A Broken Beginning

Lily POV

As I ran through the thick forest, the icy wind stung my face, but I forced myself to keep moving. The bundle of firewood in my arms felt heavier with each step, the cold creeping through my fingers. I shouldn’t have been out this late, I knew that. Uncle had told me a thousand times not to wander off, especially not in the dark. But the fire had been dying, and the thought of another freezing night was unbearable.

When the cabin came into view, my stomach twisted. The old wooden structure, leaning slightly to one side, was barely more than a shack. It had been my home for as long as I could remember, ever since my parents were killed. And inside waited Uncle, the man who had taken me in, though he never let me forget that he wished he hadn’t.

I hesitated at the door, my hand trembling on the worn handle. The creak of the hinges sent a shiver down my spine as I stepped inside. The smell of stale alcohol hit me immediately, thick and suffocating.

"You think you can just come and go as you please?" Uncle’s voice was thick with alcohol, slurred, and dangerous.

I froze. The fire barely flickered in the hearth, casting long shadows across the cramped room. My heart pounded in my chest as I set the bundle of wood down near the fireplace, trying to keep my voice steady. "I just went to get more wood for the fire. It was getting cold, and—"

*SLAP!*

The blow came out of nowhere, knocking me to the floor. Pain exploded across my cheek, my skin stinging from the sharp crack of his hand. I gasped, struggling to catch my breath, tears springing to my eyes as I held my throbbing face.

"You think I care why you went out?" Uncle growled, towering over me, his breath hot and reeking of whiskey. “You disobeyed me, Lily. You know what happens when you disobey.”

“I-I just wanted to help,” I whispered, curling in on myself as his shadow loomed over me. “The fire was dying, I thought—"

“Help?” His laughter was cold, mocking. He grabbed me by the arm, hauling me roughly to my feet. His fingers dug into my skin, bruising, as he dragged me across the room. “You should’ve thought about that before. Now it’s too late for excuses.”

I tried to pull away, my voice small and trembling. "I didn’t want to wake you—"

But he wasn’t listening. His face twisted in anger, and he threw me hard against the wall. The breath rushed out of me as I hit the wood, my back slamming into the cold, rough surface. Stars danced in front of my eyes, and for a moment, I couldn’t move.

“You think I’m stupid?” he snarled, his voice low and menacing. “Sneaking around, acting like you don’t owe me everything. You’re just like your worthless parents.”

His words cut deep, but I kept my head down, swallowing the anger that bubbled in my chest. I had learned the hard way that standing up to him only made things worse.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, hoping the apology would appease him. “I didn’t mean—”

“You’re always sorry,” he spat, his grip tightening as he dragged me toward the kitchen. “Get this place cleaned up. Maybe that’ll teach you some respect.”

I stumbled forward, catching myself against the counter, my body shaking from the tension. "Yes, Uncle," I mumbled, keeping my head down, doing my best to disappear into the task.

The clink of a bottle and the creak of his chair told me he had lost interest, his attention now on the drink in his hand. I exhaled, relief flooding me as I turned my focus to the cleaning, wiping away the tears that threatened to fall.

I worked silently, but my thoughts were far from the dirty dishes and cluttered counters. Instead, they lingered on the stories of mates I’d heard growing up—how every werewolf had someone out there destined for them. Someone who would love and protect them. My parents used to tell me those stories before they were taken from me before this became my life.

Maybe it was foolish to cling to that hope, but it was the only thing that kept me going. One day, I would find my mate. And when I did, I’d be free of this place, of him.

Suddenly, a loud crash shattered my thoughts. I spun around to see Uncle had knocked over the side table, cursing loudly as he fumbled to right himself.

“Get over here!” he barked, his voice sharp.

My heart jumped into my throat, but I quickly rushed to his side, offering him my arm to help him up. His weight sagged against me, and for a brief moment, his bloodshot eyes met mine. Something dark flickered there, something that made my skin crawl.

"You think you’re better than me," he hissed, his words slurring. "You think some mate is gonna come along and save you?"

I froze, the cold grip of fear tightening around my chest. He knew what I thought. He always did. I didn’t respond; I couldn’t trust my voice to stay steady.

“Answer me!” His hand shot out, grabbing my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “You think some prince is coming to take you away from all this?”

Tears stung my eyes, but I held them back, refusing to give him the satisfaction.

“There’s no one coming for you, Lily,” he sneered, pushing me away. “You’ll die here, just like your parents.”

His words tore through me, but something inside me snapped. A cold anger

Rose from deep within, something I hadn’t felt in a long time. I straightened, my trembling hands suddenly still, and for the first time, I looked him in the eyes without flinching.

"I might be nothing to you," I whispered, my voice low but steady. "But one day, I’ll leave. And when I do, you’ll never see me again."

The room went still. Uncle’s eyes darkened, his face twisted with a dangerous fury. For a moment, I thought he might hit me again, but I didn’t care. I was done being afraid.

“You ungrateful little—" he lunged at me, his arm swinging wide, but I was ready this time. I ducked, his fist barely grazing my shoulder, and I bolted toward the door. I didn’t stop to think. I didn’t look back. I just ran.

The freezing wind hit me like a wall as I burst out into the night, but the cold was nothing compared to the fear pounding in my chest. I ran faster, my breath coming in ragged gasps, my legs burning as I pushed myself through the snow-covered forest.

I didn’t stop until I reached the edge of the woods, my breath fogging the air in front of me as I collapsed to my knees. The tears I had been holding back finally spilled over, and I buried my face in my hands, my sobs muffled by the quiet, empty night.

“I can’t do this anymore,” I whispered through my tears. “I have to get out of here.”

But where could I go? I had no family, no friends, and nowhere to turn. I was trapped, stuck in this nightmare with no way out.

Except…

I wiped my eyes, my breath catching as I noticed something strange in the distance. A faint glow, deeper in the woods. It flickered softly, like a distant star, but it was different—something about it called to me.

I stood slowly, my body still trembling from the cold and the fear, but something pulled me forward. I took a hesitant step, then another, drawn toward the light.

Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was just the moon playing tricks on me, or the last bit of hope I had left pulling me toward a dream.

But I didn’t care. I followed it anyway.