The Orphaned Luna

*SMACK* Right after his hand made contact with my cheek, on instinct, my hand flew up trying to cool the sting. This is my life. Orphaned and left to humans to use and abuse. Even when I didn't do anything wrong, I get my ass beat. All because he can, knowing no one can stop him. I stared back into his drunken face, waiting for him to tell me what the hell I did to deserve it. But he just turned and walked away. I need to get the hell out of here. I don't have my wolf yet, but when she comes, I will finally be free of him. I'll finally be able to stand up to him. I've grown used to the beatings over the years. That I can handle. It's when he comes into my room at night that I can't take anymore. I've been able to spare Skyler, my foster sister, from the nighttime abuse, but I don't know how much longer that will last. Turning to clean up the mess Dave made, throwing dishes from dinner and empty beer cans on the floor, Skyler and I hurriedly finished our chores for the night. Wanting to get as far away from this monster living under the same roof that we could. It's after 9 p.m now, so we quickly shower and get ready for bed. Sitting together on Skyler's bed, doing our homework for the next day, she finally breaks the silence between us. "Are you okay?" Skyler asked me in a hushed tone. "I will be. As soon as I can get us the hell out of here," I told her with all conviction in my voice. "You've got a little bruise already. I'll cover it up for you before school tomorrow." My hand went back up to the cheek Dave hit, rubbing it a little to see if it was swollen. It felt a little puffy, so I knew the bruise would be there in the morning, but luckily not for long. I gave her a small smile and a nod before replying, "Thanks, Sky." I try my hardest to take most of the abuse. I knew I'd heal faster than Skyler. But sometimes when I'm not around, he gets to her as well. Being a werewolf, I had that ability, to heal faster than a normal human, even if I didn't have my wolf yet. I still heal twice as fast as Skyler. Growing up, we'd both get used as personal punching bags. But after Dave's wife, Karen, died, we only had one abuser instead of two. My bruises and cuts would heel while hers lingered for days, so I finally told her what I was when we were twelve years old. She was in shock that werewolves really existed, but after a few days and about a million questions, she finally came around to the fact that werewolves weren't just in fairy tales. Finally finishing our homework, Skyler and I lay together in her bed, wrapped in each others arms like most nights Dave is on a drunken rampage. I knew the moment we walked in the door from school it wasn't going to be a pleasant evening. Dave threw a beer can at us the moment we walked in that hit me right on the temple, then demanded me bring him another. But thankfully, this day is over. Tonight, Skyler's front is to my back, her arm holding me tight in an effort to comfort me. But really, trying to make us both feel safe in each other's arms, even if we know in the back of our minds we truly aren't. Closing my eyes to try and drift off to sleep, I can't help but think the first seventeen years of my life have, well....... sucked. I lost my family at the age of eight in a car accident so bad, even werewolves couldn't heal from it. How I survived, I have no idea. And that was only the beginning of my bad luck. I lost most of my memory in the car accident, but I knew I was a werewolf. I knew who my parents were. I could remember my brother, but I couldn't remember where we came from or if I had any other family. And having no one step up to claim me, I was left in the human foster care system. I bounced around from home to home for the first few years in foster care, acting out and being sent away. That is, until I met Skyer. She saved me. We may not have the best home life, but we have each other. She's been the one constant in my life since turning ten years old and the one who keeps me going. If it weren't for her, I probably would have ended my life years ago. But now? Now, I'm determined. Determined to get out of here and to take Skyler with me. For the past almost two years now, I've been working on weekends and the random shift during the week at the local donut shop. Sneaking out our bedroom window after, I'm sure Dave is passed out for the night, and going to work in the wee hours of the morning, decorating and icing the donuts before the shop opened at 6 a.m. I've been saving every penny I earn to get us out of here. We will graduate from high school in just a few weeks' time, and I'll turn eighteen in a few days. Dave already told me he wants me out right after graduation since funding for me from the state stops when I turn eighteen. Honestly, I'm counting down the days. But where the hell will we go?