Chapter 2

Riley's POV

"Yes, mother."

"How many times do I need to remind you that I'm not your mother?"

I stood still, brought up my right hand, and held my lips together. "Good," she said. "You're learning fast."

She always told me to hold my lips whenever I said something she didn't like. It was something like a sign; one that depicted acknowledgement of a fault and a promise to do better. I didn't think I was wrong. I just had to do it.

I lost myself in my thoughts as I wondered why she hated me so much. There wasn't a day when I wasn't reminded that she wasn't my mom.

"We found you by the witch's pond."

"We picked you up and saved your miserable life."

"You'd have been better off dead by the witch's pond. Perhaps, we made a mistake bringing you here, you worthless girl."

It was all the same. Same thoughts. Same meaning. Same reaction. Just a different way of saying it. I was already getting fed up with all that was happening to me but what was I to do?

"Don't tell me you're ignoring me, Riley."

"No, I could… I mean, I– I didn't hear you, ma'am," I stammered. "I was a bit lost, ma'am. I'm sorry."

"You're going to the alpha's house to help them out. Sharon demands your presence," she said. "I don't need to remind you that you must be on your best behaviour, which is thrash if I must say. Try sweeping the compound before going inside to meet her."

"Yes, ma'am."

I went back to my room and took off the black dress that I wore, which had a tear on either side. I didn't want to go to the alpha's house, putting on something so horrible. I opened my box and began to take out the clothes there, one by one, hoping to see something that would be a bit tolerable.

"Aha!" I screamed, rather subconsciously, as I picked up a brightly coloured yellow dress that had a few white patches. I'd had the dress for a little more than four years but I still loved it. For sure, it was simply a rag, just like the other clothes, but it wasn't torn. I quickly put it on and went on my way.

On getting to the alpha's compound, I swallowed my spit. It wasn't that this was the first time but I was always amazed each time I got there. The land was so vast and the garden. Oh, the garden! The beautiful flowers and the sweet scent they produced could make anyone have the urge to spread a mat just outside and sleep till whenever. It had crossed my mind a few times. At least, it was better than that thing I called a bed. Anything was better than that.

I walked right past the gate to the mansion and almost knocked when I remembered that I was asked to sweep first. Silly me! I looked around the compound for a broom and I found one, lying around, almost close to the waste bin which was just a stone throw from the mansion.

I picked it up and began to sweep as carefully as I could. I didn't want Sharon to have any reason to yell at me, except for the fun of it. As I kept sweeping, I saw something on the floor, just a few meters away from where I was and my curiosity was piqued. I had to find out what it was.

As I moved a bit closer, I saw that it was a book; a very small book and I wondered what could have been written inside. As I bent to pick it up, I felt a restriction from within me. What if it was a trap? What if it was something I wasn't supposed to see? Then again, I couldn't think of any reason why someone would leave something important lying around so I assumed it must have been of little worth. I picked it up and began to go through it.

Then I heard a sound. Soft, subtle sounds that got much louder with time. Soon, I could hear war chants from just outside the gates and I knew who it was. The warriors of the pack were probably on their way to the alpha's house to give a report or whatever else they wanted to do.

The warriors were feared by everyone and for a good reason too. They were fierce, strong and very skilled in the field of battle. It was their duty to protect the pack from intruders. They were trained by the alpha himself. No other pack members got that sort of privilege. I'd always admired them from afar; the way they fought, the speed they possessed, everything about them. I dreamed of being one of them. I never stopped dreaming, yet it looked impossible. Just like being treated like everyone else in the pack seemed.

Yet, from a closer view, there was nothing to admire about these bullies. What's the use of having so much power if you'd use it to oppress the very people you were tasked with protecting? They poked fun at me and hit me whenever they felt. I always did my best to avoid them but it was simply impossible.

"Hey, you, what is it that you're holding?" One of them quickly approached me as soon as he sighted me from the gate. He dashed towards me, three other warriors with him, and grabbed the tiny book from my hand. If I didn't know better, I'd have thought they were going all out for one mighty man who had defied death in several battles. I didn't want to believe that they spent all that energy on a wimp like me.

"Have you read this book?" He flipped through the pages and glared furiously at me.

"No, I haven't," I replied. "I don't know what the content of the book is."

I lied. Well, not totally but I did lie. I opened the book and tried to find out what was written but I couldn't. So I was being truthful when I said I didn't know what the content was because as much as I saw it, I didn't understand it at all.

"This book belongs to the alpha's daughter," said one of them to the other. All seven guards had arrived at the scene, wearing very long faces.

"How did she get her hands on this book?" The other one asked before turning to me. "You're a thief, aren't you?"

"Thief? No, not at all, " I answered, quite surprised that they'll think that of me. I had never stolen anything all my life and I didn't plan to do so. Sadly, they didn't know me. All they could see was a lowly peasant who would do anything to survive.

"Liar!"

I saw stars flying around in my head as something heavy landed on my left cheek. When I regained consciousness, I was already on the floor, buttocks on the ground and hand on my cheek. I couldn't understand what was going on. What was in the book that made them so serious about it?

"Let go of me!" I screamed, as one of them pulled me by the legs. I kicked him as hard as I could, and stood up, holding out my hands with my fists closed right and ready to fight. "Don't come any closer to me please."

"What are you doing, girl? You want to fight?"

"No, I don't," I answered, lowering my hands. I didn't stand a chance as there was no point trying.

Two of the warriors held my hands, one hand each, as they led me to the mansion. "You're going to explain to Sharon how you got your hands on this book."

"But I didn't steal it. I picked…"

A hard slap landed hard right across my face, forcing me to end my speech. Then I felt another, and yet, another. My eyes did see my ears and what they saw was too big for my mouth to say. I felt the urge to cry but I held it. We got to the door of Sharon's room and as they tried to knock, I managed to free my right hand and with it, I held back the hands of the one who wanted to knock and he turned around to look at me.

"Please, don't do this," I cried. "Please…"