The Alpha's Cinderella

Chapter 7

Serena

I strained my ears, trying to catch the faint voices outside, and a sense of dread tugged at my chest. My arms and feet were firmly bound to the cold floor, while a piece of cloth was used to cover my mouth. Is there any choice for me other than being confined to this secretive room? What's even more distressing is that the ones behind this are the very people I called my family.

My life sucks and this is the evidence of it.

I wished to shout, to grab Damon's attention, but a harsh gag kept my voice imprisoned. My struggles against the unyielding shackles were like a fly buzzing against a closed window…useless and frustrating. I was stuck in this nightmare, feeling like a mouse trapped in a corner while a predator circled around. It was surreal, the way Damon had been taken in so easily.

Defeated, I slumped to the cold floor as Damon's car rumbled away, taking my last chance to alter my fate with it. The realization was gut-wrenching.

It’s over, and I lose.

Then, the door swung open, a portal to more misery. Mathilde stepped in, together with her equally evil daughter, Tori. They looked at me with mockery, acid dripping to their every word.

"I forgot to properly thank you for what you did. Thanks to you, Tori didn't have to worry about becoming the future Luna of the strongest pack on the continent. This is the only thing you've finally done right for us."

My stepmother moved closer and gave me a nudge, adding, "Consider this a small gesture of my gratitude."

“Pak!”

My cheek went numb as her hand touched my skin. Her touch on my skin turned my cheek numb, a familiar echo of the countless times I'd suffered.

But this time, the pain was different. It sparked a simmering anger inside me, not just from the physical ache, but from the weight of all the times I'd been belittled and mistreated. I met their gaze, silently urging them to feel the heat of my anger and the injustice I was forced to endure.

Mathilde must have sensed my rebellion, causing her to pull my hair back, forcing me to face her. “You ungrateful bitch! After all the things I've done for you, how dare you look at me like that? Huh! You should be thankful that I even let you live.”

'You shouldn't have,' I whispered to myself, my determination solidifying. I had endured enough of their abuse. I made a silent vow that the day would come when I would get even with them and Tori.. Someday.

"Mathilde, let Serena go!" My father's voice boomed, and we shifted our gazes in his direction. He stood at the front door, his brows furrowed.

"Fine!" Mathilde exclaimed. She turned to Tori, who was smirking at the side. "Let's go, honey. I don't want you to breathe the same air this loser is breathing."

Tori nodded and followed her mother, but not before giving me another kick to the gut. As I whimpered in pain, my father came to my side.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, my pain a silent symphony. Dad bent down, releasing the constraints that had held my voice captive. He also got a key from his pocket, unlocking my shackles.

And yet, when Dad extended his arms towards me, I couldn't help but flinch away. The remaining trust I had held for him shattered like fragile glass, fractured beyond repair. His decision to conspire with Mathilde and Tori struck me like a blade. It tore away my last glimmer of hope for escape from this wretched existence. The pain tore through my heart, as my last hope of him standing up for me had faded away.

"Serena," he whispered, his eyes filled with regret. But his remorse came too late. What was done, is done.

My eyes locked onto his, my voice shaky, "How could you do this? I'm your flesh and blood, too."

Regret intensified on Dad’s features, with lines etched on his wrinkled face. "Please understand, Serena, but my hands are tied. I can’t do anything to prevent this."

"How long do I have to keep understanding? You've always had a choice to help me, but you consistently choose not to!" I spat, my voice raw with pain.

“Serena…” His attempt to bridge the gap fell short as I withdrew, shaking my head.

“I always thought that you were just blinded by your love for your cruel mate, that deep down, you cared for me," my voice cracked as I continued to voice my feelings. "But now, I've realized that you're just like her. You never loved me."

Desperation flickered in his eyes. "Serena, please… Forgive me, my daughter. I've loved you, I always have."

"No, you don’t," I objected. "I'm tired of hearing those empty words from you. I can't keep begging for something you refuse to give."

My voice hardened, the final cracks forming. “From now on, you're no father of mine. You never were, after all."

His hand, once a source of comfort, hovered and then fell as he retreated, leaving me alone in my misery. Tears continued to stream down my face as I watched him disappear from my sight, gone for good.

Severing my ties with him, I found myself utterly alone in this cruel world. Shey had been my sole light, but she was forced to move away due to her mate. I had no one else to turn to. They all turned their backs on me, even Damon, whom I had once believed capable of saving me from this hell.

I had never felt so alone in my life. Today was a stark reminder of how cruel my fate truly was.