CHAPTER 2

ERSA'S POV:-

Splash of cold water in the chilling weather of December clawed my bones. I sat up on the surface of the dusty ground of the dungeon deep under the alpha's Villa. I was trying to gasp for air while my hands were trying to find my inhaler. "Didn't I tell you to wake up earlier and get done with your chores before I would open my eyes?" Luna Lara, my adoptive mother, hissed at me angrily as she dropped the bucket on the ground.

I inhaled myself quickly and stood up on my feet. My eyes started to water up almost instantly. Because of the weather, I was unable to sleep properly. Bowing my head obediently, I made my way out of the dungeon.

Did I do something to be inside the dungeon? No, I didn't! My brother, Kaden, locked me up last night because I didn't obey him. Didn't the thought of being in an incest relationship should give people creeps. Yes, we were not siblings by blood. But I grew up calling him my brother. How could he think of me warming his bed?

Without another word, I got to work. I made breakfast for all the people in the villa. That was one of the chores I began my day with. Then I went towards the laundry area. I was staring at the pile of used clothes of my siblings and tears were trickling in my eyes. It was not like I did the laundry once or twice a week. The pile I was staring at was gathered within a few hours.

Most of the clothes belonged to both Kaden and Elsa, my sister. I wiped my tears and got to work. I didn't know the reason my parents gave me up to Alpha Canis' family. If they hated me so much, they should have just killed me for good. Giving me up to a family who didn't care if I lived or died, it was not fair.

My stomach started growling after an hour but I was nowhere near the finish line. I was not even done with half of the pile of clothes in front of me. And of course, I was not even allowed to eat up anything until I was done with all my chores.

It took me about three hours to get done with all the chores. After hanging the laundry, I made my way back to the kitchen. I was expecting to see a pile of dishes in the sink for me. But I was surprised to see none. Old woman Gloria was walking out of the kitchen from the back door. She turned her head just to look at me and wink.

A small smile appeared on my face as I bowed my head in front of her. There were days when granny Gloria would do the chores for me so I wouldn't have to do everything by myself. Like the alpha's family, everyone hated me. I just didn't know what my parents did to them. I was bearing all the wrath.

Granny Gloria had left two freshly baked buns and some scrambled eggs on her plate for me. I quickly started eating because I was starving. It was usual for me to eat so late. As I said, no one would have cared if I lived or died. The reason I was alive, the reason I was fighting to keep on living, was a man I fell in love with.

I stepped out of the alpha's villa and bumped into Kaden. I gasped and stepped away. I quickly wrapped my arms above my chest to protect my chest from his dirty eyes. Elsa was standing with him. They were both older than me. But they both were bullies like their parents. They picked on me because I was weak.

I lowered my head because I didn't have strength to fight them. I just wanted to see the man who was the reason I wanted to live. But I guess, bad luck was going to follow me to my grave. Elsa pulled out a corn from behind her back and held it in front of my eyes. "Take a bite." She ordered me. I looked into her eyes and found that same menacing glint in her eyes that gave me creeps.

I wanted to step away but I couldn't. Kaden was holding me by my arms. "You know, I can't do that. I am allergic to corn." I tried to reason with them.

Kaden growled at me and I jumped in fear. Gulping hard, I took a bite. I didn't have any choice. I was weak, that's why they picked on me. As soon as the corn slid down my throat, I started feeling my throat starting to tighten up. My hand went straight to my pocket to grab my inhaler. Only to realise that my inhaler was taken from me.

Gasping for air, I fell on the ground. I was struggling to breathe but Elsa and Kaden were playing with my inhaler while laughing at me. "Leave her alone." I heard a loud shout of a familiar person. I looked up and found Beta Jamie standing. He pushed Kaden away from me and snatched the inhaler from Kaden's hands.

"There is no need to get all worked up. We were just playing with our little sister." Kaden growled at Beta Jamie as both of my siblings walked away. Beta Jamie placed the inhaler between my lips and gave it two pumps. As I inhaled the medicine, I gasped loudly.

Beta Jamie wrapped his arms around me tightly and I cried in his arms. I woke up again in the arms of the man I fell in love with. He was one of the few people in this world who actually cared about me. I looked around and frowned in confusion. I was in Beta Jamie's bedroom. I saw a bag placed on the corner of the bed.

Beta Jamie stepped out of the closet with a few clothes in his hands. "Are you going somewhere?" I asked as my heart was starting to feel the terror.

"Yes! For three days. But you will hardly notice me gone." Beta Jamie replied to me in a cheerful tone.

He was trying to cheer me up. But he knew exactly what could happen to me if he was not here to protect me. "Three days! You know what can happen to me in three days." I whispered softly as I crawled out of the bed. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him from behind.

His calmly beating heart was calming me down. "My sweet pie, I know it won't be easy for you. But I want you to fight. I want you to live for me." Jamie whispered while he was caressing the back of my hand.

He grabbed my hands and pulled me in front of him. He cupped my face with both of his hands and placed his forehead on mine. I closed my eyes as his warm breaths were fanning on my face. "Bear it with me for three more months, my sweet pie. I will marry you right after that three months. Then no one will ever bully you. I promise you that." Beta Jamie whispered softly.

His words made my heart flip in my rib cage due to excitement. The only reason I was living was to be able to wake up one day in his arms. "I can only try. But I can't promise." I whispered honestly.

I couldn't promise him anything I couldn't do. I was barely trying to survive every single day. "Don't say that. I will be leaving Gamma Caster behind. He will protect you from Kaden and Elsa." Beta Jamie whispered softly while rubbing the tip of his nose with my cheek.

Beta Jamie and I were standing in front of his house. He placed his keys in my hand. "If anything happens, I want you to come and live in my place. No one will come here without my permission. Just three days." Beta Jamie whispered softly as he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. My heart skipped a beat as I felt his lips on my forehead.

"Don't take too long." I whispered back and he chuckled. He pulled away from me and ruffled my hair playfully.

"I will be back soon. I love you." Beta Jamie whispered softly, making my heart skip a beat. It happened every time he confessed his love to me.

"Come back safely. I love you too." I replied to him as he walked towards his car. He hopped into his car. He gave me a big smile before he drove away.

Although my heart was aching, I needed to stay strong. "Just three days!" I whispered to myself, hugging the keys tightly.

"Are you sure?" A low familiar growl echoed in my ears from behind and I almost choked on my own breath. I was about to turn around when something hit the crock of my neck. That's all I remembered before the darkness engulfed me.