Chapter 15

"Mommy, don't! Please, please, I'll be good, I won't disobey!" I begged her, crying hysterically in terror as I cower into the corner.

Arms raised to shield my face, I tremble like a leaf, her fury bruising my soft flesh. I cried for my mom, for her to help, even if she is the one beating me.

"No, you fucking won't." Mommy growls, sounding so much like a monster that I felt the warmth of urine soak my thighs, pooling under me.

"It hurts...it hurts..." The words ring loud and clear, screeching as mommy slapped my bare cold skin, each hit feeling like my skin had ripped open.

All I could do was scream.

*

I wake gasping for breath, my flesh covered in a sheet of sweat, hair sticking to my back and neck. My heart races within my chest, the old familiar feeling of panic being the cause.

Subconsciously I glance over at Hardin, his sleeping form easing some part of me. The only time I ever see him truly at peace, is when he's asleep. It makes me a little happy knowing my occasional nightmare doesn't wake him, the last thing I want is him to pity me.

Sliding from the bed, I grab my bobble from the nightstand and quickly wrap my hair up, away from my clammy skin. Puffing my cheeks, I slowly exhale as I grab a dressing gown from the back of the door. Given that I've been sleeping in shorts and a vest for bed, covering up is a must.

Knowing that the entire castle type mansion is asleep right now, I exit the room as quietly as I possibly can. The fact that I'm walking around such a old building in the middle of the night, manages to put me slightly on edge.

Locating one of the many kitchens as quickly as I can, I almost sigh with relief when I finally pour the boiled kettle water into the mug. Back home, whenever I couldn't sleep my brother would sneak me a hot chocolate, to cheer me up and calm me down. Now that he's not around I do it out of habit, even though I do have to hide it from my parents.

Turning to put the milk back in the fridge, I come to a abrupt halt, shock hitting me as I'm slapped straight across the face. The harsh smack makes my face throb, and I stumble in shock.

What the hell!?

"You will never humiliate us like that again, do you understand!?" Her familiar growl has me freezing on the spot.

My breath hitching in fear as I grasp my cheek, my heart filling with panic. Flashes of what I'd done to my father, the way I'd reacted to him during the battle, I instantly regretted it all.

"I-"

Mother grips me by my hair, dragging me from my frozen form bent over the counter top. Her nails dig deep into my scalp, and I whimper in discomfort as she rips the hair from the root.

"It wasn't a fucking suggestion." Mother sneers, eyes pitch black with rage.

I didn't feel angry, I didn't feel the strength that I had yesterday. Only fright, and dread of what she will do if I disobey her.

With slight tears in my eyes, I nod.

"I understand, Luna." I whisper, my throat feeling constricted.

Mothers narrowing glare doesn't soften.

"I suggest you start using your position as his wife to benefit us, or I might be forced to get rid of Jackson." Mothers tone is pure darkness, a threat that I know she'll go through with.

My heart hits my stomach faster than I can blink.

Jackson is the one person I have, the one that doesn't judge me, and doesn't turn his back to my pain or fake smile. But Hardin chose me, and even though I haven't been willing, I'm not the type of person to just use him for my benefit.

My mind twists with argument, but my heart already decided for me. I could hurt Hardin's feelings and possibly ruin any future I might have had, or I can protect my friend from my parents vile intentions.

The choice is rather clear, as horrid as it seems to decide to quickly.

"What do you want?" I mutter, feeling my chest tighten with pain as I plot against him with the one person I despise most.

Mother flashes a twisted smile, relishing in the thought of my submission.

*

"Remember to practice control, no matter how draining it becomes." Elder Luka says.

I nod my head slightly. "I will."

Given that I shook the other Elders hands in goodbye, no one thinks nothing of it when I do the same with Elder Luka. The brief moment of contact allowing him to see what he needs to, what I need him to.

With eyes on me, I couldn't do much as blink out of the ordinary.

Elder Luka dismisses me as he has many others. Hardin leads me to a large black SUV with blacked out windows, Zed jumps in the drivers side while Beck slides in the passenger seat, leaving me in the back with Hardin. Even through the glass, I could feel her glare piercing into me, warning me to say nothing, to do nothing. The fear lingers inside of me.

"What's wrong." Hardin suddenly demands after only minutes of silence as Zed drives.

It wasn't a question, he can feel the difference, my bold iciness towards him. I couldn't tell him, not right now, not yet. I need to make sure my friend is safe, and to do that I have to obey her.

"I'm just tired." I mutter, shrugging off his concern.

"Where did you go last night?" Hardin presses. He knew I wasn't in bed?

"Does it matter? I don't fucking interrogate you whenever you're out of eyeshot." I snap icily, anger brewing inside of me.

I immediately feel guilty, knowing Hardin isn't the one I should be angry at, no, this is my fault. If I had just stuck up for myself, just once, maybe I wouldn't be where I am today.

The car instantly because tense, Zed and Beck remain deathly silent, quieter than I've heard either of them since we met. I could smell their shock, the awkwardness they're currently feeling, but overpowering their discomfort is Hardins anger.

Pressure wraps around my throat, I gasp in shock as Hardin is suddenly in my face, eyes blood red and veins almost popping out of his neck. My hands curl around his, trying to pull him away from my throat before he snaps my neck out of temper. The instant fright that turns my stomach feels awful, I find myself staring into his eyes, mine as wide as they can possibly go as I merely freeze in surprise.

He presses me back against the window, his large form making me feel so very small.

"Speak to me this way again, and I will fuck your pretty little pussy raw." He hisses lethally, like ice, and hot lava, a warning that screamed only sexy.

My thighs clench, palms suddenly sweating as I stare unblinking into Hardins demonic glare. I quickly realise that he isn't angry, not at all, my bold and disrespectful response has made him...excited.

"Do you understand, Katalayha?" Hardin presses his hand tighter around my throat, briefly taking my oxygen.

Instinctively I nod, and he gently releases my throat.

I stare at him, unmoving even as he backs away. Hardins red eyes slowly turn back to the familiar stormy grey, to the eyes that gaze at me with enough desire to affect the bite. Part of me didn't react, not wanting to start this again, but another part of me wanted it, wanted him.

Am I finally going insane?

A while passes, the car silent as we go home.

"Stop it." I sigh, rubbing my temples a little as my skull aches.

"It will be far easier to allow me in." Hardin responds calmly.

"It's not that easy, I'm not blocking you out on purpose." I frown, irritated that he thinks I'd cause myself such daily headaches to simply stop him from seeing my entire life.

"I saw a glimpse." Hardin states.

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise, even if I'm confused. "You did? When?"

"The moment you had him pinned, and you turned to me." He admits. Why didn't he say anything before?

He's only telling you now to weaken the barrier. The voice in my head whispers faintly.

"What did you see?" I wonder curiously. I hadn't done it on purpose, but clearly in that moment some part of me trusted Hardin enough to lower the block.

"Me."