Chapter 1 Chapter 1

“Where were you all night you whore didn't you know you have much work to do?

Aunty Rebecca slapped me hard on my face as the sound echoed through the

kitchen.My head snapped to the side.

I stayed very still. I didn't cry. I was nineteen years old today. That slap was my first birthday present.

"The dishes are piled high. The laundry is still dirty," she hissed. Her face was turning a mean shade of red. Answer me! Where were you?

I swallowed. My throat was dry and scratchy because I hadn't had a drink in a long time. I looked at the floor tiles. "I went to see my mother," I whispered. "I went to her grave."

Aunty Rebecca let out a sound like a mean dog. She reached for the heavy wooden stick that leaned against the kitchen wall. I knew that stick well. It had left marks on me many times before.

"I told you never to go there, Amanda!"

I backed away until my heels hit the cold base of the cabinets. My stomach made a loud noise. I was so hungry. It had been two whole days since my last meal. My legs felt like jelly. If she hit me with that stick, I would fall down and pass out .I didn't want to fall. Not today.

"Is a pile of bones more important than my house? she sneered. She stepped closer, gripping the wood so hard her knuckles turned white.

"She isn't just bones," My voice was small, but I didn't take back the words. "She’s my mom."

Aunty Rebecca smiled, but it wasn't a happy smile. It was the kind of smile a cat gives a mouse. "Fine, birthday girl. Since you love her so much, I will write mother on your skin while I beat you, and say hi to her for me, because you'll be joining her"

"Stop."

A deep voice filled the room. Uncle Michael walked in. His daughter, Miracle, was right behind him. Miracle was a year younger than me, but she looked like a princess. Her hair was shiny and her clothes were perfect. Uncle Michael didn't look at me with love. He only looked at me like I was a broken tool.

"She has work to do," Uncle Michael said. He looked at Miracle. "Today is a big day. The Devil Alpha is coming to our pack. Everyone is talking about him. They say he is scary. They say his last bride died. But I want Miracle to look the best."

Miracle made a grumpy face. "But Dad! If he sees me and I look pretty, he might pick me. I don't want to die like the last girl. Send Amanda instead!" She pointed a finger at me like I was a piece of trash.

Uncle Michael patted Miracle’s head. "Don't worry, honey. I would send her if I could. But the Alpha only wants girls with wolves. Amanda is nineteen and her wolf hasn't come yet. She is empty inside. She is safe because she is nothing. You are the one who has to be ready."

Miracle huffed, but then she looked at me and grinned. "Fine. If I have to be pretty, you have to work. I have a pile of dirty clothes. I want you to wash them all. Scrub them until your fingers hurt. And wash my panties well, there's period blood on it,You didn't wash it right last time."

Aunty Rebecca nodded. "And the farm is full of weeds. After you scrub every single tile in this house on your knees, you will go outside and pull the grass until the sun goes down."

"Now, let's eat," Aunty Rebecca smiled.

The three of them sat down at the big table. I had to move fast. I ran to the stove. They were having pasta today. The smell was so sweet and salty. It made my mouth water. I knew the rule: if Aunty Rebecca cooked, I got nothing. If I cooked, I might get to lick the spoon. Today, I got nothing.

I carried the heavy pot to the table. I could feel Aunty Rebecca watching me. She wanted me to trip. She wanted a reason to use that stick. I moved as quietly as a shadow. I went back for the glass cups and the forks.

I tried to carry too much at once because I wanted to finish quickly. My hands were shaking from hunger. Suddenly, a glass slipped.

SMASH.

The sound of the breaking glass was like a gunshot. Clear pieces flew everywhere. I froze.

"I knew it!" Aunty Rebecca yelled. She looked at Uncle Michael. See? She is useless. Let me beat her now!

Uncle Michael just sighed. "Clean it up, girl. Fast."

"Yes, sir," I started to run for the broom.

"No broom!" Aunty Rebecca shouted. "You broke it with your hands, you clean it with your hands. Get down there."

I dropped to my knees. The floor felt like ice. I began to pick up the sharp, shiny pieces of glass. One piece sliced into my palm. A hot sting flashed through my hand. Red blood started to drip, spotting the white tile.

I didn't stop. I couldn't stop. The three of them sat above me, chewing their pasta and watching me bleed.

Suddenly, Miracle reached for her glass. She tipped it over. Cold water splashed over my head and soaked my hair. It ran down my neck, making me shiver.

"You're too slow," Miracle laughed.

I wiped the water from my eyes. My voice came out as a low whisper. "You are making my work harder."

Miracle’s face twisted. She leaned down, her nose inches from mine. "Your bad character is what killed your mother, Amanda. She died to get away from a brat like you."

Her hand flew back, ready to strike. I didn't think. I reached up and grabbed her wrist. I squeezed hard.

"Enough!" Uncle Michael’s voice boomed. He pushed his chair back, the metal legs screeching against the floor. "I have been patient with you for too long!"

He didn't use his hands. His heavy work boot swung. THUD. It slammed into my ribs. I flew backward, hitting the hard cabinets.

I tried to breathe, but my lungs felt like they were full of stones. He didn't stop. THUD. Another kick hit my stomach.

"Useless!" THUD. "Trash!" THUD. "Wolfless freak!" He kicked me with so much force, blood was gushing out from my mouth but he didn't care as usual, I could feel that one of my ribs had broken, if I was pregnant, I would have had a miscarriage.

My body curled into a ball. I coughed, and a warm, thick red liquid filled my mouth. A dark red puddle of blood hit the floor, mixing with the spilled water. My vision went blurry. Every part of me felt like it was on fire.

Uncle Michael raised his boot again, his face red and sweating.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

The sound stopped his foot in mid-air. He huffed, wiping his forehead. "Clean that up, girl. Now."

I stayed on the floor, my fingers twitching in the blood. The door creaked open. Logan stood there. He looked at me like I was a bug he wanted to squash. His eyes dropped to the blood in my mouth, but his expression didn't change. “We n

eed to talk , and it's about our mate bond“.