CHAPTER ONE

~RAELIYA~

I clenched my jaw as a slap landed on my cheek for the fourth time.

“You're so useless. You can't seem to do anything right. I asked for Amber ale, not moonpetal tea. Get it right!” Jasmine screamed in my face before pouring the cup of hot coffee on my head.

I grimaced slightly as I bit down on my lower lip to stop myself from screaming out in pain.

“Relax, how can you expect a wolfless being like her to be anything but useless?” Another voice sounded in front of me. It was Valerie.

They all laughed while I stood there, unable to say anything because if I did, I'd only get punished for it.

I couldn't remember a day where I wasn't humiliated or insulted since I was brought into this pack. I couldn't remember anything about my past or my parents. This Pack was my home… At least it was supposed, but it rarely felt like it.

The only person who made it feel like home was Chase, the Alpha's son, but that was only when it was convenient for him.

I lifted my eyes slightly, and it connected with his for a brief second before he looked away, laughing away to an insult Valerie had hauled at me.

That's what I meant by when it was convenient to Him. He laughed along with my bullies and never once stood up for me.

In public, I was nothing but a runt to everyone, including him, but in private…

“Mess it up again and I'll make sure you don't get to eat for a whole fucking week” Jasmine warned before she forced the cup into my hand and walked over to Chase who received her with open arms and a kiss.

My heart ached, and my lips quivered as I listened to them make out, but I didn't dare make a sound.

“What are you waiting for? Get out!” Valerie uttered, and I didn't bother glancing back at Chase before making my way out of the room.

I tried my best not to think too much of it, but the sound of them kissing echoed in my ear.

I shook the thought away and made the coffee, and luckily, Jasmine didn't cause a scene when I gave it to her. She was probably bored of making my life miserable and just decided to let me go.

As soon as I was dismissed again, I was thrown into more work. It was almost like all the pack work was left for me, and since I couldn't fight back, I just sighed and did it all.

By the time I was done, my whole body ached while my stomach grumbled from hunger. I walked over to the kitchen, hoping to find some kind of food of at least a few leftovers, but there was nothing.

So once again, I was going to bed hungry.

I gripped onto the kitchen counter as tears rolled down my cheeks.

“I'm so hungry” I murmured to myself, but truthfully, I was just tired of living this life, but it was all I knew.

I didn't know how long I just stood there till I felt a familiar hand on my waist.

“Are you okay?” I frowned at the sound of his voice. Instead of replying, I grabbed onto his hand and tried pulling it away, but he was stronger than me, not to talk of the fact that I haven't eaten anything.

“What do you want from me, Chase?” I asked softly without turning to him.

“Are you mad at me?” He asked softly, and I sighed.

“It doesn't matter, does it?” I questioned with tiredness laced in my voice.

He gently spun me around, and as soon as I saw his face, I could immediately feel all the anger slipping away from me. He also had this effect on me just by staring at me with those ocean blue eyes.

“Don't be mad at me. You know I care about you” He murmured as he caressed my face.

“Your actions say otherwise” I replied, and he sighed.

“I brought you food. I know you haven't eaten all day” He uttered, and only then did I notice the tray of food on the kitchen counter.

“See? I care about you. Eat up, i know you're starving” He uttered, and I sighed, giving in instantly.

The thing was I knew the relationship Chase and I had was toxic, but he was all I had. He was the only one who cared about me.

If I lashed out and questioned him blatantly on his behaviour, I was afraid I would push him away, and what then? I'll be all alone.

I couldn't even blame him for being ashamed of associating with me in public. If I wasn't such a useless being, he wouldn't be so ashamed of me.

Maybe if I wasn't a runt, he wouldn't be ashamed of our mate bond and wouldn't ignore it like he did.

Chase and I weren't always friends. He hated me just like the rest at first but then one day, he just spoke to me and I don't know why but I treasured that moment A lot because that was when I made my first friend.

A few weeks ago, after I turned 18, we discovered we were mates, and I had thought things would change between us, and although he became a little more touchy, nothing really changed.

“Do you want me to feed you?” He asked, and I smiled slightly, then nodded, and he grinned before slowly feeding me.

As he fed me, we laughed and talked like this morning didn't happen. This was my routine with Chase. He ignored me by day and became a totally different person at night.

I just needed to keep pushing. Maybe one day, he wouldn't be able to ignore the mate bond and finally love me.

“Guess what? Sophia is coming back tomorrow, and I'm not losing her again. You have to help me win her back. I have to make her my wife”...