1 Her Stepfamily

Alvina was forced to awaken after frigid water was poured on her head. She need not question who it was; there was just one person who loved to do that- Gabriella, her stepsister, 2 years younger than the eighteen-year-old her.

She quickly got off the bamboo bed and routinely fell on her knees, head bowed as she wore an apologetic face, "I'm sorry for inconveniencing you, my lady," she said in a hoarse voice, as loud as she could, disregarding the burning discomfort in her chest.

This half-sister of hers made her ingest Wolfsbane last night, after the countless beatings she gifted her, all because she 'accidentally stepped' on Gabriella's foot.

She's used to this though; Her life didn't remain the same from the moment Eleanor, her foxy stepmom, wed her father.

Alvina's mother died after parturition, and her grieving dad blamed it all on her, accusing her of being a witch and a cursed soul. After marrying Eleanor, he mysteriously died a year after. Her cunning stepmom also wasted no time in jumping at a huge opportunity- that of remarrying Austin Radford, her stepfather as his chosen Luna.

After Gabriella was born, Alvina became a maid, and the personal punching bag and amusement toy to her step-sister.

It was no use resisting because that would mean more beatings and no food for days.

She had no rights in this household; she was just something that could be squished and thrown in the trash if ever Gabriella got bored of her.

Alvina couldn't entertain thoughts of fleeing the pack either, because that was impossible considering the tight security patrol and also one damn fact- Her stepdad is the Alpha of the Blood Stone pack, and so, without his authorisation, no one can leave the pack, unless that person was eager to be six feet underneath the earth's surface.

“How should I punish you, now that you've stressed me this much, dear Alvina?” Gabriella asked in a mocking tone. She could feel her half-sister's thrill at the thought of tormenting her again.

Alvina didn't answer her question because she knew that Gabriella would never let her choose the punishment to be meted out to her. Her silence made only her sister riled and she lifted Alvina's chin with her right index finger.

“You dare play mute? What guts you have! Trying to grow wings now, huh? Answer me!” Gabriella snarls, punching Alvina hard on her right jaw. She wasn't numb to the pain.

But she wouldn't let her sister have the fun of seeing her cry this early. She was tougher than that!

“Are you still playing mute?” Gabriella questioned again, spite in her eyes.

This time, Alvina opened her mouth to speak, ignoring the discomfort that came with it.

“You know what's best for me, my lady. I'm not worthy to decide my own fate.”

Gabriella nodded her satisfaction, “Good, you know that. Stand up!” her sister ordered and she quickly heeded, not wanting to be hit by the thorny whip in her left hand. Her skin had a fair share of being kissed by the thorns of that dreaded whip.

“So you can be this obedient. Why try to rebel? Follow me!” her sister elegantly walked out of the room with a sly smile laced on her lips.

Alvina internally sighed before rushing out of the room after her sister. If she delayed by two steps, then a round of beatings would begin.

She, however, was befuddled when her sister didn't lead her to the regular spot where she's coerced usually to perform all sorts of awkward acts for her sister's entertainment- any mistake meant a heavy knock on her head. It's a miracle she hadn't gone insane from all this bad treatment.

Surprisingly, her sister led her to the lavish dining room instead. Around the pricey, round wooden table which was full of delicious food, something she had no access to, sat three people; Her bitchy stepmom, her 13-year-old stepbrother Jake, and her stepfather, the Alpha King.

How long had she not seen him? He didn't even care whether she lived or perished. After all, she wasn't even related to him by blood. So why was she brought here to him today? It certainly was not because he wanted them all to be one big, happy family, that's for sure.

She hurriedly went down to her knees, her head bowed while showing her bare, injury-laced neck in submission. As an Omega and worse, a hated pack female, it was disrespectful to not show her subjection or he would rip her head off. Not that she cared anyway. Her surviving each day was a thing to be amazed at.

“Stand up, my dear,” the Alpha said, after clearing his throat, and she wasted no time in heeding his command.

“Look at me,” he ordered again and she obeyed.

She saw him nodding with delight registered on his face. This perplexed her more. Was she on a different planet? Maybe she should pinch herself and see if she was dreaming.

“Alvina my dear, you've grown up. Time really flies.” he commented, “Come sit with us. Starting today, you'll be dining with us, and you'll have your own maids to take good care of you.”

Alvina thought she heard wrong. Her stepfather invited her to come join his family for breakfast and that this would be continuous.

She couldn't help but pinch her left hand and the pain gave her certainty that everything happening now wasn't phony. Gabriella even smilingly ushered her to sit on a chair, facing her stepdad.

She had this bad feeling within her, but she didn't know what it was. Maybe later, they'd tell her the true purpose of their change in attitude.

She, nevertheless, washed her hands in the bowl of water brought by a maid in the residence and then started feasting, not minding table manners. Even if the food was poisoned, she should at least die with a full stomach.

The dangers ahead are unpredictable…!