Chapter 2 - Sara
The hot sun above beats down on me relentlessly, sapping my energy and slowly frying my brain like an egg on a hot plate. Even though sweat is running down my sides and I feel like I’m being slowly roasted alive, I don’t want to leave the garden.
My hands dig deep into the dry soil, uncovering the carrots and potatoes seeded deeply in the earth. The harvest isn’t as good as I would like it to be, but there is enough for dinner tonight. I’m grateful for that, at least.
As I stack the root vegetables and tubers into the basket, I lean back a little to stretch my back, closing my eyes against the sun.
Even though it’s starting to sink towards the horizon now, I can’t enjoy the lengthening shadows or the cool breeze, because my next job is going to be cooking dinner—slaving over a hot stove.
My thoughts shy away from it, and I go back to digging in the dirt, trying to distract myself with the repetitive actions of harvesting and thinking about what needs to be done to keep the garden producing for another year.
As soon as there isn’t enough, Father will blame me. And now there is no one to stop him from beating me!
A small sob bursts out of my chest, and tears burn my eyes. I bite my lip trying to hold in my sorrow, but grief rises in me like a great, storm-driven wave, powerful enough to obliterate me and drown me forever.
Talon!
I sit back and take a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself down. The mourning period for the old alpha and his mate is over, and if I’m found crying over them again, I can be condemned to an official punishment.
But how can I forget the only people who were always kind to me?
My life has been hell for as long as I can remember, with our old alpha as my only reprieve. Ever since the ill-fated attack on the nearby packs and Talon’s death, I’ve found out there is actually a place worse than hell.
And now I’m living in it! Things can’t get any worse!
Even though tears streak down my cheeks, I go back to my work, slowly harvesting vegetables and stacking them in the basket. I have to have enough for Father, his girlfriend Melanie, and his three henchmen who live with us.
Maybe the new packs will bring some positive changes.
My mind shies away from that thought immediately. Why would Talon’s killers be any different than my father? They slaughtered our entire contingent. They have to be horrible people.
Talon and Jess were the only truly kind people I ever knew, and now they’re gone.
I sit still for a moment, watching the sun sinking towards the horizon. For as long as I can remember, Talon was my only refuge. My mother ran away when I was young, casting shame on the family. I was cast out at school, overworked at home, and shunned in the pack.
Talon tried his best to protect me and often invited me to his house to play in the garden or read his old books.
My father was mostly in support of this because he felt it gave him leverage over the alpha, but this made me so uncomfortable, I found it easier to avoid Talon than be forced into a position where I might have to betray him.
Still, I often found the lure of his kindness too strong, and I’d hurry to his place in the afternoons to sit in the big greenhouse with him and Jess, drinking iced tea and learning about her exotic herbs.
Tears trickle down my cheeks and slowly dry as the fierce grief in my chest fades into a numb void.
There is no refuge anymore, if there ever truly was one. I am at Father’s mercy more now than I have ever been.
As I pack up my basket, I think about the events that led to the attack.
My father’s plans are always a mystery to me, but I know he has the loyalty of many of the town’s elders.
He stood between Talon and his people, pretending to be a trusted friend to both, but in reality twisting them against each other.
I still don’t understand why he wanted to attack Eccles or what possible benefit it could have for us.
How he convinced Talon, I still can’t be sure. All I know is that Father whipped them into a frenzy and sent the warriors out to their deaths—while he stayed behind to “guard” the pack. His trusted man, Bruce, went with them on the attack, and he was, unsurprisingly, the only survivor.
All a setup…a complete setup. I still just don’t know how or why.
The sun sinks right to the edge of the horizon, becoming a blinding blaze of pure light. Fear and pain explode in my chest, sending such horrible agony through me, it’s as if I have to scream to get it out.
All I want is to go over that horizon. I have to get out of here—it’s all I’ve ever wanted—and now I have more reason than ever before!
