When I reached the front of the house, I was too nervous and scared to go in.

I heaved a sigh and stood, watching the house.

"Standing out there won't make it any easier for you, Scarlett." His voice, menacing and a bit threatening, had me jolting in more fear.

I met his eyes observing me from one of the windows. I swallowed and slowly walked into the house.

It was already evening. Baron had not wanted me to leave, if he'd had his way, he would have wanted me to go home with him. I was in enough trouble as it already stands, I could not afford not coming home else Ben would have my head.

Scared but having no choice, I entered the house. He was already sitting on the sofa, watching me as I stepped into the house.

"Good evening." I greeted nervously, waiting for him to pounce on me and give me the beating of my life.

"I told you not to mingle with that guy and his family, Scarlett. You chose to disobey me." He was sipping a bottle of beer.

I immediately went on my knees to show how remorseful and submissive I was. Ben liked to be in power. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

My eyes pleaded for mercy while my body quaked a bit.

"You know when you go all submissive, I find it hard to go through with my punishment that you so deserve." I knew he was observing me.

"I-I'm s-sorry, please." I begged because it was theo nly thing I could.

"I have given it a lot of thought. You've already had a rough day given your condition. Punishing you will just worsen it and I don't want that for you. Come here." He beckoned.

"Hm?" I could not believe my ears. He was letting me off the hook?

"Don't make me change my mind."

I immediately walked over to him. He pointed to his laps. Not wanting to but knowing it wasn't a good idea plus he was letting me go this time, I slowly lowered myself on his lap.

His hands began to caress my body in a suggestive manner, I tried to stay still without flinching. It was almost impossible but I managed until I felt his fingers crawling beneath my shirt.

I jumped with a start.

"What is it?" He eyed me.

"I-I want to pee plus the doctor said I needed some rest." That had been Baron and Katherina singing it into my ear., not the doctor.

Heis eyes continued to roam my body. I hoped he would let me. "But you can rest on my body."

"The doctor said as soon as I got home, I should rest until my body has gotten back the energy it lost during the episode." I insisted with my lies.

"You can go." He waved me away. "But you return as soon as you've gotten your rest, you hear me?"

I nodded and fled his sight. When I got toy own room, tears filled my eyes and poured downy cheeks.

How long would I continue to live like this? I had no one to go to. No friends nor family. I wish I knew where my mother was. I'd have gone to her.

It's been years since I last set my sights on her. Maybe I should try running away but the thought of Ben finding me was enough to derail me from that trail of thought.

I heard shuffling of feet, immediately, I peeled off my clothes, changed, hurried into the bed and covered myself. My back was to the entrance of the room.

I felt him standing at the doorway.

"Are you sleeping, sweet pea?"

I closed my eyes, shut my lids tightly. I wanted him to think I was asleep so he would go away.

"Are you pretending to be sleeping? You can't be that fast asleep already." I could tell he was observing my expression.

I opened my eyes because it was the safer option for me compared to beating. "No, I'm not sleeping already. I just closed my eyes, I'm resting...just like the doctor said."

"I'll let you rest but there's something you'll do for me."

My heart skipped. "What's that?"

"You can move around with that Baron guy but one condition." His smile was fishy.

"W-what?" I didn't want to get too happy that he was letting me get close to my mate.

But to my surprise, he said nothing else. Then he stood. "Don't worry about it. Just do your thing with your mate."

I didn't like the way he'd uttered the word 'mate' as though it was something to be disgusted about, but at least, he was giving permission and acknowledging Baron was my mate.

"Okay." I nodded and waited for him to leave.

As soon as he did, I shook my body in pure excitement. There was no more holding back. Baron had seen me at my worst today and still stayed by me.

He knew I was an Omega wolf, still that didn't stop him. He had checked all the boxes right and I was so happy.

His siblings seemed welcoming, asides Aaron and the other cold, non-talking guy. They both seemed to have something against me.

Zach wasn't exactly friendly but he appeared to be watching me, trying to get to know me before he opened up himself. As for the last boy, Lucas, that one was so friendly and cute.

I remembered how he'd stood up for Katherina's mom and punched Ben. He has no time loosening up around me.

I had no idea how this pack would work out for me given my past experience in my old pack but the Moon Goddess seemed to be smiling on me, ready to change my luck and I was all too happy to accept it.

An Alpha mate! I still had a hard time believing it. Even my age mates from my old pack would also have a hard time believing it as well.

