Chapter 4

(Amber's POV) As I left the dingy hallways of the dungeon and stepped out into the light, my eyes squinted shut reflexively as my hands flew up to shield them from the glare. After so long in the darkness, the warmth of the sun's rays was a welcome relief on my pasty skin, but the light was almost excruciatingly painful for my eyes. As I take a deep breath, I finally feel Rae's awareness of the three years that Rae has been in a deep sleep because of our mate's death. Rae?" I stop myself, worried that it's just my imagination. "Amber, it's me, I'm back." After a short silence, Rae finally answers me. Suddenly I feel the sun begin to warm. I heard my father click his tongue in disapproval at our reaction to being outside after so long, but I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of provoking a reaction. So, I resolutely followed him in silence, shielding my eyes and glancing to the sides furtively to see if anything had changed within the layout of the pack land on the walk from the cells back to the pack house. There was no one waiting to greet me at the door, no omega's lined up expectantly awaiting my arrival, only the echoing of our footsteps in the heavy silence of the house that was filled with so many painful memories. "The Omega's will get you cleaned up. Don't fight them. Just do as you're told." he said as we arrived in front of the doors to my old bedroom. I nodded and waited for him to continue, but he just gestured to my doorway impatiently. "You can go inside and wait. Someone will be in shortly to..." He said finally, wrinkling his nose in disgust as his eyes dragged over my current state disdainfully. I had nothing meaningful to say to him so I simply nodded and made my way through the door and into my room, shutting the door behind me without so much as a backward glance over my shoulder. I heaved a heavy sigh of relief as I took in the once familiar surroundings. Everything was exactly as I had left it and as I walked slowly around my room, I was filled with a sort of grim nostalgia. That night three years ago seemed a world away now and as I came to a stop in front of the mirror, just as I had on that fateful night, I saw for the first time the horrifying state that I was in. My once vibrant and glowing skin had no trace of color in it. It was dull, flaky, and lifeless...a perfect match for the dead look that seemed to haunt my eyes. I almost didn't recognize myself, and I was sure that if I wasn't so numb I would probably be heartbroken. Rae whined pitifully in my head. "You'll get back to your old self in no time, Amber, and when we do, we'll run far from here and start a new life." She tried to reassure me, but I laughed coldly. "I will never return to that naivety Rae...they robbed me of it." I spat back angrily, "I don't want to go back either! I want to be strong, find my mother and take her away!" Rae howled her approval as I smiled back at my reflection, a macabre sight that I'm sure shocked the omega staff members that entered my room without knocking. Our positive mood was ruined by the appearance of my step-mother's Omega's, who were clearly horrified by my appearance. "I should have guessed," I laughed bitterly to Rae who growled in response. "Amber, I have not forgotten the abuse we have suffered. I'm going to use every force in Division to get back at the assholes who hurt us next!" Rae's teeth chatter as I try to hold her down; we won't be as ruthless as we were three years ago. "We have to bide our time." Reluctantly, Rae agreed. The Omega's took a few moments to recover from their shock before they carried on with their assigned tasks and for once, they chose not to pass comment on the state that I was in. It blew my mind just how quiet they were without the figures of my stepmother or stepsister close by but if I was honest with myself, I was grateful for the silence as they tried to eradicate the signs of neglect on my body. Silence was a better option than enduring insults and restraining myself from retaliating, or listening to them make meaningless small talk. It wasn't long before their task was complete and I was pulled into a dress that my stepmother had picked out for me and I was led down to the smaller dining room that was reserved for the Alpha and his family. *** Just before I reached the dining room I noticed a group of Omega's congregating around one of the drawing rooms as another Omega hurried past them carrying what looked like a white wedding dress. I frowned to myself and wondered if my step-sister had found her mate. If so, that might be the reason that I had been brought back here. The idea made me a little bit happy. If I was going to be forced to live here again, it would be better without her around for sure. It was that thought that put a smile onto my face as I pushed open the doors and entered the dining room. The sight of my stepmothers and stepsisters' expectant faces, and their gleeful expressions when they saw just how much my outward appearance had diminished made me want nothing more than to unleash Rae's fury on them. But, for now, at least, I will remain calm. I took my seat quietly as the omega's began to serve the main courses and listened to the banal conversation between my pathetic excuse for my family. There was nothing of any importance discussed, mainly small talk and gossip between the two women who had delighted in making my life a living hell as my father sat quietly, his gaze fixated on me. I ate in silence and when we were finished my stepmother turned to me with a bright smile that reeked of her false personality as she spoke, "It's so wonderful to have you back home, Amber, and on such an exciting occasion too! I bet you're simply thrilled with the news aren't you?" I lifted my head and met her gaze coldly. Only a fool would miss the hatred that radiated from me as I stared at her confidently. Her smile faltered momentarily as a flicker of fear registered in her eyes and she turned quickly to my father, reaching for his arm. "You have told her, haven't you dear?" She asked, feigning innocence. "Not yet, no." he answered as she clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "Well, you shouldn't delay the good news! I'm sure she'll be thrilled to know that you've found a suitable husband for her after all of that unpleasantness with her mate...It's a new lease of life for her!" she gushed. Husband? So it's me who's getting married?