I go through the steps in my mind. How I would secretly pack a few days in advance.
Hold a small feast at home, lacing the food with sedating herbs, and making sure Father’s cup was always full of moonshine.
After they pass out, one by one, I then collect my bag and strike out west—not stopping until I’m well past Caliente and in the human world.
A warm wind caresses my face, and I can’t help but smile as I imagine myself in a small city with an ordinary job, a little place to live, money of my own, and maybe a few friends.
It doesn’t sound like much, but to me, it would be bliss.
As the sun slips away behind the ridge, the breeze turns cool, and the pain returns to my chest.
I’d never make it. I’d have to clear Caliente before the drugs wore off—and I could never move that fast!
I wipe my face free of tears, not even caring about the dirt smearing my cheeks. As usual, thoughts of escape have only upset me even more, and if I truly want to stop suffering, the only thing I can do is accept my fate.
All of us know the dangers that surround Clover. It’s ingrained in us from the moment we can walk that leaving the town always results in a messy death. Above all, we avoid going east, towards Eccles.
Turning my back on the sun, I pick up my basket and head towards the house. My little dream of freedom haunts the edges of my mind, like a siren singing to me of escape and hope.
Yeah, remember what happened to the guys who followed the siren? They all got crushed to death on the rocks.
As I approach the back door of our flimsy little cottage, I can hear Melanie laughing with Father’s men. All of them sound drunk already, and I wonder again how they never get bored with drinking too much and talking shit.
Day after day of sleeping late, drinking from noon, and doing absolute fuck-all. Even the laziest person alive would have to get bored with it sooner or later.
“Sara!” Melanie’s shrill voice cuts through the air. “Get your ass in here. We’re starving, for fuck’s sakes.”
“I had to pick some vegetables,” I mutter, head down.
“Why?” she snaps, getting up to stride over to the door so she can glare at me close up. “None of us fucking like them.”
“Without them, there isn’t much to eat,” I answer, trying to keep my voice respectful.
“Whose fault is that?” she almost shrieks.
I look over at Father’s men but don’t say anything.
“We brought in meat,” Bruce says. “But I ain’t fucking cooking it.”
“I thought you were going to make more cakes,” Melanie says, almost pouting. “You say those are easy to make, and we don’t need much to bake them—and some biscuits, too!”
“Sure thing, Melanie,” I say, shuffling past her to get to the stove. “I understand. I’ll put some on now.”
With a little sound of triumph, she returns to her seat and takes another drink. I pull out trays and mixing bowls, setting up cake batter and cookie dough.
If I can say one good thing about my life, it’s that I have to eat cake every day. Like, it’s an actual survival tactic!
Flour, eggs, and milk, we have in pretty good supply, and with varied ingredients from our gardens and surrounding areas, we can make a variety of baked goods that keep us fed when all else fails. I set the biscuits and cake in the oven, then start to cook the meat and prepare the vegetables.
No one else bothers to help me, but thankfully, they get so drunk, they don’t seem to notice time passing. After the cakes and cookies come out of the oven, they fill up on those, and it keeps them quiet until the roasted meat and veggies are ready.
I’d normally get a chance to wash up while the food was cooking, but Melanie kept me busy, so I’m still in my dirty clothes when I sit down to eat.
I’m thinking about a long, cool bath as soon as I’m done with dinner, and hopefully a decent sleep before I have to get up tomorrow and do all of this again.
“Where the hell is your father?” Melanie asks, talking with her mouth full. “His food’s going to get cold.”
“He’s right here.”
I try not to react when I hear Father’s voice, but it’s hard not to jump. He’s good at sneaking up on people like that, and I still don’t know how he does it. I look up slowly, trying to settle my beating heart as I look up into his steel blue eyes.
“Father,” I mutter, hoping it sounds respectful.
“Daughter,” he answers, a wide grin spreading across his face.
Oh no. I know that face. What the fuck does he have planned for me?
