Belle's POV
The slow sound of raindrops against the windowpane woke me up from my not-so-relaxing sleep. I had cried myself to sleep last night as I thought of how unfair life has been to me.
Mrs. Cook had informed me that since I would be turning eighteen in a couple of days, I could no longer stay in the pack's orphanage and I'd have to move out a day after my birthday.
It was not like I knew my actual birthday, but every year my birthday was marked on the 15th of April, which was the day I was found on the riverbank by a member of the pack and brought to Mrs. Cook.
Rubbing sleep and tears off my eyes, I looked around the room I shared with three other girls — the room that has been my home for the past seventeen years. The room was small and dingy, its yellow walls had lost their color and were now turning light brown. It had two bunk beds on each corner of the wall and a small wooden table and chair close to the single window that gave light to the room during the day. I know it is pathetic, but it is still home.
Leaving my bed, I went to the single girl's bathroom outside my room to brush my teeth and have a quick shower. I had decided I wasn't going to sit all day feeling sorry for myself, and thankfully, I was in my last year of high school.
Getting back to my room, I found that my roommates had all woken up and were now staring holes into me. They had never liked me and had tormented me, even though I never understood why. Ignoring their stares, I quickly went to the box that served as a closet, pulled out jeans and a white tee shirt. Living in an orphanage, coupled with being a wolf, made me used to getting dressed in the presence of people — although they have always been females.
Dressing as quickly as possible, I grabbed my backpack and left the room, heading straight for the common room, which was also the dining room and social hall.
"Belle!" I heard Mrs. Cook call out. Gritting my teeth, I turned to face the plump woman with brown hair, round face, and big eyes.
"Good morning," I said.
"Well, have you thought over our discussion of yesterday? I wouldn't want you staying here past Thursday morning."
Isn't she just sweet? Reassuring me that I would definitely get the birthday gift she promised me last night. While I had cried myself to sleep over it, I would be damned if I let her know that or even show weakness. And so, with the sweetest smile plastered on my face, "I would be out of here on Wednesday itself," I said.
Mrs. Cook gave me a curious look, and I wasn't about to let her see through my tough exterior, so I simply turned, bade her goodbye, and left the orphanage house.
My walk to school was short, as school was just five minutes from the orphanage house. I wasn't going to worry about teenage gossip or the so-called bullies who thought their taunts affected me — I had much better things to worry about. I breezed through my classes, not really paying attention but instead worrying about where I would go and how I would manage. Daisy was also concerned. She didn't want us wandering around and being mistaken for rogues — we had to do something fast.
The bell finally rang, and I had decided I would look around for a job for as long as possible before heading back to my temporary home. Leaving school, I headed for the café that was frequented by students, hoping they would be hiring. I walked for fifteen minutes and finally reached the café. Stepping in, I was hit with the smell of coffee and cakes. The place smelled so good it almost made my worries disappear, and I was instantly reminded that I hadn't eaten anything all day. I sat down at a table to take a minute's respite and observe my surroundings when I heard a woman telling her friend she's looking to hire some people as domestic help for some rich family and she has no idea how to gather people.
I knew this was an opportunity to get both a job and a place to stay. The moon goddess seemed to show me favor today. I was going to approach the woman and tell her I was interested, but I didn't want her to think I'd been eavesdropping on her conversation. But I had no choice, and I was desperate.
I had come here for a job, but I could get a job and also a place to stay. I wasn't going to let that go because of mere fear, so I stood up and approached the woman.
"Excuse me, ma'am," a slender, beautiful middle-aged woman looked up at me with bright green eyes.
"Yes," she says in a sweet voice.
I knew it was now or never. I had to say something now before I lost my courage.
"My name is Belle, and I'm sorry, but I overheard you saying you needed people to work as domestic servants…"
Looking at me with curiosity and question in her eyes, the woman fully relaxed in her seat as I continued, "If you don't mind, ma'am, I would like to show my interest in working for you," I finished.
The woman looked me over from my head to my feet, curiosity still in her gaze. She finally let out a loud sigh when she was finished assessing me and said, "You'd have to do."
Her friend, who had been sending disapproving and death glares my way, finally spoke up.
"Molly, you sure? For all you know, she could be a thief or worse."
The woman, "Molly," simply nodded, pulled out a pen and paper from her bag, wrote an address on it, and handed the paper to me.
"Meet me at this address, two o'clock on Wednesday."
Nodding profusely, I collected the paper, thanking her. "I promise I would be there on time, ma'am."
"Call me Miss Molly," she says.
I nodded, thanked her again, turned to her friend with a wicked smile, thanked her too, bade them goodbye, and walked out of the café.
Wednesday couldn't have come soon enough. With Mrs. Cook on my neck wanting to know my plans so she could poke holes into them, leaving me hopeless. However, I wasn't going to give her that satisfaction. Although I knew she would be more than happy that I had gotten a job as a maid, I wasn't going to give her that pleasure either. I mean, why should I? The woman made my life hell growing up, and I was going to watch her suffer, however little, before I left.
Did I mention that my roommates were a year older than I was? But apparently, the rule to vacate the orphanage when you turned eighteen didn't apply to them — cause they were Mrs. Cook's minions. They did make money for her by sleeping with the men she suggested, and that too with pleasure.
I clearly remember five years ago when Mrs. Cook had come into my room with a young man, explaining that I had to just do whatever he wanted.
"Be a good girl, do what he wants, and it would be over soon," she said, giving me a warning smile before she turned, leaving the room.
But I wasn't just going to bend over, letting her or this evil-looking man take advantage of me.
So I walked closer to the man, and he seemed happy that I wasn't putting up a fight. He brought his face down, leaning into me. Knowing I had to act fast before he could touch me, I jabbed my knee into his man parts with all the strength I could gather. My wolf had not come in yet, so I had to put much effort. Then, using a book I was reading, which had a really hard cover, I slammed it hard into his face, and before he could recover, I ran out of the room.
Since that day, I always kept a knife close to me — for letting her (Mrs. Cook) and any male know I was willing and unafraid to use it — until I turned sixteen, when I got my wolf, which didn't make me any less threatening. Hence, she stayed clear of me.
Now Mrs. Cook stared at me as I gathered my things, which weren't much and fit inside my backpack. When I was done, I turned to Mrs. Cook with a sly smile and a smirk on my face.
"Thanks for everything, ma'am," I said.
"Errwgk," Mrs. Cook says, and I couldn't help the satisfied smile that spread across my face as I walked out and walked toward school.
I didn't know where exactly I was going to start working. I didn't know if I'd be able to go to school while with my new boss. But what I did know was I was going to make it work regardless. I'm a strong girl, and I wasn't about to give up.
After school, I walked to the address Miss Molly had given me, and nothing prepared me for the sight before me and the realization that suddenly flooded my mind.