ASH’S POV
Finally, he pushed me aside and climbed off the bed, gently zipping up his trousers while I stared at him with heavy, teary eyes.
“Stop acting so weak. I owned you today,” he added softly, and I couldn’t help but whimper.
I was so tired. Even though I wanted to fight back, I couldn’t—I wasn’t strong enough. I was just a weak wolf.
Burying my face in the pillow, I let my tears fall. I was a slave, someone who meant nothing to anyone. I hadn’t been raised in a pack. This was a clan, a vampire clan that hated me.
I’d grown up here as a slave, made to wash, clean, and bow my head before the vampires.
My family had been killed along with the rest of our pack members. A few of us, like me, were taken and branded as slaves.
As I grew older, I guess I started to look... different. Sexy. I became the object of attention. One night while serving someone, something happened. Something that changed everything.
I was taken advantage of. And as if that wasn’t enough, I was often flogged, beaten, and thrown into the dark. I hated my life. But even with all the pain, I couldn’t bring myself to end it.
The door suddenly opened, and in walked the one person I hated the most here—Susie. A vampiress. Beautiful on the outside, but cruel within. Everyone loved and admired her, but to me, she was the devil.
She had made my life a living hell since the day I arrived.
“Come on, stop being weak and get up,” I heard her say in that soft, mocking voice. She was clearly enjoying my pain.
I wanted to curse at her, scream, but my lips just trembled. I sighed sadly.
“Stand up,” she yelled again.
Groaning, I slowly stood. My body ached. I could barely move; even my bones hurt. I wanted to cry.
As I rose, my legs trembled, and I had to steady myself on the bed. Susie walked over to me.
“Pathetic. Your body’s not even worth it,” she said coldly.
I bit my lip as fresh tears filled my eyes. My cheeks were swollen, my eyes heavy, and worst of all, I was completely naked in front of her.
“Hmph. I don’t see why they all lust after you,” she sneered. “You’re just a low, weak wolf.”
I kept my gaze on the floor.
“Look at me when I talk to you!” she snapped.
I trembled, fear rushing through me. Without thinking, I raised my head and that’s when it happened.
Her slap landed hard across my face. My legs gave out beneath me, and I collapsed to the floor, cheeks burning, body aching.
Tears streamed down my face as she crouched in front of me. My lips clamped shut.
She grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked it. “You’re not even worth the sweat,” she hissed.
“I hate this face of yours,” she spat and shoved my head away.
She had always looked at me strangely since I arrived. At first, it was silent disdain. But by the time I turned eighteen—with wide hips, a tiny waist, red ginger hair, and green eyes—her hatred turned poisonous.
She was jealous.
That’s why I avoided her, tried to keep my head down. But no matter what I did, my very existence seemed to disgust her.
She grabbed my chin harshly, her eyes filled with rage.
Then the door creaked open.
A girl stood there—Talia. Dressed in a blue mini shirt dress and black heels, her pale skin shimmered under the light. Her goth makeup was flawless, but it was her eyes I focused on. There was concern in them.
“Are you okay? Susie, let the poor girl be, she clearly can't handle much more,” Talia said.
Talia was the only vampire who ever showed me a hint of kindness. Whenever I was overworked, she would give me breaks or sneak me snacks.
My eyes welled up again as I looked at her. My lips trembled, and I tried to hold it in.
Susie scoffed and stood, pushing me aside as she stormed toward Talia.
“Whatever,” she muttered, glaring at me before walking out.
As the door closed, Talia walked over and gently pulled the duvet up to cover my shaking body.
“Are you okay?” she asked softly, brushing a hand over my head.
I stared at her, and the tears came again.
Why did she care? Why was she kind? I didn’t understand. I owed her more than I could ever repay, yet I could do nothing for her.
All I could do was cry as she gently patted my back.
“It’s okay. It’ll get better,” she whispered.
But her words didn’t help, because deep down, I knew they weren’t true.
Vampires hated werewolves. I was no exception. My days here were going to be hell, a complete disaster.
Eventually, I was led back to my room—if it could even be called that. It looked like rats had thrown a party inside. The wooden furniture was old and falling apart.
I walked into the bathroom, my legs still trembling, and turned on the tap. Water only came once a week and lasted thirty minutes, so I had to make it count.
I stripped off my clothes and stepped under the shower. At first, I scrubbed gently. But as memories from earlier returned-the feeling of that old pervert’s breath on me-I scrubbed harder.
I felt filthy. Trapped. Desperate for freedom.
Even when I had been the Alpha’s daughter, I was weak. My own pack had hated me. There was no happiness in that life either.
I remembered the night the vampires attacked. I had stayed, hoping to fight. Hoping to help my family. But I was useless.
I was the last to protect my mother. I saw the regret in her eyes as she was dragged away. She mouthed the words “I’m so sorry,” and then her blood splattered—right on my face.
I had frozen. Paralyzed.
She hadn’t been the best mother, but she had fed me, clothed me. She hadn’t killed me the moment she found out I was weak.
My heart ached as I scrubbed harder, trying to erase everything.
When I finally felt clean enough, I stepped out, filled a bucket with the leftover water for later, and dried off.
I put on the only set of clothes I owned-an oversized, worn-out blue outfit-and tied my red hair into a messy bun.
I lay on the uncomfortable bed, and my stomach growled.
Not that asking for food would get me any.
Then, suddenly, the door burst open.
Two hefty men stormed in.
Fear clenched my chest as one of them said, “Get her.”
They moved toward me. I tried to scream, but one of them struck my neck and everything went black.