The Alpha's Human Temptation..

ra's

heek again, the slap echoing through the small living room. My knees buckled, and I hit

like a monster in the dim light of the single bulb sw

esperate and raw. She held Marcus's arm, trying to stop him, but he shoved her away like she was

fragile frame trembled as she tried to push herself up, her face pale and filled with fear. I touched her

urora," he growled. "I'll deal

to breathe. My entire body felt like it was on fire, but

I whispered, my voic

rowing as he crouched down to m

my stepbrother strolled in. He'd been gone for years, and I'd prayed he'd ne

Greg said as he continued to

s smooth, almost amused, as he took in

irl. She needs to learn

pled on the floor. His expression darkened, but not with concern

k. Then, without warning, he slapped me across the face

gging herself toward us. But Greg

ned in close, his breath hot against my ear. "If it weren't for your stench, I might've taken advantage o

nked my arm away, glaring at him with every ounce of

nd he raised his hand to hit me a

his tone calm but commanding. "Let'

lly released me. I collapsed onto the floor, trembling, as th

*

ry inch of my body aching. My mother had managed to crawl into the room earlier and clean the blood from my face, but her own injuries w

he knelt beside me. Her hands shook as she pressed a

'm not leaving you here wi

urora. Greg... he's dangerous. And Marcus..." Her voice broke, and she clutched my hand tig

urring my vision. "I can'

If you stay, they'll destroy you. You're stronger than thi

o argue, to fight, but deep down, I knew she was ri

d, my voice barely

rehead, her tears mixing with mine. "Be safe,

ve yo

*

en me was tucked into the pocket of my threadbare jacket, and I carried nothing else. The st

my mother to those monsters. But I kept going, the echo

es away, my legs trembling and my body screaming for rest. I collapsed onto a bench in a desert

r my mother, for the life I'd lost, for the innocence that had been stolen from me. But mo

ited within me. It wasn't much, but it was enough to remind me that I was still alive. A

myself, wiping away my tear

, and started walking. I didn't know where I was going,