lycan king and his human mate

chapter 3

Elena

Finally, the day's work was done, washing the dishes. I sighed in relief that I could go and rest early tonight. I have to wake up early in the morning because I help maids make breakfast for my uncle's family. Yes, my uncle's family.

I am an orphan girl. I used to have a loving family until the accident happened. I don't remember much. All I know, one day in the afternoon, my uncle came to our house panicked and said my parents had had an accident. I didn't have the time to process everything that he said before I lost consciousness.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in my uncle's house. I have been living with them since then, along with my three cousins. Liam is the elder brother while Sara is the second one and the evilest one. Gwen is younger and the kind-hearted exact opposite of Sara and my aunt Lina.

The first three years were easy and happy, but things started getting worse when I turned 8. After that, they started to treat me like a maid who can do all the chores of the house. My uncle and Liam were against it, they don't have much to say about this. My uncle treated me nicely and gave me pocket money secretly as he used to have my cousins. He told me not to tell anyone about this and I didn't.

Years passed and my hatred towards myself grew. My aunt and Sara started to torture me with anything they could find excuses for. I find peace only when I am at school or when they go out.

When my uncle said that he wanted to send me to the same school as my cousins she didn't agree and they ended up in a huge fight because of me. I felt guilty at that time. I didn't know what happened but she agreed with my uncle reluctantly and at that time I was really glad to hear that I could now study.

But my happiness didn't last long when my aunt and Sara started to give me less food than I needed. But I couldn't say anything to them as I was living under their roof.

My aunt started to give me orders to do the chores around the house when I turned eight. It grew more and more over the years. My uncle didn't say anything to her and gave me pocket money secretly every month anyway.

Liam was the one who always stood up when he saw them torturing me. But I told him not to.

When I turned 10, they shifted me to the basement. And from then on it was my room where I live. I don't complain, but I don't like this life either. It's suffocating here. Every minute of the day here is like I am spending my life in prison. I was not allowed to have meals with them. Whatever is left after they are all done will be my meal and Liam knew it too well the purposely didn't leave me more. He was the one who always sneaked food into the basement whenever my aunt and Sara were not around.

I told them that I wanted to join an elite college after graduation, but my aunt denied it immediately after hearing my proposal and I didn't know why.

My uncle helped me arrange their online scholarship exam. And I took the exam without any hesitation. Now I am just waiting for their reply. I know that college is for rich kids. But I also know that after I graduate from an elite college there will be more chances I can take a job and live my own life away from all this.

I dried my hands with the towel and sighed, finally everything was done before time and I can sleep early tonight. I needed a good sleep, which I didn't have in a long time.

I made my way out of the kitchen. And towards the basement when I bumped into the hard chest.

" Ow," I said and rubbed my nose.

" I am so sorry. I didn't do it on purpose," I immediately said when I realized that I would be in trouble for bumping into someone.

" Relax," a deep voice said. And I let out the breath that I was holding when I heard the voice. I looked up and it was Liam. He looked down at me and smiled warmly. He was not a kid anymore and he had grown up into a fine man, I would rather say into a sexy and hot man. But he is my cousin anyway and I don't look at him that way. It's just that he has become bulkier and more handsome. Any girl would want to have him as their boyfriend.

" Are you all right"? He asked and touched my forehead, which was probably red now.

" Ye- yeah," I said and cleared my throat. He chuckled.

" Good," he said and, retreated his hand and put it into his pocket, and took a step back.

I kind of try to stay away from him after he has become more like a man now. And I don't know why I do it.

" Do you need anything?" I asked when he didn't say anything and just stood there staring at me.

" Well.. tomorrow is your birthday. Here," he said and pulled out a little box from his jeans pocket and forwarded it towards me to take it.

I looked at the box and then at him dumbfounded. All these years, absolutely no one has gave me a present after my parents. Although uncle John used to give me extra money and he didn't say why he did it when I asked him. But after a few years, it was clear that he couldn't get me anything, so he gave me extra cash on my birthday.

" Take it," he said when I didn't respond to him.

I reluctantly took the present and was about to open it, when he suddenly stopped me.

" Don't open it yet. Go to your room first," he said.

" Thank you," I said, looking into his eyes. My eyes got teary at his small gesture. But somehow I felt valued.

" Happy Birthday. Elena," he said before he turned and made his way towards the staircase.

I put the small box in my pocket and made my way towards the basement where my so-called room is. But it won't last long. I still need to check my laptop for any news from the college. I am still hoping that I have a chance to get in.

I pushed the door of the basement open and, as always, there was a small box of cupcakes lying on the top of the dresser. I still can't figure out who put this in here on my birthday every year. Maybe it was my uncle as he couldn't give me anything in front of my aunt. I didn't try to find out who did this all these years. Instead, I sit where there is a small window where the moonlight comes in and enjoy my birthday. Wishing myself as soon as I turn 18 I will leave here and will live my life happily as my parents would have wished for me if they were here.

