Chapter VI

Time passed quickly in the clinic for Ellean; She grew a little plumper from the food that Elisa fed her. But Ellean was ready to get out of bed and leave the clinic. She was happy to rest from the many chores they had heaped on her, but Ellean wanted to get away from the sterile smell that messed with her nose.

When her wheelchair came, Ellean was slightly disappointed to see that it was just a basic wheelchair, but she also knew that beggars couldn't be choosers. On the other hand, it at least gave her a way to move around.

Ellean knew that this would be a whole new way for the pack to bully her. And that wasn't something she was looking forward to. But all Ellean could do was take a deep breath and suck it up.

Elisa slowly pushed her to the main house. Ellean closed her eyes, enjoying the sun shining down on her face. If only she could stay outside for more extended periods. Before Ellean was ready, Elisa had pushed her into the house. Ellean sighed quietly and let her shoulders slump. The house was going to be her jail; there would be no escape for her after this.

Elisa knelt in front of Ellean and spoke slowly so that Ellean could read her lips.

"If you need anything, you know where I am. You are welcome to the clinic at any time, alright?"

Ellean nodded, smiling, hiding her pain behind the smile signing.

"Thank you, Doc Elisa, for all you did while I was there. I do feel better, so thank you again."

Elisa nodded, standing up, laid her hand on Ellean's shoulder, squeezing it before leaving the house.

Ellean closes her eyes for a moment, opening them wheels slowly towards the kitchen. She so desperately wanted to turn around and head for the door. If only she could shift. Maybe that would give her freedom. But something was keeping Ellean from shifting, and even Elisa hadn't figured it out.

Wheeling through the door of the kitchen, Ellean found a horrifically dirty kitchen. Pinching the skin between her eyes, Ellean wondered if the pack even knew the word clean. Then, looking around, she sighs in disgust. Dishes piled up in the sink; dirty pans sat on the stove. The floor hadn't been swept in who knows how long. Grumbling, Ellean wheels to the sink to find that the carpenter had at least lowered the sink so she could wash the dishes. Filling the sink with hot water and soap, Ellean slowly starts washing the dishes as if her life hadn't changed at all.

A hand slapping down on Ellean's head scared her so severely she jumped. Looking over her shoulder, Ellean sees the last person she wants to see at that moment. Chase was standing there grinning at her.

"So now I guess we can call you a cripple. Just what we need. Someone useless."

Ellean paid him no mind; she was used to the cruel words he spewed out at her. Although she never did understand why he found it so amusing. But Luna Sophia was just like her son. Or should she say Chase was just like his mother?

Seeing Ellean ignore him, Chase growls, kicking her chair. Still, Ellean did nothing. Finally, genuinely annoyed, Chase grabs Ellean's hair giving it a sharp yank pulling her head back. Ellean's grey eyes look empty as she stares up at Chase. Ellean had been hurt so many times by this person that nothing fazed her any longer.

Chase raises his large hand and slaps Ellean's face as hard as he can, leaving a large handprint on her tiny face. Blood trickles out the side of her mouth, but Ellean stubbornly refuses to make a sound. What was the use? It didn't matter, not whether she cried, fought, or did nothing. He still treated her like she was trash.

Letting Ellean's hair go after seeing she wasn't responding to him, Chase left after kicking her chair again.

Ellean wiped her swollen cheek. She would have to put ice on it to make the swelling go down. Ellean was thankful that, as of now, all she got was slaps and kicks. She had heard about other packs where slaves were treated much worse than some slaves were drug in front of everyone and raped.

Ellean shuddered. She hoped she would never be hurt in that way. Clenching her fingers together, tears rolled down her cheeks. Ellean felt tired but knew she had to get the kitchen clean before dinner could be cooked.

Going back to the dishes, Ellean truly hoped no one would come in to disturb her. But, if everyone kept running in and out, who knows when dinner would be cooked. And Ellean didn't want another beating after just getting out of the clinic.