From Slave To Wolf Queen

Bellatrix Sinclair

The weekend has arrived, and I wasn’t graced with peace. Anxiety bubbled in my chest, nausea climbing into my throat, and it wasn’t from the boisterous crowd in the mall.

Tomorrow is the genetic screening, and the reminder has acid burning a hole in my stomach.

Clutching the ribboned handles of the shopping bag, Bonnie’s expensive Swan Lake necklace elegantly packed into sleek white box with a golden bow. Calling Bonnie only to reach her voicemail, opting to shoot her text that I got her necklace. It was an extravagant piece, the necklace adorned in tiny diamonds with a large ruby at the centre.

“Well, well.” A sickening voice I recognised garnering my attention.

Lifting my head to meet the wicked Benedict and Kylie. My jaw tenses at their vile faces, Kylie glances at the bag and she chuckles, “Trying to look pretty to entice a mate? Newsflash human, even that necklace wouldn’t be able to help you.”

Benedict smirks as they approach me, Kylie snatching the bag from my hand with ease. “I think this would look better on me, no need to waste such beauty on the likes of you.” She sneers.

“Give it back.” I demanded, my mouth tightening.

Kylie glared at me, “Humans can’t demand shit from us. Know your place.”

Glowering at them, Benedict pushing his finger against my forehead repeatedly, the spot starting to ache with the force. “Just because we aren’t at the Academy doesn’t mean you can disobey us. We own you human.” He seethed, his mouth curving into a snarl, “You are playthings for our amusement and even that your kind can’t accomplish. It’s pathetic that you even try, the world is our dominion, and you should fucking get on your knees and follow orders like a good human.”

Curling my hands into fists, simmering rage boiling my blood. Benedict continues, pushing me a couple steps back. Benedict was the cruellest of the five since he was the leader, he despised our kind even being allowed to exist on this planet. If it was up to him, we would all be dead.

I hear the ticking in my head, the last shards of my control slipping and my tongue itching to retaliate. “I don’t need to get on my knees and bow at your feet for anything. You don’t deserve that.” I spat in disdain, fire flaring in my eyes.

His nostrils flared; Kylie clicks her tongue, “Bitch, you have no idea what a privilege it is to be in our presence.”

Rolling my eyes, “I don’t think it’s anything special.” I respond dryly.

Immediately, Benedict raises his hand and smacks me, the fierce strength had my head turn to the side. My cheek flushed, burning from the sting. Every inch of my body began to vibrate, thrusted into an acrimonious inferno.

Benedict’s heavy breathing clogged my ears, people screeching to halt as the mall fell to a dead silence. “Lazarus de Loughrey granted you humans mercy, and you dare defy him and his people.” He growled bitterly.

Lazarus de Loughrey, the fucking Werewolf King.

Just his fucking name had my blood boiling, churning a dangerous poison of enmity. The de Loughrey family is royalty, Alpha of Alpha’s and the reason werewolves rose to power. Lazarus was crowned king at a young age, something unheard of from what I’ve read.

You would think a King wouldn’t bother with humans; his reign solely focused on his people. Except that wasn’t what happened, he inserted himself into our business and tortured humans for his own twisted enjoyment.

My father’s disappearance for all these years likely meant that he was dead, I studied our district during the year he went missing and to my surprise – King Lazarus made frequent visits to the pack that governed our district.

He was stealing humans under the radar, labelling it as mysterious disappearances and my father was one of his victims. I detested Lazarus and he suffered no consequences, he was worshipped instead. The reminder of how highly everyone thought of him, Benedict reiterating that I should be grateful to his majesty.

Fuck that. It only infuriated me further, a raging storm that was ready to crack and self-destruct.

I laughed, the sound menacing as I looked Benedict in the eye. “I wish I lived in your head, blindly following a greedy King who doesn’t care about anyone but himself. Everyone knows Lazarus only cares about himself and his family, you are merely his followers who will do his bidding because what else do you have going for you?” I shrugged dismissively, “Not much from the likes of it. You all peaked in high school and that’s as much attention as you are going to get.”

“You fucking bitch!” She screeched, smacking me in the same spot.

My cheek was throbbing, but I didn’t care, the satisfaction of watching their exasperated faces flush with embarrassment was all-too delightful and worth the pain. It became an addiction, once I opened the bottle – I couldn’t stop.

“You’re pathetic Benedict.” I said condescendingly, “It’s so obvious you want to be Lazarus, but let’s face it. You aren’t royal material; you act like a barbarian and royalty requires people with manners. They would never bother with the likes of you, it’s so obvious that’s why you overcompensate at the Academy.”

