Ch 2: The Omega With Nothing To Lose

[--Esmarie Cruz--]

“Barry I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry? You’re fucking sorry? You think because you’re pregnant I won’t beat some sense into you?” to make his point clear, he swung his hand at me. The force made the backhanded slap feel twice as bad. I clutched my belly as I stumbled to my feet. Barry slammed his foot into my back, and I shouted in pain. His parents watched. Neither of them offered me a hand or a voice. I was carrying his children for goodness' sake.

Where is the sympathy? I sobbed, pain coursed through my body. Pain, so much pain.

“You better not pull such a stupid move again. Telling me who I can and cannot be with. You better remember that you were abandoned. My brother left you, your father left you and your mother swears your birth was her biggest regret.” he shoved a hand into my scalp and yanked it. Pulling my head back. “Once you have those babies, know that I’m kicking you out and bringing in my woman. I have no use after the children.”

I managed to croak out a bitter laugh. He shoved me. “Is that funny?”

“You’re kicking me, smacking me, and you think they’ll come out alive?” my eyes fluttered. “You’re mistaken.”

He grabbed my throat. “You better make sure they come out alive.”

“Or you’ll what? Beat me? You’re already beating me! You’ll kill me? Do it! I have nothing to lose, Barry. And I’m not sorry I told that girl you were a small dicked bastard.”

He raised his right hand, clenched his fist and before he could slam it down on my stomach his mother grabbed him.

“Barry, stop! Don’t let her get to you.” he pulled him away and then glared at me. “We gave you a home, show us some respect.”

“I hope you die a gruesome death. I hope you know that you’ll never be anything but a worthless woman who couldn’t keep her son from being an abuser. But I shouldn’t be surprised. Your husband and father beat you, didn’t they? They beat every single brain cell out of you and you thanked them for it? Well, fuck you all. I don’t want this anymore. I’m done. You’ve hurt me enough. Kill me. Because I’m going to take my life, and I’ll take these children with me.”

Barry removed his arm from his mother’s grasp. He looked at me with a deranged smile. “Okay. We’ll go out tonight. I’ll woo another girl. And if you’re still alive, then I will sell you to one of the old gross men on the streets to be a cheap whore. If you’re not, then you’ve got some balls.”

I side-eyed him. He thought I wasn’t going to do it? He’d be right. I am not a monster, but I am a woman smart enough to lay down the groundwork. They left me there, smug looks on their faces. I was counting on this. It’s my only chance to leave. It’s my only chance to get away from this madness. I’ve endured enough.

It was a struggle to get up to my feet but I did it. Then I went into my bedroom and pulled out the small bag I’d packed with some money and some items. I just need to get away from this place. Go anywhere else, then I’ll figure it out. But I need to set the scene.

I looked in the mirror. The girl I used to be has been long gone. Things weren’t always this bad. But it changed nine years ago when my best friend, the person I thought would have my back through the scandal with my father and my mother’s abandonment, did the unthinkable.

He left me. He left me knowing fully well what his family is capable of. I haven’t smiled since. I looked at the purple bruises all over my body, my back was hurt, and my stomach felt like it was going to explode.

Nothing I’ve been put through has been of my consent. Being forced to marry Barry Darkwood, and have his child was not what I wanted for my life. I would have preferred to live on the streets. I even suggested that. I told them I would leave. They beat me for each attempt.

I can’t waste time.

I walked out of the room and went straight for the kitchen where I grabbed a knife and a paper towel. This would hurt but I needed them to think I’d cut my throat and walk out into the woods to bleed out. I dug the knife into my wrist, making a huge gash. I grunted as the pain doubled my vision. It took a moment for me to get together. I took the paper towel and knife and stumbled through the back door.

Leaving a trail of blood. I went towards the forest at the back, making sure the blood touched as much as it could. Making sure it was enough to have them believe it. Even if it's for a short while. When the dizziness returned, I wrapped the paper towel around the wound and dumped the knife. Then I took off my shoes and stepped through the bushes so my footsteps wouldn’t be in the sand anymore.

I studied this place, I know my way out.

I don’t really have a choice, in leaving this place. I overheard Barry’s mother say I was too high maintenance. That they would have to get rid me of as soon as the child was born. I refuse, I refuse to leave this earth while those monsters have my child. I would have preferred death, but I want to live for the child in my stomach.

I came out on a clearing that led to a major road. I quickly signaled for a car. Some drove by, ignoring me and my state but a jeep pulled to a stop.

“Oh my goddess, are you alright?”

“Yes, I just need to...” where do I go too? Who can I trust? So I said the first thing that came to my mind. “Are you going to the Viperthorn pack? I need to see an old friend.”

“It’s a three-day drive. This place isn’t the closest to that region.”

I frowned, okay then. Where do I go? I haven’t gone anywhere in nine whole years. My happiness and freedom were stolen at the age of sixteen when my father robbed the pack alpha of our former place. Who also happened to be Barry’s father. My mother ran off a month later, and I stayed with the Darkwoods for two years. From sixteen to eighteen. And things were good, until Kaiser up and left in the middle of the night after...

Was the kiss that bad? He was the one who kissed me, why was I made to pay for that? Why was I punished and left to rot in that house?

I started sobbing.

“No, no, please don’t cry. Look, um, I know a boat owner only thirty minutes away at the harbor. Through the sea, we can get to the viperthorn in five hours.”

I looked up. “Really?”

“Yes. Please get in.” the stranger came around the car, and he opened the door for me. Then helped me in. I wince, my whole body was alive with pain. Buckling my seatbelt was painful as well, but I held on.

I was feeling worse by the time we got to the boat, and that feeling worsened once I got on the boat. The man stuck with me the whole time. He offered me food, water, and a blanket to drape over my body. He had suggested taking me to a hospital but I told him not to bother. Arriving at the bay next to the viperthorn pack was ... unsettling. I could see anything but blotchy figures. The same stranger called a cab that took us the rest of the way to the pack gates.

He’s so nice. I’m not sure how I’ll ever repay him. He helped me out and called for one of the wolves stationed by the gates.

“State your name, pack, and what your purpose is here in the viperthorn pack?” a male voice asked. I thought the question was aimed at me, but my mouth wouldn’t work. Thankfully the stranger answered.

“I’m Elias Domero, lead beta of the Domeros pack- north region. I was at the Darkwood pack in my territory just checking in when I found this woman. She says she has business here. I don’t know her name.”

“She looks like she’s in bad shape, Mr Domero.”

“Who are you here to see? Hey, can you hear me?” the stranger held me up. But it was no use, everything was turning black.

“Kaiser Darkwood.”