Nova
Darkness.
At least it numbed me. At least I couldn't feel their kicks and jabs from the safety of the void.
This wasn't new—far from it. But no matter how many times they did this, it never got easier. The agony always felt fresh,
like an open wound that refused to heal.
And then it stopped.
Maybe they got tired.
No,probably not. These were beta-borne wolves. It would take days before they truly tired out.
A sliver of awareness crept back in. My body
throbbed, but I could still hear them, even with my eyes shut.Their voices were
distorted and far off.
"Why are they so fucking weak?" a female voice sneered.
"Is she dead?" another voice — this time male, his voice laced with unease.
"Fuck. My dad's gonna kill me."
"They don't die that easily, right—"
A car pulled up, its tires crunching against the
dirt. The sound sliced through the air like a blade.
I forced my heavy eyelids open. My vision swam, blurred, but I recognized the voice that followed.
"Leave her alone."
His tone was steady, but the anger simmered beneath it.
And for the first time in my life, I was grateful to hear that man speak.
Aaron Wells —my uncle, adoptive father and also the greatest scumbag on earth
The biggest of the beta boys barely flinched. He already knew where Aaron stood in this pack.
At the bottom.
He scoffed. "Yeah, whatever, old man." Then he turned to me, his gaze bored, unimpressed. "And don't tell anyone about this, okay?" He waved a hand, as if this whole thing was just an inconvenience. "Come on, let's go."
They left without another word, disappearing into the night.
The car ride home was sullen.
Pain throbbed through my body, but I pushed it down. My father had Advil in the glove compartment. I took two, letting them
dissolve on my tongue. It dulled the ache, but only slightly.
"Why, Nova?" he muttered. "Why do you take overtime when you know it exposes you to this kind of bullshit?" He added his hands clenched on the steering wheel heel
For a moment, he sounded like he cared. Like he actually gave a damn.
I scoffed, shifting in the seat with a wince. "I just need the money."
"Careful." His hand landed on my thigh. It lingered, creeping higher.
I shot him a look. A silent warning.
He pulled away quickly, his lips pressing into a thin smile, frustration flickering in his eyes.
Coward.
The rare moments of tenderness from him always came with a price. I had to learn that the hard way.
He had never been a father—only an abuser, lewd and perverse. No matter how many times I told my aunt, he never stopped. Lingering touches. Peering through cracks in the door. Photos. Then, eventually, groping.
She never saw anything wrong with it. Not until the night he did his worst—until he took everything from me on my 16th birthday,
the day I didn't shift, the day I became the laughing stock of the pack.
He comforted me, told me that everything would be fine and for the first time in a while
made me feel safe in his arms and I guess I had to pay for the love and affection he showed me that night.
And pay I did.
Somehow I found the courage to tell my aunt. She blamed me. For tempting him. For showing too much skin. I became the whore that tried to steal her husband.
But thankfully, after that, it stopped.
His twisted affection was replaced by fresh hatred.
The second we stepped inside, my mom — aunt was waiting. "Why did both of you come home together?"
"Nova was being stupid and got herself caught up with those beta kids again." Aaron said without a trace of concern.
"Oh, well, at least you got a ride home, right,
Nova?" My aunt smirked.
She didn't comment on the fresh bruises that
littered my skin. She never did.
I forced a smile. "Yeah.Thanks for the ride, Aaron."
Mom clapped her hands together. "I made dinner!" She sounded proud—like it was
some rare achievement.
I barely reacted. "I'll just go freshen up."
"Oh, and by the way—" she started slowly with a mocking smile "— I found some money in your room and used it to buy
groceries. That's why there's dinner today."
My blood ran cold.
"What money?" I asked, dread settling like a stone in my gut.
She waved a hand dismissively. "I was cleaning your room and found some cash. I didn't take too much, don't worry. You really helped"
She searched my room, she never cleans my room— she went in there looking for my savings.
"That was my money, Mom. How could you do that?"
Her expression darkened. "Oh, so you think you can just hoard money while we struggle? We've provided for you since birth, and this is how you repay us?"
I clenched my fists. "That was my savings. You had no right."
"I had every right, Nova. We've done nothing but care for you your entire life. If anything— you owe us. You owe me."
I shook my head, anger rising. "I don't owe you shit. Give me back my fucking money."
The slap came fast. Sharp.
"Don't you dare talk to me like that."
My cheek stung, the taste of blood blooming on my tongue.
"You are nothing but bad luck," she spat. "Would it kill you to help for once? The money your father makes isn't enough. Stop being such a selfish little bitch, Nova."
Then she delivered the final blow.
"Stop being so much like Mel."
Melissa Kensley — My actual mother and my aunt's favorite weapon against me.
"Please leave my mother out of this."
Her eyes gleamed with cruelty. "Why? You don't like hearing the truth? That she was a stupid bitch? Or that you're the reason she's dead?"
"Please stop." My voice was barely a whisper.
"She was in labor for so fucking long just to have you, and yet look at you now—a useless, wolfless, mateless fucking whore."
The room went silent.
She grabbed my hair, yanking my head back. "Come on, say something, you little bitch. Tell me why I should keep providing for a worthless burden like you when you want to give nothing back."
I couldn't speak.
I tried so hard not to cry.
So fucking hard.
"Mom, please stop." My voice cracked as the tears flowed freely.
Aaron finally stepped in. "Kaitlyn. Enough."
For a moment, she only glared at me, her chest heaving with rage.
Then she huffed. "Get out of my sight."
++++++++++++++++
I needed a shower.
I needed to scream. Cry. Beg for someone—anyone—to save me from this hell.
I checked my stash and counted the few notes she left there.
Six months.
Six months of slaving away in that godforsaken restaurant—gone.
I bit my lip, forcing back the sobs. There's no use crying over spilled milk.
I turned on the shower, letting the cold water run over my battered skin, chasing a moment of clarity.
I can't stay here, I can't keep living like this.
I won't.
I have to leave, as soon as possible.
I stepped out of the shower, wiping the fogged-up mirror. My reflection stared back—weak, malnourished, bruised.
The bruises looked so much more severe when naked, the dark red bruises contrasting deeply with my pale skin and the deep purple ones matching my odd eyes.
I hated what I saw.
Hated how powerless I was.
But not anymore.
I grabbed my phone and dialed Cami's number, my fingers trembling.
Please pick up. Please.
The line clicked.
"Hey, Nova, what's up?" She chirped.
I exhaled.
"I'm in."