Chapter Two: The Runt

Spending the next few hours wiping down each and every surface, cleaning the cutlery so it shone and even taking the liberty to clean the window which looked out into the side of the pack house, I stood in the middle of the kitchen reviewing my work.

I had much experience dealing with these professional cooks the Alpha had mentioned, whenever an important individual arrives to speak with the Alpha, they take over cooking. But they are very much like each other person that dwells in this pack, they hate me as much as everyone else so will do what they can to have the Alpha beat me. This meant I knew if the kitchen did not glisten, they would report back to Alpha Stephen that I’d been slacking off and watch as he dealt me my punishment, with smirks on their faces.

So, when Justin, one of those professional cooks walked into the kitchen, I lower my head down to stare at the floor while placing the cleaning supplies back into the cupboard out of sight, I didn’t need to give this man any reason to speak to the Alpha about me.

“I had hoped the mess would be done cleaning when I arrived.” He scoffed in disgust from the countertop in the centre of the room, his own kitchen equipment he brings whenever he cooks placed beside him, he likes to tell me he doesn’t want to use something my dirty hands have touched.

Getting to my feet, I begin my journey out of the kitchen to give him some space, but when he roughly grasps my arm into his hand, I’m pushed right back to where I stood.

“Did I tell you that you could leave?!” He growled in a deadly tone staring right at my face whilst my eyes remained to the floor, I assumed he wouldn’t want me in the kitchen with him, he had only just said I was a mess.

“The Alpha wants you out of sight during this visit, he does not want the King to spot the runt of the pack, it would only disgust him, and we do not need that when he is to eat what real professionals can create.” His harsh voice continued to belittle me as I remained in my place staring down at the floor, my hands shaking uncontrollably but nodding my head allowing him to see that I understood.

“If you wanted my opinion though, I say we should shove you right to the front of the crowd. It is said the Alpha King visits each pack and rounds up the weakest members, apparently, they’re used for target practice. It doesn’t take a genius to look at you and see what little you bring to the table, I believe it would do the pack good to get rid of you.” Justin continues to growl taking another step closer to me, but it wasn’t his steps that caused my heart to pound so loudly in my chest, but who he said was coming for lunch.

Even though the life that I live now is beyond dangerous and painful, having any kind of relief would be my answered prayer, but in the same breath I didn’t want to die. If what Justin is saying is correct and this Alpha King does take off the weakest of each pack to kill, he would look right at me and know I was the perfect candidate.

“Now get out, I have a job to do.” Justin said taking me by the collar and pushing me over to the door offering me my escape, my hands having to go out in front of me before my head could hit the hard shady oak door.

“If I were you Bridget, I would run and try to find the best hiding spot possible and quick, the Alpha King is on his way.” Justin sniggered from behind me seeming to get a kick out of tormenting me, with a shaky breath, I push open the kitchen door and leave him to prepare the Alpha’s lunch.

My mind raced so fast with fear and dread as I walked through the pack house’s lobby in the direction of my bedroom, so fast the abuse that was hailed my way by the many pack members who disliked me seemed to fade away, all my ears focussed on was the pounding of my heart.

Rushing down the dark corridor I call home and into my bedroom that offered me a little hint of protection, my legs buckled from under me, and I land in a heap on the floor from the absolute terror that ran through my veins. I had felt fear before, since that awful day almost ten years ago that feeling and I have become rather acquainted, but I have never felt this much pure terror in all of my life, I thought I was about to pass out in that second.

“This is what I’ve been telling you! You need to get out of this pack and fast if what that man said is true!” My wolf shouted in my head looping back to the same conversation her and I seem to always share, most of the time I am quick to tell her why we can’t do such a thing but now with this, I couldn’t help but somewhat agree with her.

“If we did that and somehow managed to escape, we have nowhere to go! We’d be more lost and in danger than we already are!” I replied using my old and broken bed as a crutch to help me get to my feet, my legs feeling like jelly as I dumped myself on the mattress.

“We’d be free to do what we want! Free to find our mate who will protect us from everyone here! I know he’s out there somewhere!” She continued to hound my head with what she wanted, but with the constant beatings and the awful reminders from each person I pass, I’ve become unlovable, even if my mate is out there, I doubt he’d want me after everything.

“That’s not true! Our mate will love and protect us from anything; we are meant to be together so never utter those words again!” She bellows in my head so loudly my ears began to ring; she and I never speak to one another in raised voices apart from when I bring up our mate and the possibility that he may not want us when we find him.

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.” I cried out placing my head on the paint flaking wall, I don’t know what this room was used for before I was dumped in it, but that paint has been sat against the wall for many years now.

“RUN! Go as fast as you can before the Alpha King gets here! Yes, it may not work, and we may get caught, but at least we tried! Please Bridget, if not for you, for me!” My wolf continued to beg in my mind, her voice coming out in a little whine showing me how much she truly wanted us to leave this place.

As I brung my head up and looked around the dark and decrepit box room I had been forced to call home, the words of my wolf seemed to slowly sound appealing. I had been abused and insulted for years now, if the beatings continue, I know one day it’s going to kill me, I don’t know if I could go that way knowing I never even tried to leave.

But if I do this now and get caught, at least I tried to leave, tried to find a better life for myself, that way I didn’t simply take what everyone was giving me, I’d do what a wise man told me to so many times, I didn’t go down without a fight.

“Okay.” Was all I said to my wolf finally, after years of her asking, I agreed to try to escape.

This one decision changed the trajectory of my life forever.