Julie had suitors arriving tomorrow and I was tasked with cleaning the whole house so that it was presentable. I headed for my father's office even though I kept it impeccably clean. I was exhausted from the last several days of intense cleaning, but I couldn't stop now. The sound of laughter caught my attention. Walking towards me were Julie and my brothers Lucas, Jonah, and Zade.
"Oh, look who it is." Julie smiled, crossing her arms. I paused, the four of them in front of me. "God, everytime I see you, you become uglier and uglier." I took a slow breath, trying to stay calm. My heart betrayed me and I hoped that they couldn't hear it.
"You're not gonna say anything?" Lucas asked. My eyes flicked up to him. Lucas was the largest of my brothers when it came to height and muscle. He wasn't as intimidating as he used to be, but I still feared him. All three of my brothers had dark brown hair and brown eyes and they all had similar features. They were a year apart, but it was like they were all nearly twins. When I didn't say anything, he grabbed my throat and slammed me against the wall. I dropped my basket of cleaning supplies, keeping my hands down. If I raised them, even instinctively, he would make this experience worse. My eyes fluttered as my heart entered panic mode. "You should speak when spoken to." His voice was quiet as he moved his face uncomfortably close to mine.
"Oh, I forgot. The only things you're good for are cleaning and slipping that tight pussy around my rock hard dick." He grinned, pressing his hips against me. Tears began to burn my eyes, but I held them back. I kept my eyes locked on his because if I looked anywhere else, I would freak out. I was freaking out now, but I had a handle on it. "Tsk." He tightened his hand around my throat before throwing me to the floor. I fell to my hands and knees, stifling a pained gasp. Pain entered my ribs as I was kicked. I fell to my other side, sliding several feet across the floor. The next blow was to my face, pain exploding through my head and lights blinding me. I shielded my face with my arms and curled up into a ball.
"Awe, look at her. How pathetic." Julie giggled. "Come on. I'm hungry." I could hear them walking away and tears began to fall from my eyes.
"Oh, and Ren, I expect you to be waiting in my room later. I would like to relieve some… stress." Lucas called behind him. Once their footsteps disappeared, I pushed myself to my feet. Using the back of my hand, I wiped my nose. Lood clung to my skin, leaving me to sigh and sniffle. I picked up my cleaning basket and headed to my father's office. I closed the door behind me, my hands shaking. Once alone and secured in a room, I pressed my back against the wall and slid down to the floor. The room was dimly lit, but I didn't care. I needed a moment. I released the basket and wrapped my arms around my legs. Pressing my forehead against my knees, I took a moment to cry quietly. After a few minutes, something in the room shifted, making me look up. My eyes floated around the room before landing on a large frame sitting in a chair in front of my father's desk.
"Am I interrupting you?" His deep voice questioned softly. I inhaled sharply, standing and wiping my eyes before grabbing my basket.
"My apologies, sir." I tried to keep my voice leveled. "I didn't realize that you were there." I approached the desk, straightening a few items without looking at him. From my one glance at him from behind, I could tell that he was very muscular. Way more than Lucas.
"How did you not sense my presence?" He questioned, his deep voice rumbling through my body. I kept my back to him.
"I have a weak wolf. I am the embarrassment of the pack." I answered, remembering my father telling me this. He stood slowly, easily towering over me. My heart thudded in my chest.
"Look at me." His deep voice rumbled.
"I-I'm not allowed. I am sure that you wouldn't want to see how hideous I am." I stuttered, trying to stay calm.
"Look… at me." He repeated, more seriously. I was between a rock and a hard place. I either looked at this man and faced the wrath of my father or I didn't and faced the wrath of both of them. Feeling breathless, I turned slowly. I kept my eyes down, placing the basket on the desk. This man wore dress shoes and dark gray slacks. My body trembled violently as I waited. After a moment, he hooked a finger under my chink and pulled my face up to look at him. Shock flooded me when I saw his face. He had short, black hair that was nearly kept, and his face…. He had a strong jawline, one dark eye and one white one. He was beautiful. The most beautiful person I had ever seen. It was almost terrifying to see. A shiver clawed down my spine as I studied him. He was terrifying and he looked strong enough to stop a speeding train.
"Who did this to you?" His miss-matched eyes searched my face. Luckily, I did my makeup before leaving my room. He couldn't see all of the other bruises that covered my face. I didn't say anything. "Who?" He seemed angry to see the blood that slowly trailed down from my nose to my mouth and chin.
"N-no one. I-I did this to myself." I lied, tears burning my eyes. He looked at me for a long moment.
"Renley!" My father's voice boomed from outside the door. "Where is that useless girl?!"
"No one will ever hurt you again." The man told me in a deep voice. The door opened and my father and Julie walked in.
"Renley!" My father frowned. I pulled my face from the man's grip, lowered my head, and faced my father.
"Sir." I said respectfully. I wasn't allowed to call him father because he didn't want anyone to know.
"I apologize, Alpha King. This servant wasn't supposed to be in here." Father lightened his tone. "Here is my daughter. See how beautiful she is? Would you still like to discuss a deal?" Pain splintered through my heart as he flaunted Julie. Alpha King? The man moved forward, walking around Julie.
"Beautiful, yes." The Alpha King agreed. "But it seems she is pregnant with another wolf's pup. I will not marry such an unloyal slut of a female." I clenched my jaw to keep it from flopping open.
"It is also ill-advised to lie to the Alpha King. This one is not your daughter." The Alpha stated, standing in front of them.
"W-well, I adopted her!" Father came up with an excuse.
"And what about this one?" The Alpha came to my side.
"This one is definitely not my daughter! This lowly peasant will be coming with me to receive punishment for interrupting the Alpha King." Father grabbed my arm and yanked me along. When I tripped and fell to the floor, he turned and kicked me in the ribs, making me cry out and fall to my side. "Get up, you useless freak!" A deep, terrifying growl ripped through the air. I gasped, quickly getting to my feet and holding my ribs.
"You are correct. She is not your daughter and if you want to keep your deal, you will give her to me to marry." The Alpha ordered.
"M-marry? But she is weak. You wouldn't want a weak Luna." Father replied.
"A-and she's not a virgin! She has sex with her brothers all the time!" Julie added. "She's repulsive! Just look at her!" I looked down at my stained, oversized clothes. They were hand-me-downs and Julie and my brothers made sure they were ruined before giving them to me.
"I will marry her tonight. If anyone so much as blows a hair out of place on her head, I will see to it that this pack's reputation is destroyed." The Alpha King nearly growled. Julie and my father looked at each other.
"Yes, Alpha King." Father half bowed.
"Now, leave us." The Alpha demanded. They scurried out of the room and he stood in front of me. I avoided looking up at him, but he pulled my chin up. "As long as you are with me, you will be safe."
"But, Alpha King, I am ruined. I am no longer pure." I nearly whispered.
"They took from you things they had no right to take. You are not ruined." His deep voice was soft. "Now, bring me to your room. I will provide a security detail to keep you safe." He released my chin, but I continued to look up at him. He was really going to marry me. Was I actually safe with him? Or was he going to treat me like these people do? Not wanting to disobey, I turned and led him to my room.
"Go inside and get cleaned up. Someone will be out here to keep you safe." He instructed.
"Yes, Alpha King."
"To you, I am Kai." He said. I bowed and went into my room.