His nostrils flared, chocolate brown eyes glowing from his wolf. “You think I’m going to let you speak to me like that, you have no idea what you have done!” He shouted, veins protruding from his neck.

“What?” I quipped, cocking my head to the side with a grin, “Your fragile ego can’t handle the truth? Everyone knows you aren’t the leader; Archibald lets you think you have the power because he knows you throw girlish tantrums when you can’t get what you want.”

He curls his fingers into a fist before punching me so hard that black dots taint my vision. I knew the consequences of running my mouth, but it felt so fucking good to crush him. My head was pounding, and a sharp piercing sound punctured my ear drums, but I didn’t care because debasing them was sweetest medicine.

I smirk, purposely fixating on his dick in those dark jeans before meeting his vengeful glare. “The rumours were right about you; your intelligence matches your dick which everyone knows is tiny.” Pinching my index finger and thumb until there is a minuscule space between, “this small.” I taunt smugly. “I’m amazed girls fuck you to be honest, because clearly you wouldn’t be able to make them cum with that peanut.”

Everyone’s laughter drowns my senses, all my attention singled onto disgrace scoring his features. His mouth twisted into a snarl, fangs appearing as he roared, panting and emitting smoke from his nose like the beast he was.

This time when his fist collided with my face, it didn’t stop. He was relentless, forcing me to stumble until I fell onto the floor. Lightening shooting through my tailbone, Benedict yanks at my shirt and reigns another two punches. The metallic taste of blood floods my mouth, the excruciating pain in my face spreading like wildfire, pulling at my skin tightly.

Maniac laughter escaped my lips, spitting the blood onto the white tiles as I stare at him. “Is that the best you got? I guess even in strength you aren’t fit to be a werewolf because you hit like a bitch.” I snickered.

Benedict never had much self-control and was short-tempered, getting a rise out of him was easy. His boot started crushing my thighs, igniting a stabbing pain while he kicked my stomach repeatedly that I could taste the bile rising to my throat.

I laughed, the sound unrecognisable and boisterous from my burning lungs. If Benedict succeeded in beating me to death, then I wouldn’t have to go through the genetic screening and Benedict would face punishment.

Maybe this agony would be worth it. I recognised that blackhole of despair all too well, it was a lot like giving up.

“I know you can do better or are you just weak.” I goaded, breathlessly. “Archibald can do better than you.”

“Fucking bitch, think you are better than us. You are fucking NOTHING!” He barked, kicking and punching until my body withered in agony.

I coughed, pain piercing every fragment of my being. I felt myself losing consciousness, maybe this was what happened before you died. However, I wasn’t that lucky because Benedict suddenly stopped. My rapid heartbeat roaring in my ears, his voice sounding like he was underwater.

His spat onto my cheek like I was scum, “Your womb is the only thing of value to us, it’s the only reason I haven’t fucking killed you. Next time I see you, you better fucking run bitch.” He snarled in warning.

Kylie peers at me, pursing her lips into a mocking pout. “Aww, I really wished he would have killed you. Seeing your face everyday is nauseating.”

They leave and I’m left to drag myself out of the mall, each movement making me dizzy and my body screaming in pain.

____________________________________________

Colton’s lips thinned, a simmering rage behind his eyes as he focused on the task of putting ointment on my cuts and another on my bruises. He had immediately done an X-ray upon my arrival, which showcased no broken bones.

My face was swollen, coloured in a mirage of black and purple bruises. Colton was stewing in silence, his features hardening into stone. “Colton.” I muttered thickly, “I-“

He looks at me with fury ablaze in his orbs, fuming as he spoke. “I need to report Benedict and Kylie for assault. This is unacceptable, they can’t just beat you to death and not face any sort of punishment.”

“It’s pointless.” I whisper lowly, my shoulders deflating.

We both knew that, even though Colton never wanted to admit it. Complaining about an assault on a human by a werewolf to the authorities would be pointless. I wasn’t surprised that the law wasn’t on my side, disappointment was slithering in my veins like poison.

My phone starts beeping continuously, swiping to see that another reminder popping up. The genetic screening was scheduled for tomorrow, and we were required to arrive promptly at 9AM.

Dread seeps into my stomach, a wave of nausea making me want to dry heave. I thought I could evade this horrid fate through death but even God wouldn’t grant me such mercy. I feel like I’m being swallowed by helplessness, stripped of any power because I was born with none.

I tried so hard to avoid the genetic screening, I tried so hard to fight back and it seems futile – unescapable.

Swallowing thickly, praying to whatever god would answer. ‘Please don’t make me anyone’s mate.’