Marked By Mockery

"Where are you taking me, mother?" I shrieked in fright as my mother dragged me through the streets and stopped outside a dingy little bar with dimly lit lights. 

"You better not disobey me if you know what is good for you," My mother growled, warning me not to do anything stupid. Her grip on me only tightened, and she plastered a fake smile on her make-up-caked face. I could never understand how she could treat her flesh and blood this way. 

"Stand up straight and be a good girl, Serafina," she hissed in my ears like a poisonous snake. I was forced into the dirty bar, which reeked of stale alcohol and strong cigarettes. The sound of laughter filled the air. 

"Ah, Don Silvano, I'm so pleased you could make it," my mother chimed as she hugged the ageing old alpha sitting on a high stool by the bar. My eyes widened in horror as I realised what this was. 

Don Silvano. 

"It's Good to see you, Gianna. I see you bought your delightful daughter along, too." He licked his lips hungrily as he slowly looked me up and down, causing me to feel overwhelmed with nausea. 

My mother smiled and nodded. "This is my wonderful daughter. She will be a great wife for you, Mr Silvano. The wedding will commence tomorrow." 

Tomorrow?

My mother had planned my life out for her gain and greed. I was just a puppet to her, and she was pulling the strings. 

"Mother, please." I started to plead with her again, but she instantly gave me one of her warning looks, and my eyes fell to the floor. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and gave myself the strength to endure this terrible ordeal.

"Oh, look who we have here. Wow, aren't you so shameless, Seraphina?" a voice called from behind the bar. My heart pounded as Marco DeLuca stepped forward, clapping his hands at the sight of me, a sneer stretching over his face. 

Why was he here?

He was Luca's brother and Beta. He hated me just as much as their mother did. There was no getting away from any of them. 

"Marco." I acknowledged him, hoping he might leave me alone. But that was wishful thinking. For years, he had tormented me and humiliated me in front of anyone who would pay him attention. 

"You were not even a real Luna, were you? Just a useless whore that was never good enough for my brother. Look at the state of you; even your wolf has disappeared," He spat venomously whilst my mother did nothing to defend me. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks as that familiar feeling of humiliation set in. I swore I would not cry, even though tears were on the brink of filling my eyes. 

"I, I …!" I opened my mouth to say something in my defence, but he was not done yet. 

"What are you doing making such a mockery of yourself that you are a shameless slut. Was it not recently that you were sleeping with Alpha Luca, my dear brother? You can make me happy too; I will show you a good time." He smirked and grabbed my hand as he attempted to try to kiss me. I pulled away, but he yanked my dress, ripping it in the process.

"Stop it., Marco. Get away from me." I gasped, my voice raised. "Leave me alone." I pushed him off me, which only infuriated him further. He pulled at my hair and held me close, breathing deeply as if inhaling my smell. I wanted to kick him, but he was strong and only tightened his grip on me the more I resisted. 

"Come on baby, I will give you a child, isn't that what you wanted? Let's make it right here, right now." He brushed his lips against my cheeks, almost throwing me up. 

He only stopped for a slight second at the sound of a loud thud and shouts from the door of the bar. 

 I was shocked to see Matteo Bianchi glowering our way. His eyes were dark, and his canines poked from his gums. He leapt over the tables, causing those in his way to run for cover. He grabbed Marco by the scruff of the neck, lifting him off the ground and holding him in the air. He raised his other arm and clenched his fist before he proceeded to punch Marco in the jaw. 

"Touch her again, and you will wish you had never drawn a breath today. You waste oxygen." Matteo Bianchi growled; he finally released Marco and shoved him across the floor. Marco lay in a heap; he gently touched his jaw to find blood pouring from his lip. He did not bother to clean himself up; his eyes thundered with rage as he pointed to Matteo. 

"And who the hell do you think that you are?" Marco scrambled to get up but did not dare to come any closer to me or Matteo. A crowd had gathered around us, watching intently. 

"Who am I?" Matteo chuckled in response. "You would know me as Alpha Matteo of the RiverRise pack. I know how to treat a woman respectfully—something you and your family know nothing about." He spat as he stood in front of me protectively. I shuddered at the way Marco glared at me and shook his head.

I noticed my mother was silent in all this; she watched on with her lips pursed firmly together. Don Silvano took another sip of his beer and smirked as he watched the scene unfold as if it were so entertaining for him. 

"You want the slut, have her. It seems everyone else has had a go on her anyway," Marco roared with laughter and then scowled in disgust. "She is not worth it anyway. You will all pay for this; wait until my powerful DeLuca's family finds out what you have done." With that, Marco shoved his way through the crowd and out of the bar quicker than lightning. 

"Are you alright?" Matteo turned to me and asked softly. It was the first time anyone other than Nonna had seemed to care for my safety genuinely. 

"I am. I think." I stuttered over my words, blinking as I looked up at him. "Thank you, but you didn't need to get involved like that. 

"Stop, you do not need to thank me. It was the right thing to do, and you deserve better. Marco DeLuca is nothing but a weasel and always will be." The sincerity in his voice made me feel a lot better at that moment.  "Now, let me help you get cleaned up and then I will get you a drink." Matteo clicked his fingers, and someone handed him a towel and a blanket. "Here, take this; I promise everything will be okay now." He said. 

"Serafina, I saw everything that happened," Viola said, stepping forward and offering me her hand. "I am so sorry that this happened to you. Marco and Luca are both foolish." 

I was so glad to see Viola; although she was the daughter of the previous Beta of the DeLuca pack, she was my only real friend. 

"This is not over, Serafina. The wedding will still go ahead." My mother leant over to whisper in my ear.