Chapter one: Life of pain

Rhea’s POV

“Why are you just so stupid and lazy at the same time?”

Anita’s voice sliced through the air like a blade, her eyes suffused with irritation.

I winced, my fingers clenched to the fabric I had been scrubbing for hours. “I have been doing the laundry for the past few hours now. Pardon my delay.” My voice was barely above a whisper, my heart racing, trying to avoid the land of her palm on my cheek.

What looked to me to be a daily routine of chores always was a sting to the flesh. I needed some rest and relax from the twenty hours daily rigorous chores I have been a subject to.

“Sorry for that stupid self,” she snapped. “Hurry up. I need you to visit the packhouse for a contracted gardening job tonight.”

“But…” The words hidden at the back of my clenched teeth as I couldn't let it on to what seemed to be an added agenda to how my day was always spent.

“......But what. You have no objection to my instructions.” Anita's voice dripped with mockery and disdain. 

I struggled to hold the fire of pain that had already ravaged deep inside me. My hands clenched to a fist, my knees almost submitting to the floor. 

“Madam Anita. I don't like the way you treat me. It isn't fair in any sense.” I said with the last ounce of bravery I possessed as I shot her with my already dewy eyes that I had been trying to hold.

What responded first was the imprint of her palms on my cheek. My light coloured cheek turned crimson.

“You idiot. After what I warned you, you still have the guts to throw words at me.”

What I could only hear was the ringing sound of my eardrum and the muffled words that escaped her lips. I couldn't help as my knees failed me, bringing me to the floor, my hands clenched at my chest to see if it was possible to wage the shattered hope I had left for a life of merriness.

“Now leave my site immediately before I pour the remaining furnace on you.” She exclaimed, her voice laced in anger.

“Not that you were ever better than my parents. You are nothing compared to them.” I murmured, but what I felt to be a consolidation to my soul turned to a nightmare as my words were loud enough to the hearing of Anita.

“What did you just say?” She asked in a commanding tone. Her face already turned pale from the anger that burned deep within her as the distance closed between us.

“Nothing.” I said

“You thought I didn't hear you.” She exclaimed with a bloody tone. The next was the pain that swirled through my nerves, bones and muscles as a heavy punch landed on my face.

When I realized it was reality was the first drop of blood to my feet. My hands immediately held my face to cover the injury as though it was therapy.

The pain only increased and shattered deep inside of me as her fingers deliberately swung down my arms after the impactful punch.

“Oohh! So sorry for that one. I needed to make it three punches. I know you would love more.” She said in a sarcastic and disdainful tone.

“Madam Anita. What did I ever do to you?” I asked as the first tears escaped my eyelids, streaming down my cheeks. My trembling hands grew sweaty as I clenched my already stained white gown.

“So you really want to know what you did wrong?” She asked in an uncanny tone. Her eyes widened in a playful surprise. 

“Yes ma'am. I have been serving you diligently but yet, I never seem to satisfy or make you happy.” My voice was already trembling from the fear that consumed deep inside of me.

“Oh darling! Come to mummy. Come hug me. I have been waiting for this for so long, the day you finally come out from this weak shell of yours and confront me.” She said in an unreadable but happy tone. “Hurry up darling, come on.” Her lips tugged in a warm smirk.

I moved closer towards her, closing the distance between us. My hands still trembling in fear as I reeled to the premonition of what will possibly happen–whether that of a good or a bad outcome.

“Rhea.” She called in a husky and whispering tone, her arms fluttered around my shoulders. “Now I need you to listen to me very attentively. You don't want to end as your parents did. You are nothing but air, so you better act like one before I trade your skin with the birds of the air–a place you belong.”

My shoulder lost a heavy shiver, my feet finding its balance to the ground below me as I tried to find myself in the nightmare I call a world.

“Now leave my presence at this very moment. Idiot!” Her tone was laced in irk and what looked like bitterness as she pushed me with much force to the floor. “And for your punishment. You won't put off those clothes you are wearing. You will use them for the gardening job tonight.”

I nodded without hesitating, holding the lump that had already filled my throat. I struggled not to give in to the cold hands of tears in her presence.

Anita. My guardian. A Beta of the Moonveil pack had made my life not worthwhile. After the death of my parents in what they say to be a car accident eighteen years ago, she had taken me in–only to strip me of my Beta title and force me into the duties of an omega. A slave to the pack.

A weak wolf. A servant. A burden.  

I had learned early that resistance meant pain. So I obeyed. Always.

As I made my way out of the laundry room. My hands trying to cover the blood that had already suffused all my face just to avoid questions from someone that had always been a thorn to my weak flesh.

A scoff came from behind. “Hey you! Come here, where have you been all this while.” It was Ria, “And why are you stained with blood?”

“It's nothing serious. Just a domestic accident.” I said. My eyes rested on the floor, avoiding my gaze from those dangerous eyes.

“Now you lie. You know you’re nothing but a liability to this house.” I felt her eyes looking at me in disdain. “Anyways, I don't care about those injuries. Just be mindful of your movements in this house and in the pack.” she warned.

I barely had the energy and time to look at Ria, Anita’s daughter, who shoved me hard. I stumbled, catching myself against the ceramic vase before I fell to the ground.

“I curse the day my mum ever brought you into this house,” she spat. “You disgust me. Pray for death and end this agony you call a life.”

I lifted my gaze to hers, my lips tugging in bitterness. “Thank you miss Ria, I acknowledge your advice,” I said, the sarcasm thinly veiled.

“Hold that to your dead parents. Thank your stars for not being dead yet.”

I turned immediately, avoiding her to see the pain that had already started suffusing on my face, swallowing the weak anger that ravaged deep inside me.

I had long since learned that wishing for kindness was pointless.