Scarlett, the sick werewolf who was cursed to be mateless.

Those were their exact mocking words. But the Moon Goddess had a different plan and I was glad the kind of plan she had.

LUNA ELIZABETH

Laughter bubbles in my throat, listening to my husband talk.

I was on the phone with him, seated comfortably in the back of one of the six convoys my husband had go with me to this Luna meeting I was on my way to.

After that bastard's appearance, much to my shock and disdain, few days back, the house had been tensed and almost silent, until two days ago.

I had to beg my Alpha for understanding and when he heard the whole story, he finally saw my point and forgave me.

I was happy we were on good terms again. I wouldn't want anything to ruin the beautiful life with the man the Moon Goddess had shown mercy by giving him to me.

"I love you, baby." His tone was filled with love and affection. "Got to go. I have a pack meeting. Need to address some pack issue."

"I love you too. But pack issue? You never told me about any pack issue." I had to ask.

"Nothing major, honey. Just have fun doing whatever you women love to do." He blew me a kiss and the call disconnected.

I paid attention to my surroundings. Watched canopies of trees sweep by in fast motion. Houses floating past. I enjoyed the scenery, took in the small pleasures of life and thanking the Moon Goddess for them.

The car I was in stopped.

My brows furrowed. "Why are we stopping?" I questioned my driver.

"Someone is causing the hold up in front, Luna. I just got alerted by the others in front. Let me go see who it is." He unstrapped himself and got down.

It was no later than five minutes when I heard the ruckus myself. Curious and finding myself annoyed over whatever this was, I climbed down to go see for myself.

There were about three guards trying to stop someone from coming towards my vehicle. I strained my neck to see the face.

"Leave me alone, you dimwits! I'm here for my wife."

"If you do not restrain yourself, mister. We're going to have to deal with you harshly."

My blood ran cold as soon as I recognized the voice. Not with fear, but with anger.

I marched up to the front of the vehicle where he was still struggling with them. I saw his face then. "What the hell do you want from me, Ben? What are you doing here?" My voice was flat and cold. A little mean, if you may.

The guards released their hold on him once noticing my presence. They bowed and parted for me to have a clearer view of him.

"I'm here to see you."

My eyes roamed his entire frame in something resembling disgust. When my gaze reached his eyes, there was desperation..and some kind of plea for understanding.

I wasn't fazed. "To see me? Why? Why do you want to see me?"

"Because you're my wife."

The words were barley out of his mouth when I raised my hand to strike his face hard and without remorse. "You must be out of your mind, you fool! You abandoned me and my daughter. You left us to go through hell alone. You were out there starting a new life with another woman while I went hungry and almost homeless with my daughter."

Righteous fury trembled my frame.

"You never for once in over twenty years care to know how I was faring. How my daughter was faring. Probably you heard somewhere that the Moon Goddess has been kind to me and Katherine. Now you come here, making a fool of yourself and making proclamations like you have the right."

Emotions ran wild and barely controlled.

My Luna wolf was ready to tear this bastard in shreds for the pains of the past.

I could even hear my voice had gotten deeper - almost like a growl.

"You have no right, Ben! Absolutely no right! You made the choice when you ran out on us years ago. You do not get the right to return and want the family you rejected. I'm with a better man now. The best man, in fact. And I am so glad you left us, because even when you were there, you were not what I'd naturally pray to have as a husband. So thank you for leaving. But," I wagged a warning finger in his stunned face. "Let this be the second and last time you'll show your face to me, Ben. The next time, I'll deal with you as a Luna does to anyone who dares disrespect her. You're a subject in Stone Shadow, remain so."

I swerved on my heel to leave, but to my astonishment, he grabbed a hand, ready to pull me back. "Wait, I have..."

His words were cut off by a grunt.

The guards forced him to his knees.

Provoked to the rim, I commanded. "Roughen him up."

My security showed no mercy - they kicked and slapped and beat.

One even slid off his belt and used as a whip.

When I was satisfied seeing the blood on his face, I raised a hand. "That's enough. Push him out of the way and continue this journey."

They shoved him to the edge of the road that he almost rolled into a nearby bush.

There were bystanders watching this scenario. I walked back to my vehicle already opened by a guard and slid in.

I put a call across to my husband. I wanted someone to talk to. My hands were shaking, I didn't even realize tears were on the surface until they rolled down my face.

