Chapter 2
Mica
I am Mica McLauren and an orphan, even if I have a stepfather who should have looked after me after my mother died because of a vampire but abused me instead. Before that, he was nice to me and treated me like his own. I saw how much he loved my mother, and I could feel how much he cared for our family. I thought that my mom's remarrying was not bad at all because she found a very responsible and loving man.
But that ended when my mother was bitten by a vampire when she tried to save me. I just came from a friend's house after finishing a project and walked back home after my mom fetched me from their house. We were talking about school and some stuff when a vampire suddenly showed up.
He grabbed me, but my mother tried and push him away, so I managed to get away from his grip. The vampire got angry, grabbed my mother by the neck, and bit her. I saw how that leech sucked my mother's blood to death, and all I could do was cry. Some people arrived, which made the leech leave and run away, while the people helped me with my mother.
My stepfather was very furious. He came home from work and found out what had happened. At that moment, I thought I saw a monster in him when he grabbed me by my neck. I was choking, but with the help of one of our neighbors, he stopped him and took me away from him.
After that, I constantly took a beating from him. Whenever I did something he didn't like, he would lock me in the room for two days without food. He not only physically abused me but also mentally. He would make me remember how my mother died and that it was all my fault. Whenever he was drunk, he would call my mother and do something a stepfather should never do to his stepdaughter. I felt dirty after that, and I hated him to the bone.
I was young and weak. I tried to seek help from our neighbor, but he only did worse to me when he found out. “You jinx! Come here! You dare tell me to our neighbor?” he said angrily. He was drinking with his friend, who was now drunk as well. “Hey Rod, do you like her?” he asked his friends, and my eyes widened.
“No, please don’t do this to me," I begged, crying, but he was so evil that he gave me that demonic smile. They both look like demons to me when they alternately ruin and break me.
After I graduated college, which was earlier than everyone my age, if there was something intact with me, that was my intelligence. I found a chance to run away, but I had to transfer from one place to another because he kept on finding my whereabouts. He didn't stop searching for me until he did so because he wanted to bring me with him. I didn’t want to worsen my condition, and I didn’t know if I would be able to get on with my life if he succeeded, so I never stopped running.
Until I found the diner about two years ago. I know that it wasn't as ordinary as it looked; the couple who owned it were both nice. But I hate them for being wolves and being one of the bastards that killed my father. I never talked to them besides the first time I came and did an interview to get the job. Everything seemed good; they never asked me anything about my past but protected me when there was someone who wanted to take advantage of me. I saw fear on everyone's faces who wanted to do me wrong when either of the couple looked at them. They were both well respected, and I heard it was because Cane is a warrior and friends with the high-ranking officials of their pack, especially their alpha.
All I know about alphas is that they are strong, as the title suggests. But there was one time when an alpha of another pack stopped by with his beta and acted so high and mighty. I didn't like him instantly since he was glaring at me. Maybe because I am a human and he didn't like someone like me to be around their territory. I just ignored him since I didn't care about him either. I didn't want to see him or anyone of his kind. If not for my stepfather, I would not have stayed here and let them look at me the way they do.
“Mica, on table 4.” Rin, who was in the cashier, told me as she handed me a tray of burgers and french fries with milkshakes and soft drinks. I took it and served it to the customers. They were a group of young male and female wolves. They must have been partners or friends. Well, I don’t care about that.
“Can you do extra service?” one of the males asked, and they all laughed. They knew that I didn’t talk, so they should expect that I was not going to answer him and just leave them. But he was very persistent, and even if I hated him and his kind, I couldn’t help but feel scared. I had no match for a human-like my stepfather; what can I do to someone who has supernatural strength?
“If you cannot respect my workers here, you better leave my diner!" Cane’s voice boomed inside. I looked at him, and I saw how he looked at our customers. I got worried that these idiots would tell their alpha about what happened and get mad at my boss.
“I was just asking,” the arrogant male wolf replied with a smirk.
“I am not going to repeat what I just said,” Cane warned them.
“I’m sorry about this, Mr. Cane.” A female wolf said this and glared at the male wolf. “We will just finish our food and leave," she added. Cane didn’t say anything and looked at me,
“Let Joaquin serve them," he said before he turned around and went to the kitchen. I decided to leave the table since I didn’t want to cause trouble either. Finding a place where my stepfather wouldn’t reach was very difficult, so I had to behave myself.
Just as the female wolf said, they left after they were done eating. I noticed the male wolf looked my way, grinning before he left. I feel like something bad is going to happen, and I suddenly feel scared. A cringe feeling engulfed me.