Chapter 2

"Are you looking for your favorite pearl bracelet?" Aurora's voice suddenly broke in, and my brows furrowed with a shudder of fright rushing through me.

I instantly knew something was wrong somewhere upon hearing her ask that question. If there was another person besides my father whom I dreaded so much, that would be Aurora.

Although she was brought into the pack as an Omega, there was something about her that sends chills down my spine each time her eyes locked with mine.

She hates me so much that all she did was to find a way to make my father hit me. Her loathing towards me seemed to be different from others, and just as everyone hated and despised me for what my birth caused, she seemed to hate me for something else, which I don't know about.

The rage that blazes in her eyes whenever she glare at me just appears so terrifying that I would always look away or find a way to leave her presence. She could be in her late thirties and I heard she was brought here a year before me. She was already becoming quite close to my father, who suddenly listens and consider her words important.

My greatest fear was my father might make her his second Luna as that would be a disaster for me. She would get all the authority to make my life more miserable. Is it really her plan to steal my father's heart and become the Luna?

But then, why does my presence stir rage and intense bitterness in her? Why is her resentment toward me engraved in the core of her heart that she never want me to have a reason to be happy? Where had I offended her?

The thought of all this made my heart race harder inside my chest in fear. It is all fishy and scary...

"Aurora, do you know the pearl bracelet whereabouts? I can't find it inside the cupboard where I kept it last night before going to visit my mate grave. Who took it? Ava?" Dad growled, calling my name at the end as the first suspect, which really panged my heart in the most painful way.

Why me?

"She was the last to leave your room last night after cleaning it. I was spying on her and clearly saw her take the bracelet away after she was done." Aurora replied, with certainty in her tone. She was stating it plainly that she saw me take the bracelet, which I didn't even see while cleaning the room.

Oh, God...

My hands became sweaty, shaking vehemently as panic coursed through me in such a rush that the ceramic cup I was holding slipped off and shattered on the floor.

What have I really done to Aurora?

Why did she come into this world to make my life more hellish than it was?

"God, why me?" I whimpered while trying to push back the sob forcing itself out of my lips. At the same time, the door of the kitchen was pushed open, causing my heart to skip a beat as I cringed.

I raised my gaze to the door and there he was.

My father was standing at the door, glaring at me with those green eyes filled with intense hatred and disgust for me.

My blood ran cold as I stared back at his face. Once again, I could see the resemblance between us and that made agony explode like bomb inside me. He was really my father, a man who should treat me as a princess. 

It was scary to see him hate me this much. It won't stop breaking my heart to pieces each time he hits me. I thought parents were meant to treat their children with great care, even when others hate and bully them.

"Where did you keep my bracelet? Go and get it now! I don't have the strength to talk to you." he snorted, his voice cold and filled with resentment that I could feel in every word he spoke.

"Please... please, I didn't take... anything..." My voice was wavering; my throat was blocked with a lump from the fear spreading through me.

Not only did he suspect me at the beginning, but Aurora had also mentioned that she saw me take the bracelet and that I was the last person to leave the room. He won't believe my denial.

"You aren't just a murderer, but now a thief and a liar? Go ahead and bring it now that I am all cool so I won't hit you, but if you keep being adamant and strong-headed, I might end up chopping off your empty head!" He snarled, his threatening voice instilling more fear inside me as I froze.

For the first time, I wish I was a thief and had really stolen it. That would be better, so I will go and get it now.

But I am being accused of something I don't know a single thing about.

"Look at me, murderer!" My father yelled, his voice emphasizing the murderer he just called me so well that it hurt me differently. 

He banged his fist on the counter in frustration, and that alone made my heart leap out of my chest, as I cringed so hard that I slipped and fell to the ground on my butt.

I quickly picked myself up and gathered the courage to look up at my father, who was sneering at me now, snorting in disgust at my face.

"You think I love beating you? You think it is funny to sit back and watch your life being messed up as everyone bullies and pours scorn on you. Even the low-key wolves slaps you for stepping on their toes?" He breathed, and my eyes widened at those words.

Does it mean I was wrong to think my father didn't feel for me?

Could it be that he just felt sorry for all I had been going through? Wait, let me get this straight.

Could it just be that after so many years of suffering and torment, my father was finally pitying me a bit?

That's exactly what his words now just insinuated.

"Dad, I am sorry for all I have put you through. I am so happy to hear you feel bad about my pain. It means a lot to me, and now I think you aren't the beast of a father I thought of. You really have a good heart. I..."

Slap!

Punch!

Kick!

It all came like a flash from my father, striking me till I was screaming my lungs out in sharp pain, rolling on the floor. He kicked my ribs so hard that it made a sickening crack.

I screeched and quaked, rolling away from him as I screamed more in great torment, clutching my belly while struggling to breath. 

The pain was so unbearable that I felt like life was leaving me.

So many years of torture, yet I hadn't gotten used to it. Every day, it hits differently in the most torturous way, leaving me wondering if I will survive.

"You cursed child. How would you ever think I feel bad seeing you in pain? Uh! Yuck! That disgusts me and my stomach grumbles in irritation! Fuck! I only feel bad to see you alive! I feel bad that no amount of beating can bring back my precious son and Luna, who you took their lives! monster! I feel so bad that I can't kill you with my bare hands!" He thundered, picking a ceramic cup from the rack and flinging it at me.

Luckily, I bent over and it hit the wall behind me, shattering into pieces.

"Dad, please..." I cried out as my entire body hurt like it was on fire. How did I think he would ever feel pity for me? So many years have passed, and instead of his hatred subsiding, it grows wildly.

"You are becoming smart! You dodged the attack?" He smirked and let out a croaking laugh that was taunting as hell.

"No... I..." 

My voice hitched inside my throat as I saw him pick up a knife.

"What do you want to do?" I gasped, shaking and dragging my weak body back, cowering in terror. He was already walking in my direction with a devilish smile.

"Since I can't kill you, I will keep torturing! Now will you go get the bracelet or watch me tear your skin bit by bit? " He threatened and stalked closer, like a predator who just sighted its prey..

Those pair of green eyes were darker now, and part of his long dark wavy hair had fallen over to the front, giving him a devilish appearance. He looked just like those bloodthirsty demons that haunt at night in horror movies.

But now wasn't the time to freak over some random horror movie I had watched in the past; it was happening for real, right in front of me. 

I am about to be stabbed and cut with a knife by a monster.

I kept dragging myself back till I was pushing myself over the wall, wishing it would open and swallow me.

"I swear I didn't take the bracelet. How do you think I will have the courage to steal? My life is too miserable. I am so scared of you! So, how can I steal your priceless bracelet? Aurora was lying!" I spluttered, breathing heavily as he finally got to me. The sharp, shiny edge of the blade reflected the rays of the sun on my face as he raised the knife to cut me.

My lips clamped in panic, sweat and tears soiling my face as my heart paused its beat.

What have I really done to deserve this torture?

"I swear, Alpha, I took nothing. You can search my room. What will I say so you believe me? Aurora is lying! I am innocent! You prefer listening to an Omega who you know nothing about than your daughter." I wept bitterly, feeling every ounce of strength leaving me. The hate in my father's eyes was like a storm waving violently to get me drowned.

"Liar! You are just a liar and a murderer. I rather listen and believe her words than you." Those were the last words I heard from him before my terror became reality. 

He swung the blade across my arm and it tore my sleeve, cutting into my skin.