Dog?

Vinorca Jona POV

‘You're going to be late for university,’ my conscience interrupts my thoughts, jolting me out of bed.

Rushing to the bathroom, I took a quick shower and threw on some old, shabby clothes, grabbing my backpack before darting out of my room. Being late is not an option, not when I'm already a scholarship student; one slip-up could spell disaster.

I hurry out of the house, eager to avoid any encounters, especially with Dante and his taunts. His mere presence is enough to throw me off balance, a harbinger of trouble.

As I walk briskly, trying to slip away unnoticed, a familiar car pulls up beside me. Damn! Just what I wanted to avoid. Dante had caught me before I could make my escape.

"Get in," he ordered, rolling down the window.

His voice sends shivers down my spine, a mix of fear and apprehension clouding my mind. Why does he want me in his car? What does he want from me now?

I try to process his words. Is he really asking me to get in? Wasn't I forbidden from even grabbing a piece of bread before?

"You didn't hear me? Or are you ignoring me?" His words snapped me back to the present, his annoyance palpable.

I know I shouldn't comply. Sitting in his car won't lead to anything good. But can I run? Not when he holds all the power, not when there's nowhere to hide.

"I don't want to dirty your car," I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil within.

"Are you denying me?" His raised eyebrows refused me, but I refused to give in.

‘Yes I am’,

Suppressing the urge to say this to his face, I kept my silence.

"In just three years, you've changed so much. Now you've even learned how to go against me, huh?" His words cut deep, a reminder of the life I'm trapped in.

But I won't be trapped forever. Soon, I'll turn eighteen and break away from his grasp.

"I'm getting late," I said, darting away before he could protest further, the weight of the situation heavy on my shoulders.

Thirty minutes later, I finally reached the university, my breath ragged from the hurried journey.

“Vinorca.”

Amanda's voice pulls me from my thoughts, her concern evident as she calls my name. Despite everything, her presence brings a smile to my face.

Walking over to her, I welcome the distraction as she places a comforting hand on my shoulder. "You better tell me why you look so pale," she says, her worry touching.

"It's nothing. Just a close call with a dog on the way here," I lie, the words slipping out effortlessly.

I feel so happy calling Dante a dog. He makes me feel like he's worse than a dog.

"Dog? Have you lost your mind? Why did you run when a dog was chasing you? It would have been better if you just stayed and had not provoked him."

Genuinely, I want to laugh. If she finds out that we both are calling the alpha of the pack a ‘dog,’ God knows how she's going to react.

That reaction is going to be pretty insane. I don't know why my thoughts keep getting wild like this.

"Oh! I just didn't think about that. It was a sudden reaction to save myself," I replied, smiling.

We both reach the classroom and settle down in our respective seats.

I made it on time. That's what I'm happy about. I thought I had wasted a lot of time and that I was going to be late here because of Dante and the headache I got in the early morning.

"And I don't get why you always wear these thin clothes. Don't you feel cold?" Amanda raises her eyebrows as she touches my top.

I know she's asking this out of concern, but in reality, it hurts. I can't explain to her that these are the charity clothes I've had for the past few years. I'm just trying to manage my meals and everything, working my butt off. How am I going to buy clothes?

I don't want to show how poor I am, and I just know I can't let anyone be aware of the fact that I'm related to Dante. That's something I never wanted to do.

"It's just that I don't like to wear overly warm clothes, and the ones I'm wearing are not thin," I smiled, trying my best to cover my sadness.

"This is not good for your health. How about you joining me for shopping today? You can't spend the whole winter in these clothes. It's too cold."

"Mhm! I have some work, that's why I have to leave early again," I dodged her gaze.

I'm doing some part-time work in the library, and I already missed it yesterday. I can't keep missing my shifts. Moreover, I have no money to spend on clothes.

When I can't even buy myself three meals, buying clothes is a luxury for me.

I gained admission to this university through a scholarship; otherwise, I would never have been able to dream of setting foot in a place like this.

But no matter what, I prefer living this way rather than doing what Dante wants me to.

I did have a choice between self-respect and being a whore.

‘And I chose the former, not the latter.’