Penelope's POV
"AAAAAAAAAAAAH! ! ! ."
"What's wrong with you, Penelope? If you don't want to sleep, go to fucking hell!"
Sweating and gasping, I apologized in bed: "I'm sorry... I just...had a nightmare."
Emma cursed a few words outside before storming away. I sat in bed, gasping for oxygen, unable to hear her since I had just had a dream about dying the day Scott cornered me in the garden. I've had a fever for the past few days. Worse, even after all these days, I can hear Scott whispering in my ear, like the Devil in my dreams.
When Scott trapped me in the garden, just as I thought I was about to die, the pressure suddenly eased, and I heard Scott let out a loud howl.
"Aah! ! !" Scott let out a terrible wail.
I opened my eyes, only to find that Austin appeared out of nowhere, standing between me and Scott.
Austin Woods, my stepbrother, dressed casually, appeared to have recently left the house. He glanced down at me, nude and curled up on the floor like a shrimp.
"Do you see why you are a disgrace to the Woods family? Penelope Fanning?"
As soon as his words fell, my tears gushed up, not because of gratitude but sadness. Penelope fanning... Following my mother's second marriage, I was originally known as Penelope Woods. These years, my stepbrother Austin was the only person who still called me Fanning.
He called me this just because he didn't want to admit that I was part of the Woods family.
"You can't even get away from a low wolf, let alone battle him. Who do you consider to be a member of Woods? Penelope Fanning."
"I, I tried. . ." I tried to escape, I wanted to say.
"You're trying to cry, aren't you? With your weak tears? Huh?" Austin smiled and cut me off icily. He withdrew his gaze and walked over to Scott.
Scott tried hard to stop rolling and stand up, but Austin stomped him back to the ground again without effort.
"How dare you? A lone wolf dares to challenge our woods? Fuck off!"
"Ah!" Scott yelled again, but he didn't waste time. He jumped to his feet without even putting on his clothing and bolted like a stray dog with its tail between its legs.
"Are you going to lie there until the next rapist comes?"
Austin's voice was so cold, like heavy metal, that I temporarily forgot my dread and misery. I got up and started cleaning up right away. Yes, I was more terrified of Austin than Charles in this household.
Austin was born Alpha, and I had never seen anyone more Alpha-ready than him. Just one look from him gave me chills. Despite being just twenty years old, he was as tall and strong as my stepfather, Charles Woods. In addition, his strength and speed were still increasing.
This meant he'd overtake Charles.
I fumbled in my pants, only to discover that Austin had left at some time.
Boom!
There was another clap of thunder in the sky, and the rain finally fell.
Ticktock, ticktock...
Bean-sized droplets began to sizzle on the ground. The place was empty, cloudless, windless, and silent, except for me. If it weren't for the burning pain in my wound, I'd think it was all a dream, but I know it could only be a nightmare.
This nightmare had been bugging me for several days and did not appear to be getting any better.
I unlocked the phone next to my bed and found that Mia had texted me several times.
[The ball is at Hotel Versailles, Penelope. Have you purchased a dress yet?
[Are you okay, Penelope? Why aren't you responding to my texts? I am worried about you.
[Where have you been these past few days, Penelope?]? Please get back to me if you hear from me.
Could Mia have thrown me under the bus?
Yes, it was her, said a voice of reason in my heart, but I jerked my head and attempted to push it away.
It could not be Mia.
If I lost Mia, I would be without my final friend. Nobody in the world loved me anymore, save Mia, so even if it was a phony love, I would accept it.
So it couldn't have been Mia.
I clicked "Send" while shaking. When the message was successfully sent, an unexpected error appeared on the screen.
I looked up to see what had happened, and I realized they were only my own tears.
Was it wrong to hate yourself alone? Was it wrong to want someone to love me? I was not weak. Austin's words were wrong. I consoled myself; I just... I just valued friendship. I simply cherished what I have.
I lay down and closed my eyes again, falling asleep with my tears.
The next morning, I packed my luggage and prepared to go to school. When I walked downstairs, I was shocked to see Austin eating breakfast at the kitchen table, as it was unusual for him to be early for practice or school.
For two seconds, I gave him an uneasy face as I remembered how I had sobbed in front of him while entirely naked and without self-respect. I wanted to hide in my room, but I knew I had to go to school today, so I had to bite the bullet and carry on, like no one was there.
"So Emma tells me your prom is coming up, right?" As I passed Austin, he said something abruptly.
I paused and looked around. No one was present.
I was astounded. Has Austin spoken to me?
"Did you give the teacher back the manners you learned at school?" Austin used his index finger to touch the table. I took a close glance up and saw he was merely looking at me expectantly, so I quickly diverted my eyes from his cold gaze and replied in a mosquito-sized voice, "Yes."
Austin stopped beating on the table, speechless.
I lowered my head sheepishly like a disobedient child, involuntarily biting the flesh on my lips, and realized Austin had asked me two questions, but I had only answered one, so I hastily replied, "I mean, yes, the prom is coming."
"Don't be there." Austin cut me off with a harsh tone, like he loathed me to death.
In the past, I would have replied yes, but now I was so overtaken with loathing that all I could do was look at him and ask, "Why?"
Austin was actually very attractive, with blond hair and blue eyes, like a television star. I knew all the girls in the Dark Wood Pack admired him and wanted to be his mate, but I was the exception—if you've ever been looked down on by those icy, malicious eyes, you may be the next one.
Austin seemed dissatisfied with my response. He sprang up and walked over to me abruptly. I was astonished and tried to muster all of my body's strength and fortitude to allow myself to stand in place rather than retreating.
"How's Scott's cock?" It was a whisper, but it was loud enough to be audible and embarrassing enough for me.
My face reddened, and I glanced at Austin, disbelieving and genuinely insulted.
"You..." you bastard. I wanted to shoot back.
"Look," Austin interrupted, sneering at the corners of his mouth, "all you can do is cry and beg?" That is why I do not want Penelope Fanning to go out in public. You are a shame. You will only embarrass our family."
Austin moved his attention from my eyes to my neck. He appeared to see something and was forced to squint, but it happened so quickly that I didn't have time to consider it before he went.
I watched him leave, fighting back tears even though the humiliation made it difficult to breathe. To be honest, Emma picked on me far more than Austin did, but Austin always made me feel like a worthless deserter. I tightened my fists by my sides.
I would get out of here.
Soon.