Several weeks have passed since I tried to escape. Things were worse than ever. I was constantly beaten by Manuel and the pack hated me and thought I was a traitor. I hardly ever left the house because everyone would make snide remarks and chase me trying to scare me. No one except Manuel was able to punish me. A group of guys tormented me one day. They hit me and kicked me until I was unconscious. Manuel was furious and killed all four of the guys that beat me. He told the pack that no one touches me except for him. Since that incident no one has tried to lay their hands on me. They would only verbally abuse me which sometimes was worst than the physical abuse. I wanted so bad to die. I hated myself and everyone around me and just wanted it all to end. But unfortunately my wolf was still hanging on; telling me it was not over yet and we had a purpose and we needed to fulfill that purpose. I had no idea what my wolf was talking about. What purpose could I fulfill. I was nothing…nothing but shattered pieces of what a great and powerful wolf should be.
I walked into the library and went to the very back and sat in my favorite oversized chair. The library was the only place I could feel relaxed. I grabbed a book and began reading. Reading was an escape from the real world. I could lose myself and escape into a different world if only for a little while. I heard footsteps and people talking so I put my book down and peaked from behind a bookshelf. Manuel, Jose, and his third in command, Lucas, were standing near the fireplace talking.
“We can’t let her be seen when the packs come. She is a disgrace and I will not let her embarrass me” Manuel said to Jose and Lucas. “We will have to move her to one of the cabins far in the woods so she wont be noticed or so no one can sense her” Jose said. They all nodded their heads. “We will have to make sure that everything is in order before the packs come. I wish that we were not in charge of the annual meeting this year but we are and we have to insure that we look good, and in order to do that Willow will not be seen by anyone this weekend” Manuel said . They started to talk about other things. I walked back to my seat upset that I was going to be secluded from everyone. Every year all the alphas and betas including their wives and children in the packs around the United States gather at one of the packs land and have a weekend full of festivities. The alphas and betas have a meeting to go over things going on in the packs. This year it was Forrest Fire’s turn to host the annual event. I had never been to one of the annual pack meetings except for when I was little. Manuel always insisted on me being at home. Manuel is right I am an embarrassment to our pack. I guess it is better for be to not go. I heard the door close to the library and knew that they had left. I picked my book up and started to read again, thinking of what the guys had said about me.
I was finishing up dinner when I heard Manuel come through the door. He didn’t even glance my way as he made his way to wash up for supper. I fixed his plate and put it down on the table. The smell of the food was so tempting but I didn’t dare eat it. I knew if I tried to eat he would get mad. He came out of the washroom and sat down in his seat. I stood there watching him. “You can leave now. I don’t want you staring at me while I eat my dinner” he said starting to eat his food. I turned to leave, “Willow you will be sent to a cabin in the woods before the weekend. You will stay there until I say to leave. If you disobey me you will be punished” he said. I nodded my head and went back to the kitchen. I cleaned the kitchen up and waited till Manuel was done eating. Manuel always went to his office after dinner until he was ready for bed. He would sometimes leave after dinner and would not come home until late. I used to ask where he was going but he would just shut me up and tell me it was none of my business. I found out that he would go and meet with other women to sleep with them. Ever since he started to abuse me he never touched me in a sexual way again. He told me that I disgusted him and he didn’t want me anymore. I was actually grateful that he never touched me in that way anymore. It still upset me though that he didn’t love me anymore and he sought attention from other women. I washed the rest of the dishes and headed up to my room. I had only two more days till the packs were coming so I needed to pack some clothes to take to the cabin.
Sitting here in this cabin in the middle of the woods I have never felt more lonely. I was forbidden to go outside and was told that if I even took one step outside that I would be beaten. I was thankful that I had packed several books because other than sleep that is the only thing I had to do. There was no TV or radio. I was sent here this afternoon but the packs wouldn’t be arriving until tomorrow. They wanted to make sure that I was out of the way. The cabin was small. It had one bedroom, a bathroom, kitchen, and a small living room. At least I had a fireplace that I could use at night. During the day it was warm but at night it was chilly. I had a feeling that I would be sleeping on the couch so I could be warm. I went and sat in the chair curling my legs underneath me. I grabbed one of the many books I had brought and began to read. While everyone had fun at the festivities I would be here alone by myself. I had a long weekend ahead full of nothing but loneliness and despair.
