Chapter 2

Fiona’s POV.

The Four Alphas.

The very thought of them never failed to bring a shiver of fear down my spine. Despite what people thought, I knew them intimately —had grown up with them in fact. But no one needed to know that, and no good would come out of people knowing. If anything, the bullying will be worse. I had no one to turn to, I was an omega after all.

Jin, was the Luna’s son and only heir and was treated like a god. He along with the other three alphas who came from powerful alpha families with their influence stretching to every sector you could think of. And powerful people comes equally powerful friends.

Jin and his friends had always bullied me ever since we were children. It began with taunting and pulling my hair when I wasn’t looking. As we grew older the little taunting and childish pranks grew darker.

One of the memories forever painted in my mind happened one particular day when we were in middle school. They had me cornered – all four of them at the school playground. There was something about their stance, their squared shoulders, the creepy smirks on their faces that radiates a predatory dominance and cruel intentions. They’ve done this so many times before—it was almost a routine. A dance we all knew the steps to. But this time, it was different.

Jin stood just a few inches closer to me than the others, his arms folded across his chest as he looks down at me with a self-satisfied grin. His voice dripping with mockery and a sneer tugged at his lips. “What’s wrong, little omega? Scared?” He pokes my shoulder, shoving me just enough to make me stumble. “Aren’t you supposed to be the ‘good little girl’ of this school?”

One of his friends, a stocky, boisterous alpha Lyn with a loud laugh, nudges Jin and grins.

“She’d probably run crying to her parents if she wasn’t so scared.” Lyn snorted, a cruel glint entered his eyes.

“We’re going to play a game, little omega.” Jin said with a deceptively soft voice, his face calm and unassuming as he whipped out a Swiss knife from his pocket. “It’s called ‘Skinning the Rabbit’. I’ve always been curious about it, you know?”

My heart stuttered at the sight of the knife he held. “Please, Jin don’t do this. You can’t! I won’t let you!” I screamed, struggling at the hands of his friends pinning me to the wall.

He let out a mocking laugh before glancing to Lyn with a nod.

Without a second thought, Lyn backhanded me heavily, leaving me reeling from the impact and shock.

Jin inched closer, his fingers caressed the reddened skin on my cheek, his eyes gentle, his voice soft. “Oh, but you will. You’re powerless against us. You can’t take all four of us at once now, can you?” He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low whisper for my ears only. “Don’t think you’re ever gonna be like us. No matter what you do, you’re just weak.”

“Jin, please I’m begging you, don’t do this. Please…” I sobbed, hating myself for the powerless tears streaming down my cheeks.

“Oh… sweet Fiona. There’s no need for the tears.. We’re just playing here. We’re friends, aren’t we?” he cooed. “I would never hurt a friend.”

I wanted to ask why he still held a knife of his words were true, but I didn’t. Fear wouldn’t let me speak. I could only frantically nod. Anything to let him release me.

I saw his intent too late.

I only saw a flash of steel and for a wild moment, I thought he would go ahead with his threat. Blinking my eyes open, I stared at Jin in surprise expecting to see blood. But it was worse. My pigtails laid lifelessly at my feet. “No… No!” I fought hard against the hand holding me still, rage blinding me into forgetting my position. I wanted nothing more than to claw his eyes out.

“Let’s go, guys. She’s not worth our time.” Jin said, tucking the knife back in his pocket. Their cruel laughter echoed my ears as they left me in a crumpled heap.

My parents had me transferred to another school after that and I never saw Jin and his friends again. Everything was swept under the carpet. The four alphas literally had the school wrapped around their fingers.

I didn’t hear anything about Jin and life was pretty much normal. Until it happened and I lost it all.

My parents and I went on a shopping trip for my birthday one fateful day. The market was lively, filled with laughter and vibrant voices as shoppers haggled and vendors called out their wares.

My parents were admiring the bouquets of flowers, their fingers brushing together as they shared a private smile. Suddenly, a loud, shrill voice sliced through the air.

“Oh, it’s you,” sneered Gamma Olia, her eyes sharp and disapproving as they settled on them. “Didn’t think the likes of you would dare show your faces here again.”

My father bristled, but kept his tone even. “We don’t want any trouble, Olia. We’re just here to shop, same as you.”

Gamma Olia’s face twisted with contempt, her lip curling. “Trouble? I didn’t bring trouble here. You did. People like you think you can do what you please, don’t you?”

Clutching my fingers tightly, my mother stepped in gently, placing a hand on her husband’s arm, trying to defuse the situation. “Please, Olia, we’ve done nothing to you. We’re just here to shop for our little girl’s big day. Just let us be.”

