Ivy

~Thump~

The hurled rock hit my temple. Pain and blood erupted from the wound it left. The latter crimsoning side of my face while the former made me whimper. My hands and arms covered my face and temples, in a futile attempt to shield myself.

Another rock followed and then another, hitting me square in the spinal cord. The impact knocked the breath from my lungs, sending me sprawling on the muddy ground. Face first.

“Argh!”

The ache spread through my body as if someone had set it on fire.

The curses, accusations and more stones followed from the gathered mob.

“Burn the bitch!”

“Cut her head off, she killed our Luna Eleanor.” Someone's hard boot landed in my back, making me arch in agonising pain.

“Die you, cursed freak.” Another landed in my abdomen and the next one in my ribs.

~Crack~

The sound echoed in my ears and I knew one of my ribs was cracked. The metallic taste of metal in my mouth almost made me choke.

I tried to shield my body with my arms and curled into a fetal position but they rained down kicks and fists on me. Tears spilt out of my eyes mixing with my blood.

“....I didn't….kill her,,,,, please….believe me,” I choked out between sobs but no one was ready to listen.

They wanted to blame someone and I was the easiest target. They wanted blood, my blood.

An omega’s blood was cheap for them.

“Stop lying bitch,” someone shouted in pure rage. “Luna Eleanor was in perfect health yesterday and now she is dead.”

Another voice joined in. “First she killed Alpha Marcus and now our Luna. She is nothing but a curse for our pack. Kill her.”

More abuse followed. I tried to explain myself but when people are blinded by prejudice and accusations, it's no use.

So I shut my mouth and tried to shield my body as much as I could.

There was no point in speaking to these people anymore. They wouldn't understand.

They firmly believed I was cursed. Seeing how my life turned out, I had also begun to think it was true.

This has been my life for the past three years. The life of an unwanted, cursed omega. Lowest in rankings, lacking a powerful wolf.

Unwanted by her parents and brother.

Unwelcomed by the pack she was sold to.

My memories whirled back to three years ago to that cold, frigid night when I had turned seventeen. It's supposed to be a night of blessings when one comes of age; their wolf surfaces, and a coming-of-age ceremony is held.

Instead, my father brought me to this unfamiliar pack and bound me to an unknown, dying man. A man who wasn't my mate, a man I knew nothing about.

Frightened, I had begged my father not to leave me there but no one listened to my pleas.

He had stared at me with cold eyes, voice harsh. “For once, be useful Ivy.” That's what he had raged at me.

I was clad in a thin white gown and forced to kneel on a hard-surfaced altar. The whole pack had gathered to witness this union.

Their Alpha was in a coma, lying right in front of me. His mother, stern and cold, stood beside him, watching me like a vulture.

My knees scraped, my arms held open. My wrists were sliced open by a silver blade. Pain shot through my body and tears slid out of my eyes but nobody cared. The blood pooled under my wrists and I felt my life force leaving me.

The ritual began under the silvery rays of the full moon. The silver markings crawled all over my arms as the priest chanted. The agony almost made me faint.

It wasn't my mating ceremony with the unconscious man. It was a life-binding ceremony. My life force was linked with his, to keep him alive.

The priest continued and the whole pack prayed before him.

“Moon goddess, today we have gathered here to offer the life force of Ivy Ashwood in exchange for the rebirth of our Alpha Marcus. Return him to us.”

They raised their hands towards the moon. Some bowed in submission. Luna kissed the forehead of her comatose son.

But, the Moon goddess had different plans. Their prayers weren't answered and exactly three days later, he died in his sleep. His heart gave way.

The doctors provided their report which should have been sufficient.

He died of AIDS. The infection had spread to his lungs, causing pockets of water to develop in them. It led to his death.

The medical report was clear and yet his mother needed someone to blame.

Who else but the lowly omega she bought and used as a sacrificial lamb?

