The Beast And The Blessed

Natalie’s P.O.V.

I pushed through the crowd, desperate to get away from everyone. I had been beaten, bullied, and broken by this pack over the past few years, and the only salvation I had was upstairs cheating on me with my sister.

Although, I guess he wasn’t anymore. Now, he was just * his mate. I no longer existed to him. Our relationship had just been a way to pass the time until he found someone better…someone, who had shifted and wasn’t human still.

A hard shove came from behind me as I raced down the last few steps. My vision was blurred by the tears, and I was clutching my chest as I tried to catch my breath. I didn’t want the rest of the pack to enjoy my pain any more than they already did.

They loved it when I cried and when I begged them to stop hitting or kicking me. It spurred them on to hear me calling Jake for help. This time, I had no one to call for… no one who cared enough to help me.

The force of the push sent me flying into the hardwood floor with a shout of pain as my wrist twisted beneath me, my dark brown hair falling over my shoulder.

“Silly Tilly, always being in places that she doesn’t belong.” Savannah hissed as she stepped over my body. I knew I needed to get away, but a large foot came down on my back as I tried to stand, sending my chin to the floor.

I turned my head, panting for air as they pressed more of their weight down on my spine. “I’ve been really sick of you bothering us. If you are not a wolf, then you are not a part of this pack. We don’t want humans here. It’s time for you to get lost, runt.”

“That is quite enough!” The Alpha’s voice boomed through the house, and I took in a deep breath as the weight on my back was lifted.

I didn’t want to look up at Alpha Dalton. He felt the same as the rest of the pack did. He wanted me away from his son. It wasn’t because I was human. He despised me for being weak. According to him, I was nothing more than a distraction to Jake, and he was right.

“Make your way home, Natalie.” He ordered as he looked down his nose at me. I didn’t need my wolf to feel the alpha command he used, but I did feel the blood dripping from my lip as I scrambled to get to my feet.

As I was rushing out the front door, his voice rang out again, and I paused just outside the open door on the front porch. “For the rest of you, the announcement has been made of their travels, and The Offering will be tomorrow.”

replaced with panic. We knew they would be arriving any day now, but we hadn’t expected them to come

The Lycans.

ruled the world. Wolves, Fae, witches, and humans

they were going to reschedule or cancel as it had been silent on

quietly as I could, needing to hear what my Alpha was saying, but unable to stop the tears from the pain and betrayal I had experienced tonight. My wrist was cradled to my chest, and my breathing was coming out in shallow and

able to

a small part of me hoped

joining his pack this time. I want everyone on the best behavior.” The shock of the news was audible as the pack gasped in

and torment of those around him. He killed without warning and took whatever he wanted

Offering was done each year before, it was only the unmated members of his pack that showed

shook my head as I turned and made my way out of the

of their arrival to be unessential. He had tried to send me away

would be a

around in case I were to shift late. They couldn’t have someone shifting around the humans. While they knew about us and also

how

Away from the suffering and

to my house. It was

excruciating. While a part of me demanded that I go back and give Jake a

I wasn’t sure how to come back from it. How did one ever get over