Tiana’s POV
I was running around the house, trying to get everything sorted out on time. I haven't been given a minute of rest since I started working in the morning, and today is hectic for me; it doesn't seem to be getting better, rather it's getting worse.
“Tiana!” my father screamed my name.
I flinched, making all the breakable plates I held fall to the ground. I was only going to be in more trouble now that all these things were broken. I tried using anything I could find to cover it, but it was already too late since he had seen it.
“You bastard.” Smack. The sharp sting of my father's hand across my face made my eyes water and my cheeks burn. I flinched, even though I had known it was coming.
“Were you sent by the gods to ruin my life? Do you have to do everything to infuriate me? You are nothing but a filthy human.” His voice was harsh and his eyes gleamed with hatred as he stared at me, daring me to move. I stayed still, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. It wasn't the first time that he's been insulting me, and I was already used to it.
“Clean that up quickly and go prepare breakfast.”
I nodded in response and started picking the plates up and dropping them inside a trash can nearby. I could see my stepsister, Selene, in the background, with a smirk on her face. The truth is, Father doesn't really need a reason to punish me. He relished in my pain and took every opportunity he could to hurt me. He hissed and walked away with Selene, leaving me alone in the kitchen.
It wasn't always like this, though. Once upon a time, when I was a little girl, my father adored and treated me like a little princess. He and my mother doted on me, and I basked in the love they gave me and my brother. As the younger one, I received far more attention than Viktor, my brother, but he never seemed to mind. Viktor is four years older than me.
So naturally he felt like he was more mature. Life was like a fairy tale, but eventually, my life changed for the worse, and it was by my own doing, even though I had never intended for it to happen. I was still young and naive, but that didn't deter my father at all. In his mind, I was the one responsible for his life falling apart, even though he got married to Rhona, Selene’s mother, a year later. The sad thing is, I believe it wholeheartedly too. If it wasn't for me, our family would still be together.
**Flashback**
It was on my eighth birthday. It was a nice and sunny day outside on that particular day. I have been stuck inside the house with my mom for most of the day while my brother has gone out with my dad for training. I was already bored as my mom was busy with the house chores and all the things that needed to be done in the house, but I wanted to go outside with her to get some candy for my birthday. I was pouting.
“Don't pout Tiana,” my mother chided, coming into the sitting room and putting her hands on her hips. “I'm sorry you've had to wait so long, but I'm all done now. Why don't we go outside for a walk? And also get you some candy.”
I instantly brightened up, and my mother laughed. My mother was very beautiful; she had the face of an angel and brunette hair, unlike me, who had blonde hair. Her eyes twinkled as she watched me run to get my coat. I made a dash for the door and excitedly opened it, running outside as my mother hastened to keep up.
We set out for the nearest candy store that also had a playground for kids. When we got there, I spotted a group of children playing, including Sheila the Alpha's daughter. I had a crush on her brother, Derek, so I would usually try to play with her whenever I could in order to get closer to her and see Derek more often, even though I knew he was mostly busy with training, just like my brother.
Sheila smiled at me as I approached. “Hey Tiana, do you want to play hide and seek with us?” She asked, still smiling at me.
“Yes,” I squealed as my mother laughed behind me. “Count me in.” My mother smiled as she walked away to the candy shop. She looked calm and relaxed as she sat down on the sidelines, watching us as we played.
We all ran off to hide as Selene, who is now my stepsister, began to count. I giggled as I ran into the tall bushes and tumbleweeds opposite the candy shop to hide. It was an open field behind the bushes and tumbleweeds, but it was enough to keep me hidden. I was able to see whoever was approaching me and to keep myself hidden, I could also navigate from one tumbleweed to the other to stay hidden.
I could hear her finish counting “98, 99, 100,” she shouted in the distance, and I waited with anticipation. I was sure I'd be the last to be found, so I sat down behind a tumbleweed, staring into the vast open field, and waiting for Selene to come find me. As I stared into the field, I noticed something running towards me. I squinted my eyes to get a better look, then I realized it looked to be some dog or coyote in the distance.
Then the sudden smell of something rotten permeated my nostrils. I swallowed, feeling sick. We were taught from a very young age what that smell meant.
“Rogues!” I cried out.
I stumbled backwards, trying to get up as fast as I could, and started running as fast as my legs could carry me towards my mother. While running, my foot got stuck in a small hole. I cried out as I looked back and noticed more swarms of rogues on the field. They were so many! I saw Sheila and the other children running away to the bunkers.
My mother shifted into her grey wolf and pounded towards me. I got my leg free and stumbled backwards. The sound of a threatening growl made me turn around slowly, and I came face to face with a massive rogue that smelt like sewage.
Drool was dropping from the rogue’s lips. It reared back on its hind legs, ready to pounce on me, but right before it did, my mother's grey wolf leapt over me and tackled the rogue. I felt my heart skip.
“Mom!” I cried out. I stood to my feet as I watched her battle the rogue valiantly. Then another wolf grabbed me and started dragging me away from the scene. I turned to see the familiar wolf; it was Rachael, my mother's best friend.
She returned to her human form. "Tiana, you need to run.” She said and started shoving me away, but I didn't want to budge. This was my mother, and I was too young and naive to comprehend that I was a hindrance rather than a help to her.
At first, it seemed like my mother would be fine; she was even able to beat the rogue. My heart skipped as three more rogues joined, surrounding my mother. It all happened in slow motion as the three rogues jumped in sync on my mother, ripping and tearing her to pieces. I remember screaming over and over again as my mother’s blood spurted everywhere. The rogues showed no mercy. Tears streamed down my face as my whole body shook in fear. It felt like I was paralyzed.
Rachael, who had been watching with me, picked me up and ran with me back to the safe room in the bunker. Tears trailed down my cheeks.
After the rogues had been defeated that evening, Rachael decided to take me home and to also explain everything to my dad. We found my dad and Viktor outside, nervously waiting for me and my mother to return. They ran towards us when they spotted us, and Rachael handed me over to Viktor to take me inside while she spoke with my father. Viktor took me in with a scared look on his face, “Where is mom?” He asked, upset.
I shook my head, unable to speak. He gasped, and tears began running down his cheek.
“It's your fault,” whispered Viktor as I turned to him in shock. “Mom would still be here with us today and would not have died if you had not forced her to take you out today despite Dad's warnings.”
I hated myself at that moment as I thought about it; if I hadn't forced her to go out in the first place, she would still be alive, and if she hadn't tried to save me, maybe she wouldn't have died. I sobbed, my heartbroken, as I thought of how I had caused my own mother’s death.
**End of Flashback**
