SOULLESS

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Anna sat with her mother and grandmother on one of the patios in the alphas residence. Her grandmother was visibly upset and refused to take anything to help her relax, while Luna Star tried to pacify her despite her own pain.

It hurt Anna deep inside that even after so many years, nothing had changed. Ari still stole all of the spotlight, and in the eyes of the two women in her family, there was no one more important than Ari, not even her. She was hurting both inside and out, yet these two women couldn't even see it. She was a pregnant luna, carrying a firstborn child of a powerful alpha. How could her existence be less significant in comparison to the wolfless daughter of her fathers beta.

Growing up, all Anna heard from her mother was to be like Ari and Cybele, talk like them, act properly like them, and do everything like them. It made Anna resent them both, but her resentment for Ari was greater because Ari was friendlier and more approachable than Cybele, and she influenced many pack members who respected her far more than Anna, who was seen as nothing more than the spoilt daughter of alpha Ramos.

Anna sat, sipping her green tea as she watched her mother reassuring Princess Nara that the situation would be sorted by Ramos, but the Princess kept responding with words like, 'nothing could salvage the situation' and 'Ricard has ruined everything', each time.

Anna felt like no one cared about her or respected her in her fathers pack. Even her own brother prioritised Ari over her and would often abandon her at home to hang out at the beta's house like a love sick puppy with Ari, Cybele, Ash, and Sinder Cybele was very reserved and intellectually sound which led to her becoming Annas tutor. This slowly led to the beginning of their friendship until they hecame each others confidants. This gave Anna the opportunity to cause conflict between the sisters, who slowly drifted apart without realising that a third party was at play.

When Cybele wept in Anna's arms and told her of Ricards intentions to remain with Ari, Anna took it upon herself to help her best friend to end the life of the thief who had not only stolen Anna's family's love but dared to steal Cybeles mate as well. Anna carefully executed her plan, and she nearly succeeded had Cybele not barged into the room and dragged Anna away from Ari at the very point Ari's heart monitor flat lined. Ricard and Sinder ran into the room shortly after and found them struggling with a pillow between them.

Anna, upon seeing the look on her brothers face, feared his retribution if he found out the truth. To save herself, she pinned the crime on Cybele, afterall it was her fault that the plan failed.

Doctor Frank came into the room just in time to save Ari from certain death and ushered them all out of the room. He questioned the four of them, but Anna changed her story to make it seem like she saved Ari from Cybele, and both began to argue on who entered the room first. The hospital visitations register was called for, and by a cruel twist of fate, it was discovered that Cybele arrived at the hospital before Anna. Cybeles' declaration of innocence fell upon deaf ears, but for some odd reason, Doctor Frank did not escalate the matter to alpha Ramos, instead he prevented the matter from leaving the room, citing that the visiting royals upon hearing of the matter would take Ari away. Ricard and Sinder threw harsh words at Cybele, branding her a killer; and she took all of their words silently, looking in Anna's direction. Anna looked back at her but did nothing to rectify or pacify the situation. The matter died in the hospital, and so did Cybele's friendship with Anna, Ricard, and Sinder.

Cybele barely spoke to Anna after that. Even the joy of the birth of the alphas first grand daughter wasn't enough to mend their relationship. Every attempt by Anna to interact with Cybele was met with a stoic expression that scared Anna. Their parents noticed the animousity between them but blamed it on the strained relationship between Ricard and Cybele.

The arrival of the raging howl pack brought Victor into Anna's life. Upon their first meeting, he rushed to her, grabbed her, and marked her without her consent in a room full of dignitaries, including her father. He apologised to her, blaming his actions on the mate bond. She should have seen that as a sign of the many troubles to come, but in her naivity, she believed him. Despite her fathers warnings, Anna decided to leave with her mate. She tried to talk with Cybele before her departure, but Cybele did not respond to her.

Anna left claws peak with high expectations and dreams that were quickly dashed upon her arrival. Victors pack was far different from her father's. The pack members did not smile, and she noticed that there were no women outside, only men. Victor introduced her to his mother, who welcomed her to the family.

That very night, despite her pleas; Victor ravished her, leaving bruises all over her. He apologised in the morning in tears, begging her not to leave him, blaming her beauty and the mate bond for his inability to restrain himself. She forgave him, and for a while, it seemed their relationship was going in the right direction, except Anna started noticing that Victor dictated how she lived. What she wore, where she went, who she saw, and how long she was permitted to be in a place. She was not allowed to train, not allowed to talk publicly amongst men despite being a luna.

When she challenged him on the subject, Victor changed completely and became physically abusive, and when Anna went to his mother for help, she blamed Anna for not being a submissive and obedient wife. Victor removed all of her access to communicate with the outside world. Isolated and alone, all Anna could do was endure until one solemn day Victor pushed her down a staircase because she insisted on visiting her family, causing her to miscarry. As always, Victor blamed the incident on Anna for intentionally angering him so she could kill their child in protest for not having her way.

