Chapter 2 CHAPTER TWO
ASHLEY POV
I stumbled forward with so much force that my body slammed into the wall with a loud thud.
I scrambled backward, heart racing, still trying to process what the hell had just happened. He stalked toward me, eyes dark with lust.
I frantically scanned the room for anything I could use as a weapon and shot back to my feet with a desperate agility that surprised even me.
“Relax,” he smirked, never slowing down.
I searched again. Nothing. Not a single damn thing.
“You are useless anyway… why don’t you relieve me for the night?” His smirk deepened as he cornered me against the wall. “The aphrodisiac is starting to kick in.”
Immense dread twisted in my gut as he towered over me, leaning in close, his breath hot against my face. My mind recoiled in horror at what he clearly wanted to do.
Backed into the corner with nowhere left to go, I grabbed him, yanked him closer, and sank my teeth hard into his shoulder.
He let out a raw, guttural roar of pain and fury. His body convulsed as blood instantly soaked through his shirt. Shock and rage twisted his features. His hand flew up to strike me, but the pain forced him to stagger back a step, clutching the bleeding wound.
That was all the opening I needed.
I shoved him with everything I had left and bolted. My heart hammered wildly as I flew up the stairs, feet pounding against the wooden steps. Behind me, his curses and heavy, stumbling footsteps thundered in pursuit.
I didn’t look back.
I slammed my bedroom door shut, hands shaking so violently it took two attempts to turn the key. The lock clicked just as his fist crashed against the wood.
“Open this door, you little bitch!” he bellowed, pounding harder. The frame rattled violently under his blows.
I backed away, breathing hard, the metallic taste of his blood still thick in my mouth. My legs gave out. I slid down the wall and curled into myself on the floor.
Freda remained silent. The whole house felt like it was closing in, suffocating me.
I didn’t know how long the door would hold. But for now, I was locked in and he was locked out.
I ran to my closet and started stuffing my belongings into a bag. I had to leave this place. First thing in the morning.
The door shook violently again. I winced slightly.
Survive tonight first.
I grabbed the five decent pieces of clothing I owned, everything that could last me for now.
By the time I finished packing, I stumbled back into the room. The pounding had finally stopped. The silence felt eerie.
I collapsed onto the bed with a heavy sigh and stared at the brown wooden ceiling. Memories of the past few painful years flooded my mind like bitter poison.
The metallic taste in my mouth dragged me back to the day everything got worse.
Just like every other werewolf, I had grown a bit chubby as a child, and everyone else slimmed down sharply at sixteen when their wolves came.
But not me.
My body stayed bigger. And that was when my foster father finally showed his true face.
He had been waiting for me like an investment finally ready to pay off.
He used to say I had a rare scent that would bloom into something irresistible, paired with my face, I would be the perfect trap for powerful Alphas. A ticket into a stronger family.
I never wanted to be anyone’s trap. Every time I pushed back, he shut me down with anger. Then the weight came, and it was like I had personally destroyed his grand plan.
From that moment, the insults turned vicious, the beatings more frequent, and the starvation became a regular punishment.
He wanted a slender, obedient omega he could sell off. Instead, he got me.
It all got somehow worse because I tried to rebel severally. I tried to resist his torment and act like it doesn't bother me or I simply fight back.
Each time ended with a punishment but that didn't stop me.
Today's event was different, I only told him not to destroy my garden flowers.
But today lustful attempts are where I draw the line. I can easily rebel against all things but I would gladly work away if it was sexual.
I just need to leave here safe tomorrow.
Since I'm almost eighteen I will find my mate and I will be protected.
Exhaustion finally pulled me under in the early hours, but sleep was a battlefield of nightmares—his breath on my neck, the knife glinting, fists hammering the door.
I jolted awake with a gasp, sunlight slicing through the curtains like accusations. Every muscle screamed. My stomach throbbed where he had kicked me, and my shoulder burned from slamming into the wall.
For one frozen moment, I became giddy from the thought of my freedom at last.
I hurried up, carried my back pack, as I was about to turn the door knob.
A sharp knock came through.
