Chapter 1

Sophia’s pov

“Sophia,get your fucking ass over here, now!”

My stepmother sharp voice echoed through the massive house, sending a shiver down my spine. I put down the plates I was washing and hurried down the hallway, my bare feet barely making a sound against the cold wooden floor. I knew better than to keep Evelyn waiting. Sweat was trickling down my forehead as I approach her.

As soon as I entered the grand living room,my stepmother’s icy glare pierced through me. Evelyn stood with her arms crossed, perfectly manicured nails tapping impatiently against her elbow.

“I- I'm. What can I do for you?” I stammered nervously.

Smack!

Her hand struck my cheeks sharply, and I felt my face go numb. She looked at me with utter disgust.This house is a fucking mess, and you’re still dragging your feet,you good-for-nothing bitch. “I told you to have it spotless before I woke up. What the hell have you been doing?”

I lowered her head, my hands clenched at my sides. “I—I was trying. It’s just— I was washing the plates.I didn't mean to get you angry.”

Smack!

The sting of Evelyn’s hand cracked across my face, snapping my head to the side.

"You were just what?” Evelyn mocked. “Too fucking lazy? Too slow? Useless little brat.”

I–I'm sorry mother, I won't be too slo…

Another slap interrupted my words, snapping my head to the other side. “How many times do I have to tell you not to call me your mother?! Your mother is pathetic and a weakling,you hear that? You are disgusting and amount to nothing,I hope you can go and join your mother in hell where you both belong.

My breath hitched as hot tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision. Each day,my stepmother maltreat me, she made it clear that I'm unwanted in the family and find every chance to insult my dead mother. It was difficult to believe that my dad is the Alpha of this pack,yet I lived in a situation that is worst than that of a slave. All of this was because of Evenly Greystone, My father's mate, whose hatred towards me is so intense that she has sworn to make my life a living hell.

My name is Sophia Greystone and this is my goddess-forsaken life.

Seeing my face teary, Evelyn smirked wickedly and pour a wine on the floor. “Oops”. She tilted her head, amusement flickering in her cold eyes. Would you look at that? “Clean that up!” she commanded with a stern tone. She kept her eyes locked on mine.

My fingers curled into fists at my sides,but I bit down my frustration. I knew better than to fight back.

My stepmother took a slow sip from what was left in her glass, watching me with cruel delight. “Well,get to it”.

Terror gripped as I knelt down, gripping the cloth as I began scrubbing the floor and kept my graze low.

A blow landed on my face this time harder, and I gasped as pain seared through my lip. I tasted blood instantly, the sharp, metallic tang filling my mouth. Is that how to scrub a floor? Evenly voice dripped with cruelty as she loomed over me. Pathetic, do it properly.

Yes, ma'am,I whispered and brace myself for whatever is coming next.

The Alpha's wife grapped a handful of my hair on her hand and pulled it violently. You missed this spot bitch. My scalp has almost torn apart. I was in extreme pain as she laid into me without remorse.

“P-please mother… I-it hu-rts..” I whispered in agony as I could no longer take the blows she was inflicting on me. What I could only do at that moment is to continue to appeal to her to stop. I was expecting she would at least think about her action as I expressed how much pain she was inflicting on me at that moment. And yet,as expected my appeal seems to energize her more as she continue to smack me in the face faster and harder.

“I-I'm beg-ging y-you, ma'am, please stop”

“I won't stop until you work harder and stop being a useless little thing. Scrub the damn floor harder or I swear to disfigure your face untill you become unrecognizable!”

My stepmother continue to hit me untill my strength slowly drained. She grabbed me by the arm and shoved my back with much force that I lost my balance. A terrified gasp left my lips as I felt myself falling. I grew oblivious to my surrounding, my vision become blurry and shaky. And just when I thought I would fall and lose consciousness.I felt a pair of strong arm holding me.

“Evenly! What the hell are you doing?!” My father, Alpha Rhydor Greystone,arrived at the scene. I felt a glimmer of hope as he arrived and took me away from his wife's grasp.

“Why are you hitting her?” Dad continue to question her.

My stepmother's face frowned, pointing her finger at me, this filthy garbage can't do her chores right. Evenly face reddened with anger.

My head jerked up, and I met my father’s deep brown eyes—filled with concern and regret.

Rhydor, the Alpha of the pack, set me on my feet, his jaw tight with barely restrained anger. His hands lingered on my arms as if ensuring I was steady. Then, slowly, he turned to Evelyn.

“That’s enough,” he said, his voice low and warning.

Evelyn scoffed. “She needs to learn her place. If you won’t discipline her, I will.”

Rhydor’s fists clenched at his sides, but he didn’t argue. He never did. Sophia knew why—because no matter how cruel Evelyn was, the mate bond tied them together. He couldn’t leave her

That knowledge sat like a heavy weight in my chest.My father cared, but he was powerless to stop any of this. And Evelyn knew it.

With a satisfied smirk, my stepmother turned on her heel and walked away, leaving me standing there, still trembling.

Rhydor exhaled, his expression pained as he looked at me.Without a word, he headed to the first aid box,pulling out a small jar of healing ointment.

“Here,” he murmured, gently dabbing some onto my swollen lip.The coolness of the medicine soothed the burning sting.

I winced but didn’t pull away.

“You need to be careful,” Rhydor said softly, his voice heavy with guilt. “I’ll try to keep her off your back, but…”

Sophia knew how that sentence ended. He couldn’t stop Evelyn. He couldn’t protect her.

So she just nodded. “I know, Dad.”

Afterward, he sighed and gave me an apologetic look,brushing a strand of hair from her face before stepping back. “Go rest in your room, sweetheart. I’ll check on you later.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, gave a small nod, and turned away.

As I retire to my room,I continue to drown in my solitude untill I heard a gentle knock on the door. Slowly I went to open it and when I did,the unexpected visitor immediately hug me.