PENELOPE~

I sat alone in the shadows, my thoughts filled with anguish and desolation. I hated myself. I didn't know why I was being born. I kept asking myself that for several years.

I stared at my skin filled with glaring bloody claw marks, they were stinging as hell. I stared at my reflection, I was a mess.

With shaking hands, I took the old cloth and carefully wiped the dry blood from my forehead. The cloth was rough and scratchy, and it hurt to touch the cut. I felt the sting of the wound, the sharp pain radiating through my head.

Damn! These pack members were so cruel. They indeed clawed me deep. Even though I was the daughter of ALPHA, they still considered me inferior to omega. Because my alpha family resented me more than any of them. They enjoyed seeing the wounds in my body.

I gritted my teeth, trying to stay calm, but it was difficult. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I continued to wipe away the blood, revealing a deep gash on my forehead. I could feel the warmth of the blood on my skin, and it made me feel faint. I took a deep breath, trying to stay focused and steady.

The sound of fists pounding on the door startled me and I quickly hid the little gift box on the table, and limped to get the creaking old door before whoever was out there would break it.

"You're called." I heard someone say, then the footsteps began to retreat.

I stared around the room I was in. It was one of the rooms in the servants quarters. The door was old, the roof was leaking and I could barely sleep at night because of the extreme cold that flowed through the windows. I always slept on the bare ground after having some clothes laid beneath it.

Dragging myself to the dining hall despite being a mess, I got scared on seeing the other maids already there, their heads bowed, it made me frown.

My eyes flew to my parents who sat on the dining table, Violetta whispering something before their eyes flew to me. Then their usual expression of disgust and loathe appeared.

A self-mocking smile made its way to my lips as I watched them.

There they were.

The happy family.

Dad was the alpha of the night pack, mom was Luna. Violetta, the perfect princess, and I, Penelope, the perfect slave.

"Come here!" my stepmother, snapped from the table, her gold earrings dangled, while Violetta flicked her hair with a cruel smirk, Dad's expression was neither different, it was the usual cold look.

"Mom—"

"May the moon goddess curse your filthy mouth for calling me that! I'm never your mom, you disgust me!" She yelled, my heart squeezed painfully.

My eyes stung and I looked down, biting my lips to stop myself from tearing up.

Dad spoke up, leaning on his chair. "So you got into a fight with some pack members, when you have lots of chores to do in the mansion?"

I stared at the giggling Violetta, once again it was her! This wicked witch, always takes any opportunity to discredit me in front of my parents! I tried to explain but my stepmother never gave me that chance, she told me in a viper-like voice: “Get out but bear it in mind, you're going to starve for three weeks!" I accepted their unjustified punishment in silence, and the torture never ended if I still couldn't get my wolf.

I shuffled my weak steps ready to leave the living room that was killing me, but my stepsister, Violetta suddenly grabbed me.

I expected another slap on my face from her, but she suddenly looked at me with a silly grin on her face. "You piece of shit, you'll get everything you deserve soon enough."

Her threats were daily so I didn't take them seriously. I was thankful that Violetta didn't continue to give me painful kicks because I had more important things on my mind tonight, and the thought of my lover, Logan, immediately stopped the wailing of my agonized insides, the worst thing that had ever happened to me, and Logan was my hope. I already imagined that I would forget all the unpleasantness when his tongue rested on my wounds.

~ ~ ~

My heart raced with excitement as I stared at the gift box in my hands. I bit my lips shyly on the thought of Logan's bright smiles on receiving this gift.

Today was his birthday. Taking my muffler,I snuck out of the room heading to the front door to sneak out only to pause on hearing voices there. I snuck out my head a little to peek.

"Oh baby, I missed you." I heard Violetta say followed next by a yelp when a figure at the door carried her up, her giggles filled the mansion.

My eyes were about to dart away from them when I noticed this figure was absolutely familiar. My eyes widened in horror on seeing who it was...

I felt my heart break into a million pieces, a deep ache spreading through my chest. I watched as Logan, turned to my sister, his lips meeting hers in a kiss.

