[[OLD]] A Handful of Daffodils (Forgotten Series, #7)

Chapter Forty-Seven

My back was on fire, the pain was sending spikes down my legs, making it hard for me to walk and carry the basket but Brochan had commanded me to do the laundry. The walk through the territory towards the laundry mat had been difficult. Fear closed up my throat and I had been trying to look everywhere for anyone that might have wanted to hurt me. My breathing had been in short, pain filled pants, my eyes blurred with tears but I had made it.

I then started the laundry. I wanted to do it right and perfect. I didn't want to give Brochan any reason to toss me to the Delta. As it was, it seemed like it wouldn't take much. The Omegas were glancing at me and I took in shaky breaths, in and out, in and out, trying hard not to burst into tears. I hurt so much and I was just so tired. I knew Brochan didn't like me anymore, I knew he hated me but I hadn't expected that much hate directed at me. I knew it was all my fault but I hadn't expected that. I knew I should have. There was no reason for him to be nice to me, none at all but it hurt. I couldn't understand why everyone was being so mean to me. I didn't understand it. I tried so hard to do what was right and I knew I had made mistakes but it seemed so unfair.

My bottom lip trembled as I slowly and painfully switched the clothes out of the dryer, putting the wet ones in before carrying the dry clothes to the folding table. I bit my bottom lip until it hurt as my back seared with pain. I knew they had opened up. I knew they had but I couldn't do anything about it. Simon was the one who changed my bandages and he wasn't here. I wasn't even sure if he was allowed to come and help me and I couldn't ask Brochan. I didn't want to be yelled at like that again.

The bell above the door jingled slightly but I ignored it as some of the Omegas glanced at me, murmuring to themselves about what I was doing there but I tuned them out. "Hey, Minnie." At the slightly familiar voice I turned my head, glancing over out of the corner of my eyes. Dana waved at me, giving me a soft smile. "How are you doing?" Her tone and words were careful as she slowly came closer and I blinked rapidly, trying hard to blink the tears away and to keep my bottom lip from trembling. Everything inside me wanted to burst into tears.

"I'm okay." The words wavered out of me and I ignored the painful searing of wounds on my back as I folded the jeans in front of me. I made sure each edge lined up and each fold was sharp and perfect. I wanted to ensure it was all perfect. I didn't want to give Brochan that one last reason he needed to give me to the Delta. I had begged Mene to let me keep my daughter, my little girl. I couldn't give anyone any reason to give me to someone who would kill me before I even got a chance to feel her growing inside of me.

"That's good." She was moving closer and I focused on the jeans intently, hoping she would give up and go away. I wasn't a female one should talk too. I didn't deserve that softness or concern.

Spiteful bitches don't deserve nice.

I flinched under the memory of those words, as Brochan's dark gaze ripped through me as he growled a deep and dangerous sound. He had been right. I didn't deserve anything nice. I didn't deserve the rights that he had given me before. I was nothing but a worthless female, a burden to anyone who had the misfortune of having me under their roof.

It was all my fault.

My eyes burned and I tried as hard as I could to push them back. I didn't need to cry. I didn't deserve the tears. He was right, it was all my fault. I should have done things different, I should have made other choices.

"I...we noticed you weren't escorted when you came over here." Dana reached out and touched my arm and I blinked rapidly as I froze in pulling the next pair of jeans from the basket to fold.

"Deceitful females do not get those rights." The words sounded wet to even my own ears. Having an escort was a right, one a protector could give or take away. Brochan had taken that away. I was to walk the territory without an escort and if someone saw fit to hurt me, it was my due for what I had done. I took his daughter away from him for months and that deserved punishment. He was right in that. No matter the reasons I had done it, I still took Maeve away from him for two months.