chapter One

CHAPTER ONE 

ELENA'S POV

“Pathetic freak.”

That vile word was whispered in my ear as a sharp object I recognized to be a claw pierced the skin on my lower back.

“Mmmmmh” I groaned, clamping my mouth shut tightly so I wouldn't let a sound out.

I had learned the hard way that once I did, it would only get worse. I was supposed to take it quietly as after that, I was free.

The claw was removed but before I could have a sigh of relief, it pierced another part of my skin and was then dragged in a straight line. I almost couldn't hold my scream at this point as I bit down on my lips so much that I soon tasted copper.

One would think that with all this, blood would be pouring out like a flood but those hands were experienced - enough to know how to inflict so much pain while leaving mostly scars and little to no blood.

Scars that added to the numerous ones I had in a lot of hidden places on my body.

I could hear that menacing giggle behind me like a bell being rung to announce my doom.

The claw left my back but before I could relax, the owner spoke. “I want to have a little more fun with you today. You know the drill.” 

My heart stopped.

No, no! Please No.

My palm was trembling in panic and fear but I knew not to beg - it would only worsen what she would do to me.

“Sir” A quiet voice came out of my mouth as I spoke in an almost whisper.

Even with that, I knew it was enough. His ears were sharp enough to pick up my words.

The instructor, a buff and cold-looking beta, had been assigned as our trainer.

“Yes, Elaine?” He turned to me with a raised brow and so did the rest of the wolves in the room. I looked down and began fidgeting.

I hated this. Drawing attention to myself but I had no choice. Any further delay would make my punishment worse.

“Can I please be excused? I feel quite sick.”

Murmurs immediately rang out and I could hear it all around me. I could feel the numerous eyes of scorn and contempt.

“Is she really Seraphina”s daughter?”

“Who knows?” 

“I heard that aside from looking almost like the great Seraphina, she is not even a tad bit similar.”

“What a shame. I'm sure Seraphina would be turning in her grave at giving birth to such a daughter. Especially since she has no wolf. I mean, we all heard of legends like Seraphina fighting wolves barehanded and so on.”

“Really?” 

“Yeah. Didn't you hear? Apparently, ten years ago the daughter fell so sick after her mother's funeral that she lost her wolf.”

“Poor thing.”

“More like a disgusting thing. The only reason she is allowed in a training class with other wolves is just because of her mother's grace. Even with that, she doesn't just stay quiet but makes an excuse almost every time to leave class earlier.”

“Also, did you hear that her mother apparently frolicked with a human, causing her daughter to be roofless as punishment for her sins?”

A gasp. “Where did you hear that?”

“From a very accurate source.” 

“Then she doesn't deserve my sympathy. Lazy freak.” A chuckle followed after.

Conversations just like this and even worse rang out all around me, and all I could do was try to block it out, although every word sent pain into my heart.

The instructor looked at me suspiciously - probably not buying my excuse. He gave me a once over and probably decided that I looked quite pale and sick enough to be allowed out of the class.

Slowly, I walked out of the class, every step transmitting equal pain to my back.

After so much effort, I finally got myself to the hidden loft behind the training grounds.

My whole body trembling, I knelt and waited in trepidation.

Soon after, I heard footsteps and my breath caught in my throat.

I prayed and willed them to not be her but it was never answered - when had the moon goddess ever answered me?

A posh-looking boot appeared in my line of sight before the others did.

I was shaking so badly at this point that I was sure I could be mistaken for an epileptic patient.

No matter how many times it happened, it never got any easier.

My eyes lifted slowly from the boot to the owner of the beautiful owner - Amber. My bully and one of the major reasons for all my anguish and pain.

She smiled sinisterly, her smile making a perverted contrast on her angelic-looking face. “Hope I didn't make you wait long?”

I looked down and shut my eyes while bracing myself for the impact. “Let's begin shall we.”

After what felt like the longest torture session I have ever had, I crawled up with much difficulty and stumbled out of the loft and into the forest behind.

The scent of rain and pine didn't comfort me like it normally did as I dragged my body over twigs and under tree branches.

I was tired.

Soon, I was standing right before two worn-out iron gates. The grey plaque at the center reads Gilmore Cemetery.

I pushed at the gates, which creaked heavily, and slid in.

After walking down the family gravel path, I stopped in front of a grave. It read, Seraphina Lupin - My mother's grave.

I crouched down, hissing when I pulled on one of the numerous wounds Amber and her gang had inflicted on me.

I brushed some of the rubble and dirt off the tombstone. “Mama, I'm here.”

“I'm sorry I've been unable to come visit. How have you been?”

A loud silence spread out through the graveyard yet I continued.

“Mama…” I trailed off biting my lip. “Can I perhaps come over there and join you?”

“I miss you so much. I want to lay down on your lap while you stroke my head and sing me songs like you used to. While you pat me and tell me that it's okay.”

“I know that you said I should be a fighter, mama, but - I'm tired, mama.”

Tears had begun trickling down my face and landing on the tombstone. I wiped at it, unwilling to allow my Mama to be tainted by my ‘dirty’ tears.

“I'm sorry mama. I'm just so tired.”

I began sobbing incessantly and I could swear that I could feel the phantom of a hand stroking at my head.

A memory came to my head at that point. Like a reminder. 

