5 The Necklace

"Give it back to me!" I grabbed her hand that was holding my necklace, but she raised it and slapped me again. This time she was so strong that I was slapped to the ground. The muddy water splashed on my body, and I had no time to care about my only clothes, only feel a pain in the neck.

My necklace! The last thing my mother left me!

"I thought it was something great, just a pearl necklace with a silver chain through it," said Bernice disdainfully. She squatted in front of me and looked at me playfully as I fell to the ground and covered in mud. She fingered the pearls, and her eyes glowed maliciously.

"That's what my mother left me! You don't deserve to touch it!" I couldn't control my anger, but a deeper helplessness swept over me, and my body began to tremble with the pain of my soul. I hated myself so much for being too weak and unable to shift. It not only made me lose my father's love, but also made me unable to protect my mother's belongings.

My pain pleased Bernice well, and she shook the pearl necklace in her hand, admiring my sorry state. Then I watched as she put on my mother's necklace, lifted her beautiful white silk gown, and gave me a smirk in my angry eyes. It reminded me of the time when my father brought her home and she smiled provocatively at me with a brand-new doll.

“Clean up the party early and hide it in your room. Don't let our pack lose face because of you.” After that, she left triumphantly with her attendant.

I wanted to yell at her to give me back my necklace and apologize for what she did, but when I opened my mouth, I found myself hoarse, unable to make any sound.

Why? Why am I going through this? Why does sorrow always flow to the poor, and favoritism to the arrogant and ignorant?

I have to get out of here. I swear.

…………………………………………

The hall hasn't been cleaned and decorated like this for a long time. According to the old servant, the last time this place was so well decorated was when my parents got married.

I smiled wryly. At first everyone thought they were the one who was blessed and lucky, but as time passed, no one knew what they would encounter in the future.

Life can change. I believe that. The abuser is not always lucky, and I am not always unlucky.

I will live well and wait for the day to come.

When I came to the hall, the servants were busy. The brown wood floor and dining table were re-waxed. Golden lampholders and silver candles mingled, red velvet curtains were re-hung, and fresh flowers and fruit were placed on glazed trays in the corners.

When I entered the hall with my clothes still stained, everyone was silent for a second. Their eyes were full of astonishment and disdain. They were used to seeing me teased by Bernice every day, but today, at this moment, my embarrassment was all the more obvious.

"She's being teased by Bernice again. Look at the slap marks on her face. TSK, tsk, tsk."

"What a bother. It's a disgrace to alpha that she's dressed like that as his daughter."

“She had the courage to come in here. Today is a big day. She should be in a dump.”

The eager whispers of the crowd made me bow my head. I looked at the reflection in the mirror of my disheveled figure, and couldn't find a corner to let me escape all this.

I realized early on that my pack didn't accept me for who I was, and they hated me as much as Bernice did. I should have gotten used to that, but I still felt sad sometimes.

I'm like a mouse being watched. I hunched my shoulders and turned to leave the hall that didn't belong to me.

"Stop." His father's voice came from the second floor of the hall.

Alpha's dominance silenced the chattering crowd, who all bowed their heads in homage to Alpha.

I stood where I was, looking up at my father, who was standing on the second floor, with unrealistic expectations.

"What a bother!" My father frowned at me. My hair was untidy, my clothes were stained, and my pale face was bruised. I blinked but there was not a trace of concern for me in his face.

I let him down again, I thought.

"Didn't I tell you to clean up the hall earlier? Why are you so late? Don't you know that today is the big day of our pack?" His tone was filled with dissatisfaction and disgust.

"I'm sorry, Alpha," I muttered. Being scolded by my father in public, my self-esteem made my face turn red.

I lowered my eyes to hide my anticipation. I wanted to tell father that I had been knocked unconscious last night by your warm-hearted nephew and taken to the woods by the lake. I met a huge wolf and almost died. I dreamt about my mother and her last gift to me, but that pearl necklace was snatched away by your other daughter.

But I know he doesn't care anymore. He already has another child that he's happy with.

"Good morning, my uncle, the Great Alpha." Nick walked into the hall with a smile on his face. Everyone looked at him. He was still polite, his hair smooth, like a gentleman.

He smiled at my father. "Everyone is very happy today. I brought some gifts. I hope you will like them."

With a wave of his hand, a group of servants brought silver trays of champagne and wine to the long table. The air was suddenly filled with the aroma of strong wine. The people in the hall sniffed softly, and a look of intoxication appeared on their faces.

Not every pack has a werewolf who knows how to brew, and each pack has a different flavor preference, but the stronger pack can always get the better liquor.

So, the stronger the wine is, the more it can represent the status of a pack.

"Nick, my good nephew, come and talk to me," father said as he walked down the stairs and patted Nick on the shoulder. He glanced at me, who was frozen to one side, and said impatiently, "Bernice needs help. Go Up and help her. Don't make a fool of yourself here."

"Yes, Alpha." I swallowed the lump in my throat and turned away.

As I pass Nick, he looks at me with a smirk and says, “I hope you slept well last night, my dear Delia.”

The malice in his eyes made my hair stand on end.

I gritted my teeth, looked up, pretended not to know anything, and went up the stairs.

Knock, Knock.

I took a deep breath and knocked on Bernice's door.

"Well? Why did father send you?" Bernice sat on the dresser by the window. The maid was combing her hair, and in front of her were boxes of jewels, pearls, diamonds, gold, and amber, which shone in the morning light.

"Yes. Alpha sent me." I tried to sound normal.

"Oh, look at you. You deserve to be in my bedroom?" Said Bernice in a high-pitched voice, winking at the corner of her eye. She seems to have forgotten that it was her bucket of cold water that made me like this.

"What are you going to do?" I didn't think she was going to let me go. She was just going to try to make a fool of me.

“Take off your dirty clothes and shoes. Come and serve me with my new custom-made high heels.” She cocked her feet on the wool blanket, smiled, and lifted her chin to look at me arrogantly.