A million mates (On Pause)

Five

The pack house was gorgeous. It was made of brick and wildlife completely surrounded it. It had a fountain out front and one of those circle driveways. "We'll bring you to the royals tomorrow but you'll be staying a night here with us first. We thought we'd let the whole thing sink in before introducing you to the most powerful people on earth." Sam told me. 

I giggled at that, what the hell has my life become?

I've decided to just roll with the punches. These people seemed so nice and it sure beat living on the street. Who knows, maybe I could be happy here. 

Sam led me through the gorgeous mansion. "Everyone has been informed about your presence so you shouldn't be anyone running towards you yelling mate or anything like that." 

I nodded along, a little relieved. This whole thing was still so unbelievably weird. I keep expecting to wake back up in my parents basement, all this having been a dream or something. I wasn't sure whether or not I wished that were true. 

We walked up to the top floor where the infirmary was. In my opinion that seems pretty inconvenient because people that are like sick or dying shouldn't have to climb all these stairs! It just doesn't make much sense is all. 

Sam led me into this beautiful modern doctor's office. There was a bed in the middle with machines surrounding it. I would call it a hospital bed but it was so much nicer than that. Everything here was so modern and fancy!

I'd never actually been to a doctor before... I was just going off of pictures I'd seen in a movie at school. My parents didn't want doctors seeing their abused daughter or they would call child services and they'd be in big trouble. 

"Sit down on the bed" Sam said gesturing to the bed, "the doctor should be in any minute." 

I sat down, a little on edge. Sam seemed to sense this and scrunched her eyebrows, tilting her head a little. 

"What's wrong?" She asked. 

I just shook my head at her, not wanting to explain. If the doctor did a proper check-up there's no doubt he'd see how beat up I was. Maybe they'd realize I was an easy one to hurt and would make me their new punching bag. I could fight pretty well but these people were werewolves, I would stand no chance against them if they decided to keep me as their pet. When I was younger my dad used to make me fight back, said I needed to get stronger. 

******************** Flashback -  5 years ago ***********************

"Atlanta!" My dad called. 

I was sitting in the basement, cleaning my wounds from yesterday's beating. I could tell by his tone he was planning on going for a round two and I knew better than to keep him waiting. I picked my aching body off the ground and started making my way back up the stairs, limping and whimpering a little at the glass that was still planted in my thigh. I didn't have time to remove it since I had just gained back consciousness an hour ago and had spent the majority of that time trying to treat the wounds on my head. 

I opened the door to reveal my drunk dad. I don't know why I had any hope that he'd be sober, he's been drinking a lot more lately. 

"Yes father?" 

"Don't speak. I don't have time to listen to your lies." 

He always said this and I never understand why. I would never dare to lie to him and all I said was yes. 

"I heard you whimpering on your way up the stairs. That is not acceptable." 

I tilted my head at him. How was I expected to keep my whimpers of pain from escaping. Its not like I was purposely screaming out at every step as I wanted to do.