Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2: 2-The Runaway Teen.

Helanie:

Every inch of my existence was battered. My body throbbed, and my eyes were now dry from crying.

When I woke up, I found myself beside an abandoned building of the dead pack.

It took me a few minutes to even force my eyes completely open. But I still hadn't managed to move much since then.

Quiet whimpers slipped from my lips whenever I tried to call for help.

It wasn't even the physical pain that weighed me down—it was the crushing of my spirit and the violation of my body that left me paralyzed.

"Ugh!" A sorrowful groan escaped as I tried to push myself to my feet, only to collapse once again.

Those Alphas showed me no mercy, even when I wore the pendant that was supposed to keep them from losing control.

I barely had any clothing left. My undergarments were ripped away, and the dress I wore was torn apart from the shoulders down.

But it was still enough to cover at least part of my body.

I started my journey home on foot with much difficulty. By the time I reached the pack, it was broad daylight.

"Isn't she the girl who lures wolves with her indecent scent? Where do you think she was the entire night? And look at her—Oh My! Did she lose her virginity?"

The loud gasp of a woman reminded me that I had reached the omega neighborhood. I crossed my arms over my body, trying to shield myself as much as I could.

I kept my eyes down, unable to bear the judgmental stares of those who passed by.

"Nile's daughter. I told that old man to keep her chained up in the basement. He never listened. Thought he could prevent something like this with that pendant."

The voices continued, but my steps never faltered. It was unbelievable that no one offered me even a sheet to cover myself, yet they had already spread the news to my home.

Before I even arrived, my father was standing at the top of the stairs. The neighbors trailed behind me, beside me, taunting and sneering.

Once I reached the bottom of the steps, they stopped following.

With my gaze fixed on the ground, I climbed the stairs in silence and entered the house. My father didn't say a word until the door slammed shut.

That's when I felt the sting of a slap against my cheek, the burn searing my skin as I clutched the wall to keep from falling.

"You did this on purpose, didn't you? You wanted us punished for neglecting you all these years, and this is how you made yourself known to us and everyone else!" my stepmother, Larissa, shouted, pointing her finger at me. She wore her usual heavy eyeliner, glossy red lipstick, fake nails, and a golden dress.

My father couldn't afford my college fee, but she sure had money for her endless salon visits.

"I told you to marry her off to some old widower. Wasting money on her education, and this is how she repays us!" my stepbrother, nineteen and full of contempt, hissed as he punched his palm and paced the room.

Our house was small and very dark. During the daytime, we didn't turn on any lights because the electricity bill was too high.

We were really struggling with money, but I was the only one who had to sacrifice her desires.

I stood with my hand on my cheek, wondering if any of them would ever come to give me a hug. I was beyond shattered. My existence had been questioned.

My body ached, feeling as though it had been nothing but a gutter for those Alphas last night, and that thought alone made me want to burn the entire pack to the ground.

"I'm going to marry you off to the omega next door!" my father growled, grabbing a fistful of my hair and dragging me toward the pantry on the other side of the house, which we now used to store old blankets.

"No! Wait—" I planted my hands on the doorframe, forcing my body to stay outside. Afraid of the dark and confined spaces, I begged through hiccups for him not to do this to me. I needed attention for my wounds and injuries.

"Ask her why she wasn't at her friend's house like she said she would be," Sullivan, my stepbrother, sneered. He wasn't the typical sibling—he despised his sisters, me, and my little stepsister. He always claimed we'd be the reason they'd hang their heads in shame one day.