Chapter 4 You're Mine Now

• A new day, a new beginning. I thought of pushing myself out of bed even if I didn’t want to. My body is still aching from the abuse from last night, and the lack of food only increases my fatigue. But I know that I have to get up and do my work or I might get punched yet again, and I don’t think my body is strong enough to handle any more abuse. So, I take a deep breath, muster up my strength, and slowly start my day, hoping for a better tomorrow.
• I took a cold bath in the common bathroom that is shared by the entire floor, feeling the chill seep into my bones; it was so cold that I could barely feel my fingers. I wish I could have warm water for a change, but that luxury is far out of reach for me. Despite the discomfort, I remind myself that this is just a temporary situation and I must stay strong.
• I made my room, changing and wearing the same clothes that I had been wearing for days now, but I didn’t have any other options at the moment. As I look around my small, dimly lit room, which is more like an attic than a bedroom, my bed just consists of two thin blankets and a pillow. And the cold air seeps through the cracks in the walls, making me shiver even more.
• There was once a time when I had a room ten times bigger than this, with my bed covering the whole room and a closet full of clothes to choose from. But now, I am nothing but a shadow of my former self, with my life worse than the lowest slaves of the pack, even though they have more than I ever will. The memories of my past life haunt me as I struggle to survive in this cramped and desolate space, feeling like a forgotten relic of better days.
• I shook my head as I headed out of the room to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for all the other members of the pack.
• “I need to hurry and make sure before Samantha wakes up she always gets grumpy when she’s hungry,” I thought to myself as I grabbed the ingredients for pancakes from the pantry. As I started cooking, the smell of sizzling batter filled the air, momentarily distracting me from my own troubles.
• Preparing a meal for 100 people in this small kitchen was always a challenge, but it was my daily ritual that brought a sense of normalcy to our chaotic lives. Even if the pack had 10 cooks, they forced me to work alone while they ordered me around as if I were there alone.
• Sometimes I want to poison them all and be done with it, but I know that wouldn’t solve anything. No matter how bad this place is, this is where I found my first home. My parents loved me, and their memories live in every corner of this pack. Despite the difficulties, I don’t want to ever leave because this is where I feel a sense of belonging and where I have made lasting memories. The challenges may be tough, but the love and connection I feel here make it all worth it.
• I smiled as I felt my stomach groan in hunger. Seeing all the delicious food around me, I couldn’t help myself; I wanted to eat everything in sight. The aroma of pancakes, eggs, and bacon fills the air.
• “Just one bite won’t hurt,” I thought to myself as I reached for a plate.
• I turn my head, scanning the room. I don’t want anyone to catch me eating a meal or else I will be beaten again, but the temptation is too strong to resist. The desire to satisfy my hunger outweighed the risk of getting caught.
• I haven’t had anything since tomorrow morning, and my stomach is growling loudly, making it impossible to ignore the delicious spread in front of me.
• I turn here and there, grabbing a few slices of bacon and a piece of toast, trying to be as discreet as possible. And shove it into my mouth quickly before anyone notices, savoring the taste despite the fear of being caught.
• A moan of pleasure escapes my lips as the taste of the crispy bacon fills my mouth, sending a wave of satisfaction through me. It’s not enough to fill my rumbling stomach, but it is at least something to hold me over until breakfast officially begins. I quickly glance around, hoping no one saw my sneaky snack, and decide to grab a small cup of orange juice to wash down the stolen bites.
• But the glass slipped from my hand as I saw Cody smirking at me from across the room, clearly having caught me in the act.
• My heart races as I try to come up with an excuse for my impulsive snacking. But I know no matter what I say, Cody will not leave me without abusing me about it for the rest of the day.
• “Now you stealing food too, huh?” He chuckles, slowly walking closer to me with a mischievous glint in his eye.
• His eyes show that he is ready to beat the hell out of me with a big grin on his face.
• I can feel the dread creeping up my spine as I brace myself for the inevitable abuse. “I...” I shuttered, as words didn’t form easily in my mind. The fear of Cody’s reaction only intensified as I struggled to come up with a plausible excuse for my actions.
• I step back as Cody’s laughter turns into a menacing growl, his fists clenched at his sides. As he pulled my arms behind my back, I knew I was in for a world of hurt. “Please, Cody, I...” I tried to run, but his grip was too strong. The look in his eyes told me that there was no escaping the consequences of my mistake.
• “Last night, you didn’t learn your lesson,” he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. “Now, you’ll pay for it.” With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I braced myself for whatever punishment he had in store.
• Cody grabbed my hair tightly and dragged me towards the basement, his grip unrelenting. I knew then that I was in for a long night of suffering at his hands. “NO,” I shouted, pushing against his hold and somehow managing to break free. And ran aimlessly around the pack until I stumbled towards a big, hard wall that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Hands wrapped around my waist, stopping me from falling any further. As I struggled against my captor, a word escaped his lips and made my world spin. “Mate.” The voice growls as a lingering smell of rain and pine surrounds me, making me dizzy with confusion.
• I turned my head to see the face of the person who had just claimed to be my mate, only to be met with a pair of intense, amber eyes that seemed to see right through me. His grip tightened around my waist, pulling me closer as he whispered, “You’re mine now.”