The world seemed to slow down, each moment stretching out into eternity. I felt frozen in place, unable to move, unable to breathe.

I wanted to scream, to cry at the scene unfolding before me. But I could only stand there, my heart shattering into a million pieces.

Still, I couldn't believe this was happening, I took a step in order to make the scene before me disappear and yet it wouldn't. My heart turned cold.

So... This was what Violetta was implying? So this is Logan been a catch?

I marched toward them with furious steps. They both turned to look at me. I expected them to instantly stop, for Logan's face to pale in shame and guilt but instead he deepened the kiss, Violetta following suit.

Fury took over my senses, and before I could comprehend what i was doing, with all my might I pushed Violetta immediately I got closer them, and pulled Logan drawing him to my side. She shrieked, staggered and dug in her heels to steady herself.

I huffed out air, glaring at her with unadulterated hatred. At first she looked stunned before her expression morphed into one of anger and she marched toward me.

Before I could yell out the anguish in my heart, Violetta struck me hard with all her might, causing a yelp to escape me and my lips to cut. I instantly tasted metalic.

Hot tears dropped from my eyes as my neck twisted to a side.

"Useless Bitch! How dare you in your cursed life try to touch your filthy hands on me and how dare you touch my mate! You filthy disgusting bitch" Violetta yelled, her face red with fury and was about to pounce on me before Logan held her back.

"Mate?" I turned to Logan incredulously. How could this be happening? My stepsister, who made my life a living hell was my lover's mate?

NO! The Moon Goddess wouldn't be so cruel!" Logan, is… is this true? I've always considered you as my mate."

My eyes stung more. I had emptied my savings to get him a gift. Someone I had considered my knight in shining armor. My lips quivered, the usual sweet smile on his face, gone.

"Yes it's true…" All the blood in my entire system seemed to drain. "Get something right, Penelope… I never loved you. You were just a play thing to me. I've always found you annoying, pathetic and stupid. And when I found out that Violetta was my mate, I was even more convinced.” Logan grated out.

I felt the floor collapse before my eyes, why? What have I done wrong to deserve this?

"Fuck off! I don't want you to remind me of my foul past on my birthday!" Logan slammed into me angrily and I fell to the floor once again.

"Oops…" Violetta giggled, kissing Logan on his lips, while I stood to watch like the idiot I was, my tears flowing.

"What's going here?" I heard footsteps descend from upstairs, my parents' coming into view, their eyes dark with confusion.

I opened my mouth to lay my complaint before Violetta does, but instead Dad snapped.

"Keep shut! We overheard everything… Logan chose Violetta and you need to let go. Let Violetta get what she wants.

I choked, sniffling. "Dad… how can you be unfair. Why always side with Violetta?"

Dad frowned, his irritation evident. " Violetta is more worthy to be called my daughter, unlike you who is a useless wolf, a weak, pathetic child, who is nothing but a shame!" He thundered, my heart kept breaking. "There's no need for you to keep being with Logan since Alpha Giovanni is requesting for a bride between my daughters. Violetta as usual was his perfect choice but since she has found her mate, you must be her replacement!"

My world came crashing down around me as my father spoke the words that would change my life forever. I felt the blood drain from my face, the horror gripping me like a vice.

I could hear the words, but they seemed to echo in my mind, as if from a great distance.

Who didn't know who Giovanni was? Everyone knew him to be ruthless, bloodthirsty, and ugly murderer.

I couldn't believe dad would be so cruel.

"Never!" I blurted out. Dad's expression darkened.

He roared. "Well for your information, you'd be taken to the dungeon and tortured till you agree."

My legs buckled and I slowly slid to the ground.My mouth tasted bitter.

What could be more like hell than this place? I looked at Logan and Violetta's disgusted faces as the bile continued to rise in my stomach, I knew that I had to get out of there, I couldn't stand breathing under the same ceiling with these disgusting people for a moment longer.

I stared into my father's eyes and gritted my teeth as hard as I could. "FINE! I will marry Alpha Giovanni!"