1: Coffee stain

Kali’s POV

“I would rather die,” he said.

I felt my heart swell. I reached out and held his face, a small smile on my lips. “Nothing would ever tear us apart,” I assured him at the same time, assuring myself that we would always have each other. 

He kissed both my knuckles before pulling me in for a small kiss. “You are my one true mate Kali, always remember that,” my heart fluttered at his words. “And when the time is right, we will run away together and start our lives somewhere new, away from all these drama.”

I was ready to run away anytime, any day, all Enzo needed to do was say when. Unlike Enzo, I had no one. I never met my mother or my father. Soraya was the closest thing I had to a mother and she died years ago. She had told me that my mother died while giving birth to me. And since Soraya was the servant of Alpha Maduro and his Luna Hera, that automatically made me a servant.

To the entire Red Peak pack, I was the white haired freak that no one wanted to be friends with. I was bullied because I was born with white locks. Every attempt I made at dying my hair blond or black failed and eventually I gave up trying to dye my hair and instead, I started covering my hair with a black scarf. 

Eventually everyone stopped bullying me, except for Kora, Alpha Maduro’s daughter and future Luna. 

Enzo was the only one who truly saw me and never bullied me. He accepted me even with my wolflessness. He was the best thing in my life. I know it would not be easy for him to leave everything, including his family, just to start afresh with me. He can take all the time he needs  and I will wait until the day he is finally ready to leave.

My gaze fell on the clock behind Enzo and panic raced through me. I shot out of bed and scrambled for my clothes.

Fuck!

Hera was going to kill me for sure. I should have been home two hours ago with Kora’s clothes. Her mating ceremony was tomorrow to an unknown Alpha and those were the clothes she would be wearing. I had completely lost track of time cuddling up to Enzo.

“I am so sorry,” Enzo said. “I had completely forgotten about the time,” his forehead crinkled in worry.  He knew what Kora and Hera would do to me. Heck, I still had an ugly scar on my neck from the last beating I got from Kora. 

“It’s fine,” I hurriedly wrapped my hair and then turned to the couch for the dress I had carefully placed there. “God no,” I shrieked in terror.

“What is it?” Enzo asked, jumping out of bed.

I could not find the words to tell him that the dress had been ruined. 

Coffee had spilled on the white dress. The cup must have fallen from the top of the shelf where Enzo left the mug. 

I raised the dress for Enzo to see the ugly brown stain on the dress. Kora was definitely going to kill me for sure.

I could see the terror on Enzo’s face and it was nothing compared to the crippling fear I was feeling. I should not have come here. I should have just picked up the clothes like I was supposed to and taken back to the house. The dress was ruined. There was no getting the stain out.

“What can I do?” he asked with a sincere look on his handsome face. His brown eyes clouded with concern. But there was nothing he or anyone could do to save me. 

“I’m going home,” I said almost inaudibly as I started towards the door.

“Let me come with you,” he offered as he reached for his clothes.

I shook my head. “That would only make things worse,” I tried flashing an assuring smile but failed. “I will see you later.” 

If I survive.

   _________

I hurried through the hallways, my heart racing inside my chest as I got closer to Hera’s bedroom. Panic completely engulfed me as I imagined the deadly fate that awaited me. Who knows what she would lunge at me this time? Last time it was her heeled boot, this time it might be a knife. 

I slowed down as I got closer to Hera’s bedroom door. 

Alpha Maduro was not always around but today I could hear his voice coming from the bedroom. 

“…she is all we have left,” Hera said, with a softness I could not recognize in her voice. I immediately knew she was talking about her daughter. 

“We have no choice. He would destroy us in a heartbeat.”

“Then let’s give Kali to him. After all she is also your…”

“Don’t say it.”

I knew I should not be eavesdropping, but I couldn't help myself. This had something to do with the strange Alpha that was coming tomorrow for his promised mate. 

I was not surprised that Hera would rather have me marry the mad Alpha than to have Kora do it.

Hera lowered her voice but I could tell she was saying something. I leaned closer to hear what she was saying but the door fell open and I fell into the room, landing on my face. 

Two mistakes in one day. I was really begging for death. Before I could make it to my feet, I was yanked up by my blouse and a fist slammed into my face. 

I staggered backwards as my vision blurred. I blinked severally until my vision cleared enough for me to see livid Maduro glaring at me. I made to explain, say something, anything, but I could not form any words. And then Hera shrieked.

I did not need to look at her to know why she was screaming. She saw the ruined dress.

“What did you do?” she screeched. A slap landed across my face before I could say anything. Every other thing happened so fast, before I could even process what was happening. One moment I was lifting my hand to block another incoming clap and the next moment, I was on the ground, with belt landing blows all over my body, including my face.

By the time I ran out of the bedroom, I was sore all over and my dress stained with blood.

There was only one person I could turn to, to take care of me. My Enzo.

I don’t know how I managed to make it to Enzo’s house, but by the time I got to his front door, my knees were close to giving up. I took out my own key and unlocked the door. 

Color drained from my face as I stared at the horrific sight in front of me.

“Enzo?”