Double the Rejection, Double the Love...What Is A Girl To Do?

Chapter Seven

❤️ Malilla's POV ❤️

After eating what I could off the plate that sat in front of me which wasn't much since I was used to being starved at the Black Forest Pack we cleaned up the food, rinsed the dishes off and put them in the dishwasher, and headed out the door. Upon exiting the house we were currently with I stumbled. I was able to catch myself on a near by rail on the front porch. My eyes watered a bit and I blinked quickly trying to clear them. It had been so long since the last time that I had really been out in the sun and it caused a slight pain to sting my eyes.

"Baby, are you okay?" Nelly asked me, concern filled her voice. Her hand was quickly placed on my back for reassurance. I nodded and let them all know I was ok and that my eyes just needed a moment to readjust.

A few minutes passed and I was able to see clearly afterwards. I lifted my hands and wiped any wetness I could feel off my face. I turned towards my Nelly slowly, making sure that I was stable on my feet. Once I felt good about how my body was feeling I leaned up towards Nelly on my tiptoes. I frowned when I only came up a few inches. Huffing, I tugged at the hem of Nelly's shirt. When I had her full attention on me I pushed my lips out. She let out a small laugh before she placed her lips to mine.

So soft, I thought to myself.

"Yours are softer," she told me. I blushed and giggled.

"Save some of those for me too," Nicolas said.

"Yes, Nicky." I said, turning and wrapping my arms around his waist.

"Are you lovebirds ready yet?" I heard Johnathan say. Nelly and Nicky looked down at me and I nodded. I wanted to explore and see what was around us.

"Alright, let's get going!" Jenna said, smiling at me.

On our walk around some of the nearby Moon River territory I was shown where training would be, homes of the Beta, Delta, and a few others, a small lake where Pack social events were held, and the stables. As we walked I took in my surroundings. This pack was a bit different than my old one. Not too much but just a few different things here and there. For example instead of having one huge pack house that everyone got shoved into they had separate homes for mated and unmated pack members and for the unmated ones they were separated by age and gender.

All throughout the walk a conversation continued and I got to know Johnathan and Jenna a little better. My mates, Jenna, and Johnathan came from loving parents. They were encouraged and loved, two things that I wasn't ever given but was thrilled to know they were.

As we were nearing the house cries filled the air, startling me. I jumped and goosebumps ran down my body. My head turned towards the noise and I saw a smaller building, something was pulling me towards the older looking home. The house was in need of some touch ups maybe even some reconstruction. The steps that lead up to the porch were made of wood and you could see the splinters poking up here and there.

As I took a step forward another cry ripped through the air, jolting my body. I gasped as images flashed through my head.

"Ma'am, please...I'm hungry.  I-I haven't eaten in four days. I have done everything as you asked—" I said stumbling over my words as I gripped the kitchen counter to keep me up right. But in a blink of an eye I was on the floor, my cheek was burning and I could feel warm liquid slide down and dripping on my shirt. I lifted my hand to my face and when I pulled it back my eyes widened. My Luna had hit me so hard that she had drawn blood.

For the past three months my food had been limited more and more until I was only being given a few scraps from a meal once every two or three days because I was too "fat"  but if they would just take a moment and look at me then they would see that I am nothing but skin and bones.

"You need to learn to be grateful for the food you are given, you little bitch," she hissed, her hand gripping my chin so hard I knew that a bruise would show up where her fingers were.

"Please," I begged, my voice barely a whisper.

"Goddess, why would she create such an ugly creature like you? I pity whoever the Moon Goddess matches with you. Maybe a couple days in isolation will teach you."  Catherine, my Luna, said.

I had no idea what was going on and before I could process anything I was yanked out of the kitchen and towards the basement where I knew that they kept a few cells to hold anyone in the pack house if need be. I weakly fought the hold of my Luna. But Catherine's hold only tightened. I watched in horror as the basement door opened and I was pushed down the stairs. My scream filled the air as I flew through air and crashed onto the hard concrete floor. I was then locked into a one of the cells for three extra days. The only time anyone came down was once a day to give me a single glass of water. This went on for five more days and when I finally was brought up it was only because a neighboring Alpha was coming for a meeting and they wanted to keep me quiet. It wasn't until after the Alpha that I found out that my arm was broken in three different places. This only made the Luna more mad since the pack doctor gave orders that I not work until I healed. She gave me time to heal but not before giving me a matching black eye and bruised ribs.

Growls snapped me out of my past memories and I locked eyes with my mates. My body trembled from reliving my past but I quickly shook my head back and forth as my vision blurred. Finally, Lilli pushed her way forward. She wanted to protect me to the best of her ability and seeing her mates so upset must have pushed her over the edge.

"Nicolas, no, you cannot lock those who have hurt me in the pack house and burn it down. It's not ok what Malilla had to go through. What that pack did to her was beyond abuse. But the Moon Goodness has seen their actions and because of this they will pay. It is not our job to put them in their place...yet. But there will be a day where they will need aid and because of what they have done others will turn them away." Lilli told them, her fangs poking out between her lips just slightly. Taking small steps, Lilli slowly made her way in between Nelly and Nicky. As soon as our skin touched my mates calmed down and helped me come back out.

"You doing ok, babe?" Nelly asked me. I nodded my head before leaning into my Nicky. The memory had drained me emotionally.

"Who was crying?" I ask, my hands playing with the end of Nicolas' shirt.

"I'm not sure, Mal." Johnathan said, shaking his head.

"What is that house for?" I asked, my curiosity growing.

"It's the home we have for orphaned pack members." Jenna told me.

Whoever the cry came from had triggered the memory somehow and I had to know why. Without realizing what I was doing I had moved forward. Before I knew it I was up the stairs and opening the door. The sight before me stopped me in my tracks.