Chapter 5

"What did you do?" Lisa asks as she kicks the chair away, showing her devil mode in the fullest form possible. I wonder why Mom and dad never put her in control. If I was the one doing it, I would be living on the road. But then again, that is the thing. They love her as their only child and hate me as the only burden in the family. 

"I promise you Lisa, it was nothing. He came up to me himse—" my voice cuts off under Lisa's hold on my dress. She starts tearing Mariam's hard work apart in a second, her sharp nails digging into my skin. Tears swell up my eyes. 

"Where? Where is it? Did you let him fuck you in this dress?" She sniffs my body and keeps doing it, her claws digging into the skin of my arms. 

"Lisa, please. It's hurting." My tears start sliding down my eyes and soak my cheeks. 

"Where is it? His mark on you!" She keeps looking but after finding nothing, gives up. Her nostrils flare and her eyes look murderous. I am scared that if she has a knife at hand, she would not hesitate to use it on me. 

"I told you. I didn't do anything." 

"Lies! I know you did something. Or else, how can the King Alpha choose someone worthless like you? Even a street dog would think twice before fucking you…" 

"Lisa! Hazel! Come downstairs!!" The voice of mom comes through the open door. Lisa gives me another murderous glare and then stomps downstairs. I follow her, keeping my distance as much as possible. 

In a second, we both stand in front of Barnards who strictly look at me and my condition. Since mom called us immediately, I did not have the time to change my clothes into something that would hide more skin of mine. I just hope that they at least would scold Lisa for this kind of behaviour. Mom looks at me for a very long minute and then parts her lips to speak. "You come with me." Her order is cold and Lisa's eyebrows furrow. She looks at me but I don't and walk with my mother to their bedroom. 

She closes the door once I am inside and then comes close to me. Her unwavering, cold gaze scares the shit out of me. My lips quiver as I try to form an explanation. "I–didn't…" 

"Listen, you lowlife scum." Her voice is low,but there is a tone of warning in it. "I don't know what witchery you crafted on the King Alpha. But if you are going to live with him, then I have a job for you." I frown. She certainly has her motives. "Even though he chose you for some illusion I believe, you need to fail the marriage trials." 

"What? Bu—"

She holds her index finger right at me. "I do not care what you do there. But your job will be to make the King Alpha believe that his choice is wrong and Lisa is a much better choice for him." 

"But if I fail then—" 

"I do not care what happens to you. You do it or else I will end your life!" Her eyes expand in the rage of terrorising me. 

"Th–then the Alpha will hurt you…" I gulp in the lump in my throat. I have to try my luck with this lie. 

Her eyes soften and her lips stretch apart. In a moment, she bursts out in laughter. "Oh my MoonGod...hahaha! You silly fool." She holds my chin upright between her big mails and I hiss in pain. Her face comes back to the terrorising expression. "What do you think of me, huh? That I am a fool? I did my homework before I came to the ball. The King Alpha does not have Intentions to marry and he certainly chose a shit like you as a showpiece to flash for a weak. He doesn't give a fuck about you!" 

More tears start gathering in my eyes, making my mother's scary face appear hazy. She yanks me closer. "Now listen! Do what I tell you or else your life's in danger. Get that?" She asks and I nod my head. "Good girl." She releases my chin, and I hold the area which is bruised by her nails. "Now go to your room and start packing. The King Alpha will send his men tomorrow to pick you up. I want everything ready." 

"Sure." I say and dip my head down, holding back the tears. She opens the door for me and I quickly head to my room. Lisa tries to stop me with her swearings but mom stops her and I believe tells her the plan she has been devising for so long. I did not believe until now that she can be someone who keeps her plans ahead. 

I close the door behind me and let the tears fall from my eyes. The water makes the bruise in my chin burn with its touch but I let it be because the pain inside is more compared to these little bruises. I have been experiencing a lot of domestic violence from the beginning of my day here. Just like Cindrella, I worked day in and out for the family and then got leftovers and swearings and beatings as my reward. I did try to escape this pain in different types of ways. Sometimes hanging to the ceiling fan, sometimes planning to jump off the roof. But I was scared. Scared that I will miss out on the good days that will come for me. Yes, I still have hope. Like Cindrella, I have hope too. And I am living on it. 

I look at my reflection in the mirror and my heart breaks like the torn pieces of the dress. Mariam worked so hard on it. I cannot tell her that this happened to me. She would be furious and do something out of line that will only put her in more trouble. Messing with the Barnards only brings more trouble. I learned this after a long time. In the beginning, I used to defend my virtue and then faced the harsh consequences. The outside world is just as cruel as them. With the werewolves roaming around, my life stands on a thin rope hanging on the top of a hill groove. Being King Alpha's marriage trial is only going to make things worse for me. The type of personality he has clearly shows that he allows no mercy. Plus, I have heard about his past tales. He can snap my neck like a twig if he ever feels like it. 

I sigh. I should have known that my fate would pull me out of one hell, only to be placed in another one.

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