The Delta's Daughter Chapter 150

DAY 7 OF THE GAMES

TALA

It had been a week since I last laid eyes on my mate. I hated the games, but each day I went in hopes of catching a glimpse of him. Each day I watched as men fought and men died to entertain the higher ranks.

All our Gladiators were slaves, whereas the visiting packs' Gladiators were volunteers or criminals who were condemned to the games. Only a few other Alphas had slaves in their packs and they were the ones who were closely allied with my father.

Each day I had been escorted by Jack the bear and Oliver his wolf. I was told they would be staying by my side until my father paid them what was owed to them for delivering the Wolf Prince.

It made my skin crawl whenever Jack and Olive were near me. The way they looked at me like I was their next meal, a platter of meat ready to be feasted on had my stomach in knots. I put on a brave face, not letting them see how badly they affected me and scared me.

Today I wore a simple light blue summer dress that hung just above my knees, void of a tunic or petticoat. It was too hot today and I hoped my father would not give me grief about what I chose to wear to the games today.

I knocked on my father’s bedroom door, the ugly as shit blue doors making me cringe. I held my breath waiting for him to respond. After a few moments, I knocked again and heard a mumbled sound.

I pushed the door open, hoping to the moon, that he wasn’t fucking some poor slave girl again. The only reason I came here was I thought he might be alone as my mother was having a good day.

“Father,” I called out, seeing his bed was messy still. I walked further into the room and heard a mumble from the bathroom. “Father,” I called out louder this time and watched the bathroom door swing open.

Luckily he was wearing his robe, he was towel drying his semi-short brown hair and he stopped mid-step when he noticed me. “What do you want Tala,” He narrowed his eyes at me, his lip curling in disgust as he regarded me.

“I came to ask, when will Jack and Oliver stop escorting me I don’t like them.” I was blunt. Although my father was a scary man and powerful, I refused to back down from him. He often told me, that my boldness would get me killed. What he meant was, that one day he would kill me if I crossed the line.

I wasn’t sure what that line was, but I was sure I was teetering on the edge of it just by being here.

“They will escort you for as long as they see fit until I have paid them what I owe them. Not that I owe you any explanation.” He huffed, his eyes scanning me like I was a putrid bug.

“Father, how can you let me be paraded around with two rogues when you have just announced that I will be paired with Jasper I think it is sending out mixed messages to your people.” I said honestly with confidence, hoping he would see the logic.

Without warning and quicker than a flash he had his hands around my neck and slammed me up against the wall. My feet were lifted from the ground. I refused to cry and show weakness to him, instead, I grasped his hand with mine, trying to give myself some stability as my legs dangled beneath me. I met his hardened gaze, his eyes darkening as he looked into mine. There was so much hate there, so much loathing. His hand squeezed tighter cutting off my air supply and my throat began to burn.

“How fucking dare you tell me what my pack thinks.” He hissed with venom. I could feel his anger building up, the heat from it spreading out like a blanket of poisonous fumes, his hand squeezed around my throat tighter and my eyes began to bulge.

“Maybe I should make you the payment, you good for nothing wolf!” He spat out, his slaiva spraying my face. I shook my head in fear, I actually feared Jack more than I did him. “Here I was thinking you would make a good and obedient Luna for Jasper, but maybe I was wrong. Maybe what you need is to be broken in first.” His words were cruel and I didn't want to cry, I knew exactly what he meant by 'breaking me in'.

I had heard him use that term in regards to the slave girls plenty of times. So I blinked back my tears as much as I could, unable to swallow them down.

His face twitched and he slowly blinked. When he opened them again I could see his wolf coming through his eyes, they were so dark and glaring like a demon. “Make no mistake, Tala, You are a piece of shit wolf, and the only reason you are alive is to make your mother suffer. And for me to use you as I fucking please, and if that means selling you off, or making you a slave, then that is what I will do. You exist to benefit me!” His hand tightened even more and his palm began to crush my windpipe. I gasped for air, clawing at his hand but he would not let up. “Maybe, I should just kill you.” He pondered like he was choosing linens. The darkness of his stare boring into me like hot needles.

This is it, I thought. Today will be the day he kills me. Why did I ever think he would listen or show mercy He has never liked me.

As soon as I thought it, he let me go.

I choked, gasping for air as he released my neck, falling to the floor when my legs neglected to hold me up. I scrambled to stand, rubbing my neck and before I could even get my bearings I felt the hard hit of the back of his hand sting my face, sending me stumbling again.

Still, I refused to cry out, even though I could feel the swelling of a bruise immediately. I stood to my feet again “I apologize father” I tried to sound sincere when really I was seething inside and my wolf was encouraging me to lash out and take a bite out of him. I pushed her down as that would not do us any good. We were not strong enough.

“You are a pathetic waste of skin.” He sneered advancing on me “You are useless like your mother. If you had any smarts like Shayna, maybe I would have accepted you.” He raised his hand again and I flinched, but the hit never came “Get out of here! you're a slut like your mother and I can hardly stand the sight of you! I raised you and all you are is a great disappointment. I should have made your mother abort you the day I found out she was carrying you!”

I wanted to scoff, that was rich coming from the man who destroyed my mother and sent her insane. How could he call her a slut when he was the one who raped and bedded all kinds of women I scowled and moved around him quickly in a bid to leave his room having no desire to stay there any longer than necessary.