Chapter 12

"Are you ready to meet your maker?" Zed whispers to me.

Inhaling a long shaky breath, I roll out my shoulders in attempt to shake off the tension. I barely slept last night, Hardin has spent hours debating with the Elders to switch my opponent. Judging by Zeds words, I know Hardin failed to convince them.

"As ready as I'll ever be." I say softly.

"He's going to taunt you, as long as you stay in control, you win." Zed assures me.

Nodding, I take a deep breath. Control, the one thing I do have over myself. Knowing that comforts me, even if I know the beating that he's going to give me may just put me out for the count.

"Where's Hardin?" I ask, my nerves haywire.

I needed him with me, I needed his comfort, I needed to know that he's still going to standing at my side no matter what happens. But most importantly, I needed my mate for emotional support, just having him close does wonders.

"He'll be here." Zed promises, squeezing my shoulder as if to calm down my fear.

Nodding, I inhale slowly, my hands shaking as I stare at my father in the centre of the huge circle. He calmly waits my arrival, while I fear his presence. Part of me wanted to cry, but I refused to show him such a thing.

The buzzer finally sounds, echoing over the chants that immediately begin. My stomach knots. Zed gives me a reassuring smile, before gently pushing out of the doorway and into the light.

With legs numb to the bone, I force myself to walk the short distance, the stadium feeling much smaller than it did moments ago. Perhaps it's because I'm face to face with Alpha Kade, the man that literally haunted me for almost eighteen years.

"You should have run, girl." Kade mutters nastily.

Internally cringing, I turn my eyes to the three Elders sitting on the huge stone seat. The stadium sits into the ground, allowing everyone watching to simply lean over for the perfect view.

"Today we bear witness to something extraordinary, never in history has such a pair battled it out!" Elder Luther begins, even though everyone knows that Alpha Kade is my father.

Many high status wolves came from all over the world to witness my graduation, after the Elders announced the date of the Alpha Females ceremony, they flocked here like sheep. At least, that's what Hardin said.

"Kade Slovak, who we all know and recognise as Alpha!" Luther announces my father, who basks in the cheers that fill the room.

Luther hushes everyone, and they don't complain, all eager to know more about Kade's daughter. All eyes on me, I felt like a statue at the museum, scrutinised and torn apart by their gaze. I could feel them picking out my every flaw, although they didn't get to see much due to my hoodie.

"Katalayha Stone,...First born of Alpha Kade and Luna Sasha,...first Alpha Female,...chosen mate and wife to the notorious Alpha Hardin, and today we have the privilege to see how thick blood really is!"

The pounding of what sounds like hundreds of voices screaming and cheering, echoes off the stone room. The energy and excitement is indescribable, they're dying to see if the bond of family is strong enough to outweigh our tempers.

Little do they know that I have never been wanted, the bond of family doesn't exist between us.

My heart races within my chest, fear gripping me so tightly that I didn't see the fist coming straight at me. The sheer shock of being punched had me stumbling backwards, my eyes wide as I tenderly touch my cheekbone, the throbbing quickly growing intense.

"You never could take a hit." I hear my father hiss in a low voice, ensuring no one hears him except me.

The Elders have no idea of my parents abuse, and it's clear they want to keep it that way.

Too frightened to fight back, I do my best to defend myself. My father doesn't hold back, and at times I struggle to get back up. Hit after hit, punch after punch, I quickly become accustomed to the familiar beating of his boots on my stomach.

Through my fathers legs, I could see Hardin and Zed. The darkness that presents itself on both of their faces only makes me feel worse, knowing I'm not even bothering to fight back like he's been teaching me. My father isn't someone you punch back.

"He can't save you, girl, in here no one can touch me." My father snarls in my ear.

I didn't want to believe his words, but in my heart I knew them to be true. In this moment, everyone is watching as my father beats me as he has done for the last eighteen years of my life. They do nothing, they don't see the mental battle that wages in my skull, they don't see the scars he left behind.

"Worthless." He punches me across the face.

"Weak." He sneers, slamming my head off the sand covered stone, my whimper not fazing him.

"No." I whisper, backing away before he can deliver a blow so hard that I know it'll take a very long time to heal.

"The day you were born, I should have thrown you to the rogues. You live by my mercy! Never, ever, talk back to me!" My father bares his canines, eyes blood red as he looms over me dangerously.

I felt the impact of his words, the truth to every syllable, and it shredded the strand of hope I'd gripped on to all these years. Something snapped inside of me, something I hadn't felt before.

