CHAPTER 4

~ Ava ~

Once I was alone, I dropped to the ground and released a relieving breath. My eyes flew to the soil as my hands dug deep into it, making my fist dirty in a way of stabilizing myself.

What luck! I actually dodged death.

I was sure he’d rip my throat open when he transformed into his lycan form, but he didn’t...he didn’t, and that both relieved and confused me. One minute he acted all dangerous to me and the next he was withdrawing.

But whatever. I am still alive, and that’s what matters.

“Miss Ava!” I heard a familiar voice from the distance then. It was Michael, but because of his presence, I remembered Kitty.

Oh, god. Kitty!

Quickly rising to my feet, I turned towards the sound, climbed up the slope again, and met Michael on top.

“Michael! I’m so glad you’re here!” I shouted, clutching his thin shoulders. “Kitty, she’s wounded! I need you to help me!”

“She’s okay now, Miss Ava,” he answered, flashing me a proud smile. “I did first-aid on her before I looked for you, and the kid is a fighter. She just underwent her first shift.”

“What!” My eyes probably popped out of its sockets. Although I felt bad about her injuries, I rejoiced with her because she successfully shifted. And this all happened while I was with the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack. Damn.

“We have to go back to the orphanage house, though. Kitty still needs treatment.” Michael scratched his head and looked still worried.

“Of course,” I nodded. “Let’s go get her.”

By the time we got to Kitty, she was still in the same location where I first found her, but in a different position this time—in a fetal pose—and coated with a beautiful brown fur. Her wolf form was unconscious, but breathing softly.

I signaled Michael to pick her up. He nodded and did as I instructed in the gentlest way possible. He looked at Kitty, and with that, I saw some form of emotion in his eyes. Some form of care and it wasn’t the kind that a caretaker of an orphanage house gives to the children; it was a different kind.

I smiled to myself, liking the revelation I just uncovered about this teenage boy. Their age gap wasn’t that big; it’s just about seven years. I think in due time, a new relationship would bloom between them. I definitely couldn’t wait to see it grow with my own eyes.

When we arrived at the orphanage house, Bea tended to Kitty quickly. Lucky me, she was also a healer—a healer in training specifically—but a healer, nonetheless. We placed Kitty in my office that had a futon in the corner, since her bedroom was shared with three other kids who were already sleeping. We didn’t want them to wake up.

“I’ll take care of her. You should return to the packhouse, Ava,” Bea told me with a sympathetic look. She knew already this was my dreaded moment every day.

“I want to stay with Kitty and take care of her,” I replied as I sat down at the edge of the futon and grabbed the girl’s soft paw.

“You know very well why you can’t stay here,” Bea reprimanded with her hands akimbo.

I sighed. My dear best friend could really be persuasive sometimes.

“Okay, fine. I’ll go. But the soonest I finish my chores in the packhouse, I’ll come here and help you.”

“Deal,” she said and embraced me after I stood. “Kick Violet’s ass. I know it’s really not your birthday today, and that it is just her prank.”

I chuckled at her remark. “Nothing escapes your notice, Bea, but I’m good. All thanks to my sister, the children got to enjoy my fake birthday today and ate cake.”

“Indeed.” She bobbed her head and redirected her attention to Kitty. “Goodnight.”

“Yes, goodnight.” I left the room while taking a deep breath. Here comes another hurdle for me to face: my family.

*****

The packhouse where my family and I lived could be called a mansion—a white mansion, to be exact. It had a neoclassical design which I loved so much and the interior was another beauty to enjoy. One would think it had hundreds of servants taking care of it, but no. It was only me, Gretta the gardener, Donald the cook, Janice the second housemaid, and Kurt the errand boy as the full staff.

I was the second of the three daughters of my father, Magnus, the Alpha of the Black Moon Pack, but I was also the maid who cleans the house and takes care of their needs.

Weird, I know, but as an omega, I had no choice.

Janice was a recent addition in response to my request to my father since I had orphanage duties, too. It was a hard request to fulfill, and I waited so many months for him to approve it.

