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.”

they would be arriving any day now, but we

The Lycans.

witches, and humans alike were

days ago. We had begun to assume they were going to reschedule or cancel

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

with malice in her voice. The Alpha would have been able to hear her

tonight ever happened. But a small part of me hoped they chose her. I wanted them to take her far away from here, where I would never have to

that the Lycan king will be joining his pack this time. I want everyone on the best behavior.” The shock of the news was audible as

castle walls in years. He was rumored to be a vicious beast, one who fed off the pain and torment of those around him. He killed without warning and took whatever he wanted without consequence. The stories of his ruthlessness were vast, and I knew nothing good

done each year before, it was only the unmated members of his pack that showed up to choose from

and made my way out of

Lycans wouldn’t bother with me. Even the Alpha thought my knowledge of their arrival to be unessential. He had tried to

be a

me around in case I were to shift late. They couldn’t have someone shifting around the humans. While they knew about us and also lived under the rule of the Lycans, they kept to

exactly how I wanted to

pain. Away

into my mind, making it hard to focus as I ran back to my house. It was as though I could

both was excruciating. While a part of me demanded

taken my heart and spat in my face. I wasn’t sure how to come back from it.