03|Nightmares

“So you are out there stealing mates now!” Dorothy’s aunt yelled and the chair she was sitting on wobbled. Right by her side, Bella had her hands crossed as she watched the show.

Dorothy didn't speak, she looked at her cousin who smirked and mouthed the words.

“Serves you right”

Fucking Snitch.

She held her bleeding head and calmed her breathing, suppressing her anger like she always did in similar situations.

Dorothy did not utter a word, there was no point explaining since no one would believe her and everything would only get harsher.

She was used to these situations, where the men from the pack would hit on her even though they had mates, yet it always ended up being her fault.

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, you are just like your whore mother, having no morals. That bitch even seduced and slept with the Alpha, giving birth to a worthless existence like you before she died", her aunt scoffed, her expression filled with disdain. Dorothy clenched her hands, her lips curved up into a smile and her beauty seemed to radiate from that smile alone.

Wrong, her mother was the victim in that story.

“You talk about your sister like that yet you are all alone here because no one wants you, it's all a shame that those so-called morals didn't stop your husband from running away with a younger woman” she replied, and her aunt and cousin, who seemed fazed by her beauty for a moment, snapped out of it.

“How dare you!”

“Oh my goddess, why would she say that, mother?”

Dorothy just scoffed, she didn't bother wasting her breath as she made her way to the tiny attic that had been made into a room by her.j

She collapsed on her bed and curled up into a ball, the tears that were threatening to spill earlier fell. She hated crying, it wasn't worth giving them that satisfaction, but it was all unfair to her dead mother. Even though she had been violated by the Alpha, everyone blamed her, she was rejected by her mate and Dorothy was brought into the world as a result of that forbidden night.

She sat up, her eyes drifting to the nightstand, where an old, faded photograph lay half-tucked under the pillow. She picked it up with trembling hands as she let the tears flow, crying herself to sleep.

“Beep beep beep” The alarm clock began to ring as she lay on the bed, her knees drawn to her chest and her arms wrapped tightly around her shivering frame. Dorothy woke up drenched in sweat, her body in a sorry state and her eyes closed with tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Dammit,” she muttered under her breath.

Once again she had woken up to the horrible nightmare that seemed to plague her every time she lay down to sleep. She moved, tears soaking the sheets as she struggled to sit up. Her heart pounded as she used the sleeve of her shirt to wipe off the sweat. Running her hand through her hair, she sighed and got up.

She headed to the shower. Turning the water on, she relaxed, her eyes fluttering shut as the hot water flowed over her skin, washing off the blood and sending her relief.

Stepping out of the shower, she wrapped a towel around her body as she walked to the mirror. Looking at the old mirror, her reflection stared directly back at her. Red hair and a pair of green eyes, the replica of her dead mother.

Wolves were often gifted with great beauty, but her mother had that kind of beauty that could ignite wars and topple cities. She would always say to her that beauty was a good thing, but having the power to protect it was much better.

She scrambled through her drawer for something decent to wear, and by decent, she meant a t-shirt that didn't have holes or stitches in it. After practically rummaging through her entire drawer, she finally found a baggy shirt with floral prints. She threw on the T-shirt and a pair of black sweats before picking up the baseball cap on the bed, the one thing she never leaves behind.

***

“Oh my Moon Goddess, did you see all those hot men? I can't believe they are all here for your birthday ” Sophie nearly yelled, and nearly —everyone in the hallway turned their attention to the group.

“Yes, Father said I would be able to meet my mate” a voice replied, and it undeniably belonged to Jessica, Alpha Ryan’s daughter and Dorothy's half-sister, but she wasn't allowed to call her that.

The Alpha had two children, Jessica and James. James is twenty, and he is the future Alpha of the pack, while Jessica is only eighteen, Dorothy’s age.

“You are so lucky, knowing that you will meet your mate, it sounds like a fairytale” Sophie stated, which earned a scoff from Zac, her mate.

“Hey, you have a handsome mate here and Jessica, I wouldn't bet on your luck, your mate might be a fifty-something ugly omega, for all you know”.

“Oh shut the fuck up” Jessica glared at him, and he just chuckled, shrugging his shoulders.

“But it is a pity that someone wouldn't even get to meet their mate, I mean they can't even shift” Jessica’s eyes locked on Dorothy, but she only rolled her eyes, ignoring their snickers as she slammed her locker shut.

The walk to Agnes' place was quite lively, Dorothy could see a lot of new faces and that was understandable because different packs from around the world were currently visiting for Jessica’s party. Dorothy avoided people as she walked, keeping her down so as not to attract attention.

“Agnes?” Dorothy’s hand stopped at the slightly ajar door. The sounds of footsteps echoed in the house and, thanks to her heightened hearing, she noticed there were two people in there.

No one apart from her ever visits.

Damn, robber. Quick to her thinking, she grabbed the first thing she could see and that was the vase she gifted Agnes for her birthday.

Shit shit. She was silently crying as she gripped the vase tighter, she was sure her pounding heart could be heard miles away, but she didn't care, she had to save Agnes. She didn't know why someone would rob this house of all places, the walls were barely holding on together for their lives.

She stopped as the voices in the bathroom grew louder.

“Haha please don't do that”

Oh no, what was the pervert doing to a ninety-year-old woman? Her eyes widened and with a warrior’s cry she kicked the door and held the vase higher, ready to bash the culprit’s head, but only a moment later would she see Agnes hugging one of the most beautiful men she had ever seen.

“What the hell” she barely registered the scene before hurriedly running to pull Agnes away from the man, her hands removing the surprisingly strong grip that held his shirt.

“Oh my Goddess, I'm so sorry for this” She quickly bowed her head at the man who seemed to watch her with an amused smirk.

“Alpha Killian” Another voice broke the silence, and she looked to see a man at the door.

Oh my, they are dead.