"Move out of the way, useless rat."
That was the first thing I heard when I stepped into the living room. My younger brother Cory didn't even glance at me. He shoved me hard against the wall, and the glass cup in my hand shattered on the floor.
I froze.
"You blind too?" he spat. "Clean it up before I step on it."
I bent down silently to pick up the shards with my bare hands. Blood dripped from my palm, but no one cared.
"Don't just sit there like a brain-dead mutt," my mother hissed from the couch. "Clean the dishes. Sweep the floor. And make sure Cory's laundry is ironed. Do something useful for once in your pathetic life."
"I just woke up," I whispered.
"Then wake up earlier next time. Lazy, good-for-nothing thing."
I looked at my father. He was in his usual spot, staring at his phone. He didn't raise his head. He never did. Not even when I was being dragged by the hair or slapped bloody. Not even when he did it himself.
"You heard her, dog," Cory grinned. "My clothes are by the door. I want them smelling clean this time."
"I already washed them," I said softly.
He stepped forward and slapped me on the forehead. "Then wash them again. You call that clean? You think you're doing me a favor? Dumb little runt."
I bit my tongue and turned away.
But my father stood up slowly.
I stiffened.
"You're getting bolder these days, aren't you?" he said. "Talking back like you're worth something."
"I didn't—"
He didn't let me finish. His belt came flying across my face before I could move. The pain ripped through my cheek and down my neck.
"You think I care what you did or didn't do? You're an embarrassment to this family. You should've been drowned at birth."
He hit me again. And again. Across my back. My arms. My legs. I dropped to the floor, my body shaking. My cries were silent, like always.
Mother chuckled from the couch.
"She makes such pathetic noises. Like a dying animal."
"I wish she'd just die already," Cory muttered.
When Father stopped, he threw the belt aside and kicked me in the ribs. I couldn't breathe. My vision blurred.
"Get up. And clean this house before I give you a real reason to cry."
I pulled myself up, my knees wobbling. My mother walked up to me and grabbed a handful of my hair.
"Maybe if you were a real wolf, we'd have some use for you," she hissed in my ear. "But you're not. You're just a waste of space."
She spat in my face and shoved me back down.
"I'm twenty-two," I said, barely audible. "I'm not a child."
"You're nothing," Father snapped. "Not a woman. Not a wolf. Not a daughter."
I limped away, dragging my body toward the bathroom.
I cleaned. I washed. I mopped the floor and folded Cory's clothes again. I did everything. Just like always.
When I finished, I came back to the living room.
The smell of Chinese takeout filled the air. My stomach clenched painfully. I hadn't eaten since yesterday, but I knew better than to ask.
Sweet and sour chicken. Lo mein. Fried rice. The table was full. My family sat and laughed like I didn't exist.
As I turned to leave, my father called out.
"Aria."
I paused.
He tossed a wrinkled dollar bill at me.
"Go buy my bourbon. The cheap one with the red label. And smokes. Don't mess it up."
I caught the note and nodded.
"Of course she'll mess it up," Cory said with a mouth full. "She can't even walk straight."
"Let her go," Mother said, grinning. "The house looks better when she's not in it."
They all laughed.
I walked out.
The breeze was cold, but it helped numb the sting on my skin. The supermarket was my only escape. Even if it was just for a few minutes.
When I reached the store, the cashier gave me a dirty look.
"Didn't think I'd see the freak today," she muttered.
I ignored her and dropped the crumpled bill on the counter.
"Same thing," I said.
She rolled her eyes, rang it up, and tossed the items in a bag.
I turned to leave when I saw Elder Rosa walking in.
Her warm smile was like light in darkness.
"Aria," she said, opening her arms.
I stepped into her hug. It was the first kind touch I'd felt in days. Maybe weeks.
"How have you been?" she asked.
"The same," I whispered.
She touched my face gently and flinched at the bruise on my cheek.
"Come," she said, leading me into her office.
I sat down and held the bag tightly in my lap. My body still trembled.
"They're still hurting you?" she asked softly.
I nodded.
"They beat me today. All of them. Father hit me with his belt. Mother spat in my face. Cory called me names and made me rewash his clothes just for fun."
Rosa's eyes welled up. "You shouldn't live like this."
"I don't have a choice," I said.
"You do. You will. One day."
"I'm not a wolf," I whispered. "I've never shifted. They say I'm cursed. That I should've died at birth."
"They're wrong."
"No, they're right." My voice cracked. "I'm twenty-two and still nothing. I'm nothing. I'm not wanted. Not needed. Not loved."
She held my hand, even when I tried to pull away.
"You're not nothing. You're someone. I know it."
"No one else does."
"They're blind. But the moon goddess isn't."
I looked down. "Do you think she remembers me?"
"I know she does."
"I hope so," I said, voice shaking. "Because I don't know how much longer I can survive like this."
She wiped my face and gave me a clean tissue.
"If the goddess gave you this pain, it's because something great is waiting."
I stood up slowly.
"I should go before they throw me out for taking too long."
"I'm here, always. No matter what."
I nodded and left.
Outside, I looked up at the sky. The stars were out, blinking gently. The world looked so peaceful up there.
But I was trapped here.
Inside a house where pain never stopped.
Where I was the family's slave. The joke. The shame.
I was their omega daughter.
But maybe one day, I wouldn't be.
Maybe one day, I'd finally be free when I find my mate.