CHAPTER 1
Natasha POV
It was my birthday, but the only thing I received was a reminder: I was never wanted.
I wasn't just any werewolf. I could shift at will, something rare even among my kind. But that meant nothing here. Not in this house. Not to them. I was still trapped in this house, under the rule of my abusive father and cruel sister.
Suddenly, the door burst open and my sister Alyssa stormed in, her face contorted with disgust as she hurled a bowl and candle onto a nearby table.
"It's your birthday today," Alyssa spat out with venom.
I didn't respond. I knew better. The wrong look could earn me a bruise.
My father stepped in behind her, silent at first, but the hatred in his eyes said everything.
"I told you to stay away from that table!" my father bellowed at me, "My mate is dead because of you and l will always hate you."
My mother's death during childbirth had left him bitter and filled with hate towards me ever since I was born.
"I didn't kill my mom," I pleaded through tears, the fear of retaliation held my tongue, knowing that speaking back to him would only make things worse. The anger simmered beneath the surface, bubbling and churning like a pot on a hot stove. I could feel the tension in the air, heavy and suffocating, as if one wrong word would cause an explosion. My body tensed, ready for whatever came next.
"How dare you talk back to me!" he roared before striking me in the face with his fist. The force knocked me down onto the ground, my hand scraping against the rough surface.
As I struggled to get up, blood dripping from my lips, he continued to berate me.
"You're a bastard! My beloved is gone because of you and my heart will forever be consumed with hatred! I'll never forgive you for taking her away from me!"
The words cut deep into my heart and soul, but before I could process them fully, he grabbed his coffee mug and threw it at me. The hot liquid scalded my skin as it shattered against my face.
Through blurry vision and pain shooting through my body, I saw him walk away and call for a maid to take care of me. But even she showed no sympathy as she dragged me out of the room, ignoring my cries.
"You bitch! You just added to my work!" she spat at me, her grip rough and uncaring. No one in this house cared for me, not even the servants.
And as I lay on the ground, barely conscious from the pain and lack of food, I couldn't help but break my promise to myself and let my tears fall freely. This was my reality- a life filled with abuse and hate.
I slowly opened my eyes as I woke up to a throbbing headache. I looked around and saw that I was lying on my bed in my room.
I placed my palm on my aching forehead and gritted my teeth. I looked at the clock on the wall and saw that it was evening already.
My face still hurt from the coffee looked at myself to see that was my coffee stained cloth was already changed.
My stomach was aching and rumbling as I was terribly hungry. I saw the door open and Alyssa walked into the room with a tray in hand.
I signed internally in frustration. I didn't have the strength to stand her trouble.
I looked at the tray in her hand wondering what devious plan she has brewed up this time. I felt the sweet fragrance of food hit my nose and I felt the hunger I was feeling double.
Was that food in her hand.
"You fainted and I'm was so scared that something bad might happen to you," Alyssa said with a sorry and nice expression, dropping the tray on the bed before me.
I looked at the plate of food on the tray. It was a well made rich plate of spaghetti and meatballs. I haven't had something like this in a long time.
I looked up at Alyssa, wondering why she was being so nice.
"Oh. Come on. I'm your sister and I don't want you to die, plus it's your birthday," Alyssa said in a soft concerned voice that surprised.
I hesitantly picked up the fork on the tray and brought up some spaghetti. The food smelt so good and my stomach was aching for it already.
I looked at Alyssa who was smiling one last time before putting the spaghetti in my mouth.
Immediately, I spat the spaghetti out of my mouth, coughing violently.
Alyssa began to laugh wickedly and her tiny voice filled the whole room.
Wolfsbane.
I continued coughing as the Wolfsbane burnt my mouth and my throat.
I picked up the cup of water on the tray and gulped it down so it would ease the pain, but I spat it out immediately as it burnt my throat even more. She also put Wolfsbane in the water.