I blinked once, twice and then I was blinking severally, I couldn't believe what was happening in front of me.
"Why... Why the hell is this empty?? Where is my..... where is my money???" I asked no one in particular as I started ransacking my wardrobe.
I brought out all the clothes and other items in the wardrobe but my money was nowhere to be found.
My heart started beating faster than usual and I started sweating profusely even though air conditioner was working perfectly.
I looked into the box again and again, to see if my eyes were playing pranks on me but they weren't. The box was actually empty.
All the money I had been saving for more than a year, all my life savings, my sweat and hard work was gone. Mysteriously, at that.
I impatiently brought out the rest of my belongings in the wardrobe, still searching for my money.
Maybe I put it somewhere else and forgot.
Maybe I slept walked and removed the money from the box and...
I stopped when my wardrobe was now empty and slumped into the cold floor. There was no need for any 'maybes', my money was gone.
I can't believe this is happening to me....
Did someone---
My panic state was suddenly interrupted by my door bursting open, Ophelia walked in with her head up high.
She looked down at me scornfully before throwing some notes of money on my face.
"You goddamn thief. Who knew who would end up resorting to stealing?? I've always wondered why my money kept disappearing mysteriously, I guess the mystery is now solved, you wretched thief." Ophelia spat.
I looked up at her, totally puzzled, "What are you talking about? When did I steal your money?"
My question was answered with a hard slap on my face. I gasped in shock and held my face, still looking at Ophelia.
Then came the kicking and stomping.
"How. Dare. You. Glare. At. Me! You disgusting wretch!" Ophelia kicked me as she said the words one after the other. "After stealing my money, how dare you play dumb, did you think I will never find out?! What were you going to do with my money, you filthy lowlife?! Huh?!"
I just laid there on the floor with my head facing the floor, I could feel the severe pains all over body as an aftermath of Ophelia kicking me severally.
"I... didn't steal your money, I swear." I managed to say.
"Yeah, right. Like a thief will actually admit to their crimes but whether you admit or not, I will make sure you pay for stealing my money. By the time I'm done with you, you will be cursing your stupid mother for birthing you." Ophelia said and then faced the guards who came with her, "Take her away. Beat the living daylights out of her, beat her like the stupid thief that she is and lock her in the dungeon until we are ready to pass her judgement."
Before I could process everything Ophelia just said, I was lifted up harshly and dragged away from the room by two hefty men.
The two guards followed Ophelia's instructions to the T and beat me up mercilessly, before throwing me into the dungeon, a jail cell where our pack puts criminals.
I could barely move without my whole body wreathing in so much pain, I'm an omega so I don't get to heal as fast as other werewolves.
Even in the middle of all the pain I was feeling, the reminder of the reality that all my life savings was gone pricked my heart and it hurt more than the pains I got from the beatings.
Where do I start from??
I really thought I was going to leave here very soon...
For how long do I have to endure this kind of life?
As the thoughts came to my mind, tears flowed freely down my face and I sobbed silently.
"Izzy!"
I quickly whipped my head to face where the voice came from and I saw my best friend, Quinn standing outside the jail cell.
Quinn is my best friend and although she was also an omega like me, she was stronger and had already seen her wolf, she was also a member of the Shadow Pack. She has been my best friend since we were young and she's the only reason life has been bearable for me.
"Quinn..." I whispered, totally surprised that she was here. "What are you doing here?? What if you're caught?? You should go!"
She ignored my warning and bent over down to my eye level, "What the hell have they done to you? Ophelia is one crazy woman... She needs to be stopped." She said while touching my face gently.
"Quinn, you really should go. Ophelia is going to kill the both of us if she finds you here."
She ignored me again and squeezed something into my hands, it was a mini purse and when I opened it, there was a reasonable amount of money in it.
"Quinn, what is---"
"I'm helping you escape." Quinn cuts in, answering my question before I asked. "Ophelia took your savings and claimed that you stole it from her because she wants to get rid of you permanently so you have to escape, Isobel, and you have to do it now. I've also been saving so this is all I can afford for now, take this and run away as far as you can."
"Then what about you?" I asked, squeezing her hand tightly, "We were supposed to travel together... I can't let you sacrifice yourself because of me."
Quinn touched my face fondly and smiled, "I will work harder, save more money and meet you soon. But for now, you have to leave this place and this is my plan, Ophelia's godson just arrived town and she is hosting a welcome party for him today, during the party when everybody is distracted, I will steal the keys to the dungeon and let you go."
I shook my head worriedly, "No, that is too risky, if Ophelia---"
She grabbed my shoulders firmly and said, "I will take the risk for you, just do as I say and run as fast as you can when I let you go. Okay?"
I hesitated for a moment before I nodded my head slowly.
"Thank you Quinn... For everything." I said to her, my voice cracking in the process.
"You don't need to thank me, Izzy, you're my best friend and like a sister to me." She replied and smiled at me. "I'll see you soon. Good luck." And she left.
I could hear the sound of music and people talking on top as I sat in the jail cell. The welcome party for Ophelia's godson had definitely began and very soon Quinn will come and release me from this dungeon.
As I waited for Quinn I couldn't help but wonder what Ophelia's son looked like, I never knew till today that she has a godson. I wondered how she treated her godchild it definitely wouldn't be like the way she treated me.
The door to the dungeon suddenly opened and Quinn ran inside, stopping in front of my jail cell.
"Quinn..."
"Isobel, you have to leave now. Everybody is in the party because Ophelia is about to introduce her godson to the pack, they are distracted so right now is the best time to escape." She explained urgently.
I nodded frantically and watched as she opened the jail cell and brought me out.
I hugged my best friend tightly when I came out of the jail cell, "Thank you so much Quinn."
Quinn patted my back gently and returned the hug, "We don't really have time for this, you have to leave now."
We disengaged from ourselves and Quinn led me out the dungeon to the escape route she prepared for me and gave me a nod before disappearing back into the pack house.
On the way to the escape route, I saw that I was able to have a glimpse of the party venue. My eyes fell on Ophelia who was standing in front of the pack members, she was really about to introduce her godson to them.
"Dear members of Shadow Pack, allow me to introduce to you my dear godson," Ophelia began and gestured to her right side for her son to come up.
When Ophelia's godson came and stood beside her and my gaze fell on his face. My jaw dropped and I felt my heart stop when I recognized who he was.
"This is my dear godson, Mason Gray!" Ophelia announced and my pack members gave them an applause.
The applause sounded like a buzz in my ears because I was watching at the man who took my virginity and gave me the best sex of my life being introduced as Ophelia's son.
The woman who has made my life hell.
Before I could fully comprehend the shock in front of my eyes, I suddenly heard a familiar voice behind me.
"Stop right there, Isobel Maya Smith."
Slowly, I turned around and my heart that seemed to have stopped suddenly started beating rapidly like a drum because I was looking at my father, Simon Smith, the Alpha of my pack, with several armed guards.
"If you move one more inch, I will not hesitate to order the guards to use their powers." Then he said to the guards, "Arrest this rogue right away."