7. WHERE YOU BELONG!

Melissa.

Bella’s hands were firm but gentle as she supported me along the corridor. Each step was agony, each movement sending shocks of pain through my already battered body. My legs wobbled beneath me, trembling like they might give out at any moment. I leaned heavily into her, trusting the strength of my wolf to keep me upright, to guide me forward when my body refused to obey.

“Sorry, Melissa.” Bella’s voice was soft, laced with genuine sorrow. Her brow furrowed as she glanced down at my bruised and bloodied form. “I wish I could help you. Those jerks of an Alpha are clearly useless. Who the hell beats their mate?”

Her words made my chest tighten even more. She didn’t understand, not fully, but she felt the raw injustice of it. I wanted to tell her it wasn’t her fault, that none of this was, but my voice barely came out, dry and weak.

“Ssshhhhhh!” I hissed, gripping her arm lightly to make her lean in closer. “They might hear you.” My heart raced at the thought of someone overhearing. If anyone reported her concern, if someone thought she was conspiring against the Alphas, I couldn’t bear to imagine what would happen to her. I wouldn’t survive seeing her suffer the same cruelty.

She nodded quickly, lowering her voice as we continued forward, her fingers tightening around my arm in support. I could feel her worry radiating through every small motion, and it gave me a tiny, fragile comfort in the midst of all the chaos and pain.

When we reached my room, I collapsed onto the bed with a thud that made the mattress groan beneath me. My body was a map of pain, every muscle tight, every nerve alive with memories of the whips and the humiliation. My back burned like fire, raw and throbbing, and my limbs felt like lead. I had survived, but barely.

Bella didn’t hesitate. She set to work immediately, moving to my side with an ease that came from practice and care. Her hands glided over my shoulders, massaging gently at first, then more firmly as she tried to ease the knots and tension. She pulled a small jar of balm from her bag, rubbing it between her hands before pressing it against the raw tears in my flesh.

The sting hit instantly, sharp and biting, a cruel reminder of the punishment my body had endured. I bit my lip to keep from crying out, tears streaming freely despite my effort. “It… it hurts,” I murmured, though my voice was hollow and strained.

“I know,” Bella whispered, leaning close as if her own presence could shield me. “I know it hurts, but this will help. I promise.”

I closed my eyes against the pain, letting her hands soothe where I could. My wolf shifted restlessly inside me, her anger and confusion mingling with mine, but even she seemed to relax slightly under Bella’s care.

We hadn’t even gone halfway through the treatment when a soft knock sounded at the door. A maid stepped in, bowing slightly as she spoke.

“Ma’am Melissa, Alpha Cain asked you to come to his room immediately.”

The words froze me in place. My chest constricted, and my heart skipped a beat. Now what? I thought. I could barely stand, barely breathe without wincing. And now Cain wanted me, again.

The maid lingered for a moment, looking uncertain, before she retreated quietly. I had no choice. I couldn’t stay, couldn’t avoid it, no matter how terrified I felt. Pain and exhaustion weighed on me like stones, but I forced myself up. Each step toward the door was agony, each movement a battle against my broken body.

Leaning heavily on Bella, I managed to stand, the sting of balm mixing with the ache of my muscles, the raw tenderness of my back screaming with each motion. My wolf, restless and protective, moved within me, guiding my steps even as my body threatened to betray me entirely.

I drew in a shaky breath, glancing briefly at Bella. She gave me a small, encouraging nod, and I nodded back weakly, steeling myself. Then, with what little strength I could muster, I left my room and headed toward Cain’s, each step heavier than the last, each one filled with fear and dread at what awaited me.

I pushed the door open carefully, putting my head down despite the aching pain in my back. “Alpha Cain, you called for me."

The first thing I noticed was the sound, a soft giggle, followed by the low murmurs of a girl's voice. My eyes looked up for just a few seconds, and what I saw stopped me in my tracks.

Amelia was there, tangled in Cain's arms on the bed, her silky robe slipping off one shoulder, his shirt was open, his muscular chest on full display, as he leaned into her, his lips brushing her neck.

I swallowed hard, my eyes darted back to the floor, waiting for him to acknowledge my presence and state his reasons for calling me.

“Look up!" He commanded.

I slowly looked up and what I saw next was the wildly intimate moment between them, he kissed Amelia deeply and even moaned in between the kisses before pulling away. Amelia straddling his lap, her fingers tangled lazily in his hair as she trailed kisses down the side of his neck. Their soft giggles and breathy whispers filled the space, mocking, taunting, crushing the air right out of my lungs.

The fuck, did he call me here just to watch him get intimate with my sister?

My stomach twisted violently, my throat thickening until breathing hurt. I tried,goddess, I tried to keep a blank expression. To pretend I didn’t care, to pretend the sight didn’t slice straight through my soul like a blade. But the pain in my chest surged up like a force I could no longer contain. I felt tears burn hot at the corner of my eyes, then spill freely before I could blink them away.

My heart dropped to the floor.

I jerked my head aside, desperate and pathetic, to hide my humiliation. I wiped at my cheeks quickly, angrily, scrubbing away the tears, hoping he had been too distracted to notice.

I was too late.

Cain’s eyes snapped toward me.

His entire posture changed. He tossed Amelia aside carelessly like she was nothing more than a discarded coat and sprang to his feet. His steps thundered across the room, closing the distance between us in seconds.

His fingers gripped my chin harshly, forcing my head up so I could look directly into his storm-dark eyes. Dread rooted itself deep inside me, cold and suffocating, paralyzing me where I stood. The cruel smirk curling at the corner of his lips only made it worse.

“Are you aware where you belong now?” he asked slowly, savoring each word like poison honey. He sounded pleased, satisfied with himself, satisfied with my pain.

I couldn’t speak. My throat was dry, choked, locked with shame and fear and something far worse, betrayal.

His thumb brushed the wet trail along my cheek. At first the touch was strangely gentle, almost tender but that illusion shattered when his expression twisted. He lifted the dampness on his fingers and, with malicious delight, licked my tears off his skin.

My stomach clenched. Disgust and terror swirled together inside me.

“I am not done with you yet, Melissa,” he murmured, his voice low and venom-sweet. “I will make you wish you weren’t chosen by the Moon Goddess.”

Pain—humiliation—anger—none of it mattered. I stood frozen, held in place by his grip on my chin and the cruel promise in his eyes.

Then, with a shove, not enough to throw me down, but enough to remind me how little control I had, he pushed me back.

His voice thundered across the room like a command from hell itself.

“GET. OUT.”

My knees threatened to buckle, but instinct took over. I turned and fled before my tears betrayed me again, before my heart cracked open any wider, before the Moon Goddess could watch me fall apart.