I swiped at them, hating that I was crying.

I was in a better place now. So was my daughter. But it didn't erase the hell that man had put me through, and I thought I had forgotten all about it until he showed up again.

"Hello, Lizzy, I'm in a..."

"I know. I'm sorry for," I paused to control tears.

"Are you crying?" The genuine concern that erupted from him and reached my ears made me utter a silent gratitude to the Moon Goddess for giving him to me.

He wasn't just my husband. He was my savior. My second chance at hope, life and love.

"I...I just wanted to talk to you. You make me feel calm, safe and protected." I told him without shame.

"Someone hurt you?" He went on full Alpha mode. His tone now deepened to that of his powerful wolf, dark too.

"Ben tried to..."

"That bastard! Don't worry, my love, he'll be dealt with. Where are you now? Do you think you're still up for this journey?"

A sniffle. "Yes. I won't let his presence ruin anything for me. I'm just...just worried about Katherine."

There, I finally said it. Ben was a psycho. A lunatic. I might be able to fight him off, but what about my daughter who was even more vulnerable now that she was pregnant?

"Hey, do you think the boys will let any harm come to her?" He sounded reasonable.

I couldn't help but nod. "Yeah, you're right. That's right."

"I have to go, love. When you get home, we'll talk all about it, okay?"

I nodded, mustering courage from his words. "Okay."

The call disconnected.

I drew a deep breath, brought out my compact mirror to retouch my makeup.

My husband was right. If Ben tried to play dumb games, he would soon realize I wasn't alone anymore...and so it was with my daughter.

SCARLETT

"Leave me alone, please." I snatched my arm from Katherine's hold. The distress in my tone evident.

She had done no wrong to me, but she wouldn't understand what I went through...and what I would go through if I was caught anywhere around her or...

...him.

My wolf had managed to sniff him before I even saw him. It was a weak sniff, but enough to alert me of his presence.

"Scarlett, you have to be calm, please. Let us help you." The genuine concern in her eyes and the kindness she was showing was humbling...but I didn't dare accept it.

I didn't waste anymore time standing in the corridor sparsely filled with students who were more interested in watching the drama unfold than focusing on themselves.

Katherine was hell bent on making me be one with the Salvatores.

No, I didn't want to be, I told myself. I hastened my steps when I realized he was behind me, almost catching up.

My wolf whined for his presence. His touch. His mouth...no. I cleared that image out of my head, increasing my steps to an almost run.

"Hey, Baron."

That was Enisa.

I recognized that high, sultry, too-cheerful-to-be-true tone, and on impulse I'd like to insist Ailya - my wolf - had projected, I turned. She had intercepted his path, wanting his attention.

"How are you doing, Baron?" In her pretty high waist short, pleated skirt and a black jacket with matching ankle boots, she was every inch the perfect girlfriend for someone like him.

"Now's not the time, Enisa." Only Baron wasn't interested.

Maybe if he was, this would be easy for me. I wouldn't have to worry about getting in trouble with Ben.

But then again, the thought of Baron with any girl that wasn't me was a torture I never wanted to go through.

"But..."

"Get the hell out of my way." When he nudged her out of his path, it was near brutal.

Her shoulder collided with a wall, a small cry of discomfort left her lips. Then she straightened, turned to give me a vengeful glare as though I had caused Baron to treat her that way.

I continued on my way, but didn't bother to run. He was going to catch up with me still.

"What is wrong with you, Scarlett?" He snatched an arm.

The force of it had me turning to face him. "Please, just leave me alone."

"No. I won't. Now I'm convinced Ben is the one making you avoid me." Those beautiful grey orbs were currently darkened in annoyance and disappointment.

I swallowed, forcing myself to look away before I gave in to the temptation. "I have class."

Katherine emerged from the corner, walking towards us. Her bag was carried by Aaron who draped an arm about her shoulder casually.

Only it wasn't just casual. It also said something subtle; 'back-off'.

Her eyes stationed on us both, calm and observing.

"Let's go to class then." Baron quirked a corner of his mouth, annoyance not leaving his eyes.

There was also the stubbornness - he had given me as much time as he could, now he was just going to get his way, no matter what.

A smile almost escaped, but it was quickly replaced by panic. I threw a sharp look around the hallway and corners, not ready for another beating when I got home.

