Chapter 2: Distinguished Guests

The day after being beaten, every cell in my body ached and hurt. Fortunately, I ate something, so I’m not starving anymore and I have a bit of energy now.

After I got up in the morning, I started cleaning the living room and tidying up the kitchen. Today is a special day as the distinguished guests are arriving, so we are going to do a thorough cleaning.

I decided to go to the storage room and put the supplies in the cart for utensils. 

Moments later, I heard someone clear their throat behind me. I looked up and found Liam standing very close to me, which made me feel uncomfortable.

"Is there anything I can help you with, Liam?" I struggled to swallow the panic that surged in my throat.

"Tori, I just want to say that when you leave here, you won't be treated like this anymore." He stepped closer, forcing me to back up against the cart.

"Liam, please stop." I raised my hands and gently pushed him, hoping to get him to move, but he was stronger than me and didn't budge.

I looked up at him and found an evil smile on his face.

"I saw the way my dad treats you, Tori. You never complain, you just accept it." He leaned close to me until he pressed himself against me. He leaned forward and whispered in my ear, "You've always been waiting for me to protect you, haven't you?"

What is going on here? Did I hear that wrong?

"Liam, I absolutely don't like being hit by my father. “

No matter what his purpose was, I just wanted to escape quickly.

“I have things to do. Please move aside."

"Oh, my little sister, don't worry... your butt is really perky."

When he wrapped his arms around my waist, I felt tears stinging the corners of my eyes.

I could hardly believe what was happening.

"Don't lie to me, Tori. Just thinking about what I'll do to you when it's my turn makes me excited. I can't wait. I want to hear you moan with pleasure while I hit you. I want you to kneel so I can whip you. I want you to be my toy, Tori. You'll like it, won't you? Kneeling for me with your butt in the air? We'll turn the dungeon into our playroom, not just your bedroom."

He gently kissed my neck, just below my ear.

I couldn't help but shrink away, but I had nowhere to move and couldn't get away from him.

I felt his erection getting harder as he leaned against me.

"Are you crazy?" I shouted. I pushed him hard, but he was too strong; he didn't budge. "Let me go. Please let me go!" You pervert. But I dare not say this out loud; I'm afraid of getting hit.

From start to finish, was he excited to see his dad torture me? No one in this family had ever truly cared about me.

The expression on his face changed from joyful wickedness to disgust. He stepped back without warning and kicked me in the stomach, causing my legs to go weak from the pain. He elbowed my back, forcing me to kneel on the ground. Then, he bent behind me, pressed his body against mine, and reached his arms into my shirt, roughly massaging my breasts while humming in my ear.

He pulled me towards his body, pressing his erection against my buttocks, rubbing back and forth on me, his mouth right by my ear. He licked my face while panting heavily.

"I know you want me, little sister. Don't worry, as long as you agree now, you are mine. I want to possess you for the first time. I want to take pride in your painful screams, but I think I can't wait any longer." His voice was rough with excitement as he rubbed against me, exploring me.

I could only sob. I didn't dare to resist, not even to speak.

Moon Goddess, if you truly are my mother, please help me! Please save me!

When Liam was groping and rubbing me, I was crying out inside. He tore off my leggings and ripped them in half with his wolf-like claws.

When I was left with only my underwear on the lower half of my body, I knew what was about to happen. I couldn't take it anymore and started crying out.

“Help, help!”

"Liam?" I heard my dad and stepmother calling his name; it was the first time in my life I had heard their voices so happy.

Liam breathed a sigh of relief, and I used all my strength to push him away.

I grabbed the leggings from the ground and put them on, my hands shaking, and I couldn't fasten the button no matter what. I heard Liam's laughter behind me.

The sound of footsteps approached until the storage room door opened, and Nancy and my father walked in.

"Why is it taking so long?" Nancy shouted.

"Damn it," Dad's voice said angrily, "Liam, what did you do to your sister?"

A trace of panic flashed in Liam's eyes. I couldn't help but cry out, "Dad, Liam, he tore my clothes..."

I covered my face and cried, unable to say anything more. My father glanced at Liam's bare upper body and understood everything.

He roared, "Shameless bastard! Watch me kill you!"

After all, I am still my father's biological daughter, so there will always be a hint of favoritism toward me. But the sound of the slap I was expecting did not come; instead, I heard Liam's voice accusing.

"Dad, you misunderstood. It was Tori who called me to the storage room to find her," Liam hurriedly said. "As soon as I came in, she took off my shirt and let me touch her chest..."

"Shut up!" Father shouted angrily, interrupting Liam's more vulgar description. "Tori seduced you?"

"Mark, don't be angry. Tori must not want to go to Black Shadow. She probably wants to ask her brother for help, which is why she did this..."

Nancy's words seemed to help me, but in fact, they were an accusation, leading my father to believe that I seduced Liam.

My father was indeed even angrier, loudly questioning me whether I had seduced Liam. I cried and explained that I hadn't.

