CHAPTER 3

Ha, my body felt like it had been shattered into a thousand pieces. Every time I tried to breathe, I felt sharp pain across my body, down to my back where the rod had been pressed on from earlier.

 I didn't want to wake up, i wanted to stay in the darkness where there was no Daven, no crowd pointing fingers at me, and no pain.

But then, a soft, damp cloth touched my forehead; the gentle sound of sobbing pulled me back to the world I hated.

"Kimberly, please, wake up. You have been out for hours," Janet’s voice was trembling with a fear I had never heard from her before.

I forced my eyes open, Janet was hunched over me, her face pale, her hands shaking as she tended to me. Seeing her like this, so vulnerable, hurt worse than the burns. I reached out a trembling hand, trying to reassure her.

"Janet... stop... don't cry please."

"How can I not cry" she hissed, wiping her cheeks. "Look at you! You're falling apart, and for what? For a man who would kill you and not even blink."

I looked away, staring at the wall. She was right, of course, but knowing the truth didn't make the situation any better. I had tried to explain it a dozen times, but how do you tell someone that your own blood, your own parents, made you feel like you were less than human, If I divorced Daven, I would be thrown out of the pack since I had no family I belonged to and I also had no money. I would be a stray; every pack's law states rogues were to be hunted and killed. I stayed here because I was afraid of dying in the woods, alone and cold. I stayed because I was a coward who preferred slow death to a fast one.

"I can't, Janet," I mumbled. "You don't understand, Janet."

"I understand that you're going to die," she snapped, grabbing my hand. "I have enough money to get us out of here; we can leave tonight. Please, Kimberly, before he comes back."

"Janet, we can't just escape. What pack will accept girls of no origins? None. And besides, Daven is the Alpha, we can't escape."

"Kimberly, at least divorce Daven. Even if we don't escape, you can come stay with me and my parents."

Before I could argue, the door clicked open. Kate and May stood in the doorway, grinning.

"Oh, look, the trash Luna is finally awake," Kate scoffed, walking into the room like she owned it. "The Alpha is waiting for his tea, Luna. It’s your job now to serve."

"She's injured," Janet jumped to her feet, standing between them and my bed. "She can barely move."

May shrugged. "It's none of my concern, and the Alpha doesn't care about excuses; he hates laziness."

May leaned down until her face was inches from mine, are you going to do your job, or do you need another lesson in manners.

I knew if I didn't get up, she would make things worse for me and Janet. I tried to sit up, the pain in my back making me gasp, biting my lips in pain as I forced my legs over the side of the bed. Trembling, my entire body shaking violently, I was about to fall back down, but I stood on my shaking legs.

"I will... I will go."

May grinned, satisfied. "Good. And remember, keep your head down. The Alpha doesn't want to look at that face today."

I took one step, then another, the world spinning around me as I stumbled toward the door, trying to ignore the way Kate and May watched me, smirking. My legs felt like they were made of glass, ready to shatter with every step. 

I made it to the kitchen the scent of the herbal tea made my stomach turn. I forced my hands to move, pouring the hot liquid into Daven's favorite porcelain cup. My back burned with every movement, but I didn't stop. I couldn't.

I walked toward his office, each step uneven. I pushed the door open with trembling hands. Daven sat behind his desk, his eyes fixed on some papers. He didn't even look up as I set the tea down.

"You're late," he scoffed. "I don't keep people who can't complete simple tasks."

I stood there, my hand gripping the edge of his desk to keep me from collapsing.

"I... I'm sorry, Daven. Am injured, i Couldn't walk any faster."

He finally looked up, rolling his eyes. "Injuries are just an excuse for the weak. You are the Luna of this pack, and yet you act weak."

I looked at him, really looked at him, and for the first time, the blindfold of my own desperate love finally slipped. But my heart couldn't let go of my love for Daven; what if he was just in a bad mood, I tried convincing myself to give him one more chance.

Maybe, just maybe, he would fall down on his knees and tell me he was sorry. I really tried convincing myself into believing Daven loved me, that he would soon figure out his feelings.

"Kimberly, what are you doing standing motionless, Come serve me another tea."

I rushed over, pouring the liquid, accidentally spilling some all over the table.

"Sorry," I mumbled, trying to wipe it off.

"What's wrong with you, Are you blind, You can't even do this small task."

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, hurrying to leave.

"Did I ask you to leave" Daven frowned.

"My back hurts. Please let me go back to rest," I muttered, squeezing my waist in pain.

"Do I look like I care, You will stay here until I tell you to leave."

"You are too cruel. We have lots of servants why can't you call them to assist you, why are you torturing me"

"Me, cruel" Daven muttered, standing up. His hand lunged out faster than I could blink.

SMACK.