Chapter 3

Alissa stepped barefoot onto the soft luscious grass, she had a few chores outside which she was a little glad for, it wasn’t often she was allowed out of the pack house. So when she was, she relished in the feel of the cool sun on her face as the case was that day. She strode further from the place she had had to live since the day that changed her life forever. Her eyes cast over the ivy growing over the grey stone that extended up, ending in the moss covered roof. 

She peered up to the two towers that flanked either side of the impressively sized structure. She squinted at the towers, she could never remember which was her haven away from the others. 

The sound of metal on stone brought her back to the present. Curious, she followed the noise to Dotty's cottage - which happened to be her destination anyway. Following the wooden panelling around her small home to her vegetable garden. Alissa could see Dotty hunched over her cabbages, digging. She heard the trowel hit another stone – the source of the noise that drew her there.

“You want any help Aunty?” She knelt down next to the old woman, her grey hair held back from her cheerful wrinkled face with a flowery headband. “Oh hello dear, how are you?” She looked up from her task. Alissa loved the rare time she could spend with Dotty, her caring disposition kept her sane and being an elder, Alpha Cain could do nothing about it.

“I'm well thank you Aunty Dot, you?” Alissa started inspecting the cabbages trying to determine if any were ready, thinking of meals she could put them in. Alissa touched a few, poking. “No you're not dear, you're never OK.” Alissa looked away. Dotty pulled Alissa's arm towards her with a wrinkled hand, “Who did this one?” She inspected a large purple bruise, turning Alissa's arm around in the light to search for more. “No-one.” She snatched her arm away.

 “I walked into a door” Alissa tried to hide the obvious lie.

“And I'm a rabbit,” she kindly retorted, “If you told me, I'd sort them out.” Dotty had threatened this every time she saw a new bruise. Despite her tiny four-foot-ten frame. No-one messed with her. Alissa nodded but didn't say anything else. She knew Dotty meant well, but part of her was scared of the beating she would receive after Dotty had told the main pack members off.

 Dotty sighed, “Well if you want to be helpful, you can pull the potatoes dear, see if they're ready.” Dotty produced a hair elastic. Alissa accepted and put her hip length chestnut brown hair up in a rough bun. She headed over to the green leaves of the potato plants. “The ones that are dead should be ready, I can see a few.” Alissa scanned the plants looking for a dead-looking plant Dotty was referring to.

Her eyes cast over the green leaves before she saw one that was brown. She picked up the garden fork and pushed it into the ground a few inches from the plant. The potatoes appeared from the ground. “Do these look right?” Alissa produced a potato for Dotty to inspect. “Yes dear.” Alissa's face broke into a smile. She busied herself the rest of the afternoon helping Dotty with the vegetables ready for harvest. Spending time in her garden made her feel normal. Like her parents were alive, and she was part of the pack. Towards the end of the afternoon Alissa picked some herbs to go with the food to take back to the house.

“Thank you, deary.” Dotty gave Alissa a muddy hug, she fished in her pocket when her face fell. “Oh, There's no mints in my pocket.” Dotty looked upset.

“It's OK Aunty, you've given me food for the next few days, this will feed the new Alpha well, I can't complain.” She gave Dotty an extra hug.

“No, no dear I always give you mints, just a moment.” Dotty bustled into her wooden cottage coming back a few seconds later, mint in hand, “There you are.” Alissa accepted letting out a small laugh. “What would I do without you, Aunty Dot?” 

“Try to stay safe deary.” They bid goodbye with more hugs.

She couldn’t tell Dotty what was going on, and she couldn’t share her fears about the new Alpha arriving. An excitement was vibrating the clearing, but all Alissa felt was apprehension. What if it did get worse? She had no idea what Luca was like now he was a full man. Would his time away from them have made him cold and heartless? Would he rule as Alpha Cain did before or like he did now? 

Before when her father, the beta of the Wuffaman pack Alpha Cain had been gentler, he had always ruled firmly. He wasn’t an Alpha to get on the wrong side of and he certainly wasn’t someone to have a joke with. But he had treated her like a daughter, and Kristen had been like a sister to her, well of course until Alissa’s brother Michael found her covered in their parents’ blood and an assumption made, an assumption Allissa always denied. 

Alissa made her way downstairs, it was the morning before Luca Wuffaman would arrive. She noted dust had settled on the wooden panelling that adorned the bottom of the walls. She would have to pay attention to that. She passed the doorways that framed the hall, many of which she had never entered, she wasn’t allowed to enter the bedrooms, even to clean. Getting down to the kitchen she started making breakfast on the wood-burning agar, she had a long list of chores for the day. As per Alpha Cain instructions she single-handedly needed to get the whole house straight, and she just knew they’d had another party in the games room.

She served up the black pudding and eggs for breakfast just as Michael's six-foot frame came through the door, followed by the red-headed Natalie. Alissa put her head down, she hated when they came to her. She hadn’t heard them approaching and knew she’d spent too long making breakfast. Alissa tried to go past the pair, but Michael slammed her head against the door frame as she went past. “Watch out!” Michael cackled as Alissa put her hand to her head involuntarily. 

Tears of betrayal welled in her eyes but Alissa drew all the strength within her. She was terrified, but never wanted them to know that. Alissa looked up to Michael's features, he looked much like their father, while she had inherited their mother's features. Apart from their eyes, every sibling had brilliant emerald eyes. Alissa gritted her teeth, “Watch out yourself!” she snarled without enough bite to be threatening and she pushed him back.

Natalie glared down her upturned nose at her, while taking an intimidating step forward, “You don't speak to him like that, omega,” she snarled, her lips twisting into a cruel smile. 

“Who you calling omega? Least I know how to close my legs.” Alissa's remark earned her a hair pull and kick to the shins. 

“That's enough, she has lots to do today,” Alpha Cain's voice came from behind them, his dark hair streaked with grey reflecting the light. The three turned towards the sound as he walked towards the dining room. “I suggest you get busy, remember to sort my son's room, I want it perfect.” He looked in Alissa's direction. Alissa looked away from his piercing glare.

Alissa sprinted from the kitchen, head bent low as she passed Cain, any excuse to get out of everyone's way. Cain had ensured her life was a misery for three years. But the last year had been particularly hard. Ever since Natalie had found her secretly transforming in the woods against Cain’s orders. Alissa had certainly paid for that act of rebellion.