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Bloom’s POV

Montrose Pack. 21st Century.

Crash! Upon being pushed, I fell to the ground with a thud.

My life was a joke, I thought. Everything about it was a joke. For the umpteenth time, I wondered if I did anything wrong in my past life to deserve such unfair treatment in the current one.

My father was the Alpha of Montrose Pack, and he despised me for killing my mother, his mate. He blamed me for letting her die while giving birth to me. Simply put, he hated me because of something I couldn’t control.

And it wasn’t only him. Every day I was harassed and hated by the Pack. They bullied me and tossed me around like trash.

I came back to the present when I felt a hand grab my collar and pull to the extent that it began to choke me. Then, those large hands that sought to kill me dragged me to my feet.

I met the eyes of my attacker. His orange eyes bore into mine with anger and hatred that I shivered, fearing what he’d do next. It wasn’t as if this treatment was new to me. No, this was constant abuse that my father meted out on me for killing my mother. The beatings got more intense with each passing day.

“Papa,” I coughed out as I choked.

“How many,” his hand connected with my face in a slap, “times have I told you,” another slap, “never to call me that?”

The pain caused me to let out a scream. “Please.”

He stopped slapping me but didn’t let go of my collar. “Murderer! You murdered your mother, but you dare call me Papa?” He glared at me, the rim of his eyes brimming with anger.

As he tightened the hold on my collar, I felt my consciousness begin to slip away and began to claw at his hands. It didn’t so much as cause a budge.

Why did he hate me this much?

The expression on his face morphed into an ugly snarl as he spat, “You have no idea how much I want to kill you right now! But I won’t.” He let go of my collar, causing me to land hard on the pavement.

The ache in my hip intensified as the spot connected with the floor. I groaned in pain, tears prickling my eyes.

“Go work with the rest of the omegas. You don’t belong here!” He ordered.

Crying would make him even madder, so I bit my lips and held back my tears, then gingerly rose from the floor and dragged myself to my bedroom. I needed to shower and get dressed.

The beatings started when I was about five and have continued even for years after. My body, especially my throat, and hips, continually ached because of that. The most ironic part of my life was seeing how other alphas, who came over to visit, treated their daughters with love. It made me wonder if I was Alpha Raxon’s daughter.

I grew up thinking the way my father treated me was the same for every other female. I found that to be wrong when I saw the relationship of other alphas with their daughters. How they hugged and laughed with their daughters, things I never did with my father. I wasn’t allowed to kiss or touch him. Neither could I ask him for anything. I realized then that I meant absolutely nothing to him.

In the safety of my room, I allowed the tears in my eyes to fall as I walked into the bathroom and stepped into the safety of the shower.

I couldn’t be late to work, but I couldn’t help it as thoughts of my wretchedness overtook my mind. Thinking about my miserable life, I began to sob, the water from the shower blending with and hiding my tears. Even with the cool water cascading down my body, it did nothing to soothe me.

After what seemed like an eternity, I came out of the shower and with difficulty, wore my omega gown. It hung around my skinny body and flowed to the floor. The dull color of the dress was a testament to my life. Just as the gown was bleak, colorless, and unattractive, so was my life.

I looked into the mirror, staring at the girl with thick pepper-red hair that reached her waist, and emerald eyes held no happiness in them looking back at me. The freckles on my cheeks were more evident now since I had showered. At eighteen, I was 5’3, malnourished, and depressed.

I looked away from the mirror, packed my hair into a bun, and left my room.

The hall was bustling with omegas running back and forth, doing one chore or another. The other omegas gave out the brunch of their work for me to do, leaving them to handle little to nothing.

Walking briskly to avoid their wrath, I lost my footing and almost fell to the floor. My long gown caught on my leg, and as I adjusted it, I bumped into a figure and fell again to the ground.

A male voice began to apologize, “Are you okay? I’m so sorry.”

My head snapped upwards on hearing the unfamiliar voice.

The man had his hand stretched out to help me up. Is someone looking at me with even a hint of kindness? I wasted no time in taking his hand. As I stood up, I got a clearer view of his face: striking eyes that accentuated more striking lips. He had full eyebrows and a jawline that people would kill for. I had no idea who he was, but he looked like a noble. Even some omegas passing by were ogling him.

Remembering that I had no time to waste, I bowed, showing my thanks, and rushed past him.

He seemed taken aback by my reaction but said nothing and watched me go.

So long as he wasn’t mad at me, I was good to go.

I reached the wooden door open and rushed in. Before I knew what was happening, my back was on the floor. I cried out in pain as a leg pressed down on the sore spot on my hip as I tried to stand.

“Dear,” a cold female voice began, and a shudder escaped me. “Do you know how late you are?”

Of all the people I feared and hated, that voice belonged to the one at the top of the list. Cecily.

“Do you know how long we waited for you to get here? What did you keep us waiting, huh?” Pressing harder on my hip, Cecily asked. The other omegas in the room gathered closer.

Cecily bent low and gripped my chin, her nails piercing my skin. She lifted my head and sneered at me. “You almost made us receive punishment from the mistress of this place. Did you think you could come late and go scot-free?”

She stood upright and addressed the other omegas, “Beat her until she learns her lesson. Don’t stop beating her until she comes to kiss my feet.”

My heart jumped to my throat, and I scrambled to my knees and started to beg, “I’m sorry it won’t happen again.” I crawled, trying to get closer so I could kiss her feet.

I couldn’t get to her before the hard-hitting kicks landed on my body. The first kick sent me flying to my back, and I curled myself into a ball. Again, I got kicked in the waist. It became so unbearable that I screamed. My pain fueled them, and they laughed and continued their brutal attack.

They made it more difficult for me to move so I couldn’t get to Cecily. I could only cry. Every time I tried to move, they held me back and hit me more. I endured their beatings, listening to Cecily laugh.

She smirked as she sat on the bench like she was the queen of heaven. She pointed a finger at me and ordered, “Let her come.”

The omegas gave me one last kick and let me go.

I winced as I crawled toward Cecily, doing my best with the pain shooting through my body.

When I got to her and was about to kiss her feet, she stepped back, and her lips curved into a malicious smile.