Chapter 1
1941 Words
Isabella's POV
A loud sound echoed in the silent kitchen followed by the sting on my cheek. My head turned to the side because of the force she used to slap me.
I took a deep breath and bit on my lower lip to control a whimper which was about to escape from my mouth.
“How dare you bitch? How can you lie to me” my aunt, Lauren asked me through gritted teeth.
“ I am not lying aunt, I am telling you the truth. I didn’t take any money from your room. It was Delia who….” My words died down in my throat when her hand again collided with my cheek.
Tears sting the back of my eyes because of pain but I didn’t let them fall.
“you are saying my daughter is lying to me huh? She doesn’t need to steal money from me. She can just ask me and I will give it to her. She knows it well” Aunty seethed.
I know there is no use in explaining it to her. She will never believe me over her daughter, Delia.
I am sure Delia, my cousin did it on purpose. She loves to make my life a hell. I don’t know why she hates me so much.
“Aren’t you going to apologize?” she asked me in a tone which told me I have no option but to say sorry.
My hands curled into fist and anger started building inside me. I shut my eyes tightly trying to force the words out of my mouth when a voice called me.
“Bella” I heard my cousin call me and opened my eyes to look at him.
A look of concern is plastered on his face as he entered in the kitchen.
“what’s happening here? Why are you telling her to apologize mom?” Damien, Delia’s twin brother asked.
“This ungrateful ugly bitch stole money from me and is refusing to accept her mistake. And look at her guts she dared to put the blame on my innocent daughter” Aunt narrated the whole story to him.
All this time I kept looking down.
I heard Damien sigh loudly. I could feel his gaze on me but didn’t look up.
“ it’s not her fault, I took the money” Damien said causing me to look up at him with wide eyes.
“Wh… what you? Why?” Aunt asked him in disbelief.
“ I left my wallet at Adam’s place yesterday and needed money urgently. I took it from your room and was going to tell you but it slipped my mind, sorry Mom” he said and pulled his wallet from his pocket.
“here…” he pulled out some money to give her.
“You don’t need to return it son. Whatever I have is yours and Delia’s.” Aunt said gently and left the kitchen without sparing me another glance.
“Are you okay?” Damien asked me softly while caressing my cheek where aunt just slapped me twice.
“I am fine. Thank you” I replied, genuinely feeling grateful to him.
“You didn’t take that money, did you?” I questioned, already knowing that he lied. In this house, he is the only one who cares for me.
“I will definitely scold Delia for this. She went too far” he hissed.
“don’t do that. It’s alright” I said.
It is not alright.
But I don’t want their relationship to get ruined because of me.
He shook his head at my words.
“Need help?” he asked changing the subject, motioning towards the half chopped vegetables.
Before aunt came in I was preparing lunch for them.
“No, I can handle it. Go and get some rest. You had a night shift yesterday and you have to go back to work again” I told him.
“Then I will go. I am very tired. Just call me if Delia does something again” he said and left the kitchen after hearing a yes from me.
I sighed and again got busy with my work.
This is my life.
I am Isabella Jones, I just turned twenty, two weeks ago.
I live with my uncle, Aunt and two cousins.
My father, who was an warrior of this pack left me in their care before dying. He was met in an accident and before dying, he asked his sister, Lauren to take care of me.
She did give me a place to live and food to eat but I was never a family member to her or anyone in this family except for Damien. For them I am just a maid and a burden.
At first I didn’t know why they treat me like this but one day I got my answer, and it broke my heart into pieces.
Since that day, I am bearing all of their harsh treatment silently as I have no place to go.
And leaving this pack is not an option. I don’t know if I can live like a rogue. Living in fear of dying each day.
It is a worst kind of hell a werewolf can go through, and I have no intention of going in that hell willingly. But it doesn’t mean that I am going to live here like this.
No, I have plans. Just few more days and I will be free from this miserable life.
…..
“Wow, Bella you are looking beautiful” I blushed when I heard Damien’s words.
It is very rare when someone compliments me. A smile formed on my lips but it was short lived as I hear Aunt and Delia laugh.
“Mom, have you ever heard that an ugly duckling can look beautiful” Delia asked.