Just when I thought I was in for another beating, a familiar voice appeared.

"It was Mr. Liam who bullied Miss Tori. I saw it." Our only servant, Jess, who has accompanied me for many years, stepped forward. "Sorry. I went to the storage room to get something, and then I heard Liam say that he wants Miss Tor."

I am very afraid that Jess will be retaliated against, but she looks at me, and her eyes keep telling me, "It's okay." I am grateful to her.

Jess walked up to me, tightened her grip on my hand, and gave me silent encouragement.

"Damn thing!" Father roared, giving Liam a hard slap. "You dare to bully your sister! Do you know what she means to our family?"

“Father, I was wrong.” Liam held his head, and before my father's raised hand could come down, it was stopped by Nancy.

“I know you're angry, but don't forget that important guests are coming later, Mark, leave this to me to handle. "I promise to teach Liam a good lesson!"

Father nodded and then left.

When the sound of Father's footsteps faded, Nancy sent Jess away.

When only Liam, Nancy, and I were left in the storage room, Nancy walked over to Liam, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

Nancy gently pulled him over and carefully checked him up and down, constantly murmuring, "My dear son, how are you? It must hurt a lot, right?" Her eyes were filled with concern and affection.

Immediately, she turned her head sharply to look at me, her eyes suddenly filled with resentment. "It's all because of you, you bitch!" Nancy's voice was sharp and piercing. "You seduced my son, which is why things have turned out this way, and even made Mark take action against him."

I was just about to speak up in my defense, but she didn't give me a chance. Her hand came down hard on my cheek. A sharp pain suddenly shot through my face. I looked at Nancy's face, twisted with anger.

In Nancy's eyes, I seemed to be the source of all evil, yet she completely disregarded the truth of the matter, blindly favoring her son and blaming all the faults on me.

Nancy raised her voice, "I warn you, don't think about seducing my son. Even if he marries a prostitute, he won't want you."

How could Nancy think that I would seduce her son?

I found it extremely disgusting and ridiculous.

Nancy's voice softened as she faced Liam. "And you. Your dad has been overwhelmed lately with the pack issues, so don't cause any more trouble. You must make sure she is a virgin before she enters the Black Shadow. If you ruin the only cash cow in the house, be aware that Mark will skin you alive." 

Liam was somewhat wary of Mark; after all, when Dad got angry, no one would be spared. More importantly, the entire family dared not offend the Black Shadow.

This is also why Nancy has always kept a strict watch over her son, not for my sake, but because she is afraid I would become a liability. In order to sell at a good price to their perfect buyer—the cold-blooded Alpha of the Black Shadow Pack.

"All right, go out and help, do your best, and try not to make your dad angry," Nancy said while pushing Liam.

Liam reluctantly walked out of the storage room.

"What are you still doing here? Hurry up and go back to your bedroom to change your clothes!" Nancy urged me. "You need to wear the most important evening gown when you come out, got it?”

I dragged my weary body up the stairs, walked into my bedroom, and locked the door. I climbed into the shower, and the hot water flowed over my body, giving me a sense of release. I eagerly wanted to erase the feeling of Liam touching my skin. I don't want Liam's hands to leave any marks on me.

After washing for a while, I turned off the water and dried my body.

I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t. It felt like my soul had left my body, and I had no strength at all.

I took out an evening gown from the closet. It was my most precious dress and one that I never dared to wear.

I caressed its soft fabric and the few pearls adorning the collar.

The strapless design revealed my silky shoulder, on which my reddish-brown hair lay. The elegantly embroidered bodice flattered my small frame. The embellished diamonds sparkled under the dim room light, and the airy chiffon skirt drifted gracefully covering my slim legs.

I loved everything about this dress.

How could I not? It was a gift from my dear mother—the only thing I had left from her.

Mother prepared this precious dress for my come-of-age ceremony, for when I met my mate. When my father tried to sell it a few years ago, I begged and pleaded with him to let me keep it. I knew I would enrage him but I had to. I was able to keep it, but not without the most violent beating of my life.

Mother, I miss you more than anything…

As an Alpha’s daughter, I was supposed to have been respected, loved, and cherished. I would have been spoiled and treated like a princess, and one day, when I was of age, I would meet my mate in this dress, and he would see me as the most beautiful girl in his world.

Maybe my mate would be another Alpha who would declare me as his Luna. That would be something any father and mother would be proud to announce—their little princess becoming the queen she was always meant to be.

But here I was, the lowest of the low, not even worth caring for.

In the reflection, I saw the red marks around my neck. My skin was bruised and scarred from years of abuse. My crystal blue eyes were slightly red from all the crying. I looked like me…. and yet I didn’t.

I only saw a pitiful girl in the mirror.

Why did this have to happen to me? What did I do to deserve to be treated like this?

Finally, I was able to put on the gorgeous dress. But it wasn’t for meeting my mate.

It was for greeting my new master—a ruthless stranger, and a dangerous man.

I guess fate has other plans for me.