“Let you be?” Olia’s voice rose, drawing the attention of those around them. “You people poison everything you touch. Your very presence taints this market, this town. Our town! We’ve known no piece ever since you’ve moved here.”

Anger flared in the my father’s eyes as he struggled to keep his voice calm. “Olia, this is our home, too. We’ve done nothing to deserve this.”

The tension was palpable now, bystanders watching with wary, curious eyes. But Olia only laughed, a cold, bitter sound.

“Nothing?” She took a step closer, her voice venomous, a dangerous glint in her eye. “You think you’re innocent? You’re no better than thieves, taking from people who deserve more.”

My mother took her husband’s hand, her voice shaking with a plea. “Please, Olia, can we just—”

But Olia cut her off, raising her hand in a violent, dismissive gesture. “Enough! You think you can walk around here like you’re one of us? That you belong?” Her voice dripped with disdain as her hands balled into fists. She moved closer, shoving my father. “You don’t belong here. You never did.”

The shove threw him off balance, and when he tried to stand his ground, she struck him hard across the face. Gasps rippled through the crowd, but no one moved to help.

“Olia!” My mother’s voice screamed as she reached out to her husband. “Stop, please, this is going too far!”

But Olia’s rage was like a fire that couldn’t be smothered. She swung again, her fists colliding with flesh, each blow filled with her resentment and fury. I watched my father stagger, blood beginning to trickle from his lips.

My mother tried to intervene, grabbing at Olia’s arm, pleading. “Stop this! Please, no more! We don’t deserve This! Somebody please help us! Please!”

Olia turned on her with a sneer. “You deserve everything that’s coming.” With a final, brutal push, she threw the my mother down. Unfortunately the fight had happened near the railings of the fourth floor of the shopping complex and Gamma Olia had the bright idea to toss my father over like a bag of potatoes.

I stood rooted to the floor in shock as the sickening thud of my father’s body dropping to the floor. My mother’s screams were like a distant echo to my ears, coupled with the screams and horrified gasps of the onlookers!

I watched as my mother flung herself at Gamma Olia in a fit of rage and anger, fighting as tears streamed down her cheeks. But she was weak. The moment Gamma Olia saw an opening, she snapped my mother’s neck without blinking.

I heard screaming and gut wrenching wailing which I later realized belonging to me as I pushed away from the crowd sheltering me from seeing my mother’s corpse. A hand shot out and grabbed me before I could get to the front.

“No! No, my mom—” I sobbed.

“Hush now.” The soft voice belonging to a woman warned. “Or you will be next.”

“But my parents. I don’t have anyone.”

“You do. If you come with me. Your life won’t get any easier from here, love. I need you to trust me.” She said, shaking me to emphasize her point.

“ Where will I go?”

A soft, sad smile appeared on her face as she gently brushed my bangs away from my eyes and my wet face.” You can come live with me. Would you like that? I have a son your age. You can become friends if you like.”

I should have said no. I should have rejected that offer which was too good to be true. But fear and heartbreak made me say ‘yes’. I had later found out that the woman who saved me was a Luna of a powerful clan, who also was the mother to the one who made me suffer the most.

Jin.

I didn’t know hell on earth existed, until I arrived their home. It was there that my true suffering and my nightmare of a life began.

“Are you there? Why aren’t you talking?...” Luna’s impatient voice called, snapping me back to my senses.

“Yes, I’m here. I’m so sorry. I’ll be back home soon.” I reply, ending the call. Taking a look at my bloodied clothes and my legs swollen from the beatings I received earlier and sighed wearily before limping to the bus stand.

I had barely opened the door of the living room where I was told the Luna was, when a heavy glass cup collided with my head before exploding.

“I called you so many times today, why didn’t you answer? Don’t you know there are many guests at home?!” Luna’s shrill voice rang.

My fingers mechanically touch the wetness on my forehead before bringing it to my line of vision. Blood.

Of course.

Holstering my backpack higher, I knelt down to collect the shattered glass — it was a pretty cup — while apologizing for everything and nothing. She didn’t even ask about my battered state or the bruises showing underneath the heavy makeup.

No. But she continued to curse. I’ve always found it hard to connect the woman who saved me to the monster seating before me. They were like two sides of a coin — different faces but a coin nonetheless.

“That’s enough, mom.” A magnetic dark voice spoke behind the closed doors of the living room which was opened from the inside by two servants to admit the intruder. My heart stopped and my body trembled in fear and shock as the voice belonging only to Jin teased my senses.

Fuck, what do I do now?

Turning rigidly away from the Luna, I moved towards the direction of footfalls and bowed in greeting. A frown appeared between my brows at the sight of four pairs of polished shoes and then I looked up with widened eyes and bated breath to see them.

The four Alphas stood by the door, staring at me with open fixation.