CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2

I ran without knowing where I was going. I only knew I couldn’t stay there anymore, and leaving was the only thing in my head.

And guess what?

Nobody called after me.

Nobody came running.

Instead, they laughed.

They fucking laughed at me.

It would’ve been better to be in hell, because what I felt in that house was no different—maybe worse. At least hell doesn’t pretend to love you before it burns you alive.

I didn’t stop until I reached the lake, a short distance from home. The only place I ever ran to when my head became too loud. My hiding place.

I sat on the rock by the water, picking up stones and throwing them as far as I could. One splash at a time.

One stone.

One pain.

One memory I couldn’t erase.

A presence shifted behind me.

“You’re here today,” a calm voice said. “I was starting to think this place was mine alone.”

Blade Lucious.

He lowered himself onto a rock beside me, not too close, not too far…carefully like he understood silence.

Blade is Alpha Ryder’s Beta, he’s different from the others—quiet, controlled, never trying too hard. I’d met him here weeks ago, by this same lake and he seemed decent.

But I still didn’t want a friend.

Friends always left.

He watched the ripples fade before speaking again. “Today was rough,” he said gently. “For a lot of people.”

I stiffened.

I said nothing, It wasn’t like I could and walking away now would only be rude. Besides, he was just trying to be nice unlike everyone else.

“I don’t think being rejected or not finding a mate means something is wrong with you,” he continued, voice casual, almost detached.

“Everyone knows my mate died two years ago. I’m twenty-one now, and I haven’t found another.”

He paused, then added, but guess what? It doesn’t bother me anymore.”

Liar.

Even without looking at him, I could hear the weight in his voice.

I couldn’t forget how his mate died in that car accident because I was there that day.

But there was no way I could ever tell anyone.

After all, I was just the mute girl in the pack.

We sat in silence. I kept throwing stones and he didn’t interrupt.

Eventually, he spoke again. “It’s getting late. You should head home, your parents might be worried.”

I almost laughed.

If anything, they were probably hoping I wouldn’t come back.

The thought made my lips twitch.

“Oh,” Blade said softly. “You smiled.”

He sounded genuinely surprised. Almost pleased.

I frowned, how could something so small make him happy?

His father was wealthy, he had a loving family. No siblings to compete with him and everything in his life seemed arranged.

The universe must’ve taken offense to my thoughts, because rain suddenly poured from the sky—cold and heavy.

We both stood.

Blade reached for my hand, instinctive, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I shoved him away.

Then I ran.

Being close to me would only stain his reputation, and I wouldn’t let that happen. One of the top girls already had her eyes on him anyway. I couldn’t afford more attention. The twins were already enough.

I reached home soaked and gasping.

At the door, I paused and counted to five. Something I always did when fear crawled up my spine.

Then I stepped inside.

Laughter drifted from the twins’ room. Loud. Excited.

I moved closer.

Veronica was jumping around the room. Vanessa was showing off a new backpack. Their mother stood nearby, smiling proudly.

New school uniforms.

School.

It hit me then I’d forgotten school resumed in a week.

The twins were in twelfth grade now.

I hadn’t felt excitement for school in years. I stopped attending in ninth grade. Since then, I stayed home while they left every morning.

I stayed behind.

“But Mom, what about Doris?” Henry’s voice cut through the room. “At least let her enroll with Vanessa and Veronica. She’s brilliant.”

“Don’t start, Henry,” Veronica snapped.

“I will,” he replied calmly. “You all know you haven’t treated her right. One day, karma will catch up with you all.”

Vanessa scoffed. “You still believe in karma? Grow up, karma doesn’t exist in this generation.”

Henry had always been like this.

When I was still in school, he sneaked into classes, copied notes, listened to lessons, and came home to teach me everything. He fought anyone who tried to bully me.

And here I was now hiding in my own house listening to him defend me again.

Do you know how painful that is?

And how grateful?

Everyone deserves a Henry in their life.

Footsteps approached.

I quickly ran to my room and shut the door. Leaning against it, I slowly slid down until I was sitting on the floor, my back pressed tightly to the door.

I tried to hold the tears in, but they never listened, they flowed freely down my cheeks anyway.

I could feel Candy stirring softly inside me.

It had been a long time since I let Candy take control.

Maybe because I didn’t want her out yet or maybe because I no longer know how to let her out at all.

I sat there longer than I could remember.

My eyes grew heavy and my body felt weak, I didn’t even have the strength to stand up and crawl into bed.

I stayed there until exhaustion pulled me under.

When I woke, pale morning light crept through the window.

A sharp knock hit the door.

“You’re still sleeping?” my stepmother shouted. “Get up and prepare the snacks for the twins’ mating ceremony. Since you couldn’t even find a mate, you might as well be useful.”

Right.

Today was the ceremony. Those who’d found their mates yesterday would stand before the Alpha, the elders, the council and claim them.

And I would be there too.

Not as anything important.

Just their slave.