Forced To Marry The Ruthless Alpha novel Chapter 7

"It's been almost a week since anyone saw you, Luna." Lacys concerned voice isn't surprising.

Staring blankly at the closed curtains, I give no sign of response. I'd stopped responding a few days back, after giving the same answer time and time again, I didn't see the point in talking.

Three weeks.

Three weeks since I arrived here, and it feels like a lifetime ago. At first I carried on smiling, I talked with the pack and held up the act of the gentle Luna that I know they all believe. I tried so hard to keep them happy, I tried to pretend like I wasn't stuck here, I tried so hard to just be happy. But I couldn't do it, every minute it got harder, every day my smile began to fade and after a week ... I considered ending it all.

The pack expected perfection through the day, and by night Hardin comes in and does as he pleases with me. The past two nights he hasn't been back, I tried to deny him, which resulted in me slapping him. I assume he's still enraged, and I'm still frightened of what punishment he'll give me. But let's be real, he deserved it. 1

"I've brought food." Lacy says, and I hear the door being pushed further open.

"Get out." My voice rings with ice, anger that none of them have seen before rising to the surface.

Don't do it. The little frightened girl inside of me pleads, the person that I once was not so long ago. Part of me knows she's right, Hardin won't like my attitude. Do I really wish to anger him more?

"I'll leave it here, I hope you eat something, Luna." Lacy whispers, the door shutting not two seconds later.

Closing my eyes, I ignore the smell of cooked food, my stomach twisting with the urge to vomit. I've never been a huge eater due to my parents, but being treated as Hardin's dumpster slut is seriously messing me up. The more I try to deal with my new life, the more I try to accept it, the more sickened I become. Less energy, less hunger, less everything.

Maybe I'll fade away completely one day? Will I then be free?

Even with my eyes sore and closed, I didn't sleep. Such things are a privilege now, and it doesn't come often or by choice. I'm awake until I become completely exhausted, then I pass out for a while.

Remember who you are, don't let them change you. My brother's words ring clear through my skull, a promise that I regret making, it's getting harder to hold onto who I was.

~ONE WEEK BEFORE ~

His fresh seed seeps from between my clenched thighs, the familiar feeling of utter humiliation consuming me. I didn't move an inch, nor until I heard the door close as he leaves to do his daily pack business.

Sniffling back the tears, I pick up my phone, my finger hovering over the name that I so desperately wanted to talk to right now. But could I? How could I pretend to be fine?

The screen suddenly flashes, and his name appears, my phone vibrating. My entire body stiffens, turning cold with fear, but I didn't ignore his sixtieth call.

Answering it, I press the phone to my ear.

"Kalli!? Tell me what's going on, mom said you married some Alpha from up north. What the hell were you thinking?" My brothers infuriated, yet equally worried tone only breaks my heart.

My lip trembles, tears brimming my eyes. Tightening my grip on the phone, I pull my aching knees to my chest.

"Kalli?"

" ... Sebastian ... " My voice trembles, breaking as tears flood my face. Feeling crushed, all the built up pain and mixed emotions consume me completely.

"What's wrong?" His icy demand is one of anger, not at me, but the one hurting me.

"I can't ... I can't do this ... It hurts ... " I sob my heart out, begging my little brother to fix it, to do something, to save me.

"What hurts?" Seb whispers, more terrified than I've ever heard him. I hated that he's scared of me, but I needed him to know, I needed someone to know.

"Everything ... I don't want this, I can't do it-" I whisper, but Seb cuts me off.

"Kalli, you are the strongest person I know, whatever you're going to do ... don't do it." Sebs voice is gentle, frightened, pleading.

My heart twists in agony, my glassy eyes staring at the knife on the bedside table. It sits next to the half eaten apple from earlier, just where I'd left it.

"I have people tracking your location as we speak, I'm going to come and get you. Promise me ... promise me that you won't do anything until then." Seb begs me.

He's going to come and get me?

My first emotion is utter relief, a feeling that doesn't last more than a second. My hope deflating as I realise that Seb won't stand a chance against Hardin, my brother is Alpha and vicious, but he's no match for Hardin, Seb isn't first born.

"I promise, I won't ... Seb I need you to swear to me that you won't come for me." I whisper, hoping that no one is eavesdropping on the other side of the door.

"What? No-"

"Don't come for me Seb, my punishment from father will be far worse than this." I sniffle, wiping my snotty nose as I hold back my tears.