Chapter 3: Cold Family Ties

"The Black Shadow pack is coming soon, are you ready?" Nancy knocked on the door of my room, her voice dripping with a pretentiousness that I found extremely distasteful.

I heard her voice from inside the room and frowned slightly. This woman, whenever there were outsiders around, pampered me like a baby, but once no one was around, she showed that ugly face, like a devil.

"Okay. I'll be right there," I responded as I zipped up the back of my dress and then opened the door.

"Hurry downstairs and wash the fruit tray." Nancy approached me quickly, gave me a hard stare, then threw a hat toward my face. "Put it on later!"

I reached for the hat and asked suspiciously, "Why the hat?"

"Idiot, do you want their people to see the scars on your face?" Nancy said with a face full of impatience.

"I'll do a good job, please don't worry," I whispered, lowering my head.

Nancy waved her hand impatiently at me, signaling me to hurry downstairs and get to work. I silently turned around and headed downstairs.

I've long been accustomed to such instructions in this house, and I'm a free servant doing all sorts of odd jobs. I carefully washed the fruit tray in the kitchen and then started watering each bouquet when I was done.

Jess, the maid, came quietly over, the only person in the pack who cared about me.

"I hear you'll be leaving here soon, Miss Tori, and I'm going to miss you."

Jess is a lot older than me and in my mind, she is like a grandmother to me. I hugged her. "I'm going to miss you too, Jess. You take care of yourself."

"Here's the scarf I knitted for you, take it with you. I hope you have a happy life from now on." Jess patted me on the head and then handed me a knitted scarf.

"Oh my God, this is the first time someone has given me a gift and not asked me to do anything." I was almost on the verge of tears. "I love your gift and I'll wear it around all the time. I really appreciate that you helped me, and I'm worried about what's next for you…"

She wiped my tears. "Silly child, I will be fine, but you…" She sighed.

"Wow, that's really touching. I'm going to cry." Liam's shrill laugh broke the friendly atmosphere as he walked toward us, clapping as he did so.

I took Jess's hand and instinctively took a step backward.

"Father wouldn’t have beaten me if it wasn't for you snitching." Liam stared at Jess then grabbed her roughly by the shoulders. "I'm going to teach you a lesson!"

I immediately stepped in front of Jess and said, "Liam, don't do this to her."

My words angered Liam. He walked toward me with big strides, snatched the scarf from my hand, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it fiercely with his foot, saying viciously, "You still dare to talk back to me!"

He reached out his arm, trying to grab my shoulder. I tried to keep my distance and glanced from the corner of my eye. "Liam... please don't. We're going to have some distinguished guests later, and it wouldn't be good for you to make a big deal out of it."

Liam froze for a moment, then the corners of his mouth turned up in a wide grin. "Funny that you'd hold your honored guest over me. I'll forgive you as long as you kneel for me."

He gave me a death stare that made my skin crawl.

He was going to hit me.

I flinched in preparation for the blow, but it did not come.

Liam clenched his fists, yet with great effort, he held it back.

I was curious about what made him stop when I noticed that our conversation had drawn the attention of the crowd downstairs in the foyer.

Just when I didn't know what to do, an unfamiliar voice came.

"Mr. Liam, who are you asking to kneel for you?"

We turned our heads to see a man in a black trench coat appear in front of us. He was tall and carried a chill. Next to him, two bodyguards were standing.

It looked like an extraordinary temperament.

It all happened so suddenly that neither Nancy nor my father had time to react. Father, who had hurried downstairs, saw the strange man questioning Liam and immediately ran over to him.

Beta Jace!" he beamed. "It's an honor to meet you! I'm so sorry to be late to greet you!"

Liam was dumbfounded. "You…you're Black Shadow's Beta, Jace?"

Beta Jace looked contemptuously at Nancy beside Liam. "We've been here so long, and you just let us stand around... this is your pack's way of treating your guests?"

Liam's mind was reeling in the face of Beta's outburst, and he looked at me, obviously still in shock.

