Chapter 1

"AMELIA!!" my father bellowed. "If you don't get a fucking move on, I swear you are going to regret it!"

 "I'm sorry! I'm coming now" I called, as I jumped up off my bed to rush down the stairs. I didn't want to provoke him again. I still carried the marks from the last time I ran late. I could still feel the sting of his hand on my skin as he slapped me and the throbbing, dull aching after he kicked me.

My name is Amelia Baker, I'm turning 18 soon, but I'm trapped here, trapped in this place and unable to escape.

 I almost collided with my mom, as I skidded to a halt at the base of the stairs. Her eyes were exhausted, red, and puffy. She's been crying again. My father would never lay a hand on her would never physically hurt her, but that didn't mean he wouldn't belittle her, scream at her, make sure she knows she isn't worthy of him. He would take his physical rage out on me instead. He would call it 'conditioning', say that he was training me to not be weak. But I knew better. I knew it was just so he could hide what he was doing to us, so he could pretend, that what he was doing, was just fine. But he was the Alphas Beta, his second in command, so no one would look twice anyway.

"Go, sweetheart. Don't be late" she trembled. 

"I'm going. I love you, mom" I soothed, hugging her.

"I love you too."

I walked to the front door, glancing back at my mom, worry filling every inch of my body. I knew better than to say anything. I learned that the hard way.

"If you had let me out that day, he might have learned that we are not as weak as he thinks!" I listened as my wolf, Atonia, scolded me for preventing her from causing more unnecessary problems with my father.

Walking to the car, I watched my father jump in and rev the engine, making it clear that I would pay for it if I didn't move faster. So I rushed to the passenger door and all but threw myself into the seat. I only just managed to put my belt on as he sped out the driveway, tires screeching, and headed towards the school campus.

The journey was terrifying. Shaking in my seat the whole way there, pretending I wasn't scared.

Thankfully the journey wasn't long and within 10 minutes, we were at the gates. I climbed out as quickly as I could before he decided to drive off with me hanging out of his car.

Standing on the path, leading to the front doors of the school, I watched as he drove off and let out the breath I had been holding, and started to relax a little. 

Turning around, I started making my way towards the doors, towards my first class. I could feel the anxiety rising inside me as I got closer. I could feel the eyes of everyone, on me. I could hear their whispering. Could feel their judgment, their taunting.

"Ignore them, Amelia. Don't let them see that they're getting to you." Atonia soothed. "Because if you get too riled up, I will take over and I don't think you'll want that right now."

"No! I do not want that right now." I responded through our bond. "But please, just try to stay calm today? I don't need to draw any more attention to myself, especially today." I quickly added.

"I make no promises, but I will try," she muttered, begrudgingly.

I had made my way to my first class of the day, without incident, and silently took my seat at the back of the room. I quietly observed all the other students making their way in, one by one, waiting for the two people whom I always hope will never come.

Unfortunately, the Goddess does not hear me, and they both walk in, joined at the hip as they always are.

Samantha Thwaite. She was the epitome of beauty. Long strawberry blonde hair, pale blue eyes, and tanned, poreless skin. She was once my friend, my best friend, but she showed her true colors eventually. Her lying and backstabbing, and her eventual destruction of my trust and friendship, led to a new social level for me.

And then there is Ethan Colt. The Alphas son. He and I were raised together and when I turned 16, he confessed his feelings for me. Which at the time, had made me so happy and blind to everything else. He had managed to convince me that we will be Mates when we both turn 18. He wormed his way into my mind and manipulated me, used me, and threw me away when he was done. Ethan was working with Samantha, both of them using me, manipulating me and my emotions all because it was fun to them. Because they wanted to be together. The people I thought I knew had turned on me and used me, destroyed me, and threw me away. Now? Well, now their goal was to torment me until my last days.

"Oh, look who it is! Little miss Beta is trying to hide" Ethan sniggered, as he glared at me.

"Ew, why is she even still here? It's like she thinks she still has friends!" she stated, giggling to herself.

My face began to redden, from either anger or embarrassment, I couldn't tell. Maybe it was both. I just ignored them, pretending I didn't hear them, and carried on preparing my books for today's English class.

“Let me get them, please! They deserve to hurt as they hurt you!” exclaimed Atonia.

“Atonia, stop, please. We only have a couple more months, then we are out of this place.” I begged.

Thankfully, Mr. Marriott strode in at that moment, calling the class to attention.

Releasing a sigh, I relaxed, knowing Ethan and Samantha would never cause any trouble while a teacher was present.

                                                               . . . . . . 

Somehow I managed to make it through the rest of my morning classes, to lunch without any more problems. I snuck away before anyone noticed, to go eat my lunch. I had an area in the woods near the school, that was hidden and safe. A place to relax and prepare for the last class.

"The fresh air is nice out here, calm. We can easily forget about the bullshit at school and home", Atonia sighed contentedly.

"I know. Maybe we can run away, take mom with us and find another pack to take us in. One that will care for us, not ruin us." I replied, getting lost in the idea, again.

Maybe I should suggest it to mom? Maybe it will make her happy? Make her smile again? Will she agree? Will she go with me?

"I think that's a great idea! You definitely should suggest it to her, convince her. Your father isn't her mate, Amelia, so the only thing keeping her here is her duty to her patients. She'll do it to protect you. To protect us." She gushed. 

This isn't the first time we've spoken about this. It has been 6 months of back and forth on the subject of running to another pack. But I honestly think it is time to talk to her about it, convince her.

Maybe we can finally be a happy family? Just me and my mom.

“That’s it! I will speak to her!” I decided.