Chapter 5 Amalie

“If you ruin my brand-new dress while I am at school, I will beat you within an inch of your life,” Melissa hisses as she shoves me against the wall. Her hand starts to wrap around my neck. It's a weak hold that does nothing to me.

“I won’t touch your room while you are at college,” I state, my eyes looking at the floor, as to not challenge her. I want to huff and roll my eyes at how dramatic she was being. I want to shove her away from me and slap her.

“Call me Luna. After all, I will be your Luna soon. Once Mark and Cal see me in my dress, they will be begging me to be their Luna. I want to hear, 'Yes Luna',” she gloats.

I have to bite my tongue to keep Beren from growling at Melissa. Unfortunately, Medea, Melissa's wolf notices my anger. She growls and tightens Melissa’s hand around my throat. She pushes herself forward and states, “You don’t growl at your future Luna. You do as I say, or I hurt the pup.”

At those words, Beren surges forward with more anger. “You lay a finger on my pup, and you will regret the day you were born!” Beren growls back, more fiercely.

I am stunned at Medea’s words. She would hurt Rose, her flesh and blood. What kind of mother would threaten their young pup. My mind is reeling and I don’t notice what Medea is doing.

Medea starts to submit before she yells out, “Ow, daddy she’s hurting us!” Medea gives control back to Melissa. She stumbles back and into the wall as if she has been struck.

The scent of alcohol fills the hallway. It overwhelms me before I am able to do anything about it. “What did you do?” Thomas thunders as he storms into the hallway.

“Nothing!” I try to defend. I know that it is no use, but that doesn't stop me from trying. “She threatened Rose!”

“I don’t care if she kills the brat, you don’t lay a hand on your sister!” he screams at me as he towers over me.

I know I should have stopped there. I should have rolled over and submitted. I should have done what he wants. But instead, instead, I challenge him. Beren surges forward, this time with my permission and growls, “Don’t you dare threaten my pup!”

“I will threaten her when and however I want!” Thomas shouts as he wraps a hand around my neck.

This time, I am scared of what he will do. When Mellisa had tried to choke me, I had scoffed at the thought. She did not take training seriously. Medea was a weak wolf, physically that is. Her mind is very cunning.

This time, I knew that there was going to be trouble. My father was once a good warrior, at least that was what I was told when I was in school and training. Now, even though he is a drunk, he is still stronger than me. And, he is choking me with no remorse.

“Marie! Get the chains!” Thomas orders as he continues to put pressure on my throat.

My vision is starting to darken around the edges. But at the mention of the chains, I try to fight. I claw at his hand that is around my throat. The chains that he mentioned are silver chains. They will put a set on my wrists and a pair on my ankles. The chains will burn and keep Beren from helping me. They will keep me from healing.

“Leave,” he orders Melissa.

I have a fleeting hope that she will stay and protest, at least the use of silver chains. No werewolf should be treated with silver. I can handle the beatings and the words. I can handle wearing the silver for a short time. But once the chains went on, they would leave them on for days. The chains would be left on until I learn my lesson.

I will have to wear the chains for days. I will not be able to hold Rose during this time. I will not be able to comfort her while I have to wear them. Rose will be terrified as she smelt the burning and raw flesh from the silver, and I will not be able to comfort her. I could burn her. Without her wolf, the burn marks would become scares. I can't do that to her.

“Please no!” I choke out with the last of my air.

“I’ll be back by three,” Melissa huffs as she leaves for college.

“Please,” I try again as watch my mother, wearing a pair of welding gloves, carry the pair of chains. I'm out of air in my lungs.

“You hurt my daughter,” Marie hisses as she put a cuff on my ankle.

I jerk hard as the first cuff of silver touched my skin. I try to scream, ‘I’m your daughter too.’ But all that comes out is a silent scream. Thomas switches his grip on my throat, giving Marie an easier access to the rest of my limbs. The second cuff clicks around my other ankle. I bite my lip hard enough to bleed. Beren’s growl fades as the silver works. Marie smirks as she claps the next cuff on my right wrist. I reach out with my left hand to try and grab anything in my reach. My vision continues to fade as Thomas does not release my throat. She bats my hand away and clap the final cuff on my left wrist.

Thomas dumps me on the ground. I try to scream from how I landed and from the silver, but all I can do is take a ragged breath to fill my lungs. I try to take deep breaths. As I take a breath, a foot connects with my stomach. It drives out my prescious oxygen that I had just took into my body.

“How dare you hurt my daughter!” Marie screams at me.

“You should have terminated the pregnancy when you found out about her,” Thomas sneers as he foot connects to my stomach again.

“I thought she would have been more useful. Also, by the time I got to the pack doctor, I was too far along. The fool wouldn’t let me,” she hisses back. I could hear the rage and disdain dripping from each word.

I want to demand why they hate me so much. I am their daughter. Their first born. Many believed that the first born to a family would bring good luck to the family. The second born, was a blessing as well. It meant the moon goddess was blessing the line with multiple pups. Your legacy would be strong and secure.

Why am I hated when I am supposed to bring luck? Why were the people in my life causing me the most pain? What had I ever done to deserve this?

“Mama?” comes the whisper that freezes the blood in my veins.