Chapter three: The gentlest he has ever spoken to me

The weakened and fibble thatches that held my world togther crumbled at my father's worlds leaving me naked and open to the cruelty of his words.

I had foolishly thought that I have seen it all. That there is nothing more that he could do to hurt me, but I couldn't have been more wrong. He exceeded all my expectations, and finally was able to pierce the last amour of defence I had against his cruelty.

My soul has always been free from his cruelty. I could always find refuge inside me to hide from the world of hurt that have been my existence since I had the misfortune of being born to him.

But with his latest declaration I will have nowhere to hide, because the name Roderick is one whispered in dread among my race.

Alpha Roderick is as cruel as they come. A sadistic son of a bitch, whose horror stories causes children to behave. No one wants to be sent to Alpha Roderick's pack. It is a den of horror and every cruelty you can imagine. And my father wants me to marry a monster like that.

Does he really hate me that much?

I lifted my tears filled eyes in his direction, seeking to see if there was any humanity left inside the man that was supposed to love and protect me in this word. The brown eyes that stared back at me was filled with darkness and hatred for me. There was not an inch of light in his drunken gaze.

I guess my question was a stupid one after all.

The silence in the room was deafening. I was sure everyone was in disbelief of my father's words. The pack may not lift a finger to help me, but I have seen their pity. And right now they were all wearing the same look, even though none of them mustered the courage to speak up.

My father despite his drunk habit was a strong man. The most powerful in the pack. No one dares challenges him, not unless you want to be banished or worse killed.

There have been rumors about my father taking care of people that dared oppose him. Don't know how true it is, but I wouldn't put it past him.

There were just two people in the room wearing an incongrous look on their face. I would have expected them to be over the moon at my latest predicament, but they had heavy frowns on their faces.

Like kids whose play toy is about to be snatched from them.

"But honey, you can't send her away!"

Anyone from outside the pack hearing her whiny protest will think she was doing it for my own good. They will probably crown her mother of the year award, but she wasn't decieving anyone.

Everyone knows that Rosalind Love doesn't lift a finger if it is not for her benefit. And it could be seen as clear as daylight why she was protesting my bethrotal. If you can call it that.

More like being sold to the highest bidder.

My father is no fool. Among our race there have always been internal conflict for power. The various packs have been at peace these past few decades, but that doesn't mean that the power struggle wouldn't start again. And to be protected from that you need powerful allies.

My father, Alpha Roderick are one of the many powerful Alphas out there. Aligning himself with a man as powerful and ruthless as Alpha Roderick was a smart move on my father's part. Because his pack has the number as well as the army.

And what better way to seal an alliance than with marriage.

We don't have to talk about the fact that the so called Alpha is the same age as my father, or that he has so many wives, and whores--- none of them willing ---at his beck and call to fullfill his needs.

But what is all that compared to a seventeen year old virgin? If only they knew.

My father in his indebriated state took an exception to Rosalind selfish interruption.

"Don't you dare question my orders, woman!" He roared turning his hot as hell eyes on her.

The whole room grew more silent at my father's bellow at the most unlikely target. For the first time in years my father raised his voice at Rosalind.

His action was so shocking and scary to our delicate Rosalind that she flew back in her seat wearing a shocked horrified expression on her face like father had physically struck her.

Stephan on the other hand looked mute like a mouse. The ever so present smug expression that he annoyoingly carries with him everywhere he goes nowhere to be seen. In the face of my father he is a coward who has never dared challenge him. But to everyone else he loafs around with a chip on his shoulder like he is father's true heir.

Right now he is, as I am none existence to my father, soon to be shipped off to the worst barbaric pack ever, and Rosalind is yet to give father a child.

He doesn't care, neither does she. Stephan is a boy, and even though he is not father's son will do.

I would have found the whole father jumping down Rosalind throat hilarious and satisfying if I didn't have my own demons to fight.

Every focus was now on Rosalind as father berated her further for daring to interfere in his affairs. No one cared about the world of the girl that have just been thrown upside down by mere worlds.

I have been relegated to the background, which in the past I had no problem with, because if they are not thinking about me, they are not devising means to torture me. But tonight I couldn't find comfort in my insignificance.

Since no one was paying attention to me I slowly slithered out of the room, making less noise as possible to avoid attention flicking back to me.

