The Lycan King Saved Me

No Hope

Kinsley

Death. I wish for death.

I pray to the Goddess for death. I have spent the last week working in the gardens under the hot sun instead of healing and attending school. Father has decided I have had enough school. I now work with Craig Bowen in the gardens, tilling beds and planting flowers. Genesis has done her best to heal my wounds but can only do so much.

Avery has snuck pain relief medicine to me, and I am thankful. Madeline and Milo also come to see me until they are chased off by Craig or Father. I feel so alone, especially since I was made to move out of the packhouse and into the garden shed. I get a hard cot with a thin sheet to sleep on. I am only allowed one meal a day.

“Why can’t I die?” I plead with whoever. I don’t believe in the Goddess anymore. She can’t possibly be watching this happen to me and not do anything. Therefore, she doesn’t exist as far as I am concerned.

At night, when I dream, I see him. A tall figure in the woods beckoning me to a heaven I do not deserve.

He says his name is Zeidan, but he is probably just another demon.

“Wake up, girl!” I am jolted awake by Craig kicking the cot. “We have lots of work to do.”

I groan as I open my eyes to look up at the gruff man.

“Make haste,” He grumbles. “You don’t want to make Alpha angry again.”

I sigh and sit up. I am still wearing the same clothes as yesterday. I don’t see much point in changing them at this point. I wander to the outdoor bathroom to relieve myself and splash water on my dirty face. “I hate myself,” I mutter. “I wish I was dead.”

‘Help is coming,’ Genesis speaks up.

I ignore her and head back outside to where Craig is barking at two other omegas.

“Make sure you get everything perfect. We are expecting the Lycan King in a few days. Alpha and Luna want this pack sparkling.” He says as the others walk away. Turning to me, his crooked lips upturned, “And you.”

I sigh as he beckons me towards another part of the garden. I wonder what fresh hell I get to experience today. He stops at the pond that is half drained.

“I need you to scrub the pond today. And when you finish that, you need to refill it and put the animals back,” He explains. “Then come see me.”

I sigh as he limps away. I look up at the sky as I know it will be another warm May day. I get to work, and soon, I am covered in slime and algae. My whole body aches as I scrub the rocks and concrete clean.

I hear laughter and look up to see Esmae and Junie watching me. I take a deep breath and try to ignore them.

“What is that thing, Junie?” My stepsister laughs and points.

“Why, it’s some sort of swamp monster, Esmae,” Junie responds.

“She is so ugly and smelly,” Esmae makes a face.

I eye them as I trudge the last bit of muck out of the pond and slop it into the wheelbarrow. I grab the wooden handles and lift. My back screams in pain, but I ignore it and walk by them.

“Oops,” Esmae says, kicking the wheelbarrow, causing it to tip over. “My bad.”

Rage boils over in me, and I ball up my fist and punch Esmae in the face hard enough to send her flying a few feet away. She landed on the ground and began wailing like a banshee. I pick up the wheelbarrow and walk away.

Sydney is waiting for me when I return to the pond. “Kinsley!” She screeches. “How dare you punch Esmae.”

I say nothing and continue working.

My stepmother grabs me and pulls me back. She slaps me hard across the face. “You are lucky we let you live here. You killed your mother and brother.”

I press my lips together as she keeps the insults flowing.

“What happened?” I hear Father growl.

“She punches Esmae,” Sydney responds.

I look at my father to see rage in his face.

“Did you punch Esmae?” He asks, and I nod.

“She punched Esmae?” I hear Jaxson growl.

“Esmae probably deserved it,” Jaiden says, causing Father to growl.

I look Father in the face, “I punched her, and I’m not sorry.”

“Leave us,” He orders the rest of my so-called family. Jaiden gives me a sympathetic look as Sydney drags him away. He grabs me and drags me towards the cells. “I should have smothered you the day you killed your mother.”

“Why didn’t you?” I mutter.

He stops and lets go of me. For a moment, I see something akin to a fatherly look before the rage returns, and I am dragged to my doom.

I wake up later, crumpled in a cell full of my blood. I try to move, but the wounds on my back are too much. “Why didn’t I die?” I whisper.

‘You are meant to live,’ Genesis speaks up. ‘Hope is on its way.’

‘There is no hope for me, Genesis,’ I mutter as tears fall to the bloody ground.

‘There is always hope, Kinsley,’ she says. ‘And on that day, we will show them who we really are.’

I listen as heavy boots stomp down the metal grating. I close my eyes as someone stops in front of my cell.

“Goddess, why?” I hear Avery say.

I open my eyes to her and Gamma Matthew standing outside the cell.

“Open it, Matthew,” Avery says.

“Alpha wants her to lie there for a few days,” Matthew responds.

“Goddess sakes, Matthew. Open the cell!” Avery screams.

The gamma complies, and Avery rushes in with her bag.

“I hate him,” She groans as she touches my back, and I howl. “Flora would be heartbroken.”

“I killed her,” I mutter.

“No, you didn’t kill her. Flora loved you,” Avery sniffles.

I feel some relief as she places some gauze on my back.

“We are getting you out of here. My brother said he would take you in,” She states. “And I am going to our king about this.”

“Avery,” Matthew sighs.

“No, I am tired of it, Matthew. I promised Flora that I would always look out for her pups,” Avery says. “It will be okay, Kinsley.”

“We have to go,” Matthew huffs. “He’s coming, and I don’t want you in here.”

“I’ll be back,” Avery whispers and sets something wrapped in a handkerchief beside me. “It’s some bread and apple slices.” Matthew pulls her to her feet, and they leave the cell.

I pull the food towards me and hear my father’s booming voice.

“I told you she is to be left in her mess,” He growls.

“I was not going to let her bleed to death,” Avery argues.

I close my eyes as I listen to Father stomp down the corridor to my cell.

“I know you are awake, Kinsley,” He growls.

I open my eyes to look at his boots.

“You are lucky I didn’t kill you. You will remain there until I figure out what to do with you,” He mutters.

“Just kill me,” I say.

A low chuckle rumbles from him, “I wish I could,” he hisses and stomps away.

I sigh and sit up on the cold floor. Fresh blood pours from my wounds, but I ignore it as I eat the little bit of food. ‘I wish I was dead.’ I repeat.

‘Hope is coming,’ Genesis cries.

But hope doesn’t exist for me.