He enters the kitchen, a cruel gleam in his eye, and his lip tugged to the side with a smirk.
“Where have you been?” Melanie snaps. “You’re late.”
“With good reason,” Father says, his voice smooth and cultured compared to hers. He holds my eye as he approaches the table, and real terror sparks to life deep inside me.
“Spill it,” Melanie says, stuffing a biscuit into her face.
“The alphas from the neighboring packs are on their way here,” he says, his smirk growing. “They are going to appoint one of their own as alpha, which means they are going to be wanting a local bride.”
No…
“Ha!” Melanie laughs. “Who’s the unlucky bitch?”
Father doesn’t take his eyes from mine as the room falls silent. Melanie looks between the two of us a few times before she bursts out laughing.
“Her? You’re fucking kidding me.” She’s laughing so hard, she can barely get the words out. Father’s men pick up on the vibe, so almost everyone in the room starts cackling their heads off.
Except him and me. Even though Father’s grin is wide, there is no mirth in his eyes. Cold light glitters there, like the essence of cruelty itself.
“Father,” I gulp. “No—”
“Don’t,” he growls, taking two steps over to the table and grabbing my hand, yanking me to my feet. “You’re doing this, and you’re not going to fuck it up for me.”
“Wait, please—” I gasp as he drags me forward, almost pulling me off my feet.
“What?” he asks, pausing. “You’d rather I throw you to Bruce, Axe, and Rafe here? I was thinking of marrying you off to one of them, but I like this plan far better.”
I can’t think of a single thing to say to that, so I just stand there trembling, willing my tears away.
How awful that marrying one of Father’s goons is slightly more attractive than marrying a man I’ve never met!
“Listen to me,” Father says, bringing his face very close to mine. “You’re going to do this, and you’re going to get all nice and cozy with this new alpha—do you understand? Please him, seduce him, get under his fucking skin, and make sure I can control him. Got it?”
“What?” I gasp. “How am I supposed to—”
“Use your womanly charms!” Father spits. “For once in your fucking life! I’m sure you can offer him something if you try hard enough!”
Melanie laughs out loud, cackling like a hyena. I look down at the floor, trying to maintain my dignity as the laughter swirls around the room.
Father—and the rest of this town—have never let me forget that being plump was the worst crime I could commit.
Melanie is still laughing, throwing out every fat joke she can think of. Father’s men guffaw louder on every punchline, and Father is trying to hold in his laughter.
“Alright, alright,” he says, waving at them.
“We’ve had our fun. I know it’s going to be hard to convince this dude to take her with the way she looks.
But if anyone’s marrying the new alpha, it’s my girl.
I need the leverage. And that’s why I told you, sweetie, find something you can do to please this man.
If you don’t, I really will throw you to my dogs. ”
Bruce makes a little growl. “I don’t mind a bit of meat on the bone, every now and then.”
“Let’s hope her new husband feels the same,” Father snaps. “Come on, they’ll be here any minute, and I want to be there to greet them.”
He drags me out of the house, keeping such a firm hold on my arm, and I stumble and almost fall flat on my face. I want to protest that I’m still filthy from my day’s work, but I end up keeping my mouth shut, hoping this might actually deter my new husband.
But what happens if he rejects me? Will Father throw me straight to his men?
Panic blares through my every cell, and I’m too tense to even cry. Father keeps a quick pace, forcing me to trot beside him as we approach the main square. The council chamber is just a little whitewashed building, and there is already a crowd of people gathered out front.
“Shit, they’re here already,” Father hisses. “Get a smile on your face, girl. Get ready to charm him!”
As Father drags me closer to the group, I can’t smile. I can barely breathe. All these men look big, tough, and dangerous, with an aura of threat around them I’ve never felt before.
These guys have known real action, not just petty fights…and one of them killed Talon!
My heart hammers so hard in my chest that I can barely stay upright. I look around the circle in fear, wondering which one of these guys is going to be my new husband.