CHAPTER Five

Raven’s POV

As the light beamed through my blinds it made my eyes sting. They were so sore and even with my wolf helping me heal it wasn’t enough. Every smack he delivered was brutal, leaving no skin untouched. When I was younger it would only be places that could be hidden under clothes, but once I received my wolf all that changed. He stopped caring where the marks were knowing after a day or two, they would be gone.

“Ahh please stop” I whimpered as I was ripped from my bed. My head hitting the wooden post before hitting the floor. I hadn’t even heard him come in.

“How many times did I tell you. You were to be up and ready by 9am” the spit landed on my face as he spoke. It took everything I had not to cry and not to cringe knowing it wouldn’t do me any good.

“I’m sorry” was all I found myself able to mumble before his fist connected with my jaw making me cry out. He hit hard but at least he didn’t break it this time.

“You fucking look at me when you speak. Not the fucking floor” I braced myself for the next smack only it never came. Instead, he looked at me with pure disgust before leaving my room.

When I was sure he had gone I carried myself to the door quickly shutting and locking it. I hated it here. I hated him. Fathers are supposed to love, cherish, and protect their daughters, but not him. It was no wonder my mother took her own life. I only wished she had taken mine to and not left me in his care. Pft care… certainly not what I could call it. My mother went when I was sixteen after finding out what my father truly was capable of.

When I was younger all I wanted was to travel the world, to be free of this shit storm of a life. I wanted to live, to have fun and to see what life actually had to offer. The majority of she-wolves couldn’t wait to find their mates. To have that fairy-tale romance and happily ever after, but not me. No, I didn’t want a mate and if ever I crossed paths with him, I’d run. I’d run as far and fast as my legs could carry me. I knew not all mates were bad, but after seeing the hell my dad put my mother through I sure as hell wasn’t going to take any chances.

Four hours later…

“Mate” my stomach churned as he spoke those words. I never in my lifetime wanted to hear them. Out of the corner of my eye I could see him watching me, studying me and daring me to return his gaze. Alpha Mykel was said to be a good man though many had spoken of his temper. Rumours were constantly going around that when he lost it, people lost their lives. Then again, they could just be rumours. Alpha Mykel already had his Luna; he was fated to Luna Lilith, so this had to have been some fucked up joke. I could see the hurt on her face even though she masked it well. I was a master of plastering a fake smile on just as she seemed to be. Only the one thing that confused me was that I didn’t sense any jealousy or hate coming from her. I had always been good at reading people and nine times out of ten I was right. Luna Lilith, I hadn’t heard much about, no one had. Except for the knowledge she was beautiful, nothing else was known.

I mean how the fuck could this happen. I was already planning my escape from the maniac my father planned on giving me to. A filthy perv that couldn’t keep his hands to himself. My father had let him stay in my room several times before. No matter how much I protested he didn’t stop him. My father said he could do what he wanted with me for I was to be his. I can still remember the first time he touched me. It was my seventeenth birthday and he wanted to give me the gift of all gifts. That night he raped me, he took my innocence, my sanity, and my dignity all in one go. Two years later and I can remember the smell of his coffee laced breath as he breathed down my neck before forcing his tongue into my mouth. A memory that would forever be imprinted in my brain. Benjamin was the king of scum. And now I would be forced to escape another. My mate. The moment I stepped out of the car I had caught his scent. He smelt like a fresh summer’s day. You know that smell you get once the grass has been freshly cut. I had hoped I was wrong, that it wasn’t my mate. However, the closer we got to the pack house the stronger the scent became. I argued and pleaded with my father to let me skip the meeting, but he insisted Benjamin would want to see me. That it would improve his mood and he would without doubt sign an alliance with him.

When it came time to break, I felt relieved. My father had sat me between him and Benjamin making it abundantly clear it was him I had been promised too. Since Alpha Mykel revealed I was his mate, Benjamin had been constantly stroking my inner thigh. Twice he tried to slip his fingers into my panties and only when Luna Lilith caught him, did he stop. My father had dragged me to the room in which I’d be staying while here, and once I’d realised I had the room to myself for the night I let out the breath I’d been holding. I laid on the bed trying to process everything that had happened when a soft knock came from the door. I didn’t need to see who was there for I could tell by his scent. The moment I opened the door he walked in and with inhuman speed pushed me up against the wall. Fear and excitement swirling within me.

“Mine” he growled into my neck as he inhaled my scent. My heart fluttered wanting him to take me and claim me as his all while my head screamed and shouted for me to run. I froze where I stood, my body paralysed under his touch. Sparks ignited over my skin and no matter how hard I tried to fight the feeling of bliss it was utterly useless. He gripped my chin and forced me to look at him. His eyes were a gorgeously deep shade of brown. His flawless face and strong jaw… come on Raven snap out of it. I bought my hands to his chest fully intent of pushing him away, giving him the whole how dare you speech. That was until his lips smashed into my own. He sucked on my lower lip before using his tongue to wrestle my own. Damn this kiss was good, nothing like the ones Benjamin had forced me to endure.

Flashbacks of that beast touching me entered my mind, my wolf coming forwards and doing what I couldn’t. A look of hurt and rejection flashed in his eyes. A pang of guilt instantly rose within me.

“I… I’m Alpha Mykel. What’s your name?” Don’t do it Raven, don’t tell him just keep that big mouth of yours shut. My head was screaming at me but like word vomit it just came out.

“Raven”

“Well Raven, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m sure your confused and scared but I assure you there’s no need to be”

“You have to go… please. Please if he catches you in here with me, he’ll…” My hands began to tremble as fear of what my father or Benjamin would do should they catch Alpha Mykel here began to take hold.

“He’ll what?” Shit me and my mouth really were my own downfall sometimes.

“Nothing. Just please forget I’ve said anything and leave. You heard what was said, I’m to be with someone else”

“Yeh me. Your fated to me and that’s how it’s going to stay. Whoever else thinks they have some moronic claim for you can come see me” hearing footsteps leading to my room my heart rate spiked. I would recognise that shuffle walk anywhere.

“Excuse me? What’s going on in here?” Benjamin stood in the doorway his lips twitching as he watched Alpha Mykel and me.

“Benjamin leave, she’s no longer your concern” Alpha Mykel’s eyes never once left my own.

“Oh, but it does. Her father has promised her to me isn’t that right pumpkin.”