The Black Alder Series novel Chapter 4

It's been 3 years since I've been taken out of the dungeon. During that time, I was beaten and abused by what seemed like my whole pack. I've lost tons of weight and am now really thin. Anytime anyone mentions me, I'm referred to as the girl who took off her father's head. Some people avoid me, which makes my job a bit easier. I am so lucky to have snow because the beatings have been getting so frequent. Even Jen has joined in now. All those years of friendship are just gone.

She knew better than anyone how much I loved my father, but I believe Lynx's influence on her may make her see things his way. I've gotten used to the occasional hits and slaps, till they stopped getting a reaction out of me. People would hit me; I would get back up each time. They seemed to stop since I wasn't crying about it anymore. The hitting stopped randomly a few months ago, and now I just get the occasional angry glances I am used to. I haven't used it though. More focused on the fact that my 18th birthday is tomorrow, and it falls on a lunar eclipse which is supposed to be extremely rare. No one knows I have my wolf, since I have never shifted. This leads me to believe they hated me anyway, because only an idiot would believe my mother when she says I shifted, and I was only 14 at the time.

Yea, they are all idiots. All of their wolves are weak.

I'm smiling at my wolf snow. She seems extra happy about this birthday, but I don't understand why.

You will see my love. I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yet.

While I'm pondering what she just said, I get a loud mind link telling all the staff to come to the kitchens. I met up with my friend Serene while we made our way there. We became friends easily and it wasn't long before she told me she was half-witch, and therefore had the gift of foresight for both the future and the past. Turns out the whole wait staff knew about her power, but they kept it well hidden due to witches being banned on our turf. She would be killed on the spot. She shared her power of foresight and took all the wait staff back to that horrible day and after they saw what happened, all I received were looks of pity. Some even cried, being close to my dad. They all treated me with the utmost respect. I suspect they are the reason I am not being beaten as much anymore, trying to keep me out of everyone's way, giving me fewer jobs. I am grateful. We all reached the kitchen and put our hands behind our backs, keeping our heads down, acknowledging Alpha Ned, his son David and new Luna, my bitch of a NOT mother, sitting at the table. Alpha Ned just summoned us all.

"Alpha," we all say in unison. He gets straight to business.

"As you all know", he states, " The Lunar Eclipse will be approaching us tomorrow night. As is such, we will be hosting King Roland of South Carolina. I expect each of you to be on your best behavior and out of sight if not needed. Speak only when being spoken to, they are ALL higher than you" ......

No, the hell they are not, I hear Snow say. I had to bite my lip to suppress a smile......

.......and I expect each of you to be on your best behavior. He mind links someone and looks directly at me before dismissing everyone. I was turning around to go when I heard " Elena Stay". The staff gave me all the sympathetic looks before continuing to walk.

He is now looking at me with a smirk, the same as my bitch mother's. Typical of her. She probably found a way to seduce him since he no longer had a luna. Luna died giving birth to David.

" I hear you have a birthday tomorrow," he says.