Rooming With the Grumpy Biker Alpha

Chapter 006

LAYLA’S POV

The first time my dad hit me was six months after my mum died. I was seven. On my birthday, actually.

Amber wanted to blow out my candles with me but when I said no, she tried to wreck the cake, and I pushed her away. Not even hard but just enough to get her off it.

But of course, that wasn’t how it got told. Ginny was already in his ear before I could even open my mouth, making it sound like I’d attacked her or something. And Dad didn’t ask for my side. He never asked. He just turned and slapped me.

Maybe that’s why I remember it so clearly. I was still trying to get used to the fact that my mum was gone, still waking up some mornings half-expecting to see her. That little birthday thing? It was supposed to help. Instead, Ginny and Amber managed to ruin that too.

The funny thing is, before they came, Dad sat me down and said he was bringing Ginny into the family because I needed a mother, someone to take care of me.

I don’t know what version of Ginny he was talking about, because it’s not the one I got. She’s never been that, not even once. And now, she’s managed to take the one thing that actually matters to me.

It’s been five days and Dad has made it clear he won’t pay my tuition, no matter what. Resumption is in two days and without a deposit, I can’t secure a dorm room. And honestly… staying off-campus isn’t an option. I can’t afford it. I can’t even afford the tuition, so what’s the point of a dorm anyway?

Tears slip down my cheeks as I kneel in front of his study door. It’s closed, but he’s inside.

“Dad… please,” I choke out, my lips trembling. “Please forgive me… please.”

Like the past thirty minutes I’ve been here, he doesn’t answer and the door stays shut. I think about walking in, but only Amber—his precious girl, currently off on her honeymoon with Colt—gets to do that whenever she likes.

“I’m your daughter,” I force out, clutching my chest as it aches. “I—please… I’ve done everything I can… I’m begging you… don’t turn your back on me… I can’t do this without you…”

The door swings open before I can finish and he looms over me, his eyes blazing with anger as he looks down. This has been our routine for days now: I beg, he comes out when he wants, and I’m sent to my room with the same warning, not to bother him again.

“You’ve been out here for thirty minutes,” he says flatly and steps back. “Go to your room or I’d disown you properly so people know you’re not my daughter, or a member of this family.”

Tears burn down my cheeks, something hot clawing up my throat.

“Is it that easy?” My voice comes out smaller than I want it to. “To just… decide I’m not yours anymore?”

“I should have known you’d turn out like this when your mother died.” He shakes his head and the regret in his eyes isn’t for her, it’s for himself. “You hit my wife, you embarrassed this family in front of everyone and now you’re on your knees crying? Your mother would be ashamed of what you’ve become.”

I bite the inside of my cheek so hard and my fingers dig into my thighs. I tell myself to stay quiet, to keep begging and not ruin this.

But I can’t anymore.

“Why?” I ask. “Amber is not even yours by blood.” My chest heaves. “I am. I’m the one who came from you, who has your name, who lost the same person you lost and you treat her like she hung the moon while I’m out here on my knees begging.”

He goes very still.

“What does she have that I don’t?” My voice breaks but I don’t stop. “She’s not your blood and she gets everything. I am and I get nothing. Not love, not support, and not even the chance to graduate. Tell me what that means. Tell me what I am to you if your own flesh and blood means less to you than her.”

He’s quiet for a long moment, long enough that I almost think he won’t answer at all.

“Amber never embarrassed me.” He finally responds, fixing me a stern look. “Instead, she’s the reason I’m about to be appointed as a pack official. What have you done for this family? Have you earned your place?”

I stare at him.

So this is it. This is why I’m treated like a rag. Because I lost Colt and Amber won him over? He doesn’t even try to sugarcoat it.

“My place.” I repeat it slowly. “I have to earn a place in my own family?”

“You have to earn respect.” He straightens. “Like everyone else.”

“I’ve been earning it since I was seven.” I retort. “Since the day you slapped me at my own birthday party for something I didn’t do. I’ve been trying to earn something you never planned to give me.” I shake my head, pushing to my feet. “I’m sure Mom hates you for how you treat me. Or maybe… I really am not your daughter.”

He inhales sharply.

“Go to your room.” He orders. “Now!”

I turn before he can see my face break and I make it two steps into my room before my legs stop cooperating.

I slide down against the door and sit on the floor, and the crying that comes out doesn’t sound like me. My shoulders shakes with sobs as everything I’ve been holding back claws its way out. My chest feels tight, like it’s pushing against my ribs, making it hard to breathe.

[Layla, you’ve been crying for twenty-three minutes. Get off the floor, tears won’t pay your tuition. We should find another way.] My wolf interrupts.

“Another way?” I gasp between sobs. “We can’t raise forty thousand dollars in two days. You know that’s impossible.”

[The Werewolf Council. This is abuse and exactly what they exist for. Call them or let me out and I’ll take his leg. Your choice, but decide fast.]

I lift my head, my eyes narrowing on my phone on the bed. Sniffling, my thoughts spin faster than I can keep up with. Could the Werewolf Council actually help me? Does this even fall under the cases they handle?

[Call them now before you talk yourself out of it.]

Sniffling, and with my vision still blurry, I push myself to my feet and grab my phone from the bed. I flip it open, staring at the little screen for a few seconds. Just as I’m about to dial the Werewolf Council hotline, a call pops up and I stiffen.

“Hello? Who’s this?”

There’s a brief pause. “You seriously didn’t save my number?” Edward’s voice floats through the speaker, and I almost roll my eyes, sinking back onto the bed. “Really, glasses?”