SMACK!
Shamia's face stung from her mother's slap, the force of it almost like a punch. Her mother's anger was palpable, fueled by Shamia's confession. "Who? Who's the father of the child you're carrying?" Shirley yanked Shamia's arm, nearly dragging her.
After years of abuse and physical violence, Shamia had grown numb to it. She brushed off the pain, pressing her lips tightly shut as she refused to answer.
It wasn't that she didn't want to say who the father was, the truth was she didn't even know who it was, though she had seen his face that she know she'd never forget it in her entire life. As much as she wanted to see him again to hold him accountable for what he did to her, there was a part of her that didn't want to face him again because he was the one who had taken her innocence.
She was Shamia Bruzolla, nineteen years old, the second of four siblings. Her family belonged to a group of rogues or "outcasts" because of a mistake she had made when she was four, which led to their expulsion from their pack.
This was the reason why her mother was always furious with her. Even her father and brother held grudges against her. Her younger twin sisters, who were infants when the incident happened, had also grown resentment once they learned of her past mistakes.
Shamia was alone in her family, with no one on her side to comfort her. Her pregnancy had only added fuel to her mother's anger. For them, she didn't have the right to conceive a child or take on another responsibility because she was their slave and had to work for them alone for the rest of her life.
"You're already useless to us, and now, you've added another mouth to feed? Shamia, do you want to anger us to death? When your father finds out..."
Shamia trembled at the mention of her father. How could she forget how cruel he was to her? That was the reason she couldn't shift, and why she would remain wolfless for the rest of her life, and it was because of the brutal beating he gave her which almost killed her.
Fifteen years had passed when a stranger arrived at the border where Shamia played with other kids. Due to her innocence, she didn't realize the man had a sinister motive.
The stranger approached them, claiming to be a friend of their Alpha. He asked Shamia to deliver the box he carried with him. Trusting his words, she followed without hesitation. Little did she know, this act would bring a disaster.
She took the box to their Alpha's residence, a place she had visited a few times with her brother, given her father's role as a beta that work under their Alpha.
That day, their Alpha and her father happened to be out, and only their Luna was at the manor. Shortly after Shamia handed the box to a servant and when she hadn't gone far, an explosion occurred.
Though Shamia was swept away from the explosion due to her small size, she wasn't seriously hurt. When she got up, she saw the mansion ablaze, followed by the chaos among the people around her. After that incident, her calvary began.
When their Alpha returned, he was met with the horrific news. Upon investigating what happened, it turned out Shamia was blamed for everything. The Luna's death in the explosion deeply saddened and enraged the Alpha. In his anger, he expelled Shamia's entire family from their pack.
In an instant, Shamia's parents' world seemed to crumble. As they reached the border while carrying their belongings, Shamia remembered how her parents pleaded and begged for forgiveness. Facing their downfall, her mother became numb, gazing blankly ahead as she carried one of her infant twin sisters. Her brother carried the other.
They eventually arrived at a mountain community, where they were fortunate enough to be taken in. From then on, they became part of that group—the rogues. Upon entering, Shamia didn't feel at ease, as the place was far different from the world she was used to. The area was chaotic and somewhat dirty, with people looking at them with hungry and greedy eyes that made her even more uncomfortable.
When they found a place to settle, Rexor, Shamia's father, seemed to finally understand the misfortune that had befallen their family. The events that transpired and the cause of it all came flooding back. His face darkened as he turned to four-year-old Shamia, and because he blamed her for everything, he beat her up.
The child's wail was audible, but the people nearby didn't bat an eye. Such scenes seemed normal in that place. Despite her young age, Shamia knew she had done something wrong, but she couldn't help feeling terrified. When she turned to her mother for help, she was met with a blank stare. There was no pity or sympathy in her eyes; in an instant, her gaze towards her had changed.
After Rexor had vented his anger, he stopped and left Shamia, who was almost turned into a vegetable state from his beating. Shamia was almost clinging to her life. It was only when her mother realized she had a high fever that she attended to her.
Shamia grew up experiencing abuse, her older brother, as well as her two younger twin sisters, also hurt her. Both inside and outside their chaotic home, her life was difficult. She worked hard for her family, but still experienced abuses and poor treatment.
Amidst all her struggles, the only one who was there for her comfort was her one and only friend, Rui. "What are you going to do now? What do you plan to do about this?" Rui asked, rubbing Shamia's stomach.
Shamia pursed her lips. "Rui, I don't want to give birth to him in a place like this, and this isn't the world I want for him."
"Is that so? That's easy. I only know one solution for that."
Shamia's face lit up, and she asked excitedly, "Really? What is it?"
"Get an abortion."
Shamia fell silent, she touched her stomach. "I thought you had a real solution." She said sadly.
"Wait, didn't you say you didn't want to give birth to him in this chaotic world?"
"Yeah... but, as a mother... I couldn't do that."
Rui sighed. "I just don't know. Out of all the people that guy could have targeted that night, why you? You already smeared your face with mud to hide it, and yet he still got captivated by you? You're really something!"
Whenever Shamia worked at the quarry, she would deliberately smear her face with mud to cover it up because of the literal "monsters" in the mountains. Since there was no order or law in the world she lived in, most of the rogue men there would take and claim the women they fancied without hesitation.
When Shamia got home, she found an elderly woman wearing accessories and jewelry. "Is this her?" The woman asked as soon as she saw her.
"Yes, that's her." Her mother, Shirley, replied. She looked at Shamia coldly. "What are you still doing out there? Come inside so that Isadora can start."
Shamia was puzzled. "S-start? What for?"
"What else? To abort the baby in your womb. That child can't be allowed to live."