His mother was livid and threatened to take the alpha position from him if he didn't learn to control himself. Victor stopped assaulting her publicly but tortured her when they were alone in the bedroom with knives and cigarettes, leaving cuts and burn marks all over her on her back anytime she resisted or challenged him publicly.

By the time she discovered she was pregnant again, she had become an old shadow of herself. She had become submissive because she realised life was easy for her as long as Victor was happy and Victor was happiest when she only did as she was told by him.

To the outside world, Victor gave the impression of being overprotective because of her pregnancy, but she knew it was because he didn't want them to find out the truth about the hell he had subjected her to.

It surprised her when he told her they would be attending her brothers wedding. He was really nice to her, the weeks leading up to their arrival back to her fathers pack. He took to saunas and shopping, buying the most expensive dresses for her.A few days before their departure, however, he laid down several rules, citing that she had nowhere to go and no one to protect her from him if she embarrassed him in anyway.

Being isolated for so long, Anna was not aware of the affairs in clawspeak. Upon arrival, she had planned to inform her parents about all she was going through and break her bond with Victor. However, upon witnessing the series of events since her arrival, she decided it would be better to endure her husbands faults and secure her child's birthright as alpha than live in a world where Ari's authority and revelance would surpass her own and her child's.

An omega walked in, carrying a wailing Oasis in her arms. 'Forgive me, Luna, for interrupting', she says, walking towards Star.

'She won't stop crying', the omega continues as Luna Star extends her arms to take the crying baby from her.

'She misses her mother', Luna Star responds, placing Oasis gently on her shoulder and patting her on the back to soothe her while the omega bowed and left. Oasis cried for a few more minutes before finally falling asleep on her grandmother's shoulders.

'She looks just like you did when you were a baby, Anna. I can't wait to carry your baby like this,' princess Nara says, smiling at her grand daughter. Anna looked up at the baby on her mother's shoulder and wished it was her child that was being cared for, knowing her mother wish would never come true.

In Victor's pack, male children were taken from their mothers immediately they stopped breastfeeding and were raised in a camp far away from their families until they they shifted. Needless to say, not all of the babies returned alive, but those who did were ruthless and loyal only to the alpha.

Tears spill as Anna is unable to hold back her tears at the thought of the life of hardship and pain her son would be subjected to, while her niece would live a life of affluence, comfort and love.

'Anna, what wrong?', her mother asked, surprised at her expression.

'It's just pregnancy hormones, mum,' Anna responded, cleaning her face.

'It is so good to have you back, my darling. I missed you so much when you were away', princess Nara stated.

'I missed you too, grandmother', Anna replied.

'I was worried about you when you chose to be with your mate. because of the dark history of his pack. I was worried about how it would affect your reputation and your future. But seeing how protective he his, I am glad I didn't come between you', princess Nara said.

'I don't understand you grandmother, what do you mean?' Anna asked.

'Victor's father was killed for treason by the king', princess Nara.

'What?', Anna exclaimed

'Didn't you know? It was the reason your father was angry with Victor for marking you', said Luna Star

'Dad never told me anything', Anna responded

'And Victor never mentioned it either?', Star asked

'I didn't believe it was necessary to dwell on my fathers mistake. I preferred to look ahead to a brighter future with my mate. Hence, I never told Anna" said Victor as he strode unto the balcony.

The hairs on Anna's back rose in fear at the sound of Victor's voice. The thought of the punishment she was sure awaited ber because of this conversation, which her mate had walked into made her hand shake uncontrollably, causing the cup in her hand to fall and shatter

'Anna, what is it? Is the baby kicking you hard again?'Victor asked, running to her side, daring her to say otherwise with the look on his face. Anna nodded her head in fear.

'Forgive me, Luna Star and princess Nara. My mate is in need of my attention; we will retire to our bedroom so she can rest.' Victor said.

'It's alright, my husband was equally as protective when I was pregnant with my children', Star responded

'Rest well Anna, I would like for you to join us tonight for dinner, we haven't spent enough time together since you arrived and I want that to change', Star said her daughter.

'Yes, mother', Anna responded as she was scooped up by her mate and carried away.

'Star, have you noticed anything strange about Anna since she arrived?' princess Nara asked.

'She's been unusually quiet and distant. but so was I during both my pregnancies, I couldn't stand the company of anyone else except Ramos and he built mini offices in almost every room in the house so he could always be by my side.' Star continued

'I remember. It felt wonderful watching the children grow up together and play together. Those were the happy times in Claws Peak', princess Nara responded, chuckling.

'I pray fervently for the return of those happy days to claws peak, mother', Star said to princess Nara who only sighed in response.