4 You’re mine now

***Henry****

A new day, a new beginning. I thought of pushing myself out of bed even if I didn’t want to. My body is still aching from the abuse from last night, and the lack of food only increases my fatigue. But I know that I have to get up and do my work or I might get punched yet again, and I don’t think my body is strong enough to handle any more abuse. So, I take a deep breath, muster up my strength, and slowly start my day, hoping for a better tomorrow.

I took a cold bath in the common bathroom that is shared by the entire floor, feeling the chill seep into my bones; it was so cold that I could barely feel my fingers. I wish I could have warm water for a change, but that luxury is far out of reach for me. Despite the discomfort, I remind myself that this is just a temporary situation and I must stay strong.

I made my room, changing and wearing the same clothes that I had been wearing for days now, but I didn’t have any other options at the moment. As I look around my small, dimly lit room, which is more like an attic than a bedroom, my bed just consists of two thin blankets and a pillow. And the cold air seeps through the cracks in the walls, making me shiver even more.

There was once a time when I had a room ten times bigger than this, with my bed covering the whole room and a closet full of clothes to choose from. But now, I am nothing but a shadow of my former self, with my life worse than the lowest slaves of the pack, even though they have more than I ever will. The memories of my past life haunt me as I struggle to survive in this cramped and desolate space, feeling like a forgotten relic of better days.

I shook my head as I headed out of the room to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for all the other members of the pack.

“I need to hurry and make sure before Samantha wakes up she always gets grumpy when she’s hungry,” I thought to myself as I grabbed the ingredients for pancakes from the pantry. As I started cooking, the smell of sizzling batter filled the air, momentarily distracting me from my own troubles.

Preparing a meal for 100 people in this small kitchen was always a challenge, but it was my daily ritual that brought a sense of normalcy to our chaotic lives. Even if the pack had 10 cooks, they forced me to work alone while they ordered me around as if I were there alone.

Sometimes I want to poison them all and be done with it, but I know that wouldn’t solve anything. No matter how bad this place is, this is where I found my first home. My parents loved me, and their memories live in every corner of this pack. Despite the difficulties, I don’t want to ever leave because this is where I feel a sense of belonging and where I have made lasting memories. The challenges may be tough, but the love and connection I feel here make it all worth it.

I smiled as I felt my stomach groan in hunger. Seeing all the delicious food around me, I couldn’t help myself; I wanted to eat everything in sight. The aroma of pancakes, eggs, and bacon fills the air.

“Just one bite won’t hurt,” I thought to myself as I reached for a plate.

I turn my head, scanning the room. I don’t want anyone to catch me eating a meal or else I will be beaten again, but the temptation is too strong to resist. The desire to satisfy my hunger outweighed the risk of getting caught.

I haven’t had anything since tomorrow morning, and my stomach is growling loudly, making it impossible to ignore the delicious spread in front of me.

I turn here and there, grabbing a few slices of bacon and a piece of toast, trying to be as discreet as possible. And shove it into my mouth quickly before anyone notices, savoring the taste despite the fear of being caught.

A moan of pleasure escapes my lips as the taste of the crispy bacon fills my mouth, sending a wave of satisfaction through me. It’s not enough to fill my rumbling stomach, but it is at least something to hold me over until breakfast officially begins. I quickly glance around, hoping no one saw my sneaky snack, and decide to grab a small cup of orange juice to wash down the stolen bites.

But the glass slipped from my hand as I saw Cody smirking at me from across the room, clearly having caught me in the act.

My heart races as I try to come up with an excuse for my impulsive snacking. But I know no matter what I say, Cody will not leave me without abusing me about it for the rest of the day.

“Now you stealing food too, huh?” He chuckles, slowly walking closer to me with a mischievous glint in his eye.

His eyes show that he is ready to beat the hell out of me with a big grin on his face.

I can feel the dread creeping up my spine as I brace myself for the inevitable abuse. “I...” I shuttered, as words didn’t form easily in my mind. The fear of Cody’s reaction only intensified as I struggled to come up with a plausible excuse for my actions.

I step back as Cody’s laughter turns into a menacing growl, his fists clenched at his sides. As he pulled my arms behind my back, I knew I was in for a world of hurt. “Please, Cody, I...” I tried to run, but his grip was too strong. The look in his eyes told me that there was no escaping the consequences of my mistake.

“Last night, you didn’t learn your lesson,” he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. “Now, you’ll pay for it.” With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I braced myself for whatever punishment he had in store.

Cody grabbed my hair tightly and dragged me towards the basement, his grip unrelenting. I knew then that I was in for a long night of suffering at his hands. “NO,” I shouted, pushing against his hold and somehow managing to break free. And ran aimlessly around the pack until I stumbled towards a big, hard wall that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Hands wrapped around my waist, stopping me from falling any further. As I struggled against my captor, a word escaped his lips and made my world spin. “Mate.” The voice growls as a lingering smell of rain and pine surrounds me, making me dizzy with confusion.

I turned my head to see the face of the person who had just claimed to be my mate, only to be met with a pair of intense, amber eyes that seemed to see right through me. His grip tightened around my waist, pulling me closer as he whispered, “You’re mine now.”