Chapter 4: Things Are Different Here

"Thank you, Anthony."

"Of course, Ophelia. And just so we're clear, I don't believe for a second that you are a thief. Your family members are the ones who are wrong in this case, and I'll make sure they pay."

I glanced at him nervously. Just like before when he asked me questions about my beatings, he sensed that I was hesitant to speak my mind.

With a quiet voice, he asked with care, "Is there something else that is bothering you?"

I wanted to answer him honestly since he'd already been so forthcoming and protective toward me, but I was afraid… afraid to ask about Arthur.

"What are you worried about, Ophelia?" He leaned in closer to hear me better.

"Will—” I stopped short to compose myself. My stomach was in knots again as I tried to formulate words. If Arthur was as abusive as I'd heard he was, I couldn't bear it. I swallowed down my jitters and asked, "Does... Alpha Arthur makes a habit of hitting people?"

Anthony raised his eyebrows in concern as he asked, "Just what has the Moon Pack done to you?"

I couldn't answer him. I was shaking too much.

"I can assure you that nobody in ShadowClaw is like your family, even Alpha Arthur. We do not operate like that. We behave civilly." He sniffed and pushed his bottom lip up, both in pride and with anger toward my pack.

I felt a lump in my throat imagining being around kind wolves. I was already becoming emotionally invested in the idea that I could live without pain. Was I getting my hopes up too soon?

"Will I be allowed to eat fresh, unspoiled food?" I asked.

Anthony appeared appalled, his mouth agape and eyes widened. After tilting his chin up with an air of dignity, he answered, "You will have delicious, hot gourmet meals and fine dining with our pack daily."

Tears crowded my vision as I nodded in response with a tiny smile. He tipped his chin up to me and held my shoulders.

"I've asked the servants to help you pack. You are in no condition to be on your feet. Take your time. Make sure you have everything you need or want, then meet me outside."

My chest fluttered with excitement and curiosity. What was going to happen when he confronted my family? I couldn't help but glance out the window as he exited the house. Anthony being the well-mannered wolf he was, attempted to converse diplomatically. As expected, my family had only themselves in mind as they crowded him.

I couldn't hear what anyone was saying, but I trusted he'd take care of it. I turned my attention back to the servants and waited as they added items to my suitcases. When the packing was finished, they helped me to the staircase.

I was mid-ascent when I heard shouting, which quickly evolved into yelps of pain, then pounding against the house. Even with the hammering rain and howling wind, I could clearly hear the thumps and cries.

As my servants opened the door for me, I bore witness to the source of the commotion. Anthony had knocked Mike off his feet, causing him to fall into the sopping, muddy grass.

"Please don't hurt my husband!" Margaret cried, her soaking wet hair stringy as it draped over her shoulders. David joined her, desperately begging Anthony to spare Mike.

"I implore you, Ophelia! Make Anthony stop his assault on my brother!"

I stopped in my tracks and glowered at David in disbelief, my lips parted.

"No," I answered, full of indignation. "If Anthony had not intervened today, I could have lost my innocence or been seriously injured. Perhaps even killed. Who cared for me during my time of need? Was my life worth anything to you?" I asked. "Why should I help you when you never helped me?"

David said nothing as he wiped his soaking wet face. He knew he had lost. Now that I had Anthony for protection, I had no reason to pledge loyalty to them. I could see David's fear—the knitted brow while biting his bottom lip, the repeated flinching each time Anthony connected with Mike's face.

Seeing his firm grip on Mike was... vindicating.

Once Anthony knew nobody would dare challenge him, he rose and said, "It's time to go."

I nodded as he wiped Mike's blood from his hands, and then helped me to the car.

Mike's cheeks were crimson and bruised, his nose bleeding. His shoulders were heaving as he panted, his white T-shirt soaked through, showing his skin. I could feel his defeat and shame. He turned away so I wouldn't see his embarrassment, but it was too late.

Though this was a fitting way to leave my bullies behind, once Anthony was in the driver's seat, my stomach churned from the uncertainty. I had to reconcile that my life was no longer my own.

***

I was being whipped again. No! I couldn't believe it. Had it all been a dream that I was rescued by Anthony?

Once I realized I was having a nightmare, my eyelids snapped open as I held my chest, my heart pounding. As I came to, I could feel that I was in the arms of a woman. Judging from her white coat and stethoscope, I deduced she was a doctor.

"Ophelia, you're okay," she said gently.

"Where am I?" I whimpered, still groggy and unsure of myself.

"You're with the ShadowClaw Pack."

"How do you know my name?" I asked through swollen eyes, blinking slowly.

"I'm Anthony's sister, Jessica. You blacked out on the ride here. He brought you to me, and you've been in my care ever since."

I glanced down at my body in the hospital bed. The soft padding of bandages pressed against my back and the pain I'd had was markedly lessened. She had helped heal me.

Weakly I whispered, "Thank you, Jessica."

"You're welcome, Ophelia," she said. "Just a moment. I'll be right back."

Jessica left me alone. Then, I heard footsteps approaching. As those steps neared, I picked up the aroma of something that smelled delicious. My stomach growled in response.

