Chapter 1

...Abbie...

This was it. Alpha Brock would finally put an end to my misery today. I turned eighteen a few weeks ago, though I was surprised he didn’t jump to put me down that very day. Death was the least of my fears, no, my biggest was being put up for auction and being sold to the butcher. Vile man, despicable. I shudder at the thought and suck in a deep breath, trying to slow my racing heart. I would kill myself before I ever let myself be placed in his hands.

Doyle would not have me, no he would not be allowed to violate me further, and I knew Ivy would understand. She knew the pain he caused me, though we never spoke of it. Yet even she knew what he did. If only she hadn’t climbed on that chair next to me, the rope would have held my weight and my misery would have ended that fateful day.

Although the very thought of leaving Ivy with the headmistress, Mrs. Daley, made bile rise up my throat. Wicked old *****, I couldn’t stand her. Especially after what she just did to us. My back stung, but I knew the markings that lashed my skin was nothing compared to the whipping Ivy just got. All because she gave us too many chores, more than usual because apparently, the King was visiting today. As if we cared, he would just be another to torment us if given the chance.

I flinch as I place the rag doused in medicinal herbs on her skin. She tried not to move or cringe, but I knew it must be burning like crazy. I quickly swipe a stray tear from my cheek, reminding myself it would be over for both of us very soon. Eight horrendous years later and we would finally be free of this place, this life and I couldn’t wait. Death.

Most would think it morbid to wish for death, but death would be more pleasant than the life we are living in this orphanage. Housed by the very pack that killed our parents, the alpha slaughtered them right in front of us mercilessly. Grabbing a bandage, I started wrapping it around her torso. Ivy shudders and grips the duvet on the bottom bunk, fisting it trying to hide the pain she was in. I sniffle, trying to stop myself from crying. Goddess knows Mrs. Daley would punish us worse if she saw a tear.

Once I had finished dressing her wounds I reached for her blouse and helped her pull it on, while un-tucking her raven hair as it bunched up inside the blouse. I smiled sadly at her, hoping that the little herbs would help remove some of the pain for her. Ivy swallows and nudges me, taking the leftover rags and tapping me in a silent message to turn around. Ivy dab’s the wounds on my back with a wet cloth to clean them, though mine were more just raised skin and stung a little, hers were deep gashes. When Ivy has finished she squeezes my arm gently and I bull my blouse back on, hissing as my shoulders move.

Ivy watches me and silence falls between us. This was it, today the Alpha would end us and if I had to go out I was glad I had Ivy by my side. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little scared. It made me wonder if I would be reunited with my parents. Gosh how I missed them. It had been so long I almost forgot what they looked like.

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