It was my father who was quick to respond to the invitation. "Beta Jace, please have a seat and a cup of coffee."

In the face of this thunderous rumor-level figure, they simply couldn't wait to get down on the ground and wipe the dust off their leather shoes for him. After all, when Black Shadow's Beta speaks, the family is instantly brought back from the dead.

Beta's face was solemn, his eyes sharply scrutinizing my father and stepmother.

"Why don't you hurry up and pour Beta Jace some coffee," Nancy urged me gently.

I nodded in agreement and ran quickly to the kitchen. I carried the coffee and steadily delivered it on a tray to the guest.

Beta Jace sat elegantly and exuded a distinctive aura that turned heads. He wore a dark-colored delicate shirt, which presented the contours of his broad shoulders and tight arms. On his left arm, a slender scar was faintly visible and intimidating.

"Wait, what's under your hat?" Beta asked, full of suspicion.

I stopped in my tracks and turned to him. "I'm sorry, what did you say?" All I could feel was the blood drain from my face and a panic set in.

"Your hat. Why is it pressed so low? What are you trying to hide?" he pursued. "Come here."

I moved closer, keeping my eyes down. My forehead was covered with scars and I really didn't want Beta to see them.

"Oh, I see," he said, slightly surprised. "Now, don't be rude. Look me straight in the eye when I'm talking to you."

I looked up at him. The interior lights were shining straight into his eyes. He gazes at me in confusion for a moment, as if trying to comprehend what he sees before him.

"What's the matter with the scar on her forehead?" Jace's voice was deep and set my nerves on edge. “Doesn't your pack have servants? Why let the Alpha's daughter do the housework?”

“Oh, it's because she likes doing these things,” Nancy said.

"Yes, I like doing housework," I repeated.

“What about the wound on her finger?”

"She accidentally cut herself while cutting the fruit, didn't you, Tori?"

I gazed at Nancy and my father, their stern gazes searing into my skin.

"Yes, I accidentally got cut by a fruit knife, m-my apologies..." I stuttered, looking back at Jace.

Please believe the lie, I thought.

"Scratches?"

He didn't seem to believe what we were saying, and, to be honest, I wouldn't believe it if I were him, either.

"Yes. How about we stop thinking about such trivialities and let's get down to business."

"No, we don't need further discussion. We already discussed the situation over the phone."

"Well, Nancy prepared a small dinner for you and your company. You must be starving from your trip here..."

"No. We will not be eating."

Then Jace nodded to me, gesturing for me to come closer.

"Move," Liam growled from behind me.

I hesitated to take the steps forward toward the newcomers. I was trying my hardest not to cry and felt frozen on the spot. But I knew I had no choice.

A smack to my rear end caused me to jump a little, and at the same time, I lost sense of my balance and went tumbling down the steps. I let out a cry.

How stupid I was, making such noises in front of the guests... I was done for.

I never hit the floor, though. Instead, I found myself in the main guest's arms.

Before I could process what had happened, he quickly set my feet on the floor. He made sure I regained my balance, gave me a nod, and released me.

He saved me?

"Beta... thank you!" I managed to give him a smile.

"You're welcome, Miss Tori." He did not smile, but I could tell from his tone that he meant no harm.

Thud!

I heard the cracking noise followed by Liam's scream. 

What just happened?

Turning around, I saw Liam at the bottom of the stairs.

One of the dark alluding figures was beating him, and it seemed like it would be to the death. Blood covered the floor, and I heard another set of screams coming from Nancy. 

"Please! Beta Jace, please stop this!" she exclaimed, pleading with the man next to me.

Jace was unmoved.

Blow after blow, Liam took the beating that was being given to him. He didn't stand a chance against this person.

Liam's shrieks were getting weaker, while Nancy continued begging Jace in tears. No matter how much Liam rebelled against Nancy, he was still her son. 

I did not like Liam, but if they continued, he might die.

I looked at Jace, not sure whether I should say something to stop them.

