I exited his office smiling, which was new for me. I usually walked out with new injuries and an urge to cry, but not today!

My first stop was the kitchen. I get to eat today, which always translates to a good day.

Teen wolfs smirked at me as I confidently sauntered down the hallway. I haven't seen my face unbruised in years. I was 13 when my life turned into this living Hell, 6 years since my face has been clear of marks. How the time flies when you're having fun!

I smiled sweetly at our "future luna" Naomi, who shot daggers in my direction. Her attention left me briefly when she spotted Taylor. She immediately attached herself to his side, while he snaked his arm around her waist.

"Phoenix" he growled. "I have gotten my father's message, but I don't want you thinking you are anything more than the garbage scum you are. I want you at the training grounds in 30 minutes" he finished, before dragging Naomi off in the opposite direction of me.

I groaned, my confident walk turning into a sluggish death march.

If I was to get a meal before this, I was going to eat like the queen I was convinced I was.

My feast was prepared, it felt the last meal a prisoner had before being executed, my last meal before I had to face Taylor's wrath for the second time today.

I had made myself a beautiful plate of chicken francese with potatoes and vegetables, a meal I had become addicted to as a kid, and haven't had since.

I moaned as a forkful of food hit my taste buds, it was a magical taste I had seriously missed. At this point I didn't even care that the 30 minute time limit Taylor had given me was quickly approaching, I was going to savor this small victory of mine.

Pack members occasionally walked into the kitchen and glanced at me before leaving quickly, not wanting to be in my presence. Well, it made my life easier.

I heard another set of foot steps approaching, but I had a gut feeling it wasn't a normal pack member. My suspicions were confirmed when I heard the clicking of heels trailing behind the first set of steps.

I rolled my eyes before swiveling the chair to face Taylor and Naomi. "Hey listen, I know you're really eager to beat the shit out of me, but I'm in the middle of eating, so you're going to have to give me a minute."

Naomi raised her hand to slap me, and I just smirked at her, knowing they weren't allowed to damage my face. Her face twisted with angry features, her eyebrows tilted down in the middle of her face, her eyes slightly squinting, and her lips pressed into a tight flat line.

She lowered her hand, but then grabbed the seat I was sitting in and threw it off balance, sending me flying to the ground.

So much for finishing my food.

I stuck my hands out to catch my fall, and besides my already slow healing ribs, flaring in pain, I was fine from the fall. Taylor grabbed a fistful of my hair and pulled me up before letting go and beginning to walk to the training fields where I was expected to follow.

Slowly, I trailed behind, keeping my head down, staring at my worn shoes. I stopped once we reached our destination, and looked up to see that several other pack members were also here, which didn't add up since they had training in the mornings, not evening.

"Thank you all for coming. As you know, the bitch must look presentable for my coronation on Saturday. Fortunately my father took the liberty of purchasing her a long dress for the event that will cover majority of her body. So her hideous face is off limits, but I would like her to learn a valuable lesson. Even though she has gained a few privileges for the week, she is still worthless and a waste of space. I would like you all to prove that to her tonight" Taylor wrapped up his speech.

My heart shattered. Why was I so dumb to think I'd be ok? I'll never be ok. Nobody will ever love me, and I'm going to die in this pack, sooner rather than later. My breathing hitched, and I began to panic.

I was usually strong enough to take a beating here or there, but from an entire group of strong and powerful wolves? I didn't know if I'd survive.

"Wait-- I... Please. Don't" I began to stutter, unable to express my thoughts into words.

A few of them laughed and I shuddered upon seeing them creep up on me, some of them in wolf form, others still in human form. It didn't matter how many of them there were, I was useless in the fight regardless, but I just wasn't sure if I'd be able to withstand this much damage.

And at this point, I didn't care. I fell to my knees and waited for my fate. I couldn't take any more of this, I wanted it to be over. I welcomed death.

For so long I had feigned indifference, but I couldn't anymore, I have sustained so much physical and emotional trauma that I could no longer laugh it off with a sassy remark or an eye roll. All I could do was sit there as tears slowly rolled down my face and watch the approaching pack members who were meant to be my friends, my family. They were supposed to protect me to the ends of the earth, but within seconds they had surrounded me kicking, scratching, biting any part of my body they could reach.

I felt my skin being torn to shred by claws and canines. Those still in their human forms were kicking and punching me with all their might. I silently cried as I scanned over all the faces.

These people cared for me at one point, I was even friends with some of them, years back. How had it come to this.

I felt my consciousness drifting in and out of focus as an unhealthy amount of blood left my body. My body began to shut down after withstanding so much pain, and before I knew it, my vision went black.

I just hoped it would stay that way, permanently.