Instinctively, I pressed my stomach inward to stop the gurgling. It was a habit I had gotten into when I was young. Just as I was suppressing another growl, Jessica came in with a load of goodies. She sat beside me with an enthusiastic grin, setting down two heaping plates of food along with several drinks on my hospital dining tray.

I stared at the heavenly dishes, my mouth agape. My voracious appetite crawled to the surface. I began to drool.

"Is-is that for me?" I asked Jessica, feeling desperate like a pup. I licked my lips in anticipation.

She held my shoulder gently. "Of course it is, Ophelia. And there is plenty more where that came from."

Without lingering for one more second I dug into the food, indulging in the exotic seasonings, savory gravy, smoked fish, cured musky meats, and fresh vegetables. As I was stuffing my face, I noticed Jessica giggling. I stopped abruptly, feeling embarrassed.

"Oh, I must look like the biggest pig," I said, my face in a shameful grimace. "I'm sorry."

Jessica shook her head. "It's obvious you haven't had a decent meal in years. You're extremely thin and malnourished. Please... you need this food."

"But what if the others see me? Won't your Alpha punish me?"

"Ophelia, just what did your pack do to you?" Jessica asked with an exhale of confusion. "You don’t need to answer that. I already know. Firstly, the answer to that question is a resounding no, okay?" She held my hand in hers and squeezed, comforting me.

"O-okay," I said, my eyebrows knitted. I felt nervous but hopeful.

"Secondly, you don't need to worry about Arthur just randomly showing up. He's a private person who relishes his alone time. He isn't interested in fame or admiration. He keeps to himself."

"That makes me feel better," I confessed, already more at ease. I trusted this wolf doctor, Anthony's sister. She seemed firm in her conviction as she spoke.

"When you ate together with the Moon Pack, what did you talk about around the table?" Jessica asked.

I shook my head, my chest tightening with pain. "I didn't ever eat with them, and certainly not at a table."

Jessica blinked once, looking down. I could tell she had something else on her mind and she didn't want her emotions to interfere. After smoothing out her white coat collar, she raised her head to me, her emotions in check.

"Here at ShadowClaw, most of the time we eat as a group. Sometimes it is simply small talk, other times it can be a place to vent. We listen to one another."

"That's much different than what I've come from," I said in surprise, chewing on some potatoes.

"You're probably wondering why I'm talking about this, right?" she asked, her eyebrows raised, forehead crinkled with a tiny smile. Her eyes were so comforting, relaxed, and sparkling. I curled my lip up and nodded in confession.

"Kind of," I began after swallowing my last bite.

"You are having your first meal at the ShadowClaw's. Although it's just you and I, I'm going to follow the same tradition we have perpetuated. Would you like to hear about our pack?" she asked.

I smiled brightly and nodded. "Definitely," I said. Any information she could provide would be helpful, especially before meeting Arthur.

"Our pack has acquired much wealth over the years. We live in luxury. Soon you'll be able to experience that yourself but for now, I'll just tell you that there is no concern about money. But that doesn't mean we are uptight. Though we are refined, we still have time for fun and our wolf bond is quite strong. In fact, once you're well enough, you'll be fit for your first pregnancy."

My eyebrows pinched as I tried to process this information. What had she just said about a pregnancy? A dizzy spell overcame me and the room went sideways. I held my head and closed my eyes.

"Are you all right? Would you like more food?" she asked, standing.

I stared at her, brushing off her last comment. I must be too sick to understand everything she was telling me, I thought.

"I wish I could eat more, but I'm stuffed. No, thank you," I said with a satisfied sigh, hand on my belly.

She smiled at me. "All right. Let's get those empty plates taken care of."

Without another word, a young woman came through the door in a black and white uniform and collected the dishes. I watched her face intently. I needed to know the truth about the ShadowClaw Pack.

Was she being bullied into servitude like I had been?

As I studied her expression and body language, I could tell she was confident and nonchalant about performing this duty. She gave me a quick smile, wiped the tray, and then sped off with a skip in her step. I could hear her happily whistling as she continued down the hall. I was in utter shock.

They were like nothing else I'd experienced, but perhaps I hadn't seen their true nature yet. I hadn't forgotten Arthur's deplorable reputation. All the rumors perpetuated the fact that he was cruel, disfigured, and evil. I didn't want to be with a demented wolf.

My heart was racing at the thought of being under the control of another man intent on abusing me. What would I, his sixth wife, represent? It seemed like he coveted brides, pinning them down under his thumb like butterflies in a collection. As far as I knew, they were all dead because of him.

Unable to temper my patience due to anxiety, I turned to Jessica, frantically grabbing at her as I asked, "Would you please tell me about Alpha Arthur?"

Just as the words left my mouth, a tall man entered the room. I could see people out in the hallway dropping what they were doing as they gazed at him. I gave him a quick look up and down and my jaw dropped open.

His aura exuded an overwhelming sense of power, unlike any other wolf I’d been around.

"Maybe you can ask him yourself," Jessica said with a soft smile, tilting her head in the man's direction.

This was Arthur!