Chapter 2

I had no choice but to call my grandmother, Diana.

The moment the video call connected and she saw my injuries, she burst into tears. She didn't waste a second and showed up at my door with my two uncles.

"Damian! Get your ass out here!"

"You think we're nobody? You dare treat my granddaughter like this and I'll kill you myself!"

My uncles stormed in like avenging angels, and Diana charged forward with her cane raised to strike.

Damian said nothing. He just took Diana's arm and led her into the Shrine of the Moon.

My uncles wrapped my wounds and started planning to get me out of there. But then my grandmother emerged from the shrine with a face like stone.

She raised her hand and slapped me hard across the face.

Before I could process what was happening, her cane cracked against my skull. Blood ran down into my eyes.

I clutched my head, completely stunned.

My uncles moved to stop her, but Diana whispered something, and their expressions changed completely. They grabbed me from both sides and forced me to my knees.

"Mom, hit her harder. Beat her to death today."

"This piece of trash doesn't deserve to live. Even my sister would forgive us for this."

Diana raised her cane. "I'll beat you to death and turn myself in!"

I didn't know how long they beat me. I just remember passing out at some point.

When I woke up, pain tore through my body. I opened my eyes and saw wild dogs gnawing at my bleeding wounds. They'd ripped off a chunk of my scalp.

I stumbled to my feet and dragged myself home, silent the entire way. Dad hated noise.

I'd thought about never coming back to this village.

But if I stayed away for three months, Dad would show up at my office with my two half-sisters. They'd kneel on the sidewalk and tell everyone I'd abandoned my family.

I wanted to cut ties completely, but the national database made that impossible. One missing-person report, and he'd find me anywhere.

After my third boyfriend left because of this, I called the Wolf Council Enforcers.

They came, but every villager backed up his story and said I was lying.

"She's been a liar since she was little, and a thief too. You can't believe anything she says."

"Three kids in that house and she's the only problem. How could it be the parent's fault?"

I knew they only helped him because he was an Alpha, but I couldn't do anything about it.

After that call to the Enforcers, he locked me in an old bomb shelter in the mountains.

Cold and damp, with nothing but water.

He kept me there for a week. When he let me out, I almost died.

This time, when I came home, Damian was already asleep.

My sister told me not to cause trouble and just behave. Then she smashed my phone and laptop.

Rage flooded through me.

I stormed into Dad's room and shook him awake. "If you don't want me to get married, just say it! Why did you convince my boyfriend to break up with me?"

"What did I ever do to you? I've done everything you asked my whole life. Isn't that enough? What more do you want from me?"

He woke up pissed. He grabbed a stool and hurled it at me.

I hit the ground and couldn't move. He yanked off his belt and wrapped it around my neck.

"I want you dead! Just die!"

I fought back as hard as I could, but I couldn't get away.

I managed to pull out my backup phone from my pocket and dialed the Wolf Council Enforcers.

When they arrived, I was lying on the ground, barely breathing.