Chapter 1 - Saving my own life!

Isabella

“I’m not stupid! Who was she?!” My sister-in-law, Clair, screams at my brother, Adam, and I turn right back around in the hopes that they wouldn’t see me. They are glaring at each other. That only means they are having one of their bigger fights, and I really didn’t want to be around them when that happened.

I hide around the corner, trying to calm my rapid breathing and racing heart. Why did I have to walk in at that very moment? I swear, I have the worst luck in the entire world! Somehow, they always found a way to make their fights my fault, and then I was the one who was punished. I nervously rub my bruised wrists that were still aching from the last time.

“Don’t do this here! You are making a scene.” Adam sighs deeply, and I can hear their footsteps coming closer. I try to run, but it’s too late. My hair is pulled back so quickly that I lose my balance and hit the floor with a loud thud. I feel my ribs crack the moment Clair’s stiletto hits my side.

I fight not to cry, but the pain is so intense that I can’t even breathe. I can’t cry. I can’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me in pain. It always just fuels their rage and makes the beatings far worse. In the blink of an eye, my hair is gripped again as I’m dragged down the passage and thrown into the basement. Usually, the beatings last much longer, but it seems they have had enough of me for now.

Their laughter rings through the air as they shut the door, and I’m flung into total darkness yet again. I can’t believe it. I had just been allowed to leave the basement that morning. I hadn’t even had time to grab something to eat. The second I was released early in the morning, I had to get right back to work. I didn’t do anything wrong this time, but I usually wasn’t the guilty party.

My brother never needed a reason to harm me. If only I had stolen that piece of bread earlier, then at least I would have something to eat. It becomes harder to breathe as the seconds tick by, and I feel panic slowly eating me up inside. What if this was it? What if, this time, they injured me so badly that my body just gives in?

For a split-second, I almost wish that these are my last moments on this earth, but I quickly push those thoughts out of my mind. In a last hopeful attempt, I try the door. I know there is no way they would have left it open. They never do. But to my surprise, the knob turns and the door creeks open. I breathe a sigh of relief, and at the same time winch in pain, but fear floods my veins in an instant.

It could just be one of their horrible traps. They could be waiting around the corner. I close my eyes and swallow, carefully listening for any signs that they are still around. They had never left the door open before, but there was always a first time. They loved laying all sorts of traps around the house just to have a good reason to punish me should anyone ever ask. Not that anyone did.

“Are you drinking again?” I hear Adam shouting from the office down the hall, and my heart skips a beat as I realize that my escape route is wide open.

“No. It’s just tea.” I can imagine Clair rolling her eyes at my brother. I know the reason they are always fighting. They were never destined mates. I’m sure everyone knows that. My uncle made sure they ended up together. He believes it will keep the alpha line strong to keep their bloodline pure. I roll my eyes again at that thought as I slowly and carefully creep down the passage and make my way to the front door.

“What kind of tea?” Adam’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts as I carefully step out onto the porch and hold my breath for a second. If I can make it to the forest without anyone seeing me, I might just have a chance.

“Tea-quila.” I hear the sarcasm dripping from Clair’s voice, as her laughter echoes through the air, and I know they will be coming for me next. Adam never took his anger out on Clair! There’s no time to think about it as adrenaline floods my system, and the will to live pushes through my veins. I make a run for the forest.

Miraculously, I make it all the way to the packhouse border before I hear the howls of my pack filling the night air. My brother shouts my name, and I can hear the venom in his voice. There is no turning back now. If I do, I will surely be killed this time.

Each step I take further away from them, relief fills my body, but it is painful. With each step, I am reminded why I run as breathing becomes more difficult. It is pouring with rain, and I wonder if the moon goddess finally sees fit to spare my life. The rain will partly cover my tracks and hopefully wash away some of my scent, making it more difficult for the pack to track me.

It’s cold, and I am just skin and bone, but I keep going. I can’t shift. I’ve never been able to shift, which means I can’t even rely on my wolf to save me from the cold. If I can just make it to the human town, I can hide there. I never shifted, so I smell like a human. I don’t even notice when the leaves cut through my thin skin as I run to save my own life.

The clouds are dark, which means I am only guessing at the direction I have to go in. I’ve also not been to the human city in many years, so, I’m basically just running. I could be running right back to the pack house for all I know!

Out of breath, completely drained and utterly miserable, I don’t look where I’m going, and I run straight into something really hard before hitting the ground. A sharp pain shoots through my head and, as I blink once, seeing a large, looming figure hovering above me, before total darkness takes over.