Arriving back to the packhouse, in my clothes of course, I headed straight towards the kitchen to make dinner. Once done, I trudged upstairs to my room to finish all my homework. 

“Hey you,” a voice called out. Turning my head, I looked to see Olivia standing there with a smile on her face.

“Liv,” I smiled at her using my nickname for her.

“Whatcha doin?” 

“Homework,” I mumbled quietly. She patted my head and giggled while I rolled my eyes at her. 

“Arianna!” a voice bellowed out from downstairs, obviously picked up by my werewolf hearing.

I jumped, while Olivia looked at me with sympathy. She knew the treatment they gave me here, but she couldn’t do anything about it, mainly because I wouldn’t let her, and secondly because she would get hurt if she did. 

I gave her a reassuring smile before running downstairs to see what the problem was.

I found Drew standing there with arms crossed with Dana beside him smirking at me. Uh-oh, this was bad.

“W-what’s wrong A-alpha Drew?” I questioned meekly.

“The guys decided to throw a party tomorrow and you need to get everything for it, and you have to clean up afterwards. That’s all, you’re dismissed,” I nodded before heading back up the stairs. I heard the sounds of Drew and Dana making out downstairs as I left them, feeling my heart shatter in a million pieces. My fragile heart, which was already covered in cuts and bruises, barely held together with small bandages, was breaking. Stupid mate bond! Why did I have to be stuck with a selfish, arrogant, player like Drew?

By now, small tears were spilling out of my eyes. I hugged myself with my arms, going up the agonizing stairs with my already worn out feet. 

Smack!

“Stop crying you worthless slut! You’re nothing but a useless whore! Now get out of my sight!” My father said evilly from where he was standing on the stairs. He was holding a bottle of vodka in his hand and had a look of disgust covering his face. I cringed, barely noticing the burning sensation coming from the cheek were he smacked me. I picked myself up from the floor where I’d fallen from his slap and stumbled back towards my room. 

“Ari?” a soft voice spoke.

I was surrounded by warm arms that engulfed me into a hug. I immediately recognized my brother’s scent. I snuggled into him before letting my sobs out. They wracked my body, making it heave. Finally, after my long waterworks, I pulled away and looked up at Ethan.

“Who did this to you?” his voice eerily low as his eyes focused on my already bruising cheek. It didn’t take a genius to know that he already knew it was our dad that hurt me.

I gave him a small smile, telling him it was alright. But Ethan, being the stubborn one he is, stormed out of my room. I sighed, before walking towards my bed when another voice spoke out, sending chills down my spine.

“Well that bruise doesn’t look very good on your pretty face, now does it?” 

I froze, not wanting to acknowledge that Drew, of all people, was in my room. I turned hesitantly towards him. He was standing by the door, leaning on the frame with his arms crossed over his broad chest. His eyes showed amusement but a flicker of hurt and anger passed. I blinked, almost like I didn’t believe he could care.

I lowered my head and stared at the ground before speaking up.

“I don’t have a pretty face, alpha,”

Before I could process what was going on, I was forcefully slammed into the wall with a very pissed looking Drew pressed against me. Our sudden position reminded me of this morning at school and I blushed involuntarily.

“Don’t ever say that,” his voice hissed, cutting through the air like a knife.

“B-but you said-“I was cut off by his lips pressing against mine. The sparks that ignited were breathtaking. Little bursts of flames that burned between us as our lips collided. My stomach was doing summersaults inside at the close proximity, yet I felt so complete, so whole, so loved, that I forgot everything around me and delved myself further into the kiss. That was, until I finally came back to my senses. I broke the kiss first, pushing myself away from him.

“A-alpha!?” I whispered.

He growled lowly before attacking me with his lips once more. He bit my bottom lip, making me gasp and pushed his tongue further, prodding around my mouth. He tasted like sweet honey and vanilla making me ache for more. All too soon, the kiss ended. 

“Don’t call me alpha! I’m your mate!” he growled grabbing my waist and pulling me closer to him. I gulped before looking back at his eyes, which were a darker blue-grey and staring at me with lust and love. I was completely confused with his bipolar emotions. On one side he treated me like shit; on the other, he loved me like a true mate would. 

“S-sorry, D-drew,” I whispered again, looking back down and away from his hypnotizing eyes.

He lifted my chin up and planted a soft kiss on my lips. It wasn’t like the other one, hungry and possessive. This one was sweet and inviting, like a normal boyfriend would give to his girlfriend.

“I’m sleeping in your room tonight. Everyone from the pack is gone tonight. I sent them all away,” he ordered.

“W-what about Sam?” I asked. 

“All the kids are with the older wolves, I told them it was important that they stayed there tonight,” he answered nonchalantly, like it was the most normal thing to do.

