Chapter 4 Maverick

Malia's POV

"Let's go, Malia, it's getting very late," Allegra said pointing to her wristwatch, there was a long and eerie silence as we walked back home.

" You should have seen your face back there," Allegra said, breaking off the silence, we both laughed aloud "What have we ever done to you?" She teased in a mimicking tone. I poked her head and we kept laughing "Cut me some slack Allegra."

"What if he hadn't shown up?" I asked, referring to the stranger, "well, I don't know" she shrugged "Guess he was meant to show up" she added. I sighed in relief "Hmm, I can't help but imagine what would have happened if he hadn't shown up though." We were already standing in front of my home,

"Alright Mal, don't think too much about tonight okay?" She said, opening her arms for a hug. "I won't" I smiled as we hugged and bid each other goodnight.

As I turned to my house, the smile on my face vanished. What was left was a sad-looking face as I thought about how my stepdad would react when I got in. I don't know why he hates me this much, at some point I don't really care because I hate him too.

Is it because I'm not his daughter? Or is it because I'm wolfless? These thoughts just kept running through my mind as I entered. "Where are you coming from!" I was shaken out of my thoughts as I was staring at an angry pair of eyes, I felt fear chills run down my spine and I struggled to swallow saliva, "I...I...am" I stuttered.

"Now she doesn't know how to speak," he said turning to my mom who just stared back at him. "I'm coming from the woods," I said with my hands shaking. "The woods?" He laughed "You went to the woods? How many times are you going to keep going before you realize you're worthless?"

"As long as I can, I will keep trying" I replied still with fear in my tone.

"Now listen to me you worthless and wolfless girl, stop wasting your time and wasting ours also, find something else to do with your life," he said.

Just as I was imagining how my mum was just sitting there listening to him say all this to her daughter, "That's enough Maverick!" She screamed "Don't talk to our daughter like that, she deserves some respect" she added. "I don't remember asking for your opinion," he asked her.

The pressure was building up and I had heard enough so I screamed "Enough both of you!" and I turned to Maverick "You're not my dad, so don't tell me what to do". I couldn't believe what I just said as I saw Liam, my halfbrother also staring at me in shock, my heart was pounding so fast it almost fell off my chest.

There was a short silence as Maverick was surprised to hear that, "What?" He said, before I could say anything I felt a sharp pain on my right cheek as he landed a slap on me, I fell to the floor crying, and he came towards me and kicked me on the stomach, I was crying and wailing in pain.

Liam sprang up immediately from where he was to me "Mal, Mal are you alright" he asked, I was just on the floor sobbing, and Liam turned to Maverick with his beta eyes and fangs out "Dad!" He yelled, but Maverick grabbed him by the throat, "know your place boy" he was struggling, trying hard to break free.

Until my mom yelled "Maverick! Stop this madness!" He threw Liam to the floor "Go to your room now boy" he said using the alpha command voice, and Liam tried to help me get up "Now!" Maverick yelled at him, "Go, Liam, I'll be okay" I whispered to him.

I rose and headed for my room, "I'm not done talking to you" Maverick called from behind which I ignored, I don't know what happened but I guess Mom stopped him from coming at me. I locked the doors behind me, I couldn't sleep immediately as I kept sobbing on my bed but I eventually slept off.

*

There was a huge knock on my door as I sprang up from bed "Malia, it's me your Mom, I'm sorry okay, you know I love you very much, but there is little to what I can do.....". she was still speaking but I wasn't paying attention, neither did I reply, she kept on speaking till I couldn't bear it anymore,

"Go away, I want to be left alone," I said in a weak and tired voice, she kept on knocking for a while before she left. I went to the mirror and tried to shift again, I saw my eyes slightly turn blue and within a split second disappeared. I picked up my phone and looked at the time it was 9:20 AM, I didn't realize I had slept that long.

There was a knock on my door again "Go away" I responded immediately sounding even weaker than before, "it's me, Liam" he said from behind the door, I mustered some strength, got up, and opened the door for Liam. "Here is your breakfast," he said with a charming smile on his face.

I looked at him with a faint smile "I'm not hungry"

"Come on Mal, I know you are," he said, but deep down I was very hungry, I could already hear my stomach groaning, "here, just a bite" he brought a spoonful to my mouth,

"Alright, I'll eat but I must freshen up first"

"Will check on you later, you better finish your food" he said as he left for the door,

As I took a cold shower, the thoughts of the stranger from last night struck my mind. I smiled to myself as I felt good chills. As I stepped out of the shower, steam curling around me, my phone buzzed on my bed.

A new message.