Now that the thought of being caught by Ben was ingrained in my head and refused to leave, my panic grew. "You have to let me go, please. I...I promise to, uh...I promise to talk to you once I am done with this class."

That was a lie.

I had no plans of talking to him. I wasn't ready to sign my death warrant.

The stare was long and a bit unsettling.

I wondered if he'd caught through my lies. Aaron and Katherine were near us now but neither intervened.

Then he released me. "Fine. After class then." And walked away.

He didn't even acknowledge his brother or his mate. Although the couple didn't bother. They seemed to be used to his...strange behavior.

"Let's go into class, Scarlett." Katherine stepped forward with an endearing smile, then she directed to her mate. "I'll see you at lunch, babe."

"Alright. Be careful." He leaned in and captured her mouth deeply and passionately in his.

I walked away from them.

It wasn't just Baron I should stay away from... everyone close to him was off-limit.

"Wait up." Katherine caught up, falling into step beside me. "Scarlett, you do not have to place your happiness over the selfishness of that man."

The emotional disconnection when she referred to her biological father as 'that man' surprised me, though I didn't say a word. It was as though she didn't find him important enough...no, that wasn't it.

She didn't find him important at all. He meant nothing to her.

"Please leave me alone." I mumbled and walked faster away from her.

In class, I kept to myself. Reminding myself Ben didn't want me to make friends or even talk to anybody.

He was a psycho and a pretty intelligent one at that.

During lunch, I avoided the cafeteria, preferring to stay hungry than risk running into Baron.

I didn't trust him not to accost me. He might be waiting for me to show up.

Once school had ended for the day. Relieved and guilty over ignoring Katherine who just wanted to establish some sort of friendship with me, I made my way home - that is, after scanning the school environment and making sure he wasn't waiting for me at the gate.

The other Salvatore brothers respected my wish to not associate with them and drove their cars out of the compound without so much as a look my way.

I drew a deep sigh and started for the school gate.

Someone pushed me so hard from behind that I fell and scraped my knees.

Before I could see who it was, I received a kick at the base of my spine. I let out a loud, painful cry. That hurt so bad.

"You bitch! Stay away from Baron, you hear me."

Enisa.

She crouched, sniffed the air around me. "A weak Omega." It came out with a sneer. "How bold of you to want an Alpha. Fuck you, bitch!" She struck my face, then pulled my hair. "Next time, I'll do even worse."

She left me there to nurse my pain. I struggled to stand. Given the amount of force her ankle boot had exercised to hit me on my lower back, it was quite difficult to walk.

Some students watched me, none coming to help. I struggled to hold back tears, limping my way home.

It took me a long time to get home. I was almost crying from extreme pain.

I entered the house. There he was in the living room, swollen face and dried blood.

His eyes were bloodshot, increasing the rate of my heart. I could collapse from how fast my heart was pumping.

He was drunk. And battered.

And when he was that drunk, I suffered the result. Who had he gotten in a fight with? Some wild animal or was it a gang-beating?

"G-good afternoon."

He stood up from the sofa and took unsteady steps towards me. To my surprise, rather than the snarl I was expecting to see, there was a grin.

The drunk, lascivious type that didn't just made me scared, it also made my stomach churn.

"How was school, baby?" His words slurred.

I usually would run and let him sleep it off before returning home. But with my injured back, how could I?

"F-fine. We were so busy today. So I'll need to go to bed, please." It was difficult keeping my voice steady and tears from flowing.

He didn't care. He reached where I was and made a grab for me before I could limp away.

His hands grabbed my breasts, his tongue rolling over his lips like a hungry, wild dog.

Oh goddess, no!

"P-please, n-no." I shook my head, desperately trying to free myself from his grip.

"Shut up!" He released one of my breasts to hit my face, a scowl appearing.

That same spot Enisa had hit me.

If that side of my face was bruised before. It was definitely battered now.

He pushed me, my back hit the sofa, that caused another pain to rip through my back.

My cries were loud and begging for mercy.

He began to unbuckle his belt.

Fear of what he was about to do overwhelmed me. I tried to stand but ended up falling back.

He'd occasionally touch me indecently, but this was the first time he would attempt to force his way with me.

I let out a scream, my body quaking with tears and panic.

"I said shut up!" He wobbled, pulling his belt to hit me.

In a blur of movement, he was flying off his feet, body hitting a wall. "How dare you?!"

Blinking tears to make my vision clear, I stared at the tall, angry frame of Baron.