2

ISLA

I glared at her with all of the anger and hatred I felt. I had yet to understand why the packs let such cruel and uncouth people like the King and his daughter rule us. However, I could understand the fear they felt. We all felt it. 

I felt like I had failed my father. In the one moment when I was supposed to prove that I was his daughter and that he had truly taught me well, I failed him. Since I was a kid, he had always told me that one day I would grow up to stand against the tyrannical rule of King Nathan. 

I had asked my father often that if he hated the King that much, then why didn't he just take him out himself? Besides, he was in charge of the army. 

He replied to me with a sad smile and placed his hand on my shoulder. 

“Sometimes, for the future to be pleasant, the present has to be unpleasant.” 

Riana must have seen the hatred in my eyes because her frown deepened before she brought down the whip on my arms this time. I fought back the tears as pain seized my muscles and flesh. I was sure she’d torn my skin with the tool, but I couldn’t check it.

“You damn lazy rat” she hissed. “Get up and go serve our guests immediately!”

No! I wanted to scream, but I knew that would just result in more beatings, and I didn’t know if I could take anymore. My body was weak, and I wasn't in the right frame of mind to stand up for myself, so I just let things be and did as I was told. 

She raised the whip to come down hard on me again, but I raised my arms up in an attempt to block her. Weakly, they fell back to the ground. I was tired from the lack of proper sleep as well as nutrition. Last night, after serving my duties and getting nothing for it but a slice of bread that was thrown to me by the matron, I’d returned to my chambers, where I had passed out from starvation.

Even then, I was still so hungry and tired from all the suffering; I still had tears to cry for my father, who had just been unjustly killed. Even Alex, my wolf, had started feeling the brunt of my struggles. I could sense her emaciating with each passing moment. She lay huddled in a corner, crying out weakly for food. I had tried calling out to her for several nights now but I got no response. The only sounds she made were weak whimperings asking to be fed.

I was worried this development might affect my shift. If Alex was no longer responding to my call, how could I trust that she would come out when I needed her? 

“You either get up now or I will make sure to leave you with a mark you will never forget.” Riana threatened when I still didn’t stand up.

I wanted to tell her how weak I was but while that confession would only put me in a worse position, I couldn’t even speak. So, I bit my lips as I fought off the fatigue and rolled up to my feet.

The chains around my legs rattled as I stood shakily on them. My head spun from how dizzy I was and ached from the lack of food and how much I had cried in the last few days.

The King walked back into the palace as the villagers started to disperse. I could feel the heaviness in the air as my father was left to lay there, in the scorching sun. Seeing his eyes open like that opened a hole in my soul. We were in front of the palace. The King had made the execution public so it would be more embarrassing and humiliating. I began walking toward the kitchen to serve the guests in the banquet hall. The King had prepared a feast to probably celebrate the killing of my father. To him, he had killed a traitor, someone who didn’t deserve to live so that was an accomplishment. 

 As I passed Riana who had waited at the door just to make sure I still wasn’t outside, the wicked princess thrust out her leg. I tripped over her ankle and fell on my arms back onto the same floor I had just got up from. My entire body hurt and I could feel my muscles begin to give up. 

Riana cackled like the witch she was and I groaned in pain. Everywhere hurt as I struggled back to my feet. I didn’t want to risk getting whipped again so I ran for the kitchens.

I could feel my body shaking with rage at the injustice I was being served. 

My head was to the ground so I didn't see that I was about to walk into someone until I bumped into his chest and almost fell to the floor. 

I felt a hand wrap around my waist, and pull me into his chest and just then, I was able to catch a glimpse of the most electrifying blue eye that I had ever seen. They had me frozen and I couldn't help but get lost in his gaze. 

He looked almost...perfect. 

He let me go immediately and cleared his throat. Before I could say anything, he walked away. 

Who was that and why didn't he push me away? I could tell that he was royalty from the way he dressed. 

Anyways, all of them are just the same. Using the poor people for their own good. 

They would pay. They would all pay for what they did to my family and me.  

The King and everyone who was in this would beg me to spare their lives and I would kick them away the same way they kicked me away when I asked for mercy.