For the second time, my life has imploded without warning. Rolling onto my side, I wallow for a few minutes, exhausting my saline supply. I press my face into the patchwork quilt passed down in my family.
Plain beige walls are broken up by the paintings and collages I did in high school. One of the only photos I have of my family retains its place of honor on my nightstand. I draw strength from the familiar faces.
Sniffling, I wipe my eyes and force my aching body out of bed. The pack may have forced me back here, but I refuse to let them see how much it devastated me.
Feet shuffling across the wood floor, I enter the white subway-tiled bathroom. I turn on the faucet, splash my face with cold water, and dry it with a towel. I never expected to return here when I drove away over four years ago.
Gripping the counter of the white sink, I lean forward and peer at my reflection in the mirror. I found a way out of this hell once; I can do it again.
This is all a test of endurance. The slender oval-shaped face and tan skin are a gift from my mother. I see her more and more as I age. It’s a gift that keeps the memory of her face vivid.
I run my finger down the thin slightly up-turned nose I shared with my older brother Jarl and hold his memory close. Three years older, he’d always had my back when I needed him.
I pull on his strength and stare into the reflection of my brown eyes with specs of gold and green. The proof of my lineage makes my me feel less alone today.
Footsteps coming up the stairs put me on edge. I know that overconfident stride. Resentment coils in my belly, a snake ready to strike.
She’s the root of this. Once I figure out how she convinced our Alpha he needed me, I’ll change his opinion. The door swings open, and Aunt Gerda stomps in without knocking.
Her cinnamon and amber scent floods the room. Hooded, brown eyes darken to nearly black with malice and anger as she stares.
Dark blonde hair cut in an angular bob, highlights her fine bone structure, thin lips, and pointy nose. Displeasure drips from her pores and twists her classically angelic features into something demonic.
A shrill shrew, Gerda made life hell from the second they took me in. Standing to my full height, I hold her gaze.
I surpassed her five-foot height, packed on muscle, and grew a backbone while I was gone. There will be no more shrinking in front of her.
“Always so arrogant. Even now, you refuse to learn your place.”
“I decided to choose my fate.” I shrug. “You were the one who pulled me away from it.”
Aunt Gerda cackles. “Did you think you could start over somewhere else and never look back?”
I chuckle. “That’s exactly what I did.”
“Too stupid to know you’ll always be trapped in a cage.” Her lips curl into a twisted grin.
“Because here you are, back where you started.”
I shrug. “For now.”
Her dark eyes flash amber. She stalks forward and wraps her long fingers around my forearm, digging her nails into my flesh. I shake free from her grip, pushing her back.
Stumbling like a drunk, she wobbles on thin black heels. Mouth flopping open, she resembles a cartoon fish.
“Do not put your hands on me.” I step forward, standing my ground. Adult me does what the younger version could not.
“You are my ward living under my roof.”
“I am a twenty-five-year-old woman perfectly capable of getting a place. You have very
little power over me, Gerda. The child you abused and beat down is gone. We won’t be repeating
the past.” I growl, and she takes a step back.
The shock on her face is almost comical.
“Do you understand me?” Every word is clipped.
“Mad dogs get put down. Better remember your place, little beta.” Gathering her power around
her, she wields it like a weapon of precision.
“You are here to serve your betters.” Energy presses down, an invisible weight crushing me.
Legs screaming in protest, I fight the desire to kneel. “Oh, this will be fun, teaching you all
over again what happens when willful little orphans act like ungrateful urchins.” Gerda increases
the heaviness. I grit my teeth as my knees weaken.
My stomach rolls like a stormy sea, and heat floods my body.
“I’ve missed our little games.” She hums happily as my entire body quakes. Breathing hard. I imagine roots anchoring me to the ground. “I will break you. Like I always have.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.” I force the words out.
Her thin, high-arched eyebrows dip down, and her smooth forehead wrinkles. Death will befall me before I bow to this wretched woman even once more.