“You.” She pointed an accusing finger at me. Her nostrils flared in rage. “Killer of your mate. You took my son.”

I still remember her reddened face as she grabbed a silver whip and began to incessantly whip me.

“...no…please!” I whimpered from the unbearable pain. Stings after sting, the whip fell like a branding—branding of a murderer.

They declared me the murderer of their Alpha.

The horrors began that night. The constant whipping, public humiliation, and beatings. No part of my body was spared. The wounds on my back and arms split open from the silver whips.

The silver seeped into my bloodstream, slowly poisoning me, resulting in slow healing.

Scars littered my back, welts over welts. The pain became my new friend and at times I wished for death just to escape this torment.

It didn't come. Only humiliation and misery did. At times she gave me healing potions so I would have enough strength to get more beatings. Three years of abuse had rendered my wolf extremely weak and I couldn't even shift or heal properly.

What did I ever do wrong?

What was my fault?

Yesterday was Marcus’ third death anniversary and to remind me of my non-existent crimes, I was dragged into the Pack grounds. Everyone gathered to witness my humiliation. Tying me to the cold pole she began her whipping session again.

But, something happened. Her body spasmed, the whip dropped from her hand as she collapsed on the ground, her face turned blue.

She was rushed to the pack hospital but Eleanor had already died. The autopsy revealed the cause to be a heart attack.

She died of natural causes and yet the pack blamed me.

Eleanor's brother-in-law; Brian became the next Alpha after her demise.

I hoped for a change but he was as ruthless as Eleanor.

“Take her to the pack grounds. We will hold a public execution for her.” His words sent chills scuttling down my spine.

Every pack member gathered to witness my demise.

What followed was a storm of curses and beatings as I lay on the ground, ready to die.

I had given up. Darkness and pain danced in front of my eyes.

It was then that I heard the voice of my father. Three years and he had finally come. I opened my injured eyes and glanced in his direction. Desperation was clinging to me like a tight-fitting cloth.

His eyes still lacked warmth as they stared at me and declared.

“I am here to take Ivy back.”

A hope flickered for me.

Alpha Brian scoffed. “Alpha Ronan, you show your face after three years. Your daughter killed my nephew and our Luna. She has to pay for her crimes.”

My father shook his head in disappointment. “I know. My daughter was born under an omen and it affected her. I should have drowned her the moment she was born. I take full responsibility.”

The hope that had flickered in my heart died like the last ember in the hearth. My heart sank faster than a stone hurled in a lake.

My wounded eyes flickered towards my mother. They say, a mother has the softest of hearts for her child. She stood by my father, head lowered in submission as if ashamed of my existence.

My brother, Caleb leaned against the shiny black car they had arrived in. A brother is supposed to be your greatest protector and yet he stared at me with nothing but loathing. His lips curled up in disgust.

What had I ever done to them to make them hate me with this much passion?

“You see, killing her might curse your whole pack. So I will take her off your hands,” my father cunningly spoke again.

A loud, collective gasp followed from the pack and they scattered away from me like frightened ants.

“What a cursed girl…”

Someone spat on the ground. “We don't want her filth. Take her away.”

“Away with her,” another shouted.

So the consensus was passed and Alpha Brian gave the verdict. “Take her back or she might destroy our whole pack. Never return.” His eyes shone with unfiltered rage.

My father nodded at him and gestured to my brother. He unpeeled himself from the car and leisurely sauntered over. Dragging me up from my injured arm.

I whimpered from pain but he didn't care. He shoved me into the back seat of the car.

Amidst the chaos and shouts of never to return, we left this pack which had done nothing but give me nightmarish memories.

I curled into myself, stealing a glance at my indifferent mother. She simply stared outside without even glancing at her daughter or asking how I was.

What lay ahead, I hadn't a faintest clue.

Are they going to truly let me live with them?

Whatever the hidden agenda was, they weren't here as my saviours. Something else was at play.

