CHAPTER SIX

“W-What-?”

Under the pain of the blow, there is shock as I look at my mother-in-law whom I had considered to be a lovely person.

I’ve never had anybody hit me in my life, not even my parents.

“How dare you?” Vivian hisses at me. “How dare you talk such fowl things about Ness in public? Do you even know who she is? The status she has in our family?”

She grabs me by the front of my dress, not even caring that it’s already torn and throws me against the wall making me cry out in pain, “She is a part of this family! I sent you there to get to know some people, not spread lies about Ness!”

“W-What?” I stammer, looking over at Ness whose eyes are red as Cameron holds her in his arms.

He’s never so much as touched me.

“I didn’t say anything about Ness!” My words are a cry. “Those girls attacked me! They tore my clot-”

“Oh, yes,” Vivian says, furiously. “We heard about that story as well. The girls came here, crying, saying that you ripped apart your clothes because they refused to help you get rid of Ness! You know,” her chest is heaving as she says, her voice tight with fury, “when Jason told us that he had chosen you as Cameron’s mate, we were hesitant but wanted to welcome you with open arms. And what did you do? You make a mockery of our family name! You try to kick out someone who is part of this family because of jealousy? Because you are jealous of how beautiful Ness is?!”

“I didn’t -”

I see the way Ness’s lips curve as he face buries in Cameron’s neck.

“I have witnesses!” I struggle to stand up, my back hurting. “There were servants of the house who saw the whole thing! You can call them and ask them!”

Vivian gives me an unflinching look, her voice cold, “Who?”

I rattle off the two names and the two servants are summoned.

They give me unbothered looks when they see me on the floor, still struggling, “Yes?”

“Did you see Danielle this afternoon?”

The two exchange a look before nodding reluctantly,

“I told you!” I say, feeling relieved. “They saw those two girls attack me and tear my clothes. Tell them!”

However, the two servants look puzzled, “What are you talking about, Madame? That’s not what we saw. We saw you attack the two girls and you started tearing off your clothes.”

I gape at them, shock infiltrating my system, “What - No, that’s not what happened! And you know it! You smiled when they attacked me, and you walked away! Why are you lying?!”

“Enough!” Vivian grabs me by the hair, pulling me up and slapping my face twice. “Enough with your lies! I should have known better than to let somebody from another pack into my house!”

Her words hit me like a battering ram, but I don’t stop defending myself, “Sila and Cassie were there! They saved me! You can ask them! You can ask them! Please!”

My face is getting swollen with the number of times Vivian has hit me. It’s like she is taking all her pent-up rage out on me.

“Cameron!” I cry towards me supposed mate. “Cameron, you have to believe me! Why would I do something like this? I’ve just been here for a few days! I don’t even know Ness that well!”

However, Cameron just turns his head away, allowing his mother to abuse me.

My heart breaks as I realize that I’ve left my safe home to enter a hellhole.

Vivian throws me onto the floor and orders, “Take her to her room and starve her for three days! She’ll learn her lesson!”

The two servants who had come to give their witness statement grab me by the arms and drag me up the stairs, not even letting me walk.

I am thrown into the room, the door locked behind me.

Trembling, I curl up into myself, terrified and shaken. My face hurts, my body hurts.

*

I don’t know how much time passes but I am curled on the ground, feeling dazed, when I hear the door open.

I scramble back, terrified of being beaten again when the person whose enters is a young woman. She has a plain look about her and she puts her finger on her lips when she enters, warning me to be quiet.

The door closes behind her with a quiet snick and she approaches me, a candle in her hand.

“Are you okay, miss?” She asks, softly.

As the candle shows her face, I see an ugly scar on the right side of her face.

She sees me looking at it, and touches it, her voice soft, “I believe you. Ness was lying. This isn’t the first time she’s done it.”

I don’t know what to say and she takes my hand, “Listen, Miss. You’ve been nothing but nice to me, so I want to say this. It’s night outside. Everybody is sleeping. Go to the Alpha and tell him what happened. I know you don’t have the mating mark right now so you can convince him to send you home. You will never get the mating mark from Master Cameron, Miss. Trust me. Ness will never let that happen. And if it does, she’ll make sure that what happened to Madam Maria, happens to you.”

My blood turns cold, “What?”

A shutter falls on her face, “I’ve said too much. Just go now.”

“Wait no,” I grab her wrist. “Did Ness do something to Maria?”

The girl almost looks frightened, and she shakes her head, desperately, “I didn’t say anything. Please. I don’t want anything to happen to me. Just go. Get the Alpha to send you back home!”

She hurries out, leaving me by myself and this sinking sensation in my stomach.

Is my life in danger here in this family?