A Winters Memory

Chapter Nine

Three and a half months had passed since Ara had been brought to the cabin. During her stay, she finally managed to learn to cook after making a few mistakes here and there and angering the women in the kitchen.

Finally, she was able to be left alone in the kitchen to prepare the meals, the women were no longer able to help her, and she was left to prepare every meal on her own despite having to make such large meals to feed all the pack members.

She had a few run-ins with the Alpha, catching the back of his hand or a fist here and there sometimes being beaten so badly she couldn't do her chores causing the Alpha to grow even angrier at her.

Alec was even the cause for some of her injuries, he explained how if he hadn't done it, his father would have done worse and that a beating from him would suffice.

Each time she angered the Alpha and was beaten, Alec would come down to the basement when no one was around and would tend to her wounds, even helping her eat when she didn't have the strength to move but no matter how many beatings came and went, he never once stood up to his father and Alpha.

Though in Ara's mind she knew why that was, from growing up with her family's pack, she knew that you could never disobey your Alpha unless you welcomed death.

A few months before Ara's birthday she remembered one of the males challenged her father to a fight. Everyone knew what the fight entailed; all the members knew that if you were able to kill an Alpha, you automatically became Alpha whether he had a beta or not.

That was how Alpha's came to be if you weren't born with the title; you had to fight for your title and so, he tried, and he failed. Once the fight began, her father could see it in the eyes of his opponent, he was going to lose before he could even start, and he knew it too and so, with much hesitation, the male bowed down and dropped to his knees begging her father for forgiveness and for his greed.

Her father was a decent man, but he held no mercy for the one who declared a fight. He was killed later that night, her father feared that he would try to kill him in his sleep if he allowed him to live and so, they did what was necessary to protect their Alpha and the family of the Alpha.

Dinner came and went; Ara had been gathering up the dishes from the table when Alec came in and began helping her take the dishes back into the kitchen, she looked at him, her hands balling into fists in anger and annoyance.

"You need to leave, Alec. You can't be here if your father finds you here, you know what will happen."

Alec stared at her, a sadness clouding his green eyes as he placed the dishes on the counter beside her with a sigh.

"I'm sorry, I know I'm not supposed to be here, but I can't help but to try and lessen the-..."

She placed a hand up silencing him from speaking further.

"Just leave Alec, there are only so many beatings my body can take and lately, I'm thinking it's beginning to reach its limit so please, just do us both more me the favor and leave..."

Her blue eyes began to gloss as fresh tears began to form, threatening to spill if he continued to stand there before her. Sighing she turned away from him facing the stack of dishes and gripping the counter with such a force that her knuckles paled.

"You win, Ara... I'll leave you alone..."

Turning on his heels, Alec walked out of the kitchen and headed to his bedroom, frustration clear on his handsome features as he fought the urge to march right back into that kitchen and tell her that he didn't give one damn what his father would do to them but he knew that it wouldn't be him who would suffer his father's wrath, it would be her and she was right...