REGRETS

MIA’S POV

“Ouch!” I exclaimed.

I opened my eyes, I was overwhelmed by a banging headache and a great sense of nausea washed over me. I sat upright on the bed and immediately regretted my decision to do so as I realized how sore the back of my head was and the fact that I was wearing nothing but my underwear and my mask caused me to cringe in embarrassment, the memories of that swarm through my head adding to that feeling and in that moment I wanted nothing more than the floor opening to swallow me.

I shook my head slowly to avoid pondering on it too hard as it made the throbbing in my head only get worse and worse. I slowly make my way to the bathroom taking small unsure steps as the alcohol I had consumed still had its effect on my mind and body. I am thankful to find some soap and a towel hanging off the rack and take a quick shower, scrubbing my body to rid the sex, sweat, alcohol, and shame that held onto me like a second skin.

After my shower, I pulled my dress back onto my frame struggling for a minute to get the zipper. I see my phone lying on the small drawer beside the bed and racks my brain trying to remember putting it there. I turned on my phone a small gasp escaped my lips at how late it was. 2:43 am.

I feel the pit in my stomach grow even deeper and as I grab her purse, I notice a single piece of paper tucked between my wallet and my keys, and tucked into the paper, a few bills. That sparked my anger, just what did he take me for?

Thank you for a perfect night. Have a good life, Stranger.

The note said.

I felt tears pricking at the corners of my eyes as I read the note, the feeling of shame bubbling in my stomach again, even worse as I stared at the paper in my hand. Tears cause the ink to blotch. I was fucking Mia Lee. This kind of thing always happened to me but now here I sat, make-up smeared, tears and snot fighting for a space on my face, being given a couple hundred bills for a great night of fuck.

I flung the money at the wall, watching in satisfaction as the pieces flew across the room. I could feel her heart breaking in my chest, and I wanted nothing more than to crawl out the window and jump off the building.

“Shit!” I yelled out loud. “Fuck! fuckity fuck!” I ragged on. All these years I had spent avoiding men, all this time I had held onto my past trauma and had sworn to prevent the disgustingness of men, but now here I was losing it all in a drunken haze. I felt the shame eating away at my conscience.

****

I approached the pack house, hoping I could sneak up to my room without seeing anyone. As soon as I opened the door leading to my quarters, I heard my name being called out and I was startled immediately.

“Alpha,” I replied with a trembling voice.

He glared at me, he was standing with the beta, Ms. Caroline, and some other people I didn't know.

"Where are you coming from?" This time it was the Beta that asked and I began to say a silent prayer.

I have always been terrible at lying but today I knew it was a matter of life and death, we had this rule where workers weren't allowed to leave the pack house until their day off.

"I fell asleep in the garden house last night after waiting at one of the bars outside,"

It wasn't technically a lie, even though I never waited at any of the bars, but I did stay there and that was where I met him.

I shrugged, immediately erasing his thoughts from my mind, I was trying not to relive the painful humiliation in my mind.

"Who instructed you to wait at the bar, you left my party to go do meaningless work," Alpha Leo yelled at me and I whimpered.

Does he have temporal amnesia, is he bipolar?

Doesn't he remember how he humiliated me at that same party?

"I am talking to you girl," he yelled out again and I glanced at him.

"I am sorry Alpha Leo, it won't happen again," I gave a half-baked apology, at this point, I just wanted to escape to my room and fall back to my bed and ugly cry.

"You are damn right it won't," he turned to Ms. Caroline, "Since she likes doing jobs that she wasn't assigned to, she should be tasked to do all the gutter and garden chores alongside room service," he declared and Ms. Caroline nodded, I wasn't happy for the bulk of work given to me but I just wanted to leave.

The Alpha turned to go but abruptly stopped and then strolled back to where I stood, I was trembling and sweating profusely.

"You smell strange," he said, taking my hair into his hand and sniffing it. "This wasn't how you smelled last night, you smell like another wolf," he sniffed me long and had, "A male wolf,"

My heart skipped a bit at his altercation.

"You spent the night in the arms of another, you fucking bitch," he yelled pushing me to the wall, I didn't know if he was angry or if this was just performative.

"Answer me you bitch,"

I knew I would have a better chance of staying alive by keeping quiet, he pushed me and I landed on the floor.

I couldn't take it anymore and I glared down at the floor, tears stinging my eyes.

All of a sudden, there was a profound silence, and when I looked up, I saw Alpha Leo standing before me. And I knew that all hell was about to break loose.

"It seems that my dear mate does not understand the concept of obedience. I'll be happy to teach you a few lessons."

I began to tremble and the impending horror that awaited me rushed down my veins.

Premeditated.

This must have been premeditated because he walked to the fireplace and brought out a long iron rod that looked like a branding tool. The triangular end was burning red hot and to my horror, he started walking back to me.

"No, no, no, please," I cried out and tried to make a quick escape, but I wasn't fast enough. He slapped me hard and I fell, my skull cracking on the marble floor.

"Please, please," I begged weakly as he straddled me and clamped a hand around my wrists. In my peripheral vision, I could see his half-naked mistress laughing wildly.

"You will learn to obey me even if I have to teach you with force!" He growled, placing the burning rod on my skin.

I screamed in pain and tried to kick him off of me but he was too strong and I couldn't even get him to budge.