Just pain

Everything about my life has been filled with extreme pain since the day I was brought into the world. I was brought up in an orphanage home and was later taken as a slave for the pack.

Amidst my brooding, I didn't know when a scoff that sounded rebellious, fell out my lips.

A deafening silence enveloped the room and the only sound that I could hear was the ticking sound from the clock.

I slowly raised my head up and inhaled a shuddering breath. I locked eyes with Conan for a moment and I could see the hatred and anger plastered on his face. Oh! He must have thought that I scoffed at him.

"Did you just scoff at us?" I heard him ask as he leapt up and strode across me.

Words failed me at that moment. How was I supposed to tell him that I didn't intend to scoff at him, but at my pathetic life and misfortune?

I squirmed on the bare floor as he approached me, walking in a tiger-like tread, my heart froze as my mind was over clouded with fear. I ducked my face, staring at my feet in order to avoid those bloodshot eyes that pierced me in the skin.

"You have grown some wings, uh?" He said, towering over me. My heart froze at the aura his presence exuded, his scent covered my nose and he smelt like lavender and earth.

I felt his hand brush through my face, sending jolts of electricity down my skin. He smothered my hair with his hands, while I just stayed, shaky.

The way he touched me felt more like I was a prey about to be eaten by her predator.

Before I could say Jack Robinson, I felt his hands grab a fistful of my hair as he viciously jerked my head upright to face him. I winced in pain as he pulled me up with my hair.

He released his grip around my hair and turned to look at Claire who had the sheets pulled over her. He erupted in hysterical laughter and before I knew it, his open calloused arms landed on my left cheek.

"Ow" I winced as the jarring pain lingered on my cheek.

I lost balance for a second as I held my cheek in pain. As I tried to regain balance, another hit landed on my cheek. I squealed as I fell to the ground. My cheek heated up as if hot coals were placed on it.

 "Ahhhhh" I groaned as I curled up on the floor, he grabbed another fistful of my hair as he crouched down beside me.

 I heard Claire's soft chuckle and her voice made the hairs on my skin rise in irritation. I absolutely loathed her and the man that had caused me immense pain in barely 24 hours.

 "You scoffed at me? Do you hate me?"

He poked me on the head fiercely, I was on the verge of bursting into tears.

"I didn't scoff at you" I managed to say.

"Are you trying to say that I am a liar?"

"N-No" I stuttered, shaking my head vehemently.

 Elle growled inside of me, wishing she could come to my rescue but what could two weaklings do, than to accept their fate.

I hated both Conan and Claire but I loathed myself even more.

 All my life, I have lived with a sense of inferiority, wondering why I couldn't have a perfect life like others. Most of the females that I know looked like porcelain dolls, while I was nothing to write home about.

 I have never been bothered about how I looked or appeared to others but after experiencing this level of hate from Conan, then I was certain his hate must be triggered by my ugly appearance.

 The only person who accepted me was Aniella.

 To Aniella, I was like a flower who would boom like a princess when the time was right. She was the only one who made me feel like I deserved to live.

My face was covered with acne and different dark spots, my legs and hands were neither smooth nor pale, instead, it was littered with scars. Maybe that was why he developed a feeling of hatred when he discovered that I was his mate.

 But it wasn't my fault! It wasn't like I created myself, why should I suffer for something that wasn't my fault.

 I only caught a glimpse of Conan on the cover of a magazine. Claire had always sung high praises of Conan to Aniella's ear. I never really saw him until last night and when I addressed him as my mate, it wasn't because I was full of glee but it was because he was Claire's lover.

 "Don't exhaust your energy on that scum,” Claire said to Conan whose gaze was fixed on me. He looked more like he was trying to pry into my soul.

 "I would deal with her myself" Claire said, then attempted to stand but Conan motioned for her to remain where she was and like a sheep, she obeyed him.

My legs were weak and wobbly and my cheeks burnt with a sensation that sent jarring pain over my flesh.

 Conan brushed his hands through his hair before averting his gaze to me, he had an expression that I couldn't really decode.

"You dared to scoff at me because the moon goddess made us mates?" Conan said in a low tone, it was more like a whisper.

I think he was trying not to let Claire know about our encounter in the woods and I was glad that he was trying to hide it from her because that would call for more taunts and trouble for me.

But, he had a mischievous grin that appeared like he was up to something dangerous and it involved me!

"C-Conan" I muttered and watched as his eyes grew wide.

I gasped on the realization of what I just called him.

"What did you say?" He tilted his head to the left as he raised a brow.

"You dare call me by name!" He added as I quivered in fear.

Before I could explain myself, another hit landed on my face. The tears that I was trying to hold in, fell on my cheek like a free fall.

I felt a warm fluid slowly sliding down my nostrils, I didn't need to be told about what it was because I already knew it was blood!

"How dare you call me by name, you worthless slave?"

"I am sorry," I pleaded. Well, it was the only thing I could do.

"Address me properly like the slave that you are," he yelled, which caused me to flinch.

"I am sorry, Master!" I sobbed.

 My eyes glistened with more tears as I fiddled with the hem of my skirt with my fragile hands.

"You should have let me deal with her properly, only I can handle that thing better," I heard Claire say but I dared not raise my head up because of Conan.

"You think so?" Conan responded. I felt a pang in my heart, hearing how they both objectified me.

"I don't think so, I know so!"

"Is that a dare?" He turned to look at her.

"You know I love dares," Claire smiled, then winked at me.

My heart raced alongside my heart that wandered between the both of them. With me wondering what they had in store for me.