Chapter 2: Surrounded

Raven’s POV

“I can’t believe mother made me travel in this disgusting car,” Marissa complained for the hundredth time as I gritted my teeth and forced myself to remain silent.

It had been hours, and she still hadn’t let up. Her objections ranged from the make of the car, which was a plain black SUV rather than the sports car and Ferraris she was accustomed to travelling in, to the amount of space there was in the backseat, to the scenery passing by, and even the food and water that was not to her taste. Even the driver looked as though he was having a hard time keeping his temper as he drove towards Blood Moon Pack. I was already beginning to consider throwing her out of the car while it was still moving, and it was oh so tempting. 

My hand goes to my ribcage, subconsciously touching it, unable to forget yesterday’s traumatic events.

It hurts. I wriggle but can’t move. Two warriors hold me down, one pinning my arms above my head, the other one holding down my legs. My body is sideways, a heavily tattooed bald man sitting on my hips, preventing me from getting up and making a run for it. I feel every prick of the needle as it penetrates my flesh, staining it permanently. I whimper, twisting my head back, but can’t see what he is doing, only feel the burning pain as it continues.

She watches with a smirk on her face. She’s enjoying my pain. It feels like a lifetime before it stops. The man climbs off me and speaks a few nonsensical words. Pain flares across my ribcage and it feels like I’ve been struck by flames. My head tilts back, and I scream. The pain fades. The man nods to my mother and then leaves, taking his equipment with him. She nods and the warriors finally release me, leaving me alone as I climb awkwardly to my feet.

My hands tremble as I slowly lift my shirt. My eyes slowly look down, and then my breath catches. A witch’s knot. The ink has already dried and it’s pure black with dried blood spread over it. I look at my mother, my body shaking violently. I thought I knew what she was capable of but she had just proven she was even more cruel than I could have ever envisioned.

“Did you think I would simply send you off with Marissa without some sort of guarantee you wouldn’t attempt to escape?” she said with amusement.

“What does this do?” I whispered, feeling nauseated.

“Don’t worry, I have the same one on my neck,” she said calmly, “the witch I hired used a special ink. Now we’re bound to each other. A thread binds us, one that only I can see. This means if you so much as try to run, I’ll be able to find you easily. You’ll never be able to escape me.”

Her voice is dripping with satisfaction, the sick twisted bitch.

“Why?” my voice shook, “why go to such extremes?”

She gives a chilling laugh. “Because you’ll always be at my beck and call for as long as you live. You’ll attend to Marissa’s every need while you’re at Blood Moon Pack and do whatever it takes to make her happy. Once she’s happily married, you’ll come back and return to being my servant.”

“What did I do to deserve this?” I rasped, still in shock.

A strange expression flashes across her face. She doesn’t deign to answer. “So long as you or I, for that matter is alive, the spell remains. Consider yourself lucky. I’ve even granted you a new wardrobe for the role you’re about to play as Marissa’s maidservant. I’m warning you now, don’t ever reveal your true identity as Marissa’s sister. Nobody needs to know. Your only priority is playing the role of an omega and obediently following your sister's wishes.”

“I’m your daughter too.”

It's futile. There's no room in her heart for the likes of me. Only Marissa.

She’s unmoved. In fact, her face turns to stone. “Enough of your constant whining. Go and pack. If you’re late leaving tomorrow, I won’t hesitate to punish you one last time,” she threatened.

“Raven, are you even listening to me?” Marissa grows exasperated.

I blinked, coming back to reality. She groans and folds her arms across her chest. “What on earth is your deal? I hope you get with the program soon,” she snapped, “we’re almost at the Blood Moon Pack, and you’re supposed to be my servant. Why can’t you just act like a normal human being?”

I open my mouth to retort and then fall silent. What would she care? Marissa was just as malicious as our mother. She looked innocent on the outside but on the inside, she was just as vindictive and mean.

“I know,” my voice is tight, “you don’t need to remind me.”

Slap. My head hits the window as she strikes me across the face with the palm of her hand. “Lesson one, never talk back to your mistress,” she snarled.

Bitch. I put a hand to my cheek, which is still stinging. Marissa sits back with satisfaction written all over her face. She’s been waiting for the perfect opportunity to hit me, and I had just given it to her.

The car begins to speed up, causing Marissa to give a squeal.

“What are you doing?” she screeched at the driver whose hands had tightened on the steering wheel.

“Apologies, Miss Sinclair but we have two cars following behind us. They’ve been tracking us for a while.”

“Is it rogues?” Marissa’s voice is panicked.

The driver shakes his head. “I don’t think so. I think they are human,” he said thickly.

“If we make it to the Blood Moon Pack territory, we’ll be saved. Gods, they could be hunters,” Marissa’s voice becomes hysterical.

The driver steps on the gas. It’s pointless. The other two cars, also SUVs, manage to manoeuvre us between them, effectively trapping us. The driver opens his door and bolts for the woods without a second glance. I kick open the door and jump out, reaching back in for Marissa, who shakes her head, her face going ashen.

“Move,” I shouted, “or do you want to die here?”

She takes my hand, and I pull her out. Men instantly surround us. She shrieks and uses my body as a shield. I study them. These aren’t rogues or hunters. Their aura is normal, and their appearance is like any normal human being. The leader opens his mouth to speak, and it soon becomes clear who exactly they are, and my mouth goes dry as I realize that the danger we faced, was more than we could have anticipated.