Chapter 2

Zira-

“I still don't understand how she hasn’t figured it out yet. The only time any of you are nice to her is when your uncle is around.”

A heavy pressure spread through my chest, to the point where I felt as if I were suffocating. All this time I thought it was Trenton who saved me, but now I am learning it was his uncle Axton. I have only met Axton maybe once a year since I was eight years old.

I didn’t know much about him other than he was ten years older than me, a powerful military commander, and he was friendly, with a nice smile. Aside from that I didn’t know anything about him and couldn’t remember much about him.

Around the time Axton would visit, was the only time I was treated like a human and not a slave. I was also allowed to wear expensive clothes and live with Trenton and his family. When Axton was around, I was treated like a princess.

In those moments it was a glimpse of hope and the promise of being accepted one day. Every time Axton would arrive, Trenton and his parents would promise that on my eighteenth birthday, they would accept me as a member of the pack. There were other instances where I felt like they were telling the truth.

If it weren’t for the fact that for ten years, aside from a few good moments, I was living a life worse than death, I might have figured out I was living a lie. However, in those few moments, when I would experience something good, I held onto those, and it kept me from going insane the rest of the time.

At eight years old, I already experienced a tragedy when I lost everything I loved and cared about. I had been given a place to live, but after losing my family, I no longer felt as if I belonged anywhere. Axton had supplied me with a house to live in, but I couldn’t afford to pay for the utilities.

The house itself was luxurious and massive, but shortly after Axton left to join the military, I was completely on my own. I started working odd jobs just to put food in my stomach until I was old enough to get a real job. Between working three part-time jobs, I could barely afford anything else besides day-to-day necessities.

I also haven’t been to school since I was eight. I wasn’t exactly stupid, but I was self-taught through books and going to a free public library. I tried attending a free public school, but without a guardian, I couldn’t get in.

I also didn’t have much time, because during the day, when I should be in school, I was a maid for Trenton’s family. They said that if I lived in the house Axton gave me, I should either pay rent or work for them. Since I couldn’t afford the four thousand dollars they wanted every month for rent, I worked as a slave for them.

Not only had I been too young to know better, but I was grateful that I at least had a place to stay. It was dark and cold half the year or dark and hot the other half, but at least I had a roof over my head. As time went on, I did start questioning things, but by that time I didn’t see the point.

I felt as if it was better to keep my head down and my mouth shut and pray that things would improve after I turned eighteen. Now, I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry as I continued listening to the truth being revealed.

“What do you plan to do on her birthday?” Bryce asked. “Didn’t you tell her you would accept her as a member of the pack and she would become your mate?”

“I still plan to throw a party on her birthday, but that will be the day I completely destroy her. My parents only promised to take her in until her eighteenth birthday. Although my parents are now dead, I have to carry out the promise.” Trenton’s voice deepened and became slightly sadistic.

“What about your uncle?” A female asked, and I had never heard her voice before, so I didn’t know her name.

“I doubt my uncle will care. He only comes around once a year and it isn’t for long. The last time I spoke to him, he didn’t even ask about Zira like he usually does. If you ask me, he is likely tired of taking care of her and will be happy when she is no longer a burden.” Trenton’s voice noticeably softened and out of curiosity, I peeked through the window on the door.

Trenton was sitting on the hospital bed, with a beautiful redhead in his arms. Seeing how lovingly he gazed upon her as if she was precious, made my stomach turn. I didn’t know if it was due to envy or disgust, so I stopped looking.

His words regarding how his uncle didn’t care about me, hurt more than I thought they would. I mean it shouldn’t surprise me, since I didn’t know his uncle that well. Yet, the times I have met him, I thought he was nice and made me feel like I mattered.

Axton Heath would always bring me a gift when he returned home and his smile would light up my world. I was never able to keep his gifts for long, because Trenton and his parents had found a way to take them. It wasn’t until now that I understood that it was all a carefully thought-out plan to keep me from keeping anything Axton gave me.

I couldn’t complain either, because I wasn’t a part of their family. What Trenton’s uncle gave me, never truly belonged to me. At best, Axton was just being nice. Now I at least understood why Axton always seemed nice when we met. Knowing he was the one who saved me, made everything that hadn’t been made since these last ten years, now it all makes sense.

The coldness Trenton and his family bestowed on me was because they never accepted me and never planned to. The only reason they had been nice in the past, was because of Axton. I didn’t know Axton’s identity, other than he was a high-ranking military official, but I now believed they feared him. If not, I doubt they would have cared what he would think if they decided not to honor his request to look after me these past ten years.

“I don’t know if I should be jealous of how much energy you put into her, even if it is to hurt her.” The female sighed.

“Don’t worry, I promise that you are the only one for me. You are my true mate. Zira is nothing but a toy for me to play with when I am bored.” Trenton practically purred and a second later the girl giggled.

“Then what will be the plan for her birthday?” Glenn asked.

“Trent told me that will be the day that he will officially announce he has found his fated mate and I will become his Luna. Zira thinks Trent is planning her birthday, but the party will be for me.” The female giggled and I could imagine she kissed Trenton’s cheek from the kissing sound I heard through the door.

“That is right. I want everything to be perfect for my mate. The only reason I am using her birthday as an excuse is because I want Zira to always remember that she will never be worthy of me and her birthday will be a constant reminder.” Trenton chuckled.

Feeling dejected and no longer wanting to hear what they had to say, I had left the hospital. As soon as I stepped outside, the previously clear sky was suddenly covered with dark clouds. Since I spent the last little bit of money I had to get the soup, which was now wasted and scattered on the floor outside of Trenton’s hospital room, I had no choice but to walk home.

When the rain started, I was barely a block away from the hospital. By the time I reached the street to return to the house I was living in, I was soaked from head to toe. I also knew I had a fever, but at that point, it didn’t matter. I didn’t see the point in living anymore.

I was broke and indebted. Not to mention that in two weeks I was guaranteed to be kicked out with nowhere to go. Just like I was when I was eight when I lost my home and family, I was all alone. Perhaps it would be better if I died. At least that way I wouldn’t be stuck in a revolving cycle of torture.

When I stopped walking, I looked up through my blurred vision, from both tears and rain. The house I was standing in front of seemed colder and less inviting than usual. It also seemed darker, as if an eerie cloud swallowed the house.

“Zira?” A familiar voice spoke from behind me.

Turning toward the voice, which offered little warmth to my existence, I froze when I saw Trenton’s uncle, Axton Heath standing under an umbrella a few feet away. Fresh tears burned my eyes upon seeing him. I didn’t know if it was from relief or pain, but I didn’t have a chance to distinguish what I was feeling.

My body felt heavy all of a sudden and in my weakened state, I couldn’t hold myself up. As I fell my eyes closed and I welcomed the darkness. I vaguely heard Axton scream my name as he caught me, but my mind was in a deep fog as I succumbed to my fate. Knowing I was likely going to die, I felt a little relieved.