Chapter 6

Alissa closed her eyes in prayer, if someone were to challenge and win Alissa may be free. She swallowed hard in anticipation, her hands grasped together in front of her stomach in hope and prayer. If the Moon Goddess could have one hint of mercy for her she hoped it would be within this moment. She begged one person to say ‘aye’. One person to see they could beat Luca. It had happened before, Alissa remembered the history lesson her mother had told her of their ancestor who overthrew the Wuffaman’s. But that was almost three hundred years before, and hadn’t lasted long. 

While Alissa prayed, begged, pleaded. Cain and the Elders continued to look over the crowd, surveying each face with piercing eyes. Nobody made a sound. Satisfied, Cain stepped down as Alpha, he bowed to his son to bring the ceremony to a close.

Every pack member walked up to the new Alpha accepting him and pledging their loyalty. Alissa was not included in this, she had been allowed to stay but had never had her initiation. So she stayed to the back trying to be invisible. She pressed her back firmly against the tree, despair of her one hope being dashed, crashed around her while she watched Jack pledge his loyalty. 

Luca as new Alpha announced the beginning of celebrations, adding duties were suspended tomorrow. Everyone cheered and the pack broke out the drinks. Alissa waited for the chatter to reach uncomfortable levels. The strange feeling of her wolf within her, after so long she felt uncomfortable as she fluffed her fur, shaking her head within her. Alissa decided that it was time for her to make her exit so she grabbed a bottle of wine, she’d drink it in her room alone, but her wrist was swiftly caught.

“What do you think you’re doing?” a deep voice came from next to her that sent dread deep within her. “N-nothing.” She shook under his grasp. His hand twisted the skin of her wrist. “B-Beta Blake…” She winced as she felt the bones groaning under his grasp. 

“Just because the new Alpha stated duties are suspended… do you really think that applies to you?” He ripped the wine from her hand. 

“N-no Beta Blake,” she whimpered as a small crack shot pain up her arm.

“Good girl, now leave,” he sneered down to her, his deep brown eyes boring a hole in the top of her head as she daren’t look at him. She stumbled a step when he let go, before walking backwards away from his tall broad frame, slipping into the trees.

Alissa felt something solid behind her, turning around she felt strong hands grip around her upper arms. She gasped, scent filled her nose; pine and strawberries. Her wolf growled, 'He's the one.' The wolf hungrily looked up, steel grey eyes and a strong jaw looked down. The new Alpha. A flood of hope flowed through her, if he was her mate she was saved. Her wolf ached inside 'Want,' her wolf growled. Alissa shook her head trying to get the primal thoughts from her head. 

Alpha Luca looked deep into her eyes. “Which pack are you from?” Alissa searched his eyes realising he didn't know who she was. He reached his hand to her cheek, gently caressing her smooth skin. Alissa didn't want to tell him, but she had to, “I'm from- your pack.” Her heart started thudding painfully in her chest. “But beautiful, I've met everyone in my pack.” Alissa's discomfort intensified, he was going to work out who she was, she suddenly didn't want the rejection she had always thought would happen, she wanted the feel of him, her wolf hungrily wanting to get closer.

His handsome features twisted into a sneer, “It's you.” His hand had stilled against her, he was still holding onto her with his other hand. She knew who her mate was, this was when he would tell her he accepted her. Alpha Luca placed his hand on Alissa's face, she relaxed for a moment before he grabbed her chin roughly. He pulled her face to his, “I've heard all about you,” he spat as he peered into her upturned face, the moon casting light over her features. He shook his head, “How could you do something like that?” his voice softer than before.

“I didn't-” she began to protest before he threw her bodily away from him. Her back hitting a tree winding her. She yelled out in pain as he strode back to the pack, not looking back once. 

Alissa felt everything inside her break, her world shattered. Her wolf began to whimper. She was going to be a slave forever, she curled up amongst the twigs and dirt. Another course of despair racked her body with sobs. Alissa didn't notice a shift in her bones, the previous block had disappeared. Her blood began to burn, her sobs turned to animalistic whimpers. She writhed on the floor as the pain began to hit her in waves, it distracted her from the hopelessness that had begun to engulf her. 

Alissa's hands elongated and sprouted grey and brown fur, her shoulder bones popped and misaligned. She let out an involuntary cry of pain, but then it was over. She looked down to her paws, surprised. She looked around the trees, her golden eyes could see better in the dark. She swiped her paw against the dirt enjoying the difference between skin and paw pad. The grey and brown wolf howled to the new moon then ran throughout the night.

