Chapter 1 Chapter 1

“FATHER NO!.... PLEASE NO FATHER…. I CAN'T DO WITHOUT IT!”

I stumbled fast toward the fire, trying to quench the flames even though I knew it was useless

I could only watch from a few feet away as the fire devoured everything with its intense, crackling hunger.

“I said hold her for me!” he roared, commanding his servants. They suddenly found the strength they’d been lacking.

Their grip tightened painfully on my arms.

I watched helplessly as my belongings burned. All I could do was drop to my knees and sob.

Freda whimpered in the corner, sharing my sadness.

My paintings, my father’s painting, my mother’s pictures and handwriting—he spared none of my favorite belongings.

I watched as intense satisfaction filled his face while everything I had turned to ashes.

I still couldn’t believe this was the man who had adopted me. The one who promised he would do anything to keep me safe and happy. Now he was nothing but a walking monster.

The moment I stopped fighting, the guards shoved me to the ground like discarded trash. My father stalked over, his boots heavy with contempt.

Without a word, he drove his foot viciously into my stomach. Pain exploded through me—sharp, blinding, nauseating. I curled inward, gasping as the world spun.

They left, walking toward the house, while I sat there crying until no more tears would come.

Is this how I really want to live my life?

How much more would he do to make sure I never fought back when he oppressed me? Because that’s all he had been doing for the past few years. Today was the worst of all.

I had been beaten, starved, and almost expelled before, but none of it stopped my rebellion.

And this was what I got today—the destruction of something so dear to me. He knew I would die to protect this things, so he went for what hurt most.

Today had started like every other day: a bright morning filled with insults and intense body shaming.

“You fat pig, you disgust me… you shouldn’t be gardening, you might eat the flowers too… are you sure you aren’t eating the dogs’ food too?”

The wild insults went on and on.

I decided to speak back today, like so many other days, and I was “dealt with.” He finally realized beating me wasn’t enough, so he went this extreme.

That was the last snap I needed. I was not willing to bow here like a helpless, wolfless Omega with no mind of her own. Even though that’s what I was, I couldn’t let it define me.

I wiped my tears angrily, turned around, and started walking toward the house.

This man wants a fat rebel? Fine. He’ll get one.

“ASH!” Freda, my wolf, called, snapping me back to reality. “Don’t make a harsh decision… that man can do anything he wants with you and you won’t be able to defend yourself.”

I rolled my eyes.

“I know I told you to stand up for yourself,” she continued, “but this is a life sentence.”

My legs suddenly grew weaker. I stumbled slightly down the path and collapsed again. The little courage I had gathered vanished into the cold night.

“So what do I do, Freda…. What should I do?” I said as another sob racked through my body.

As much as I didn’t want to hate my own body, I couldn’t help it with this man around.

I knew he had expected me to grow into some slender but slightly curvy lady, but that never happened. I became bigger when I turned sixteen—just when my mates got their wolves and lost their baby fat.

I let out a loud scream into the dark night.

“What do I do, Freda… why is this happening to me!” I screamed again.

Freda became quiet again. She always did that whenever it was convenient for her.

I rolled to my side as another wave of sobs wracked through my entire body. Eventually I managed to stand and walked like a hollow shell into the house, entering through the back door.

The moment I stepped inside, he grabbed me, yanking me toward himself.

I whimpered at the impact, not having any strength left to rebel.

Suddenly my eyes caught a reflection—a shiny glint as he moved it nearer to my neck.

A knife.

Blood drained from my face.

“Do it,” I dared him. I didn’t have anything left to live for anyway.

The only things still anchoring me were my last family possessions and Freda, who supplied me with challenges and humor. But recently she had started fluctuating.

“I can’t stain my claws with a fat omega like you,” he murmured in my ear. “You will serve a very interesting purpose.”

Dread filled my heart at the tone of his voice. I swallowed hard, my eyes still glued to the knife pressed near my throat.

He bent closer, whispering against my neck. “Since you are useless… and no man will want someone like you… why don’t you…” He pressed his lips to my neck. “Serve me instead.”

I recoiled almost immediately. The knife slipped from his hand as I yanked myself away.

“What!”