The Wolf & The Cauldron

My hands redden under the hot water, but I do not turn down the heat. The dishes steam from the heat as I set them methodically on the drying rack. We have no dishwasher, it was an unnecessary expense. I suppose reliable appliances were also unnecessary, the fridge and stove were both nearly ten years old. The former cooked unevenly and the latter had to be unplugged once a week to thaw out the build up of ice in the freezer.

Yara told me when she first moved here that her pack had a beautiful kitchen with brand new stainless appliances and a large island that always had snacks laid out. She never got in trouble for stealing cookies and her only chore was to be a child. Yara spoke about her home and she would cry, now she never speaks about it but the tears still come.

I was pulled from my thoughts when Addie entered the kitchen with a hamper. She began putting fresh towels away in the cabinet and handed me one for me hands. “Here.” she said as I hung the now damp towel on the rack, “Take these to the linen closet.”

“Yes Ma’am.” I said softly taking the clean sheets and leaving the room. The first closet I came to was mostly full. I added a few but the rest would have to go upstairs. With the sheets clutched to my chest I eyed the staircase. The upper levels of the pack house belonged to the Alpha, Beta and VIP guest rooms. It was quiet, there were no guests and likely the Alpha and Beta were out. I hoped that was the case.

“Go fast.” my wolf encouraged.

“I was planning on it.” I grumbled but my feet still didn’t move.

“Waiting only makes it worse.” She was right. I didn’t have a retort so instead I growled and forced myself forward. After conquering the stairs I walked quickly, but quietly, down the hall. The linen closet was in sight when I heard the sobs. My feet stilled, I recognized the cries. “She always cries, keep moving.”

“River,” I chastised, “She is our friend we need to check on her.” Before she could protest further I tucked the sheets under one arm and slowly opened the door. Yara sat on the floor, mostly naked with a towel covering her chest.

“Yara?” I said softly, she turned to see me and a fresh wave of tears. Her lip was split and her right eye was showing signs of a bruise. As a mated werewolf the small wounds would heal in a few hours, but that was still no excuse for her mate to lay his hands on her this way. Unfortunately it wasn’t an uncommon occurrence around here.

I set the sheets on the edge of the bed and sat down on the floor beside her. She hurriedly wiped the tears off her face. “Faythe...you shouldn’t be here. Austin doesn’t like people in our room....”

I only shook my head, I wasn’t going anywhere. This wasn’t the first time I have been in here without him knowing and it probably wont be the last.

“He hasn’t hit me in a long time, he’s just angry...he will be better when he calms down.” She assured me. My frown deepened. She said something like this every time and so far it hasn’t gotten better. “We’ve been trying for a pup.” she continued. “I haven’t been able to get pregnant, he’s frustrated.”

“Hurting you isn’t going to help.” I whispered to her, looking over around the room. “Where did he go?”

“A run, I think. To calm down.” Yara sniffled once and I noticed no fresh tears came to replace the ones she wiped away.

Yara came here nearly two years ago from a pack in the west. Austin’s name was one of her potential mates. She chose him because of his status as Beta and how handsome he was. But even evil can have a pretty face. I knew she regretted it, but there was no going back. The only one who could change her fate was an Alpha. Unfortunately the Alpha of the North East pack and his son Connor were both worse then Austin. I avoided the Alphas and Beta. It used to be easier, but since my last family member passed I was forced to move into the pack house and being invisible was near impossible.

“Austin told me that Connor will be Alpha soon. This choosing is his last chance to get a mate before his father dies...”

“He is still young...a foolish girl from another pack will choose him...” I shrugged, I had to force myself not to care. I would never wish for a girl to choose him and end up like Yara but it wasn’t something I could change.

“He is going to force someone to choose him...” Yara said, pausing to inhale a shaky breath. “He is going to force you to choose him.”

My heart sank. “What? W-Why?”

“Time to leave.” River pushed, but I foolishly ignored her.

“He’s had his eye on you since you moved into the house. That is why no one has approached you. He has kept you all this time as a plan B.” Yara started to cry again, “Austin says that if he got to choose his mate he would have dozens of pups by now. He says his wolf would have never let him choose someone barren.”

“Yara, shhhh.” I wrapped my arm around her and rubbed her back. “This is your chance, if Austin is so unhappy he can petition the Alpha for a new mate. You’ll be free to go...”

“No one will want me then. No one wants a barren used up mate.”

“No one is better then this one.” I would be perfectly happy without a mate but Yara was the type of wolf who needed someone. I was almost positive she would continue to take the abuse just so she wouldn’t be mateless.

A creak on the stairs caught my attention. It could be Addie but my luck was running thin. “What’re you going to do, Faythe? About Connor?”

“I-I don’t know. Come to my room later?”

Before she could answer the door opened behind me. I turned and locked eyes with Austin. As soon as I realized I was in trouble I jumped to my feet and snatched the clean sheets off the bed, my eyes lowered. I quickly approached the door hoping that he would let me pass, but no such luck.

“Beta Austin I am very sorry for intruding I only-” I was cut off as he backhanded me across the face. I fell to my knees and the sheets landed in a messy heap on the floor. I could taste blood in my mouth, my lip was probably split.

“Austin she was only checking on me...please let her go...” Yara’s voice shook as she got to her feet, but she did not approach.

“She is not allowed in here.” He growled. “I tell her time and time again...” He wastalking to Yara...or his wolf...I wasn’t sure. Finally he looked down to me and spat on the clean sheets. Now I would have to wash them again. “But you do not listen!”

I didn’t dare try to speak up again, instead I gathered the fallen, now dirty, sheets in my arms. I held them tight as I worked up the courage to try and stand. Austin immediately kicked me back down. I grunted in pain...but he only connected his foot with my stomach a second time. With a whimper I went still, it was possible he could kill me and no one would care.

“Stupid bitch, get out of my room!” He snarled loudly.

“Austin-” Yara tried again but his snarl only turned on her. She went pale and sat on the edge of the bed, the towel held tight around her body to cover her nakedness.

“I’ll take her.” A voice came from the hall. -