She ran to their perimeter, a wall of dirt and stone blocked her path. She jumped trying to get a footing on the rocks that stuck out. Her wolf let out a frustrated howl as she fell. 'There's nowhere for you to go' she argued with herself. Her wolf demanded survival, her human side demanded rationality. She pulled her wolf away from the barrier reluctantly.

*

Alissa looked at the clock, the sun blinding her. She swore, it was eight in the morning. She was almost two hours late, and covered in dirt, she didn't have time to sort that out. She threw clothes on and scraped her hair into a bun as she ran down the stairs. No-one was in the dining room, she breathed a sigh of relief. She reached the kitchen, Natalie and Alpha Luca were sitting at the kitchen table. “You're late.” Natalie strode forward and grabbed Alissa's hair pulling her to the stove. “Our new Alpha is hungry.” Natalie pushed Alissa away from her. 

“I'm sorry Alpha, sorry,” she gasped and started cooking. Alpha Luca gave no inclination that he remembered or cared what happened the night before. Natalie went up to him and put her arms around him, just as the others came in.

“Breakfast not ready yet?” Michael sat down heavily making the chair creek.

“No, she was out with a bloke last night.” Kristen laughed, Alissa looked around to see a look of anger on Alpha Luca's face. Blake threw back his dark haired head and gave out a bark of laughter, “No way, who would go with her? She's a virgin.” Alissa slammed the plate of sausages on the table, her face glowing red. She turned around quickly to get the rest of the breakfast while they laughed at her. “Where's Jack?” Michael asked, Alissa continued to look at the frying pan the eggs were cooking in. “Probably still asleep, it was a late one last night,” Blake responded, mutters of agreement went around the table.

“Omega, get my mate more bacon.” The pack stopped and looked at Natalie who kissed Alpha Luca, he didn't pull away. “What?” Alissa spun around.

“Bacon,” Natalie spat back, Alissa looked at the scene before her and she felt a pang in her chest as a tear slipped from her eye. A cloak of darkness surrounded her. A numbness started that she couldn't explain. Her body turned on autopilot as her brain appeared to disconnect from her.

Alissa pulled a few slices of raw bacon from the paper and put it on a plate. “What the hell is this!” Natalie screamed, Alissa gave a feeble shrug, she didn't care. “I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget!” Natalie got up and punched Alissa square in the face, knocking her to the floor. The pack stood in unison apart from the new Alpha, who remained as he was.

Blake kicked her, his face twisted into a joyous sneer. Michael hesitated, but his boot smashed into her thigh, her stomach. Pain just kept coming. She didn’t even know where it was, where the kicks were landing. She curled up into a ball, trying to protect herself, wanting to disappear. “Let's see if she can heal from this.” Natalie started dragging Alissa towards the stove, the two boys helped. “Hold her!” Natalie ordered and Michael held out one of Alissa's arms. Natalie pushed her arm down on the searing iron of the stove top. The smell of burning flesh filled everyone's nostrils. 

Pain like no other exploded where the iron sizzled. Alissa let out an involuntary scream and twisted her arm free of their grasp while they howled with laughter. Alissa looked frantically around. She saw Kristen stood to one side, a feeble laugh escaping her. A conflicting look crossing her features. Alissa saw Alpha Luca, still sitting at the table; he wasn't laughing. She pleaded with her eyes for him to help, before Blake moved in front of her as she felt more kicks hit her broken body. Her fight ebbed from her, her wolf let out a small whimper. The numbness engulfed her body, this was how she was going to die, on the cold kitchen floor.

“What are you doing?” Jack’s voice came from the door, Alissa desperately tried to shield herself from another kick, “We're teaching this piece of scum a lesson,” Michael sneered. “Michael, listen to yourself, she's your baby sister! She's done nothing wrong!” Jack pushed Blake out the way. Alissa breathed a small sigh at the reprieve, she curled her bloody frame tighter, preparing for the next onslaught knowing it would come. 

Arms snaked around Alissa, lifting her gently but firmly from the floor. The pack looked at him in disbelief. She winced as he pulled her into him, “Jack, just let them.”  She looked at Jack with dull green eyes. “Just let them kill me, I can't survive like this,” her voice sounded as dead as her eyes. Jack picked her up and settled her on a chair. “What are you doing? Don't touch her!” Natalie took a step forward, Jack moved in front of Alissa, shielding her.

Alpha Luca finally stood “Enough!”