The moonlight poured through the cracks in the ceiling, casting a cold, silver sheen across the dilapidated room.
A woman lay curled on the hard floor, her body trembling. There was nothing in the space but a broken cupboard and a thin, dirty mat she used as a bed.
She clutched her stomach, pain stabbing deep into her gut. Her breath came in slow, ragged gasps.
"Aria! Wake the fuck up!"
A sharp, cruel female voice rang out from the hallway. "The moon's already out and you're still fucking sleeping? You want me to beat you again, bitch?"
Aria's eyes flew open. She groaned softly, forcing herself to move. Her arms shook as she pushed herself up.
Her eyes were shadowed with heavy, sleepless circles. Every muscle in her body ached from last night's punishment, but fear pushed her to her feet.
As she forced herself upright, her legs wobbled beneath her. Her skin was pale, almost ghostly under the moonlight. She stumbled toward the door, her breath shallow, and slowly pulled it open.
Her heart sank.
Standing just outside was a tall woman with long, flowing blonde hair, her expression cold and merciless. In her hand, she gripped a cane—one Aria knew far too well. Beside her stood another woman with striking silver hair, lips curled into a sly smirk, arms folded like she was enjoying a show.
Aria POV:
My voice trembled.
"S-Sister Maria… w-what are you doing here?"
I tried to keep my eyes down, but fear crawled up my spine. If she was here, she'd beat me again. I knew it Moon goddess help me.
Her eyes darkened instantly. She grabbed me by the collar and yanked me forward, her face twisted with disgust.
"What the fuck did you just say, bitch?" she spat. "How dare a lowly human like you question me—a Luna?"
Her grip tightened, the cane tapping threateningly against her thigh.
I flinched the moment the cane brushed against my thigh. Cold fear surged through me, tightening my chest.
"Sister, beat her," the silver-haired woman said with a venomous smile. "How dare she question us?"
My eyes flicked toward her—Susan, my second stepsister. Just as cruel. Just as merciless.
She caught my gaze and her smile twisted.
"What? Did you just look at me with resentment, you filthy thing?"
SLAP!
The sound echoed through the hallway. Pain exploded across my cheek as my head snapped to the side. I stumbled backward, barely catching myself before hitting the floor.
My skin burned. My eyes watered—but I didn't cry. I knew better.
"Susan, stop," Maria said sharply, raising a hand. "She's not a werewolf. She's just a pathetic human. Use your strength and she'll drop dead before the real fun starts."
Her voice was calm, but laced with mockery—like she was talking about an insect, not her own stepsister.
I lowered my gaze, heart pounding, lips trembling. I wanted to scream, to run, but there was nowhere to go.
"Kneel."
Her voice was cold. Sharp. Final.
I didn't hesitate. I knew better. Obedience meant pain… but resistance meant worse.
My legs folded beneath me, knees hitting the hard floor. I kept my eyes down, refusing to look up—terrified that even one glance might earn me another blow.
"Oh, good," Maria cooed mockingly. "You know why I'm punishing you."
My throat tightened. I shut my eyes and gave a small nod, my fists clenched tightly in my lap.
"Then tell me," she said with a smile I could hear in her voice. "Say it out loud. Why are you being punished, little human?"
I swallowed hard, my voice barely a whisper.
"B-Because I made your mood bad…"
Maria let out a satisfied hum, nodding as if I'd answered a riddle correctly.
"Yes. You ruined my mood, and also how dare you lowly human to be more beautiful than me, a Luna."
She leaned in closer, her cane dragging gently along my shoulder. "And now, you're going to pay for it. Get ready for your punishment."
A sharp whoosh sliced through the air—
Then came the pain. Fiery, searing, deep.
"Ahhh!"
I cried out as my eyes flew open. A deep red welt had bloomed across my thigh, blood rising to the surface.
Swish—CRACK.
"Aghhh!"
Another strike lashed across my other thigh. My body jolted from the impact. Tears welled in my eyes and spilled over, no matter how hard I tried to hold them back.
"Sister, let me beat her too, I want to hear her screams," Susan's voice chimed in, sick with excitement.
My heart dropped.
No. Not her.
Please, not her.
She didn't know how to hold back. The last time she hit me, I couldn't walk for two days.
"Shut up, Susan," Maria snapped, her voice cold. "You don't know how to control yourself. You'll kill her."
A shaky breath escaped me.
Relief flooded my eyes.
Maria was cruel… but at least she wanted me alive.
"Now, now…" Maria's voice slithered through the air, low and mocking. "Did I just see tears in those pathetic little eyes of yours?"
Panic gripped me. I quickly wiped my cheeks with trembling hands.
"N-No, Sister… I-I didn't cry," I stammered, my voice cracking with fear.
A disdainful scoff came from the side.
"Tsk. How weak." Susan rolled her eyes, arms crossed, a cruel smirk tugging at her lips.
"Crying over a little pain like that? Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic."
My fists clenched in my lap. I bit down on my lower lip, trying not to show any more weakness.
But the sting on my thighs still throbbed. The shame burned deeper than the wounds.
"What's going on here, Sweethearts?"
The deep male voice froze the air around us. My head lifted instinctively—despite every part of me screaming not to.
There he stood at the end of the hallway.
A tall, middle-aged man with sharp blond hair and a cold, expressionless face. He wore a pristine white coat over his tailored pants—immaculate, commanding.
Maria turned toward him, her voice smooth and unbothered.
"Nothing, Father. I was just beating this bitch. She ruined my mood."
He gave a slow, indifferent nod.
"Hmph. Don't waste your time on trash. She should've never been born."
My breath caught in my throat.
No one reacted. No one defended me.
That was the end of the conversation for him.
He turned and walked away without a second glance.
Maria's lips curled into a victorious smirk. She looked down at me one last time, her eyes dripping with superiority—then followed after him, her heels clicking as she vanished into the darkness.
As their footsteps faded down the hall, the silence closed in again.
Tears slipped down my cheeks, unchecked this time. I sank further, resting my forehead against my aching thighs, curling into myself.
I didn't bother to wipe the tears anymore.
Why doesn't he love me?
I'm his daughter too. I bleed like them. I breathe like them.
I crave that same affectionate smile he gives Maria.
But instead, he looks at me like I'm filth.
If he didn't want me to be born, then why did he rape my mother?
She was just a maid—alone, powerless, human. And he—
My throat burned. My fists clenched weakly on my lap.
If he hated my existence so much, why didn't he let me leave with her? Why keep me here—trapped in this house, in this pack, just to be used as a punching bag by his perfect werewolf daughters?
Was I ever anything more to him than a shameful reminder of what he did?