---

Ivy

~Thump~

The hurled rock hit my temple. Pain and blood erupted from the wound it left. The latter crimsoning side of my face while the former made me whimper. My hands and arms covered my face and temples, in a futile attempt to shield myself.

Another rock followed and then another, hitting me square in the spinal cord. The impact knocked the breath from my lungs, sending me sprawling on the muddy ground. Face first.

“Argh!”

The ache spread through my body as if someone had set it on fire.

The curses, accusations and more stones followed from the gathered mob.

“Burn the bitch!”

“Cut her head off, she killed our Luna Eleanor.” Someone's hard boot landed in my back, making me arch in agonising pain.

“Die you, cursed freak.” Another landed in my abdomen and the next one in my ribs.

~Crack~

The sound echoed in my ears and I knew one of my ribs was cracked. The metallic taste of metal in my mouth almost made me choke.

I tried to shield my body with my arms and curled into a fetal position but they rained down kicks and fists on me. Tears spilt out of my eyes mixing with my blood.

“....I didn't….kill her,,,,, please….believe me,” I choked out between sobs but no one was ready to listen.

They wanted to blame someone and I was the easiest target. They wanted blood, my blood.

An omega’s blood was cheap for them.

“Stop lying bitch,” someone shouted in pure rage. “Luna Eleanor was in perfect health yesterday and now she is dead.”

Another voice joined in. “First she killed Alpha Marcus and now our Luna. She is nothing but a curse for our pack. Kill her.”

More abuse followed. I tried to explain myself but when people are blinded by prejudice and accusations, it's no use.

So I shut my mouth and tried to shield my body as much as I could.

There was no point in speaking to these people anymore. They wouldn't understand.

They firmly believed I was cursed. Seeing how my life turned out, I had also begun to think it was true.

This has been my life for the past three years. The life of an unwanted, cursed omega. Lowest in rankings, lacking a powerful wolf.

Unwanted by her parents and brother.

Unwelcomed by the pack she was sold to.

My memories whirled back to three years ago to that cold, frigid night when I had turned seventeen. It's supposed to be a night of blessings when one comes of age; their wolf surfaces, and a coming-of-age ceremony is held.

Instead, my father brought me to this unfamiliar pack and bound me to an unknown, dying man. A man who wasn't my mate, a man I knew nothing about.

Frightened, I had begged my father not to leave me there but no one listened to my pleas.

He had stared at me with cold eyes, voice harsh. “For once, be useful Ivy.” That's what he had raged at me.

I was clad in a thin white gown and forced to kneel on a hard-surfaced altar. The whole pack had gathered to witness this union.

Their Alpha was in a coma, lying right in front of me. His mother, stern and cold, stood beside him, watching me like a vulture.

My knees scraped, my arms held open. My wrists were sliced open by a silver blade. Pain shot through my body and tears slid out of my eyes but nobody cared. The blood pooled under my wrists and I felt my life force leaving me.

The ritual began under the silvery rays of the full moon. The silver markings crawled all over my arms as the priest chanted. The agony almost made me faint.

It wasn't my mating ceremony with the unconscious man. It was a life-binding ceremony. My life force was linked with his, to keep him alive.

The priest continued and the whole pack prayed before him.

“Moon goddess, today we have gathered here to offer the life force of Ivy Ashwood in exchange for the rebirth of our Alpha Marcus. Return him to us.”

They raised their hands towards the moon. Some bowed in submission. Luna kissed the forehead of her comatose son.

But, the Moon goddess had different plans. Their prayers weren't answered and exactly three days later, he died in his sleep. His heart gave way.

The doctors provided their report which should have been sufficient.

He died of AIDS. The infection had spread to his lungs, causing pockets of water to develop in them. It led to his death.

The medical report was clear and yet his mother needed someone to blame.

Who else but the lowly omega she bought and used as a sacrificial lamb?