I have little to nothing in my room except a dresser, a single-sized bed, a shelf, and a few other household stuff.

I made my way towards the dresser to grab the box of cupcakes and then walked to my bed. I sat on the bed and put the cakes beside me. I pulled the box out of my pocket and unwrapped the rapper. Tears filled in my eyes as a sudden thought of my parents crossed my mind, like what it would be like if they were still here.

I slowly opened the box and, to my surprise, it was a sleekly designed necklace placed inside. The pendant was a very beautiful flower with blue petals. I touched the flower gently. I do not dare to wear this while I am still here.

I still remember on one of my birthdays, Gwen gave me a hair clip. It was beautiful and was embellished with pearls. But Sara liked it and wanted to have it. So she came up with a disgusting idea. She told aunt Lina that she had taken the hair clip and I stole it from her. I explained to them that it was not me but Gwen gifted me this on my birthday, but aunt Lina didn't believe me. And Gwen was away on a school trip at that time. Aunt Lina made me do all the chores around the house alone. And told me that I was not allowed to have dinner for one week. I didn't know if god had mercy on me at that time. Whenever I come back to the basement after doing everything, I always find food under my pillow.

I closed the box and got up from bed and put the small box inside my secret place that was behind a painting. There is a hole in the wall. I use it to put my cards and important stuff away from their eyes. My uncle helped me open a bank account and he put all the money in there, and I am thankful that he did that for me.

I went back to my bed and sat down. I opened the box of cupcakes and started munching on them, thinking about how my life would be when I got out of there.

I finished the cakes within a few minutes because they were delicious. Then I grabbed my bag, which was lying beside the bed, and pulled out my laptop.

I opened the laptop and switched it on. To my surprise, I did receive emails. I quickly opened the folder and just stared at the screen. It was a letter, not any letter. It was my acceptance letter. My heart was about to burst out with joy. I decided to call my uncle and let him know the news.

" No, I will tell him tomorrow morning," I said and checked the details.

It said I was accepted for a scholarship. The date is one week away from today. I need a letter that is signed by my guardian. My uncle will help me with that matter.

I closed the laptop and put it back in my bag and decided to doze off early. I needed rest and, since it was Sunday tomorrow, no one would wake up early.

" Happy Birthday, Elena," I said to myself and lay down on the bed. I fell asleep quickly because of the tiredness.

***********

The next morning came quickly when I heard someone calling my name in a hoarse voice. I groaned and put my face on the pillow, thinking that it was my imagination, since it was Sunday and no one gets up this early.

" ELENA," I heard my aunt shouting while banging on the door of the basement.

I shot up from the bed straight while my heart was beating in my chest like it would come out at any minute.

" Yes, coming," I said loudly and looked at my surroundings.

The cake box was still lying on the floor. I quickly got off the bed and bent down to grab the box. I quickly put the box inside my school bag and went to open the door. I took a few deep breaths before I opened it. I met a very angry aunt Lina who was fuming at me.

" Why are you still sleeping?" She asked.

" You have to make us all breakfast, we are all starving," she said.

" But the maids?" I said carefully, not wanting to piss her off more than she was.

" Didn't they tell you?," She asked with a raised eyebrow. I shook my head no.

" Well, they will not be coming for one week. And we have to go shopping. The prom is after two days and Sara needs a dress to wear," she said. So they did it on purpose.

" Don't just stand there," she said before leaving. I followed her behind.

And here I was thinking I could take some rest before leaving. I sighed thinking that the rest is not on my checklist for the rest of the week.

I made my way towards the kitchen through the living room. I quickly glanced at the clock and it read 6 a.m. it was still early and nobody arrived. I have enough time to make breakfast. I got busy making pancakes, bacon, croissants, whipped cream, and fresh orange juice. I was almost done when I heard the sound of the clicking heels against the floor. I rolled my eyes inwardly, knowing who that was.

" Hurry up and prepare the table. We have many places to go," she said kind of proudly, before leaving me alone.

I hurriedly prepared the table where my aunt and Sara were waiting for their breakfast to be served. I quickly served them. And they began to eat while chatting with each other. Completely forgot that I was there.

" They have not woken up yet. I need you to do all the chores around the house and clean the house properly before we arrive and tell your uncle that we have gone shopping," aunt Lina said when I was about to go back into the kitchen and leave them alone. I turned and nodded my head at her. Strangely, they didn't bully me like they always do when they find me alone. I guess they are in a good mood.

I turned and entered the kitchen, waiting patiently for them to leave. When I heard the sound of the engine starting, I knew they had left. This is my chance to let my uncle know that I was selected for an elite college.

I quickly cleaned the table and looked at the clock. It was 8 already. I know they won't wake up until 9. So I decided to put the clothes in the washing machine and clean the floor.