Chapter 4

Luca's bedroom stood opposite the bannister. Alissa gulped as she turned the brass doorknob, the feeling she was breaking rules twisted her insides. A thick layer of dust encased the room, no-one had entered this room in close to a decade. She opened the windows and took the dusty sheets from the mahogany furniture. She dusted the two paintings, one of a river and the other a woodland. She wondered about the man Luca was, she was ten when he had left. She barely remembered him. 

Alissa looked at the gleaming walnut floor of the entrance hall leading into the sitting room, she sat on the floor exhausted. She had managed to get the mansion spotless and it wasn't even dinner time yet, she wiped her forehead. 

Footsteps echoed on the stairs behind her. She stood up quickly trying to grab at the cleaning supplies but a hand caught her wrist, “Think we've finished have we?” Michael's low voice came from behind her. “Michael, please,” she whimpered, “I've been working all day and need to start dinner.” She tried to tug her wrist free. 

He laughed and spun her to face him. Alissa took in the stubble over his chin and his narrow nose flaring at the nostrils with hate. “Well, you haven't finished.” He kicked over the mop bucket sending dirty water all over the floor. Anger flushed within Alissa. She twisted her wrist free and punched him in the stomach. He doubled over and swore at her. She knew she was going to pay for that so she picked up the mop. “You made the mess, you clean it up,” she seethed, and threw the mop at his head, but he dodged it. 

He lunged at her grabbing her hair, twisting his fingers in painfully and dragged her to the floor. She winced and reached to his hand trying to untangle his fingers. Her eyes started watering as Michael put his face close to hers, his green eyes wide. “Don't ever do that again, you brought this on yourself, murderer.” He kneed her in the stomach, then threw her away from him. He turned on his heel and disappeared from view.

Alissa rubbed her head but picked up the mop and started mopping the water up; cleaning the floor again. Tears splashed into the wet floor, “I'm not a murderer,” she muttered to herself. “I'm not.” She winced as she twisted, her abdomen searing with the movement. She finished mopping and cleared up to make dinner. The pack would be back in a few hours and expect to be fed as soon as they got in.

She looked out of the window in the kitchen while she peeled the vegetables Dotty had given her. She wished she could go and see her now, tears splashed down her front as she rubbed her head again. Maybe she should tell Dotty that Michael was the main cause of the bruises. But could she really do anything? Alpha Cain decided punishments and he was well aware of what was happening. 

Alissa thought ahead to the next day. Would she be allowed to talk to the visitors that would be arriving in less than twelve hours? OK, she knew the answer to that, it was a big fat no. Would anyone coming be wanting to challenge for his title? She stopped what she was doing for a moment, what if someone did? Was that how she’d be free? She buried the hopeful, wistful voice. No, she was stuck, regardless of what happened tomorrow, she would never be free. 

Alissa finished dinner and checked on the food she had prepared ready for tomorrow. Once satisfied she put the sausage and mash she’d made on the table for the pack and grabbed a plate for herself. She ran upstairs to avoid the others. She was just in time, her foot disappeared the moment the pack came through the front door. They were making so much noise they couldn't hear her getting to her room where she felt safe. 

She reached for the dress she would wear tomorrow, the pack didn't want her to go to the ceremony but Alpha Cain had ordered everyone to attend, even her. The dress was simple but she loved it, she put it up against her. The overlaid purple lace looked lovely against the purple silk, it was knee length with sleeves to the elbow- long enough to hide any bruises. She smiled, her mother would have loved it. Footsteps echoed up her steps, her head swam. She put the dress away and heard someone outside her door. The door opened.

“Jack,” she breathed a sigh of relief, her eldest brother, his slender but strong frame contrasted Michael's broad bulk. Jack had always avoided getting involved with the remarks and attacks, and when alone he was how he had always been. Kind and protective. He was the only one that believed she didn't kill their parents. 

Jack went up to Alissa and kissed the top of her head, she looked up to his emerald eyes. “I can't keep doing this Jack.” She sat on her bed. She was trying to keep a tough exterior to the pack. Take the punches, give what she could back, but she could feel herself breaking. “Are you hurt?” He inspected her arms. 

“I'm fine, it'll all be healed by tomorrow.” She snatched her arm away from his glare. 

Jack ran his hand through his chestnut hair, “I'll try find you another pack. I'll speak to Luca, maybe as Alpha he'll agree,” a slight desperation entered his voice. Alissa felt the pang of hope but dismissed it. “You know better than I. The only way I'm leaving this pack, that's through a mate, or a body bag.” She sank her head in her hands, “And who will take a murderer as a mate?” she muttered into her hands. Alissa felt her brother's arms wrap around her. He was so strong, he reminded her of their father.

“But we both know that's not true.” 

She shrugged his hug off, “You better go, they'll come looking,” she said sadly.

“They won't, I can stay a bit longer.” He sat next to her on the bed, a spring groaned under his weight. “Looking forward to the party tomorrow?” Jack tried to lighten the mood. Alissa shrugged. “Bit pointless of me to go to be honest, I'm not a proper member of the pack, I'm just the skivvy.” She turned her head from him, ashamed of what her life had become. Hating everything her life was.

Jack sat awkwardly, “You're strong, you're stronger than me.” He grabbed her hand, she let out a snort. “You are, I wouldn't be here if I had gone through what you have. You're so brave.”

“You're just saying that,” she muttered gloomily. She pulled her hand from him and stood, hugging herself. 

Jack looked sadly at her, he could see she was at the end. “Please let me try sort something with Luca, we were best friends, I'm sure I can-” 

“Just go,” Alissa sounded defeated. He nodded sadly as he rose from the bed. Jack grabbed her for another hug, he hated accepting what she went through. Every day she got punched or kicked was another day he had failed his father. Jack had always been told to look after Alissa, protect her. “I'm sorry,” he whispered as he kissed her forehead. He lingered for a moment, but then turned and left.