Luckily, before I could speak, Jace gave his order while he watched the scene unfold.

"Stop."

The figure stopped momentarily, but only to wait for further directions.

"Take his hand."

"NOOO! Don't do this to him. He will never touch her again. I swear!"

My stepmother was on her knees, begging for Jace not to hurt Liam further. He didn't seem to care, though.

And my father just stood there watching.

A blood-curdling scream drew my sights back to Liam, and blood pooled around him. I realized his hand was lying on the ground.

Only then did the figure step back from Liam and make his way back to his position next to the man who was supposed to be collecting me.

I moved one step away from him.

I couldn't go with them. The fear that flooded me wasn't like the fear I had when it concerned my father or stepbrother. There's no way I would survive such ruthless cruelty. My father, he couldn't be serious… How could he send me to them? How could he send me to them?

Nancy fell to the ground, screaming. She then snapped around and charged at me. "It's all your fault, you wh*re! I'll kill you!"

She tried to grab me but Jace stepped forward and blocked her way. However, she didn't stop cursing.

"You c*nt! If it wasn't for you trying to seduce my son, none of this would've happened!"

"Control your Luna, Alpha," the man said slowly, his gaze turning to my father.

"Nancy, take him to the pack hospital," were the only words my father got out.

"Liam is your son, do something... Mark, you can't just let them treat him this way!"

I had never seen my stepmother this desperate.

“ENOUGH!" My father cut her off. "Take him to the pack hospital. Do make me repeat it a third time."

I saw Nancy's face turn from shocked to red, and then pale. She looked at my father with disbelief. A few seconds later, picked up an unconscious Liam and his hand, and left the room with two of my father's warriors without saying any more words.

Her eyes as she passed me said it all, without words even leaving her lips.

She wanted me dead.

"I am sorry for the trouble, Jace. It seems that my stepson needs to learn his place. I will make sure that is taken care of." My father's voice was completely different now. He seemed lighthearted and yet authoritative.

The focus of the crowd was pulled back on me.

I lowered my head and could not look him in the eye.

I thought he didn't like me because I reminded him of my mother, but what about Nancy and Liam?

I heard my father continue, "As you can see, Jace, she is a beauty, and very compliant. She is such a joy to have around. It almost hurts to see my baby girl go, but she just wants this so much."

I bit my lips and clenched my fists.

"Very well. We need to be going. The payment will arrive in a few days once the Alpha has seen her."

"My apologies... I thought we would receive it on your arrival?"

I looked at my father and could tell he was getting angry. But something in him was afraid, especially when Jace's annoyed gaze turned to him.

He was trying to remain polite toward Jace. I couldn't remember my Alpha father ever being polite.

"Yes, to my pack. Are you trying to renegotiate with the Alpha?" Jace said firmly.

My father quickly shook his head. "No, of course not. Just a miscommunication. Trust me, I understand how it can be as an Alpha. Making sure the deal is worth it is always important."

"Just a reminder, Mark... she is Alpha Cayden's property now. She no longer belongs to you, and never will again. She will never return here, ever. Alive or dead, she belongs to our pack."

Alive or dead.

I looked at my father, and his eyes flickered to me with slight hesitation before he smiled. "That's fine."

My father's words took away my only hope.

"We need to go, now." Jace turned towards me. "Do you need anything else? Is this all that you have to take with you?"

I knew I had no choice but to nod.

"Very well. Let's go. We have a long drive ahead of us."

Jace turned to walk towards the car. The two shadows next to him moved to my sides.

One step, two steps... I moved towards their car, but with every step I took, I became more scared and uncertain about my future.

Glancing back at the pack house from outside, I tried to save an image of a home my mother had once been a part of. She would be ashamed of my father.

"You will never return here," Jace said.

There was nothing for me to say, though. Nothing I could say would change anything, so what was the point? I stayed quiet and followed him to his car.

"I'm so tired," I whispered, leaning against the window of the car, exhaustion coming over me, and as my consciousness blurred, I felt my head sink and everything in front of me go black.