I sighed, knowing there was no way I could defy the alpha.

“A-are you sure you want to s-sleep h-here? M-my b-bed is kinda s-small and u-uncomfortable,” I knew I had to tell him the truth about my bed, and I was kinda hoping he wouldn’t want to stay. Yet the last part did send a pang through my heart. I repeat, stupid mate bond.

He smirked before grabbing my hips and pressing me closer to him.

“This isn’t some way of getting rid of me, now is it?” I was seriously tempted to wipe that smirk off his face. 

He grabbed me, pulling me over his shoulder and walked over to my bed. Dropping me to the bed, he climbed on top of me and leant down, kissing my lips yet again.

He pulled back, his infamous smirk plastered onto his handsome face as he rolled over to the side and propped himself up with an elbow. I got up and turned off the lights, knowing that he was watching my every move the entire time. I got into my bed, and pulled up the covers. 

I gasped when an arm shot out and wrapped around my waist, pulling me to a muscled chest-a naked muscled chest at that! I tried squirming away but he just pulled me back and blew hot breath in my ear.

“Now, now, kitten, I don’t think you should do that,” he smirked against my neck. I shivered at the touch. Damn him and his effect on me!

Sighing, I gave up the fight and let sleep succumb to me. 

********

I woke up to the sound of rustling. Turning my head slightly, I realized I was alone in my room yet again. I sighed, content, yet somehow felt upset that he left me.

Looking at the clock, I realized it was 5 am. Just my luck. I got out of bed, fully awake now and ventured into the bathroom. 

I opened the door to find a wet looking Drew with a towel wrapped dangerously low around his hips and wet beads of water trickling down his sculpted body. I found myself staring until I heard a chuckle. I blushed crimson before turning around and running the hell outta there.

He walked out again, still wrapped only in a towel and smirked at me. 

“Like what you see, babe?” 

I scoffed at him, but soon realized what I did and prepared for a slap, but nothing came. I opened my eyes, one at a time, to find Drew looking at me with sadness and guilt. I raised my eyebrows in confusion. 

“Did you think I was gonna hurt you?” he asked so softly that I almost doubted myself for hearing it.

“N-no,” I said quietly, looking away to the ground. Again, my lack of lying skills was so evident that I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t believe me.

“Ari, stop lying, you were scared that I would hit you. I’m so sorry for whatever I’ve done. Please forgive me. I feel like a jerk for what I’ve done to you. Please, please forgive me baby,” he whispered, coming closer and eventually wrapping me in his arms. I forgot the fact that he was half naked, but instead, enjoyed the warmth of his body on my arms, how I molded into his body perfectly. I was enjoying his embrace until he pressed us closer together. I fought the urge to scream as he pressed tightly against my bruises on my stomach and ribs. Sadly, I still let out a muffled yelp, which Drew had heard.

“What’s wrong? Did I hurt you? I’m so sorry!” he rushed out, inspecting me for any signs of hurt. I just shook my head no, but I was already too late. He pulled up my shirt and stood staring at my bruises. His face contorted to one of rage and he dropped my shirt before charging out of the room. I stood there confused at his actions yet again. This boy was clearly deranged.

************

School was yet again, boring. I listened animatedly to Melanie go on and on about how her date with Jake was absolutely wonderful. I felt like the worst friend at the moment, but my thoughts were too preoccupied with Drew. Why on earth would he outright make fun of me and hurt me like usual, then act like nothing happened and we were the loving mates that everyone admired? What was his deal?

I tried to avoid him like the plague. Hallways, class, even the lunchroom were spent finding escape routes so he wouldn’t see or hear me. 

I was walking out the school doors, preparing myself for a walk home when Drew’s sleek Lamborghini Gallardo ran by me. The window slid down, revealing a smirking Drew and an evil looking Dana. I sighed, rolling my eyes, before continuing my walk quietly on the sidewalk. 

“Hey freak! Make sure you walk a little extra today! You could lose the extra weight!” Dana shrieked at me, laughing along with Drew. The thought of him laughing at me sent my heart reeling in pain, but I said nothing. If I did, I’d probably get beaten yet again. Drew leaned over on Dana’s side and looked at me with an amused expression.

“Oh and don’t get wet!” he laughed, before speeding off his Lamborghini, effectively getting me wet by the water that splashed off his tires. I grimaced at my wet clothes, and decided a little shifting wouldn’t hurt. 

I snuck into the woods, stripped off my nasty, wet clothes and shifted. The open feeling felt wonderful on my caged in wolf. 

Before I knew it, the time had flown by, and I was facing the packhouse yet again. I let out a long, exasperated sigh before walking in.

Sadly, I wished I didn’t.