Eliana POV
Life is overrated.
I stare up at the gray ceiling, I've opened my eyes to for 18 years.
Another 18 plus to go.
I slide off my mattress and toss my blanket aside.
People in survival movies fight so hard for their lives, not knowing what's in their future.
I grab my toothbrush and head up the stairs, making sure to avoid the noisy bits I've memorized over the years.
What if their lives turn out shit? Do they kill themselves, making all their previous efforts in vain? Or live on, miserable?
I reach the top of the steps and tip toe to the bathroom, again, selectively placing my feet spots on the floor, like every other morning.
The whole world makes it seem like life is important and death is something to be feared.
I hop onto the safe noise—free floorboards in the bathroom, bending down to pull my toothpaste out the back of the drawer.
I don't want to die, but if a situation came where I could die, I wouldn't avoid it.
My eyes lock with themselves as I look up into the mirror.
My dark brown eyes stare back at my black skin and my wild kinky curls, tamed by an old fabric rubber band.
It's like it's mocking me.
I brush my teeth quickly, washing my mouth and face.
It's stupid to think like this. Thoughts only make things feel worse, it doesn't make breakfast.
I stuff my toothbrush in my bra and hurry to the kitchen, pulling out pans along with the eggs and bacon. Fastest things I can make, I'm running late today.
They don't want to see me when they eat, they just want the food ready and warm for them, as if it poofed into existence for their consuming.
I don't like bumping into them either.
I whip up the food fast, washing the pans and setting the food out in plates, just as the clock ticks 8:00 am. Just in time. They'll be down here by 8:15 am.
I wipe my damp hands off my clothes and head back to my hole of a basement.
I turn the corner and freeze as the Alpha's son, Liam, stands before me.
Fuck.
He smirks and pushes himself off the wall, coming towards me.
Fuck. Maybe I was a little later than I hoped. Why's he down here already?
"Hi Eliana." He stops in front of me and I tense.
His eyes trail down my body, despite my baggy gray dress, lingering at my chest and lips. He grabs my jaw, pulling me towards him.
I look at the floor. Eye contact means confrontation and I hate pain. It's unnecessary and annoying.
"Why are you always so stiff around me?" His fingernails dig into the skin on my face, as blood begins to flow down his arm and drip to the floor.
I clench my fist and try to calm my wolf, who growls within me.
We been through things much worse than this, what's wrong with you today? You never get mad about the small stuff.
She continues growling inside me, affecting my mood.
I lift my eyes to meet his, as his eyebrows rise while I glare at him.
His grip tightens, letting the wounds deepen. He leans closer to me.
"Tell your wolf to back the fuck off, I can smell her losing her temper." He whispers in my ear.
I'll rip off your arm.
"Y—yes." I bite my lip, trying not to act on her urges and my own as well. They match quite nicely, actually.
He throws me to the side, my head slamming into the wall beside us.
"Oh and I'm here to tell you that there's an Alpha from a neighboring pack coming over for three days, so stay your mutt—ass in your basement until he leaves. We don't need you making us look bad." He kneels down next to me, sneering.
I nod as my wolf still swells with anger.
He grabs my wrist, squeezing it tight. It's going to bruise for at least half a day. Ugh. This is stupid.
"Control your fucking wolf, bitch." He lets go of me and gets up, heading towards the kitchen.
I just want some peace.
"She's making a mess."
I glance up and see the pack coming in towards the kitchen from all different directions. Some down the stairs, others down the hall and more slip in from outside, where they slept in their own familial homes.
Great. Just fucking peachy.
"Stop bleeding all over the floor, slut and go get something to wipe it up." Vanessa, Liam's mate continues.
"The stench is horrible." Mary, our Luna adds.
The other pack members laugh and point in mockery. The children stare with curious eyes, while the rest murmur insults everyone can hear clearly.
I sigh, folding in my legs and pressing my knees into my chest. A sign of complete submission.
Life is really overrated.
"Get out of here. We don't need the sight of you here while we eat." The crowd quiets down as the Alpha's booming voice speaks. I keep my gaze down.
"Honey, she has to clean this up." Mary says.
"Stop just letting it drip all over like that." Someone else says.
My wolf tries to take over as the looming figures above me discuss and surround me like a zoo animal.
I hate this, I hate all of this. It's so dumb. So fucking dumb.
If they hate me, why don't they just leave me alone? I don't get it. I'd rather they avoid me like the plague than this.
I want out, but I can't. They won't let me.
I stand up, causing the group to pipe down again.
"I'll go get some wipes." I nod to them and push through the crowd to get my cleaning products from my hole.
"Don't touch me."
"Ew, gross. Her arm bumped into mine."
"You better not shove me."
"Hurry back. We don't want to smell your blood while we eat."
They all speak loudly, making me wince as I try to get away from them.
The wounds have stop bleeding as I reach my basement, after running through the group here. I put my forehead on the door and let out a deep breath.
I'm tired of this. Of them. Of this basement. I do everything they want me to, and yet, for years, I get treated like shit.
My wolf eggs on my emotions, pulling me closer to a cliff I thought I had fallen off of long ago. She needs to relax. Feeling bad for myself only makes my existence harder to endure.
It's been like this since I can remember. This is my life. It is what it is. This never changing lifestyle is my reality and I'll keep living it, just like yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
I sigh.
Life is really really overrated.