“You.” She pointed an accusing finger at me. Her nostrils flared in rage. “Killer of your mate. You took my son.”

I still remember her reddened face as she grabbed a silver whip and began to incessantly whip me.

“...no…please!” I whimpered from the unbearable pain. Stings after sting, the whip fell like a branding—branding of a murderer.

They declared me the murderer of their Alpha.

The horrors began that night. The constant whipping, public humiliation, and beatings. No part of my body was spared. The wounds on my back and arms split open from the silver whips.

The silver seeped into my bloodstream, slowly poisoning me, resulting in slow healing.

Scars littered my back, welts over welts. The pain became my new friend and at times I wished for death just to escape this torment.

It didn't come. Only humiliation and misery did. At times she gave me healing potions so I would have enough strength to get more beatings. Three years of abuse had rendered my wolf extremely weak and I couldn't even shift or heal properly.

What did I ever do wrong?

What was my fault?

Yesterday was Marcus’ third death anniversary and to remind me of my non-existent crimes, I was dragged into the Pack grounds. Everyone gathered to witness my humiliation. Tying me to the cold pole she began her whipping session again.

But, something happened. Her body spasmed, the whip dropped from her hand as she collapsed on the ground, her face turned blue.

She was rushed to the pack hospital but Eleanor had already died. The autopsy revealed the cause to be a heart attack.

She died of natural causes and yet the pack blamed me.

Eleanor's brother-in-law; Brian became the next Alpha after her demise.

I hoped for a change but he was as ruthless as Eleanor.

“Take her to the pack grounds. We will hold a public execution for her.” His words sent chills scuttling down my spine.

Every pack member gathered to witness my demise.

What followed was a storm of curses and beatings as I lay on the ground, ready to die.

I had given up. Darkness and pain danced in front of my eyes.

It was then that I heard the voice of my father. Three years and he had finally come. I opened my injured eyes and glanced in his direction. Desperation was clinging to me like a tight-fitting cloth.

His eyes still lacked warmth as they stared at me and declared.

“I am here to take Ivy back.”

A hope flickered for me.

Alpha Brian scoffed. “Alpha Ronan, you show your face after three years. Your daughter killed my nephew and our Luna. She has to pay for her crimes.”

My father shook his head in disappointment. “I know. My daughter was born under an omen and it affected her. I should have drowned her the moment she was born. I take full responsibility.”

The hope that had flickered in my heart died like the last ember in the hearth. My heart sank faster than a stone hurled in a lake.

My wounded eyes flickered towards my mother. They say, a mother has the softest of hearts for her child. She stood by my father, head lowered in submission as if ashamed of my existence.

My brother, Caleb leaned against the shiny black car they had arrived in. A brother is supposed to be your greatest protector and yet he stared at me with nothing but loathing. His lips curled up in disgust.

What had I ever done to them to make them hate me with this much passion?

“You see, killing her might curse your whole pack. So I will take her off your hands,” my father cunningly spoke again.

A loud, collective gasp followed from the pack and they scattered away from me like frightened ants.

“What a cursed girl…”

Someone spat on the ground. “We don't want her filth. Take her away.”

“Away with her,” another shouted.

So the consensus was passed and Alpha Brian gave the verdict. “Take her back or she might destroy our whole pack. Never return.” His eyes shone with unfiltered rage.

My father nodded at him and gestured to my brother. He unpeeled himself from the car and leisurely sauntered over. Dragging me up from my injured arm.

I whimpered from pain but he didn't care. He shoved me into the back seat of the car.

Amidst the chaos and shouts of never to return, we left this pack which had done nothing but give me nightmarish memories.

I curled into myself, stealing a glance at my indifferent mother. She simply stared outside without even glancing at her daughter or asking how I was.

What lay ahead, I hadn't a faintest clue.

Are they going to truly let me live with them?

Whatever the hidden agenda was, they weren't here as my saviours. Something else was at play.