack members called me an ugly freak. 

I take deep breaths and look at my reflection in the mirror. The girl looking back at me is skinny and pitiful. I have naturally golden tan skin and long silver/white hair. A thin silver scar runs from my eyebrow to my upper cheek. I got it the night my mother died, but I have no recollection of how. My eyes are translucent and mismatched; one is purple, and the other bright silver. 

I've been the center of ridicule for ten years. I deserve it. After all, my mother was leaving the pack to keep me safe, but from what? From whom? 

Tears burn my eyes, and I let them fall. However, I quickly wipe them. Crying doesn't help; it doesn't change anything. I need to find a way to leave this pack soon.

I lie on my mattress and cover myself with a blanket. It smells familiar. I found it here last year on my birthday with one of my favorite books, To Kill a Mockingbird. Someone had even left chocolate bars. Maybe they had no use for them and thought it was storage, but I'm grateful.