A wave of power fell over me, anger like never before, rage. As if something had possessed my body in a split second, I jump to my feet, my fist collided viciously with my fathers nose. I heard the loud crack of bone, and I liked it. The utter shock on his face as he stumbles feeds the rage, instead of satisfying it, I wanted more.

I didn't need to say a word, I couldn't. Every punch, every time he flinched, or stumbled, I'm right there, helping him to the ground. I wanted him down, and every time he landed on the stone I let him rise again, and again, and again, until he couldn't anymore.

I'd never felt so powerful. My fathers blood spills, and I bask in the glory of his pain.

Kill him.

He needs to die. Listening to the last shred of fear, I begin climbing up my fathers body, to his chest.

"That's my girl!" I heard Hardin cheer, the blood pumping through my ears slowing. Hardin.

My chest rises and falls erratically, breathlessly I crawl away from my father. He barely moves, too exhausted to get back up, and I wasn't far behind. Blood drips from my face, and without looking I know I'm bleeding on my stomach and back, the hoodie soaking it up.

"Push through it, you've got this." I hear Hardin say to me, his huge hands gently grabbing me.

Wincing, I hold onto him as he places me on my feet. My limbs feeling like jelly, I couldn't accept the fact that I'd just beat the crap out of my father, and won.

The ovation that thunders through the room has me cringing into Hardins chest, the noise harsh on my suddenly sensitive ears. Hardin holds me up, taking my weight as I lean against him for support.

Coming out of my rage, I glance hesitantly towards my father. He lays where I'd left him, my mother rushing to his side, acting like he's going to die any second. I felt no remorse for what I'd done, I didn't care for the blood pooling under him.

I'd do it again.

"I suppose this is your doing? The sex must be good to make her submit to you as she does." My mothers vile words ring angrily.

All heads turn to her, and Hardins entire body rumbles with the fury of his beast. I couldn't allow him to defend me, so I did it myself. My mother knows I wouldn't have been willing to sleep with Hardin, she knows it hurts every time.

In a flash I grip my mother by her throat, so tight that my knuckles turn white. The sheer power that sizzles through my veins puts me on a high, I never wanted to come down.

"No one makes me submit, Luna, and no one talks to my mate like that, ever. Got it?" I snarl in her face.

The command has my mother cringing away, incapable of withstanding the sheer force of my words. I couldn't help but smile, my teeth covered in blood.

"Y-yes." She gasps for breath, clawing at my hands. I saw my own reflection in her terrified eyes, the usual arrogance long gone as I choke her, my fingers ease their grip a little.

"Yes what?" I whisper, my voice like ice as I stare my mother right in her eyes, no longer frightened by her glare.

Eyes tearful and cheeks scarlet, from strangulation and fright, my mother gasps her words.

"...Yes A-Alpha."

I almost felt guilty, for humiliating her in such a public place. I shouldn't, she's never shown me any love or kindness, she's just a woman that should have protected me, and instead chose to be my greatest fear. A small part of me still refuses to harm her, she did raise me even if I'll never forgive her for the way she did it.

Releasing my mother, I watch as she scrambles away to my father. I could smell her fear, and it didn't please me, it gives me no satisfaction. How could they enjoy my fear all these years?

"What are you doing, Kali? This isn't you." A familiar voice speaks up from the people surrounding me.

My head snaps up, eyes widening.

"Seb?" My voice is a whisper.

Usually Seb would wrap me in a hug and tell me everything is alright, but not today. The look on his face immediately makes my heart fall, the utter disappointment, the shame, I'd by lying if I said it didn't sting.

"You promised me." He states coldly.

I couldn't help but frown, looking at him like he's insane. After everything I have faced, he truly thought I'd remain the silent abused girl.

"I tried-"

"Did you? The girl I knew would never have broken her word." Sebastian states, shaking his head at me.

"The girl you knew still dreamt of being saved." I retort, scoffing. How dare he shove it in my face after everything I've faced?

"I wanted to do something, you're the one that refused my help." Seb snaps, frowning at me with anger.

Is he seriously going there right now?

"I needed you long before they married me off!" I growl, stepping closer to my brother in a threatening way. It wasn't intentional, I couldn't stand him acting like this.

Does he not see that he couldn't have saved me?

Sebastian stares at me with slightly wide eyes, I could see his guilt, because deep down he knows I'm right. Yet I feel awful the moment I said the words, my parents would never have allowed Sebastian to take me away from them.

"I assume this is the brother?" I heard Beck muttering behind me.

"Should we let it play out? I'd like to see how she does against him." I heard Zed comment in a hushed tone.

