lett

knew no one would miss me if I disappeared or died. I was unw

ed to the pack house, but they responded with a dead g

prayed I wouldn't run into her-if I did, I'd surely be punished. I had to hurry to m

I tiptoed inside, making my way to the hellhole I was given as a

n I heard her voice-the voice that made my knees go weak. Cold sweat broke out on my forehead.

rom?" she demanded, her

ith disdain, echoing in my ears like a haunting melody that promised pa

r, her eyes piercing mine

ry," I stutter

nder her grip, and I struggled to breathe. My vision blurred as spots danced before my

statement, she shoved me to the f

rs. A searing pain shot through my hand, and I bit back a scr

g it, bitch?" she

wanting to break them. The pain shot through my b

a-that was the name she wanted to hea

ut by the time she did,

me and took her

crossing her legs, "where

ng what to say. Her eyes bl

pen your mouth and say a word," she wa

d, lowering my gaze. I da

d t

my dad, so I slept the

hair and nearly pulling it out. I whimpe

es

ked, tightening he

I dare not

urning into my skin, ro

ef, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I did something right. I wore a

, Lu

*

orgotten corner of the Blackstone pack, hidden away like a shameful secret, where the omega belongs. My life. Scarlett Blackstone, the

ried enough tears to drown in, and they've never done me any good. Crying only made her smile,

oice was like a whip, always lashing at me, reminding me where I belonged. I scrambled to my feet, dirt clinging

licking on the stone floor. I kept my eyes on the ground, knowing better than to meet

It had never been enough. No matter how hard I worked,

g over me, her presence suffocating me. "You're always sorry, Scarlett. Th

stay silent. I wanted to scream, to tell her she was wrong, but

of defiance. "You think you're something special, don't you? With your Blackstone bloo

em a thousand times, and each time they sank deeper, carv

bitter sound. "He doesn't even care enough to

to tuck me in at night, who used to call me his little warrior. But he's long gone, replaced by someone

ce. The slap echoed in the small room, and I tasted blood in my mouth, but I didn't r

none came, she huffed and turned on her heel. "Get this place

to leave. When the door finally slammed shut behind her, I l

a never-ending loop of hatred that I'd internalized. Maybe sh

a like me possibly hope for?

I didn't know how long I could keep this up. Living like this, with no one to protect me, no on

ng against the stone, creating an echo in the empty room.