Chapter 1 - Mari

A year ago...

I had run up the stairs of the house as fast as my legs would carry me, my chest burning from the exertion, knowing that he would be not far behind. If he were to catch me, it would be catastrophic...

But, the second I was inside of my room, I slammed the door shut, praying to the moon goddess and any other available god that I was now safe, and I reached for the lock as I leaned my bruised, aching body against the heavy wood of my bedroom door tryign hard to catch my breath.

With a slight flick of my wrist the door was locked, and I turned to place my back against the firm wood, and slowly slid my frail body along the wood as my body collapsed under me now that I knew that I was safe. Tears spilling from my eyes. Another day of the same thing. Another day of being punished for something I had no control over…

My breathing was erratic as I sobbed. And I waited. Simply waited… For I knew it was coming… This was a sequence that was played over so frequently within my day to day life I could do it on repeat with no need to be present. I knew every thing that would occur, my father was so predictable...

And, just as I knew, it would, it came. Boom. Boom. Boom! There was a hammering on the other side of my door. An angry fist thumping at the heavy wood of my bedroom door. The only thing keeping me safe right now. I reached my hand out to my bed, gripping hold of my pillow as I sretched to reach it. Covering my face with it in order to hide the sounds of my tears, for I knew they only further angered the man on the other side of the door.

The fists slammed into the door once again. Harder this time. Boom. Boom. Boom! “Get back out here, I have not finished with you!” My father yelled angrily. “I did not dismiss you, Mari. Did I say you could walk away? Or should I say run away. Running away like the pathetic and useless piece of shit you are. No daughter of mine. A fucking Beta's daughter? I don't think so. A Beta's daughter would have some damn courage. Where was your courage when you scuttle of all fear and trepidation, huh? Fucking pathetic. That is what you are.”

Fear? He was not wrong. My body trembled in fear. Had done the moment he had begun his rant at me. All over me making his drink incorrectly. And right now, hearing the angry tone of his voice, no matter how many times he may demand it, I had no intention of opening my door to him. I would sit behind the door as long as it took, and could only hope that my brother would be home soon. My Dad would leave me alone then…

I buried my face deeper into the pillow resting upon my knees. My tears being absorbed by the soft fabric. This was a normal day for me. Shocking really, for a daughter of a pack Beta, right? A man you would expect to be an upstanding and decent guy. Well, to everyone else he certainly maintained that façade. But to me… well, I saw the other side of him… and far too often unfortunately. Finding even the slightest fault in the things that I do... giving him the slightest reasoning for becoming angry... and then I was made to suffer...

The suffering was all his way of punishing me. Not for what I did that day. I knew that. I had always known that. No. He was punishing me for something that I had no control over, But, sadly, it was something he would forever hold me accountable for. And, due to that, I would continue to suffer. And that something, was the loss of his mate. Something that could break a werewolf. And it had most certainly broken my father. Or changed him in the least. He had gone from a loving, fun and carefree man, from what I can gather to the withdrawn and introverted man he was now. And I was the cause… or so he said.

And, from a young age, I had been punished for that. Day in, and day out. It was not a life I cherished. And I could not wait until I came of age, and was able to make my escape.

“Do you not hear me, Mari? You know I do not like to be ignored. Perhaps we should looks at doubling your chores as a punishment. So you will show me the respect I fucking deserve and fucking answer me!” My Dad roared through the door, before punching it so hard it shuddered behind me, making a fresh flood of tears spill from my eyes, my arms tightening around the pillow in front of me as I gripped it tightly. I wished I was anywhere but here. I wished there was a way to escape...

I hated this man. A man I should love. My father. Anger lingered within my veins because of him, but the fear was overwhelming, and that became too much. That fear was the consuming emotion that controlled me. Controlled my every action. I knew what this man was capable of. The threats he made… the things he could do… the things that would happen to my brother if I mention any of this… so, instead, I remain silent. Doing as he demands. Allowing him to treat me like a lowly omega. Talking down to me. Criticising me. Treating me like a personal slave. Verbally abusing me... Just silently waiting for the day I come of age. The day I gain my wolf, and the day I can make my plans to escape this hell…