“never” Aunt answered and they laughed again.
I don’t remember when was the last time Delia called me by my name. She always calls me ugly duckling. I know I am not beautiful. I am just an average woman.
But still whenever they make fun of my looks like this, it hurts.
“Delia, stop this” Damien yelled at her. I can clearly see anger written all over his face. He doesn’t like whenever Delia and her friends make fun of me.
Delia stopped her laughing and glared at me.
“You are yelling at your sister for that ugly bitch” Aunt asked Damien. Disappointment clearly visible on her face.
Aunt doesn’t like when he takes my side.
“I am taking Bella with me. You guys can come when Dad gets here” Damien said, held my hand and started walking. I heard Delia and Aunt curse but Damien didn’t stop.
We settled inside his car.
He inhaled deeply to control his anger.
“Calm down Dem, I am fine” I said.
He looked at me and his eyes softened.
“Don’t pay attention to what they say. You are beautiful Bella, always remember that” he said the same words my father used to say to me.
When I was young I used to get bullied by high rank wolves in school.
At that time my father always used to say, 'you are not weak Bella, neither you are ugly. You are strong and beautiful, always remember that'.
I smiled at Damien and nodded my head, “ I know. Now let’s go, I am excited to go to pack house” I said. He chuckled at my words and started the car.
We don’t live in pack house. Uncle has his own house at twenty minutes driving distance from pack house. Uncle John is a respected member of the pack. He has his own business. He is quite rich.
Today there is a ceremony in the pack house. Today our new Alpha is going to take over. I have seen him few times when I was is middle school but after that I never got to meet him.
I heard he is very handsome but a very big Playboy.
Everyone in the pack is invited for the ceremony. That is why we are heading there. I am curious to see the new Alpha. I don’t know why but I am feeling excited at the thought of meeting him.
“I hope you find your mate today” I heard Damien’s voice. Since entire pack is going to be present in the pack house, it is possible.
I smiled at the thought of meeting my mate. Like every other werewolf out there, I also want to meet my mate.
Ever since my father’s death I always felt lonely.
I have been craving for love and want to have a family of my own.
Damien was always there for me but still I always wished for finding my mate and create my own family with him and always be happy.
It is like a dream for me.
A dream I am desperately waiting to become a reality.
It is like a blessing for every wolf to find their fated mate.
But only if I knew, moon goddess has different plan. Only if I knew that moon goddess hated me to the extent that she will turn this beautiful blessing to a curse for me.
A curse which will shatter my innocent dream.
…
We reached the pack house half an hour ago. Damien went to his friends after I met my friend Becca.
Becca is my only friend and my best friend. She is an omega who lives in pack house. We were in the same school. Becca is a beautiful and bubbly woman.
She introduced me to some of her friends from the pack house and I am enjoying my time here with them.
I also wanted to shift in the pack house after my eighteenth birthday but I changed my mind after Becca told me the kind of things happen there to Omegas and low rank wolf.
I can bear anything but if anyone try to molest me or touch me, I can’t bear it at all. That is why I couldn’t leave my aunt’s house.
Getting treated as maid is better than getting harassed and treated as punching bag for all the high rank wolves.
“Do you know Emma found her mate some time ago” one of the woman Becca just introduced me said.
“Really, it’s great” I heard another woman say.
I wish I could also find my mate today.
Our conversation was interrupted when someone announced from the stage, “guys it’s time for the ceremony”.
The entire place fell silent.
I looked in the direction of stage along with everyone. Three elders are standing there along with the previous Alpha and Luna.
“I would like to request future Alpha Zain to come to the stage so we can start the ceremony.” The Elder said.
A very handsome man walked on the stage causing my breath to hitch.
A very alluring scent hit my nostrils and my wolf started jumping around in my head.
A weird feeling started creeping inside me. I couldn’t look away from the man who is going to become the Alpha of the pack.
Suddenly he stopped in his tracks and his eyes roamed around in the crowd, as if searching for someone. His eyes stopped on me and my heart fluttered when my gaze locked with his.
A feeling of happiness covered my insides and my lips curled up in a smile when I heard my wolf say in my head,
'Mate'
- Writer