I wanted to smile at their teenage attitude, while wanting to bash their heads together for being so immature right now.

"A hundred says she can take him." Hardin chimes in with their childish bickering.

Really, Hardin? I thought, mentally rolling my eyes. It surprises me that he's so chill right now. Am I secretly glad that he's betting on me beating Seb? Kind of.

"Quit your squabbling, today is a day of celebration." Elder Luka appears behind my brother.

No words are spoken for a few seconds as the words sink in, that's when I realise what the Elder is saying.

"I'm going to graduate?" I ask softly, skeptically, glancing between Elder Luka and Hardin. Why didn't I finish the job? I could have been free of Hardin!

What the hell happened to making sure I get my freedom? Why didn't I just rip my fathers head off and have done with all of this?

"I believe you have endless potential, Katalayha, I'd like to speak with alone when you have the chance." Luka flashes me a smile, while I stare at him gobsmacked, making a fool out of myself.

He's letting me graduate? Why?

I open my mouth to ask him. "But I-"

"Kali, you're bleeding." I hear Beck suddenly say.

"It's fine." I brush off his words, knowing my face is a mess. "I don't understand-"

"No, take off your hoodie." Hardin's cold demand cuts me off, irritating me as I'm trying to have a conversation. What are they so worried about?

Sighing, I unzip my hoodie. "It's just a little-..."

My words freeze in my throat when I see the huge holes stabbed into my waist. Blood seeps from the gaping wounds, like a waterfall, it's the moment I see the blood that I feel the pain of the wound.

"Blood." I finish, my voice a whisper.

There's a sharp second of utter silence, before pure chaos erupts. The Elders seize my father and lock him in the prison until morning, they flock around me like I'm going to die any second. I've never had someone worry about me, and to have multiple wolves asking questions and fearing that I may die, is overwhelming.

A healer arrives in what feels like seconds, once it's confirmed that I'm not poisoned or laced with anything, the healer seals my wounds to stop the bleeding. It hurts, burns like a bitch actually, but within minutes I could already feel my flesh twining itself together. He gives me herbs to help speed up the process, even though I'll most likely be healed in a matter of hours anyway.

"How did you do that?" Hardin asks that night, standing beside the bed after helping me lay down.

Staring up at his frowning face, I raise my eyebrow. "Do what?" I ask curiously.

Hardin crosses his arms over his chest, looking at me with grey eyes full of wonder and confusion.

"Show mercy." Hardin admits.

Part of me feels frightened that Hardin doesn't know how to show mercy, but the other part of me softens slightly. Perhaps he's not had the easy life everyone thinks, the beast doesn't know how to be merciful, which tells me that perhaps no one has ever shown him such a thing.

Glancing away, I sit myself up slightly, ignoring his hands that move to help.

"I lost control, Hardin...I was fully prepared to kill my own father, and I...I heard your voice, and I just...I couldn't." I explain in a quiet, awkward tone.

I'm not entirely sure of what I feel for him, there is something that has developed over the last two weeks. Ever since he helped me prepare for this week, I've felt differently of him. I'm not star struck, or even close to loving him, but I feel something.

Enough to stop me loosing control, it's enough to make me stay.

"No, Elder Luka would have known, he'd never let you graduate." Hardin furrows his dark brows at me. Seemingly more confused, which is exactly what I'm feeling.

"Why would he know?" I ask softly.

"The myths of the Elders having certain gifts, they're not myths, Katalayha. Luka is capable of infiltrating the memories of anyone that he touches." He admits to me in a hushed tone, I assume so that the guards at the door don't hear.

My eyes widen. "That's why you didn't shake his hand." I voice, realising I had made the mistake of greeting Luka when Hardin didn't. I thought he was just being arrogant, but now I see why.

"You haven't been in my head, what makes you think he has?" I whisper, my heart pounding as I fear that the Elder has seen everything.

If he knows that I lost control, why let me graduate? Why endanger the packs and other Alphas?

"Pity." I breathe, answering my own question.

Elder Luka has seen the years of my childhood and teen years, he's witnessed every moment that I've ever lived up until him touching me. He's heard my thoughts, felt my fear, he's practically wore my skin as he invaded my memories.

Hardin sticks around for a while, hovering over me like a mother bird. Trying not to let it bother me, I turn over and let myself fall to sleep. Tomorrow is the final day, I'll graduate and celebrate with the Elders and other Alphas, they're throwing a ball according to Zed.

Hardin told me not to worry about my outfit, apparently it's already taken care of. I almost feel like I should be worried, guys aren't known to have good taste.