Chapter Two

Ava’s POV

Aunt Portia’s lover irritated me I thought she would make a better choice than him, but I suppose that doesn’t apply to the world of werewolves’ mates and love and he was her mate.

He always reeked of cigarettes and alcohol . He was an unkempt man with wild, greasy hair that covered the top half of his face. His arms looked as if they were made out of wood and his fingernails were painted the color of blood. His nose looked like it had been run over by a horse while standing in the middle of nowhere. The only thing he could be good at was smoking. He smoked nonstop, day and night. Even when he didn’t smoke he still reeked of it.

And gambling.

He gambled everything on a roll of the dice. If he won one hundred, another hundred went up in flames. It was pathetic.

But Aunt Portia loved him and he loved her too and Avery was their little princess.

At least that was what I thought.

Until I began to feel his rough hands lingering whenever I passed him and there were days when he would openly eye rape me or try to get me alone in some way, or when we were both in the same room at once. I could sense his presence around the house, like when you walk into someone’s living room unexpectedly and hear footsteps on the stairs behind you.

And I did my best to ignore him.

Tonight I felt so tired from carrying out too many chores.

Avery was sleeping over at her friend’s. Yes, she had friends but I didn't, and Aunt Portia wasn't home yet.

A knock from the door startled me.

That must have been Aunt Portia, I thought but it wasn't her.

Mac O'Keefe, her mate stood there reeking of alcohol.

He stared down at me, his expression dark and angry. I felt my heart rate increase.

“Where is your Aunt?”

“She is not home yet” I was trying to go back to my room, I didn't like the look in his eyes.

But he pulled me back too and pushed me against the creamed-coloured wall . “Where does she think she's going?”

“The store” My voice came out shaky.

He leaned forward and his breath reeked of cigarettes and booze. “I have seen you looking at me, severally” his eyes raked my body as if he was looking at a tasty piece of chicken.

“Please let me go, you are hurting me” I begged.

He ignored me and pressed closer. “What's wrong? Does your Aunt not know how beautiful you are? Is that why she left you here all by yourself?"

“No” I tried to squirm away from him but couldn’t because he had me pinned against the wall.

Then he ran his tongue along my neck, making me cry out and push him off, backing myself to the opposite side of the corridor.

His eyes darkened even more as his hand reached for my throat.

“Stupid bitch” I heard him mutter before his hand connected to my face . The impact knocked me to the floor. My cheek burned where he struck me. “You shouldn't touch other people." With that he grabbed me by the hair and lifted me up and slammed me into the opposite wall again. “This time it'll hurt more”. His eyes looked wild and crazed. And then he started pounding me with his fist, knocking my head against the wall repeatedly until the room spun dizzyingly around me.

His hands began to roam my body and it occurred to me that perhaps I should have fought harder against the first blow but my brain was clouded by pain and confusion and I wanted to scream at him to stop,but all I could do was whimper softly. The air seemed to disappear around me. I tried to move my legs, to kick or hit him, anything.

“Please stop” I whispered weakly, not able to form any coherent words anymore, my mind slowly shutting down. The darkness that threatened to take over my vision was creeping slowly inside me. I tried my hardest to fight it, to stay conscious, but the darkness took its full hold and wrapped itself tightly around me. I heard Aunt Portia’s voice calling my name.

It sounded far away. A faint echo echoed around me. There were other voices but it sounded like static to my ears. I closed my eyes. “Just sleep for a few minutes” was my last thought before unconsciousness took me over completely.

When I eventually woke, Aunt Portia was leaning over me. Her face was white, her eyes wide with worry.

I thought it was directed toward me, it almost made me warm on the inside that she was worried about me

“Why?” She asked me with that velvet voice of hers and I couldn't understand her.

I looked confused.

“Didn't my brother and his wife do enough for you by keeping you against the counters from members of the pack? didn't I do enough by taking you in alongside my niece when I could have let you starve and fend for yourself? Didn’t I give you clothes and food and care? And you choose to seduce my mate?” Her features were contoured in anger, stormy grey eyes and thin lips set firmly against each other. The air smelled bitter and metallic.

“Aunt Portia -” My voice broke “I didn't…”

“I am not your aunt!” She screamed at me and it was my turn to freeze.

Tears streamed down my cheeks. I knew she hated me. How could she not? But I didn't do anything, I didn't even want her man.

“He tried to molest me” My voice shook as tears spilled from my eyes.

Her eyes widened with surprise and horror “What did you say?”

My mouth went dry and my throat constricted painfully. I couldn't speak. “He tried to rape me!”

“Liar!” Her tone was filled with venom and disgust and fury. “He never touched you and you know that. You are lying!”

I was shaking my head violently “N--no. No!”

She stepped towards me “Look at me!”

I couldn't. I didn't want to see her hate me, especially after what she had just said. “You are lying!” she yelled.

“Aunt Portia, please... “

“I am not your Aunt! and Mac would never do something like that!”

I felt my heart sink at her words and I nodded my head furiously “He would!”

“How dare you! Mac wouldn't do that! Mac loves me!”

I said nothing, What could I possibly say?

“You disgust me Ava, I wish you no happiness ever again.”

With those words, she stormed out of my room.