Chapter 2 Tormentors

• Clara
• I wanted Sisley to choke on her words. Yes, I was technically her family. It must have galled her, for her power-hungry father to take me into her family. And for all of his political conniving to come to nothing.
• I lifted my head high to stare at him, the young prince I used to loved with all my heart.
• Could he meet my gaze? Or would he turn away, too ashamed of our shared past?
• His freckles faded a little over time, but the bright sweetness of his emerald eyes had never dimmed.
• I won’t lie; he looked beautiful tonight. He wore the traditional colors of the Moonstone Pack: dark green and subtle mahogany, the same color of pines in the forest. His shirt was opened slightly at the top, and I could see a hint of his lean, but muscular chest. His leather pants and topcoat were well-fitted, which was truly a minor miracle considering how tall he was. He was taller even than his Alpha father, and that was no small feat.
• I gazed at him, and there was a hunger in my belly that went beyond innocent kinship with a childhood memory. I could feel a tight pressure and ache in my chest. I blamed the tight blue dress I wore.
• “Yes. She’s lovely,” Griffin said.
• His voice was emotionless and controlled. His father made sure that Griffin would always behave himself around me. Despite all that, I could sense his sincerity behind his words. “It will be easy to find a suitable mate that may raise your standing in the pack, Clara.”
• His words were addressed to me. The fact that he spoke directly to me would inspire salacious gossip for weeks. I could not help tilting my head. Was this a confession of still caring for my well-being? A consolation that I might be able to escape this hell?
• Murderous rage flashed over Sisley’s features for only a second, but I saw it.
• I wanted to laugh at her, but the hopelessness of this situation quelled any joy I might have had at still holding a place in the heart of her mate.
• Naïve fool! I wanted to shout at Griffin.
• Why didn’t you wait for me, then? Why didn’t you grow some backbone and defy your father? Why did you whisper all those sweet words when we were children?
• But I remained silent.
• Silly, silly. Elena hissed coldly back in my head. You don’t even have the guts to tell him your grievance. You still fancy yourself in love with him, don’t you? Idiot. Her head suddenly swiveled, as if she heard something in the distance. Now, watch your back.
• I was too slow to react, and a rough hand grabbed my shoulder and twisted me down into a low bow. I winced at the pain, but remained silent. I could recognize the rich perfumes of musk and amber of my oppressor and step-father, Bernard Dover.
• I have long associated that scent with pain; bile rose to my throat instinctively. Through a haze, I remember seeing his furious red eyes and feeling his knuckles shattering my cheekbones. I shuddered.
• “How dare you even look at the Alpha Prince, you worm,” he snarled. “Bow! You should be sniveling on the ground like the insect that you are. Have you forgotten your place already? Or has your allowed attendance to the ball gotten to your head? I didn’t think it was possible for you to be even more stupid than usual.”
• “Nice to see you, step-father,” I said with gritted teeth to my tormentor. I had to suppress the child in me that still shrank in fear at this monster. “You see, I have selective amnesia and can never remember the only son of our Alpha and the Prince of our entire pack.” I retorted back for the pain.
• Elena laughed in the corner of my eyes.
• But claws ripped into my shoulder blades, and I gasped in agony. The bitter scent of my own blood reached my nostrils, and I could feel it trickling down my back.
• That brute! Elena screamed, wanting to jump out and take in control.
• I forced her back.
• “Keep that flapping thing you call your mouth shut,” he hissed. “Or I’ll tear out your wretched tongue myself. It should have been done a long time ago to spare us all your idiotic prattling.”
• “Stop it. Lord Dover,” said Griffin.
• Bernard then himself stamped his chest and saluted before Griffin, and I could see something light up the young prince’s eyes.
• Anger, if I hadn’t been deluded.
• “Your dedication to my standing is admirable, Lord Dover,” said Griffin, and he waved his hand nonchalantly. “But I would command you to let go of the girl. On this night, every werewolf should be unblemished and unharmed to show their qualities to their potential mates.”
• They stared each other down, and Lord Dover bowed his head. His claws retracted from my shoulder, and I tried not to quiver as my right shoulder burned.
• “Perhaps the effort of my dedication would be better spent on other matters,” breathed Lord Dover. “Your father and I are only concerned that you are much too soft on the daughter of the traitor who nearly killed the Alpha. Or does such a fact not bother you? Surely you wouldn’t even think to entertain such a disturbing thought?”
• Griffin’s face darkened.
• I knew how his comments must grate on Griffin. Lord Dover may as well have blatantly accused Griffin of treachery simply by treating me with decency and respect.
• Obedience to the Alpha and the pack, or continue a childhood dream with me? Griffin had to make a choice.
• Our pack valued ruthlessness, pride, and blind loyalty to the Alpha. Without those traits, the Moonstone Pack would have been nothing but a memory of violence and starvation, and we would have faded away into the dusty tomes of history.
• Other werewolves in the hallway watched us with bated breath. None dared to speak in the presence of Griffin, but I could see smiles and open-mouthed stares. We were considered lesser werewolves starving for any drama – a scene like this was the highlight of their grim, lonely lives. It must make them feel good to see someone other than themselves to be picked on and brought low.
• I know how they felt and the thought running through their heads: at least it isn’t me.
• A cold smile crossed Griffin’s face. Then, he stooped down to kiss the top of Sisley’s hair. She basked in the affection and ruffled his flaxen hair.
• His answer was clear.
• “Hells below, father, could you be any more serious on such a night like this?” she said with frivolous lightness, but I could tell she was trying to change the subject. “We shouldn’t stay too long here with the unwashed masses.” She eyed all of the werewolves around us, and they glanced away from her. That was the way of the pack. The lower members of the caste knew their place. Sisley drawled on, “It wouldn’t be too becoming for Elites like us.” She turned to the Alpha Prince. “Come now, darling. We should greet your father.”
• She intertwined her fingers in Griffin’s hands and deigned to look at me. Her voice was deceptively gentle, but her words were a dagger in my side.
• “You should watch us, dear step-sister. Together we will open the ball with our dance. Perhaps it will give you a hint what a pairing blessed by Diantha looks like. Will you ever know what it feels like to have a mate intertwined in your arms? I suppose even traitors like you should be given that mercy.”
• Griffin watched me, and I thought that his eyes had lingered long on my bare torn shoulder that still leached blood.
• My eyes watered. But I quickly bowed to them and dropped my head down.
• “Diantha extends her mercy on whom she wills, but I have no need of her generosity. I will make my own fate.”
• Sisley’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. Lord Dover beckoned towards the glowing blue hearth hall with his gloved hand. “Enough of this farce. Let us go. The Alpha awaits.”