Chapter 2

When I opened my eyes, it was pitch black. I wondered if the darkness finally took me, and I was out of existence.

The sound of water dripping from the kitchen tap brought me back to the realization that I was still at home. I stood up from the floor, staggering till I reached the light switch and turned it on.

Good lord. I had stayed at the same place where I collapsed earlier, without anyone offering a helping hand.

I headed to my room, my legs were heavy as I dragged myself up the stairs. It was a few minutes past midnight, I contemplated calling my best friend, Sandra and telling her what happened, but later changed my mind. I could still do that tomorrow.

I reached for a cotton wool and dabbed it in ointment. The wound was still evident on my face.

“Joey.” I hissed in an infuriated manner. “Wouldn't you at least help me heal?”

I got no response. Joey was my wolf. Since I got her, she was more like a toxic roommate living in my body.

“You're the one with the wounded body, not me.” She responded in a scornful manner. Never in my life would I have imagined that someone could have a quarrel with their wolf.

“Fine! Don't help me.” I said in annoyance.

“I won't.” She snapped and went back into her corner, where I couldn't feel her.

Joey hated me, because according to her, she couldn't cope with a fat body. She always whined and complained of how she was meant to be with an owner whose body reflected her strengths. She never stopped cursing the day she became my wolf.

I let out a desolate sigh and climbed into bed. I was a size 18 and was barely 5ft. I never bothered knowing my exact height, because everything about my body made me angry. I also hated myself. Born into a werewolf city where I didn't fit any of the beauty standards always made me feel like I didn't belong.

After trying to push away the pain of my dramatic breakup with Adrian, I fell into a deep sleep.

THE NEXT MORNING 

The sound of my alarm clock jolted me out of sleep. I grunted in annoyance. I felt like I needed a full day of sleep after yesterday's event.

After putting the curtain in place to allow the faint sunlight to slip into the room, I reached for my laptop. The device made its usual squeaky sound as I opened it. Parts of its metallic coating were rusted and the display screen had black color which blocked the upper view.

I kissed my teeth in annoyance as I waited for it to boot. It took almost an hour to switch on, after all, I had gotten it from a yard sale.

I rushed to my emails, eager to see if the college grants I applied for had been approved.

“Rejected.”

“Not approved.”

“Sorry to announce…”

“Unfortunately…”

Those were the subjects I read as soon as I opened my email box. I went through each of the emails. I had applied for different college grants and scholarships, and each of them were rejected.

“Oh goddess,” I sighed, wondering if my dreams of going to college would ever be possible. My mother cared less about me, instead, she gave all her attention to my stepsister, Angela. My stepfather had the money, but anytime I asked, he would give me conditions. I never got to know my father, my mother said that he left. All I had of him was a tiny photograph. I wondered if he would have treated me the same way the rest of the family treated me. I also wondered if it was possible to reconnect with him.

Left with no choice, I had to face Christian, my stepfather and try to ask him for college funding. If he turns me down this time, then there's no more hope for me.

I wore a long sleeved dress and headed out. Even when no one was looking, I felt like they were watching me. I pulled my sleeves, and fidgeted with the hem of my dress a couple of times. 

I headed to my stepfather's office. As the secretary saw me, she did her regular eye rolling, and the way she looked at me with contempt, I could tell that she didn't like me. I waited at her desk for a long time, and she kept clipping papers, adjusting staplers and doing unnecessary things.

“I'm here to see my father.” I repeated a second time.

“You mean your stepfather. Wait, I want to make sure there's enough space in the room.” She dragged out the word ‘space’. I knew what she was doing, but I kept my cool.

“You can go in.” She finally said.

I walked inside Christian's office, trying to bury the behaviour of the secretary. She had seen my mother treat me like trash anytime I came here, and she copied it.

He was on a call, and once he saw me, he dropped the phone.

“Dad, I…You've not said anything about my college fees.”

He furrowed his brows, allowing wrinkles to form on his forehead.

“I said something, but you refused to listen.”

I swallowed hard, knowing exactly where the conversation was leading. 

“I can't do that. You're my stepfather. I have dreams of going to college, you have to help me.” My eyes were stinging, threatening to become watery. He was my last resort.

He chuckled and rubbed his salt and pepper hair. “I also have dreams of sleeping with you.” He stood up from his chair and walked towards me, placing his hand on my thigh. I took a few steps backwards, causing his hand to fall off.

“This isn't right.”

“You're being stubborn. Just do this and I'd sponsor you through college.” He said, while licking his lips in the most disgusting manner. “I know others think you're fat, but I think you're more than enough to warm my bed.”

“Stop saying nonsense.” I snapped in a disgusted manner. “Infact, forget it.” I faced the door, ready to leave.

Before I could reach the doorknob, I felt his hand grab me roughly by the waist. He forced a kiss down my lips.

I bit into his lips, causing him to jerk his mouth away.

“What's wrong with you?” I shouted, too stunned that he could put up such an act. “Get your hands off me,” I tried hard to pull his hairy hands, but he only tightened his grip.

He covered my mouth and dragged me towards the table, flinging me on top of the table. My screams were muffled to nothing by his hand over my mouth.

“Joey,” I screamed inwardly. “Bring out your claws, just help me this one time.” My wolf didn't respond.

I was forced to use my human strength. There was an empty glass of wine on the table. As he gripped my dress, I grabbed the bottle and smashed it into his head. He let go of me, gripping his head with his hand. I hit him again, this time in his eyes. Some shards got into it and he screamed.

Did I really just do that? I reflected on my actions at the gory site of blood on his face.

He tried to go after me, but I used the period when his eye was shut to run away from the room.

The secretary looked at me with confusion, I didn't spare her a glance, and I ran as far as my legs could carry me.

I didn't even notice when I ran into the road and a car came speeding in my direction.