Outside the dinning room I slumped down against the wall behind me helplessly as my thoughts fought itself for solution to my recent predicament.

All that was echoing loudly in my ears was for me to make a run for it.

A sound plan except that I have no where to run, and being caught wondering around with no pack to call your own puts you in danger of landing into a fate worse than death. Not that what awaits me is any better.

Then again the devil you know is far better than the angel you don't know. I don't know what awaits me out there, and I am too terrified to find out.

Another thing keeping me rooted in this god forsaken pack is that my father will never give up, should I run away.

Without thinking of my action, I picked up my weakned body, and disheartened soul and began to walk. I had no direction, nor destination in mind. I just wanted to walk my thoughts off.

My aimless wandering lead me to a huge tree at the centre of the forest pack. Where I have found refuge in my lonliest moments. Guess my instinct had a destination in mind.

This tree has been on the pack land for centuries. One of the oldest things still in existence within the pack. The roots are so huge and buried deep into the ground, with some of it on the surface. The trunk so large that you need at least five people to circle it. And its bramches sprouting high to the sky.

I took one look at the huge tree. and started to climb it. I have never dared to climb it in the past because I was scared of height, but tonight I needed an escape from my shitty life even if it is just for few hours.

Despite the woe that has befallen me, Stephan was going to visit tonight just like he threatened, and his mother's threat of punishment still hangs over my head, but all that can only happen if they can find me.

Tomorrow my life changes for the worse, but tonight i will have a peaceful sleep, even if it is on top of a tree.

Climbing such a huge tree isn't an easy feat, but I was determined. It was on my tenth try that I was able to find a way to make my way up to the lower branch. I didn't settle there and continued to climb until I found a branch that could accomodate my small body for the night.

The bird nestling there chirped angrily at me for disturbing her peaceful slumber before flying away. I envied her freedom, and apologized in my mind to her for uprooting her from her home.

It was only temporary.

I gently lifted her nest, careful not to destroy it, and placed down at another branch, and then found a comfortable position.

I settled down for the night, determined to sleep, and put my troubles away. Tomorrow it can be dealt with.

I mean accepted. Because you know, I can't fight it.

The streaks of sunrays penetrating through the canopy branches to my face was what woke me up the next day. I almost turned forgetting where I was, but was lucky to have caught myself in time.

What a way to go.

If only I had the assurance that death, and not debilitating injuries awaited me on the ground I would have done it.

I let myself enjoy the pretty morning for few more seconds--- because it is. Pale blue sky, wth streaks of cloud interspersed in between--- before I let reality in.

I guess not even the ugliness of the fate that awaits me could stop the sun from shinning. I wish I had the power to make the night go on and on.

Sadly, I don't, and it is time to face the music.

I am sure my over the night disappearance would have the entire household in an uproar, but I didn't care. What will they do? Kill me?

Please.

When I got few feet of the pack house I spied my father and Rosalind waiting outside. Rosalind was pacing from one corner to the other like she cared, and dad stood still at a place, his hand crossed behind him.

I was still far off to read his emotions, but soon distance became an enemy and I could see every minute expression on his face. He was beyound pissed, and clearly not hungover, or maybe his anger at my disappearance took care of that.

Nah. It is not that powerful. Werewolves can get drunk, but they do not suffer the hangover that plagues humans.

Rosalind was the first to catch sight of me. As soon as she saw me she took off like a woman on a mission, her expression as she speedily closed down the gap between us muderous.

As soon as she was few inches away, she threw her hand back and slapped me. The force of her strike sent my face in the opposite direction. I didn't make a sound but kept my face averted to the ground.

"You useless, ungrateful, selfish bitch!" she roared, her hand poised again to strike. A hand reached out and stopped her.

"Enough!" Father barked.

Rosalind snatched her hand away from him, a harsh snort escaping her while she burned my body down with her glare.

I scoffed in my mind at her accusation of me being ungrateful. What exactly has she done for me to be grateful for.

I waited for the scolding, or the beating that is surely to come from my father, but nothing happened.

"Go inside. The maids are waiting to get you ready. Roderick and his people are on their way," he said softly and then walked away.

Rosalind huffed at me and then followed father.

I stood staring after his disappearing form. This is the gentlest way he has ever addressed me before.