My family was the perfect family in the eyes of our people. Only a few know I was their maid and only a few know I was treated badly ever since, well, I learned how to talk.

My father’s favorite daughter was Violet. Next was Evelyn, the youngest. He always showered them with gifts and affection while I received zero.

That would have been okay if my mother, Frida, the Luna of the Black Moon Pack, showed me kindness and love, but no. I saw nothing from her, too, and this made me feel even more ostracized and unloved by my own family.

The orphanage house, the children and staff there felt more like a family to me. Maybe because they showed me affection and warmth and we bonded there. And maybe because...I also see myself as an orphan.

I think my parents are not my real parents. Who, in their right mind, would treat their daughter like shit if they believe I am their blood, right?

Still, though, I persevered and focused not on the dark road in my life but on the silver lining ahead.

And the opportunity to get back at Violet for pranking me again.

The sun hadn’t risen yet, but I was already awake. I did my usual morning chores first which consisted of shining the foyer and the rest of the hallway floors, dusting, destroying cobwebs which I hadn’t destroyed yet, cleaning bathrooms, taking out and folding dried clothes, polishing the grand staircase and my mother’s collection of vases, and taking out dirty laundry from the bins. It was quite a list, but I already got a hang of it. After working for so many years like this, who wouldn’t be, right?

After finishing everything, the clock hit ten in the morning. Perfect. I climbed up the second-floor stairs and into a certain lavender-painted room, knocking on it until it was opened by none other than my favorite sister.

“Good morning Violet,” I greeted with my fake friendly smile.

A look of disgust welcomed me then.

“My morning is not good when I see your ugly face, Ava,” she replied while standing on the threshold with her arms folded. Her acorn-colored hair was covered by a towel and she wore a bathrobe, clearly telling me she just came from a bath.

What sweet timing.

“Are you here to clean my bathroom? I puked in there after a night out with my friends. You should clean it,” she said with obvious irritation in her voice.

I remained smiling despite her irksome words.

“No, I am not due to clean your bathroom until tomorrow,” I answered in a controlled, soft voice. “If you can’t wait that long then you should clean your puke yourself.”

She snorted and gave me a glare. “Then why are you here, bitch?”

I held my temper at bay. Damn it. I always hated it when she called me that.

“Well, you left the orphanage house early yesterday, so you didn’t get to taste my birthday cake.”

She rolled her eyes in response.

I pulled the plate of cake topped with excessive whipped cream from behind me and said, “I saved some for you. Here!”

Without delay, I smashed the cake into her face. The plate fell with a smash on the floor while the icing and flour dripped from her surprised face. It was both comical and satisfying to watch.

“Oh, fuck!” she cried out while frozen on the spot.

I gave her a triumphant grin and folded my arms over my chest.

“You bitch!” She attempted to reach me, but I twisted her right arm enough that her elbow sockets almost popped.

“Ahhh!” she shouted in pain.

“Listen to me, Violet,” I snarled. “The next time you include those orphans in your prank, think again. I won’t be so forgiving. This cake wouldn’t be the only thing that will land on your petty face.”

“Father! Mother!” Her voice rang throughout the walls of the mansion like the biggest bell in our pack territory. I was sure our parents heard that if they were still in their bed.

“Yes! Yes! Wail and seek their help!” I growled. “You are always so good at it!”

I released her. She threw me hateful glares while she nursed her obvious sore elbow. “I’m going to get you for this!”

“Good!” I threw my hands in the air and backed away. “You know where I always stay!”

“In the orphanage house, of course!” she answered with a haughty grin. “Mingling with those poor, pathetic and useless children like you!”

I turned around, clenched my teeth, and closed my eyes. My temper was all over the place. I so badly wanted to hit her more, but I opted not to. I didn’t want to be dubbed the violent sister once again.

“Goddess, please give me patience before I strangle this woman to death,” I prayed just as I left the hallway, clenching my hands.