002_The Alpha Calls

Jessica's POV

I tried to hurry down the stairs, but I was grabbed by the waist and pulled backward. My back slammed against a muscular frame.

"God, you smell so good, Jessica," Richard muttered, tightening his grip on me.

He planted kisses on the trail leading from my neck to my shoulder and back again. Each kiss left a feeling in me that I hated. It was like getting stabbed in the guts. He turned me around and the plate in my hand fell to the ground.

"Oops, there goes your breakfast," A menacing smile tugged at his lips. "But don't worry, you can always come to my room for more, okay?"

With that, he continued his previous act. I balled my hands in a fist, trying to control the anger that was welling up in me. His hands slid down my waist and below. I felt disgusted.

Just then a sensation overtook me. It was something I had felt so many times, but I wasn't sure what it was. My eyes went to the opening in his neck. It was like it was calling out to me. But before I could do anything, a pair of hands pulled both of us apart.

"That's enough, Richard!" Ethan said trying to be as calm as he could as he stood in between us. "For crying out loud she's your blood."

Richard chuckled, pointing towards me. "That thing over there is not related to me!"

Hearing those words, I turned and ran away. When I got to the basement, I slammed the door shut and headed for the bathroom. Hem after hem I tore my clothes off. I gasped as the cold water from the shower hit my skin. Rubbing and scratching, I tried my best to cleanse every single place Richard had touched and kissed me.

He made me feel filthy.

It's been months since Richard laid his hands on me. The first time it happened was when I was fifteen, and he was eighteen. Back then I had punched him and broke the bridge of his nose. That made him furious. He chased everyone out of the kitchen. I tried to run away, but he grabbed my hair, yanked it back, raised and slammed me on the kitchen counter.

"Richard, please don't," I begged as I coughed out blood.

But he didn't listen.

"I'm going to teach you a lesson, Brat!" he yelled as he threw me to the ground.

I heard footsteps approach the kitchen. When I looked towards the door, I saw Ruby, Richard's twin. She was standing there with her hands folded in front of her.

"Help me," I pleaded, stretching my hand towards her. But she didn't move a finger or even utter a word. She just stood there and watched as her brother forced kisses on me.

He was about to take off my clothes when Ethan came running into the kitchen through the back door. "Are you guys insane?!" He had yelled the moment he saw what was going on.

Richard didn't stop at all. He was about to tear my shirt off when Ethan reacted, violating a rule of the Pack by pulling Richard away from me and hitting him in the face. He helped me up and handed me his jacket.

"I get the fact that you guys don't like her, but you can't do that to her," He said, his eyes on Ruby.

She took a few steps towards him. With a smirk on her face, she said to everyone's hearing. "You have to choose then, Ethan. Me—" She looked towards me, and then back at him. "—or her."

"Ouch," I gasped as I touched my hair. I was pulled out of my thoughts. I opened my eyes only to see blood marks on the places I had touched when I came into the bathroom. I spread my hands and I couldn't believe what I saw.

My fingers had dug into my palm. I think it happened when I balled my hands into a fist. But that wasn't supposed to be possible. I was turning eighteen in two weeks, so until then, I'm not supposed to have claws.

Just then, a knock came to the basement door. I ran out of the bathroom and started putting on my clothes. The knock came again, and I yelled, "I'm coming! Just give me a few seconds!"

I chose a huge hoodie to wear over my black pants. I couldn't let anyone see the marks on my palms or the new scars I had given myself.

When I was done, I was about to open the door when some thoughts came to my mind: What if it was Richard? What if he came to finish what he started?

I headed for my drawer and pulled out a shard of glass I had hidden there for safety purposes. When I got to the door, I opened it slowly. The moment I saw who it was, I let out a sigh and went back into the room.

Ethan walked into the room. "You know, that could hurt you."

I didn't think he had seen the glass I was holding. "Thanks for caring." I held out the drawer and dropped it back in.

I pulled the sleeves of the hoodie, holding the hem tightly under my fingers. Just then, he grabbed my right arm gently, held it up, and pulled the hem out of my grasp.

"What the—" I froze when my eyes landed on my palm. The wounds were gone. I opened the other and there was nothing there too.

"What's going on?" He asked.

I pulled my arm away from his grip. "There's nothing wrong," I replied, walking away from him.

He was silent for a while. When he was about to speak, I didn't let him. "Don't you have Beta work to do?"

He was shocked at first, but then he smiled. "I'm on one now."

I was confused. I raised a brow as I folded my arms in front of me. "What are you talking about?"

He took a step toward me, but I took one away from him. I couldn't let what happened last time repeat itself. He seemed to get the message and remained at a spot.

"The Alpha asked that everyone should be present in the dining room for a meeting."

I couldn't help but chuckle.

"And you think I am part of that 'everyone'?" I asked, walking towards the bed to lie down. He moved closer, pulling me up before I could stretch out on the bed.

"Alpha Raymond specifically asked for you."