Chapter 3: 6 Years Later

Sierras POV

Running away in my mind has always been my go-to thing. When something becomes tough, I go into a dreamland state. It's my version of a world where I don't have to come out because everything is beautiful. Peaceful even.

It's been 6 years and 3 weeks since my heart shattered into what felt like a million pieces. I never got the nerve to ask to go to any Galas because deep down I already knew that the answer would be a physical no.

In a way, I already knew that I didn't stand any chance of getting a second true love because I'm an Omega. Those few words about rejection, uselessness and power get drilled into you from a young age when your in a class like mine.

I'm not powerful and the rejection would only kill me this time if I ever went toe to toe with another mate that didn't want me.

"Dreamy-" Marta says as she stands with her bucket and cleaning products.

I nod my head which is my way of saying "Yes."

"Tonight my dear is the annual ball and for some bizarre reason, Alpha Zade wants you to clean the Alpha's room of the Crescent moon Pack." She says and then looks over her shoulder to where some others are standing by. They aren't too close to the heart but we have good hearing as wolves. Over the last year or two, my bruises and scars have become more apparent because Alpha Zade and his friends don't know when to stop and my wolf retreats a little. The pain becomes intense and sometimes I can't walk. I never complain ... not even to myself because I know as well as everyone else does ... I won't talk. They think I can't but if I even tried now I don't think my vocal cords could hack the intensity of it.

I nod my head when she turns back to show her that I am still listening.

We don't get many visitors but the ones we do get are always high-profile' Alpha's that pay no mind to the things that happen here.

"-The thing is, he's not like other Alpha's Sierra" she says and it takes me a moment to digest the fact that she called me by my name and not a nickname she's come up with. I sign the words for "What do you mean?" And because she's always one step ahead of me and knows sign language and has done for decades is because he son's deaf too, she signs back a sentence that terrifies me to the bones.

"Alpha Nikolai is not someone to mess with child! He will not tolerate incompetence and will only accept the best of everything. I have prepared everything for you and he will be here later on ready for the ball. You are to clean now and make it pristine, and then when the ball is in full swing, you are to go back in and make sure everything is up to the standards he has! Other wise he won't be happy and it will be you who pays the price"

And so I do. I head up the stairs on shaky legs and I get to work.

4 hours pass by before I sneak down to the basement to grab a few essentials that I managed to sneak in and then I head to my safe space and do what need to do before I go back at 7 tonight to finish cleaning.

The last thing I need is another belt slash to my ribs or back or to be locked without daylight and good for another week.

The shiver runs down my spine when I think about the last time I got locked down there.

Pain.

I could feel the pain of the cold biting at my skin. Aching to just give up but I knew if I gave up then I would be giving them exactly what they want ... wouldn't I? I'd be giving them their freedom from me so me fighting and staying alive no matter how hard to body and heart protested I did exactly that. I didn't give up I gave in to the urge to fight for that control. The control that slipped once I was back out and in my little cell again.

I remember so vividly how I silently cried. Uselessly begging for one of the guards who kept staring at me funnily to understand sign language, who would listen to what it was that I was trying to say but they didn't they simply laughed and gave me hell.

I don't realise how quickly this shower had gone until I realised I was drying off with a dirty towel.

Speaking into my own mind for my wolf I realise now she is the only person on this planet who cares for me and loves me the way I always wanted to be loved.

'Mina, what are the chances of escaping this place?'

'Slim to none. You ache every day do you really think we could shift so quickly and quietly that they wouldn't notice?'

'It's worth a try thought right? I mean, I've shifted before'

Silence.

Then the truth.

'That was before your body took every ounce of male strength to it. I'm surprised they haven't felt guilty and stopped' and she knows as well as I do, that they won't because why should they?

'Today's split lip is what I get for not being quick enough Mina. I've got to do better' I rush out. Penelope, Rosie's best friend and also one of the worst, gave me a nice split lip.

Why?

Because I looked her way for a brief second and it showed my disrespect.

I could have actually laughed at it all. But I didn't because I'm too tired.

Today I'm too tired to care. To try.

Reaching the pack house once more I head straight for the basement and pull out the small package that holds my most valuable possessions.

A few pictures of me, my Mom and Dad. Some of the pictures are worn out, tear-stained and the usual wear and tear but they are still standing. It's like they are looking down on me and showing me a guided way to survive this.

"Upstairs. Go clean" Zade says as he vanishes into the hall. The pack house isn't big. I presume there are about 200 people that live here. That's counting the Alpha and his crew too. It's a small pack and not very well known either.

Heading upstairs, my breathing hard and fast I race towards what must be time. Looking at the overhead clock I see that it's well into the Gala now and I really do not want to bump into anyone here.

But my body hurts.

My bones feel like they are seconds away from collapsing completely.

What's five minutes' rest going to do?

"It's rude to just walk in here little wolf..." a male's voice quietly says. It's pitch black in here besides the moon out the window.

"- I-I'm so sorry sir. I didn't think anyone would be in here" I sign and why the heck would I do that? It's dark in here and it's frightening too.

That's what five minutes can do.

It can scare the shit out of me.