Someone had hurt me and I cried my eyes out as I stated that I was tired. She sat me on her lap back then and whispered to me. “Lena baby. Hold strong as I know that you'll surely shake the world.”

With that, I felt like I had to live on.

Later, I pushed my Injured body back to the Alpha manor I lived in. Ever since my mother died, and since I had no father, they had taken me in.

One would think that living directly under the Alpha's roof would save me from the likes of people like Amber but it couldn't.

I knew for a fact that it would just make things worse which is why I made sure not to tell them.

Only Sophia, who was now staring at me in shock, knew and even with that, I had made her swear not to tell a soul.

“What the hell, Ena???” She had the weirdest nickname for me, but so far, she didn't call me Lena like my mama used to; I was fine. “Is it that bitch Amber again?” 

She looked so angry that it sent a warm feeling into my chest. I didn't respond, though, as I dragged my body towards my room. I didn't want to be spotted like this by the Alpha or his Luna.

She followed. “I swear I'm going to kill that little bitch.” 

She sounded so serious. I stopped in my tracks and turned to her. “You can't do that. You promised not to interfere.”

She gritted her teeth. “But… how can I watch Amber do all this and I..”

I cut her off. “Amber. Drop it.”

She hesitated but eventually nodded.

Heaving a sigh of relief at having convinced her, I turned and tried walking back to my room, but she grabbed my arm gently, making me look back at her.

“Are you coming down for dinner? James made honey cakes.”

An image of the ever-loving and protective James flashed in my mind. His smiles and charm. He was willing to defend me anytime he heard anyone whispering rumors about me.

“Not today Soph. Maybe another time.”

“But you….”

“Enough! I'm not a charity case, Sofia, so stop it. I said I'm fine.”

She flinched and guilt immediately flooded me at my harsh tone. “I'm sorry. It's just… I want to rest.”

She dropped her hand and nodded. “Umm.. if you change your mind.” She said awkwardly.

I turned and left.

The next day, I trudged along the familiar woods path, bedding once or twice to sniff at leaves I suspected were herbs.

That was the only gift I retained from my wolf. A sensitive nose that could sniff out anything.

Too bad that it couldn't save me from my woes.

Sofia tagged along, chattering every step of the way.

After yesterday, she didn't bring up anything about the bullying, nor did she tell anyone like she promised, as if she did, I would have been summoned.

I tuned out her chatter and focused on my task - which was gathering herbs as volunteer work for the healers. A task I occasionally engaged in alone.

Sophia just insisted on tagging along today.

Soon, something in the air caught my attention. A coppery scent. One I was all too familiar with. Blood.

Someone was injured or worse - dead.

I froze, and Sofia, who hadn't been paying attention, slammed right into me.

“Ena! What the hell…”

“Shh!!” I glared at her to shut up and realizing the gravity of the situation, she did.

There was something mixed in the coppery scent. A scent that I hadn't smelled before. A unique scent.

I contemplated turning and leaving, but against my better judgment, I still followed the scent, and I gasped when I noticed the source.

A man, stark naked lay sprawled amidst two tree stumps, a large gash running from his chest to his side. An obvious claw mark.

Sofia gasped behind me.

At first, I feared that he was dead, but his eyelids fluttered open, although weakly, and I could see his eyes. A beautiful yet cold shade of blue.

One that spelled trouble. His eyes closed back and I found myself missing the sight of them.

How odd.

I knelt intending to help him out but Sopfia pulled my hand and took me back. “What are you doing?” She berated harshly, clearly not intending to help a total stranger.

“I need to help him. I can't just let him die.”

“No! Let's go.” She began pulling me back and I allowed myself to watch the man get further away.

“Elena!” A loud sound followed by a shrill voice jerked me out of my thoughts and I looked up only to realize that I had zoned out while thinking of that incident that happened days ago.

I really wanted to forget it but I couldn't.

The teacher, clearly not pleased by my absent mind, glared at me and I muttered a sorry before lowering my head and staring at the scribble of loser one of my classmates probably found hilarious to write on my desk.

I could feel the stares around me once more. 

School was also one of the places I loathed to be but I didn't have any choice as the Alpha clearly wanted me there no matter what.

The teacher went on teaching a subject that I didn't understand a thing about and I heaved a sigh in relief when I felt everyone look away.

A ball of paper was launched at my head, followed by a whisper of freakiness, but I didn't turn back.

I couldn't fight back, so why bother.

The door opened and closed, and I could hear collective gasps from everyone around me, but I didn't raise my head. I kept scribbling in my notebook.

Suddenly an oddly familiar scent hit me. A unique scent that I had only smelled once - yet a scent that had been imprinted in my soul.

I slowly looked up. “Class, this is Liam. Our new transfer student.” The teacher announced but I could barely process it as I was staring dumbfounded at those family blue eyes.

The eyes of the stranger I had met in the woods back then.

I couldn't help but recall the accident when Sofia had asked me to leave but I had stayed stubbornly and treated him with what little knowledge of medicine I could.

I asked Sofia to go get help and she ran off - although she never came back with said help.

I remember that once I had made sure that he was out of danger, some masked me arrived and took him away after assuring me that he would be fine and swearing me to secrecy.

The event had been on my mind because I was worried I had given him to people who wanted to kill him, but seeing him standing here, I probably did not.

Liam. His name suited his eyes.

Eyes that turned to me and locked my gaze from across the room.