Filed To Story: Secret with Betas Daughter: Skylar Story Series
I’m now clenching and unclenching my fists as the words are just tumbling out. I’m saying all the things I have sworn never to say, reveal feelings I thought I would never tell them.
“Beat the beta girl to prove you are better, her family supports the abuse. Beat her worse than the last person who beat her and you win the popular vote. Throw her into lockers, make her bleed at least once a week. Steal her clothes and things from the locker room, throw them in the shower and pee on them. Chain and whip her in the locker room for asking too many questions in class and making you look stupid for not knowing the answers. Blindfold and chain her up in an old storage shed and whip her to the point of throwing up and almost being unconscious, but don’t let her pass out, she should feel the pain all because she did better than you at something or gained positive attention over you. Then to make it more memorable, rub silver powder into the wounds making her flesh burn and scar and then drag her to the forest to bleed out and die a slow painful death unless she is worthy enough to survive.”
My tears are flowing now, but I manage to look up at them all. Sierra has her hands over her mouth, tears shimmering in her eyes. They all look shocked and at a loss for words.
I’m angry again, but they asked for this, they wanted to know and as much as I was trying to keep this hidden, I can’t seem to stop the word vomit. I can feel my confidence rising as I say each word, like a weight is being lifted from my shoulders. I maintain eye contact with them now.
“The spot you found me tonight, do you want to know why it is my favorite spot, why it smells so much like me?”
None of them move, even the forest seems to be holding it’s breath waiting for me to speak. I feel a rush of morbid satisfaction at letting them in on my torture.
“It’s where I survived, where I made the decision to live. I was left, bleeding out from the lashes I received for having the audacity to get in the way of someone else. The silver was added, because the previous whipping I received, I healed too quickly from, the scarring wasn’t gruesome enough. I go to that spot to remind myself that I am still here, I came out of that, without you or anyone else. My wolf stepped up when I had no one else. She forced me to shift and caused me a little more pain in order to help me heal and live. I was there for two days. No one came looking for me, and I was only a mile or so from the packhouse backyard. So forgive me when I call bullsh*t on the thought of any of you helping me. You didn’t notice when I was right there in front of you and you didn’t notice when I wasn’t.”
Mouths dropped. With all the things about these guys that are great and I am coming to care for, this is their fatal flaw. They have been sheltered from the actual bad things that happen in a pack. They have never had to deal with real problems, they think they will just magically have people fear and respect them. They believe that they are untouchable, but at what cost?
“You all have been a part of the problem and don’t think for a second you are going to come into school threatening people on my behalf. Even being friends with you and being seen in public regularly with you, the bullying hasn’t stopped, just gotten more creative. I do not need protectors, I have survived everything on my own, just fine. So don’t even think about it, I am not weak and you will not treat me like I am or make people believe I am. I know how strong I am, I know that every hit I take is one that no one else has to receive. With all your training and status, none of you have ever actually had to fight for your pack members. Had Sierra not joined us this year and for some reason I still don’t understand, chose to talk to me, none of you would be sitting here now, none of you would have looked twice in my direction. I was forced into your circle, she is the only reason any of you are paying attention to me now, listening to my story. But the problem is, have you even thought about any of the other kids going through what I am? You have pack members who are torturing other pack members without cause or consequence. So before you think about trying to save me or protect me, why don’t you help someone else who actually needs it.
I got up and started walking away towards the pathway up to the packhouse yard. My eyes and head hurt from crying so much tonight. I need to sleep and then get back to my life, the way it was before the guys barged in and decided they all of a sudden needed to be a part of it.
“Sky wait.”
Mateo calls, jogging after me.
“I’m done for tonight, please just let me go.”
I say weakly continuing my way up the path, but slowing down. My wolf is still holding me back for some reason and I am too worn out to be stubborn against her.
“I’m not going to stop you, and I know it probably means nothing, but I am sorry. I had no idea and I know that’s on me, but for what it’s worth, I love you.”
He wraps his big arms around me from behind and kisses the top of my head and he breathes in deep then sighs before letting me go.
I take a few more steps forward when I smell Oliver right before he wraps his arms around me, same as Mateo, but he kisses the side of my head before taking a deep breath of my scent. I can feel his whole body relax before he lets go of me. Sam repeats the hug, kissing the other side of my head, also taking a deep breath of my scent and noticeably relaxing. Sam releases me and I continue up the path. I’m too drained to wonder what is going on with all of them taking in my scent.
My tears are flowing again. I can feel their sincerity, their agony at being a reason for some of my torture. No one else approaches me so I continue walking, trying to steady my breathing. Even though I told them I don’t want apologies, it stings that the twins didn’t follow suit with the other three and I don’t expect anything from Sierra. She noticed within minutes that something was wrong with me when these guys have known me my whole life.
I made it to the packhouse backyard and feel like I have been walking for hours. The full out run and shifting like that took its toll, something I made note to work on. I can’t have an energy drain just from shifting in a fight. Just as I start to turn towards my backyard, hands grab each of my upper arms to stop me. Kota and Cam’s scent hits me at the same time and the warmth from their hands makes goosebumps rise up all over my body.
“Sky.”
They whisper in unison. I don’t say anything, but I let them stop my movement. I’m still crying, but I can’t open my mouth to speak. I’ve said all I need to tonight.
“Tell us what to do Smalls.”
Dakota says.
“We need to fix this, start making things right.”
Cam follows up.
I breathe in shakily a few times. Anger and sadness both consume me. They need to figure this out on their own. I don’t know what I need from them. “It’s too late for me, I don’t have much school left, then hopefully I can find my mate or go to Elite Warrior training and get away from the bullsh*t.”
I just stare ahead of me, not really seeing anything. “Just don’t let it happen to anyone else. See people, notice your pack members. Show them you are here for them, don’t just say pretty words. Show them you are leaders, nobody actually cares about what you say, if your actions don’t match.
“You want to leave.”
Kota asks like he’s been punched in the gut and out of breath.
After all that I said, he picked up on me not wanting to be in a place I’m not wanted. What the hell?
“If you were me, would you want to stay?”
I can only whisper. They have no response for me. With that I stepped out of their reach, continued walking home and went straight to bed. I can’t handle any more emotions today.
I stayed in my room all day Sunday. Even Sierra gave me my space, but she made sure I knew she was giving me space today and only today via text, which did make me smile. How does she know me so well already? She knows what I need without having to ask, and she sees through my BS and calls me on it too. I’m sure she figured I was going to try and skip school tomorrow. There is just too much drama that I don’t need and I have no idea what the guys are going to do with the information I gave them. I don’t want to see that look in their eyes like I’m fragile. And after the mall display, Kaley will have something planned for me too.
-Cameron POV-
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.