The Alpha Princess.

Stella

(Edited once)

I woke up to my brother's annoying, yelling voice, as per usual. Sadly and conveniently, I got accustomed to his screams. However, I would never ever get used to the abuse.

It physically and mentally hurt just thinking about his punches to my back last night. At one point during his rampage, he got tired from using his fists and decided to switch to the whip. I just bit my lip until he was done.

I did not do anything to upset him yesterday.

I rubbed my eyes and stretched my aching and bruised body. I was too exhausted since I did not get enough sleep last night. I never do.

I got out of my small bed, which was basically an old dirty mattress, and walked to the cramped bathroom at the end of the hall. When I finished my very quick shower, I wore a casual black shirt that matched my hair, my old blue jeans, and my worn-out boots.

I took a deep breath after returning to my room and was ready for the last day of high school. I was mentally unprepared to end this stage of my life mainly because school was a shelter from Raymond.

I got out of my room, and I walked towards the stairs as quietly as possible. I did not want to see Raymond first thing in the morning, yet I knew it was useless to try and do so. It was an inevitable thing.

I was eighteen, and by law, I could leave the house. The only obstacle was Raymond. His grip on me was too tight to free myself from it. The same grip that almost choked me to death multiple times, and I was terrified.

I did try to run away on my eighteenth birthday, but Raymond predicted my escape plan and locked me in the attic for a week without water or food. I did not know how I survived for that long, yet I remember praying to die. I wanted to meet my parents again and be at ease, living a tranquil life.

On multiple occasions, I wanted to die and never see my abuser ever again, though I never thought of committing suicide. I would not end my life with my own hands. I would rather be killed or die naturally than disappoint my parents. I was holding on, but I did not know for how long.

Life isn't fair sometimes.

I looked at the bottom of the stairs and saw Raymond waiting for me with a frown on his always constipated face. I hated him. I hoped for the minimum punishment today, or at least this morning, because I wanted to attend my last day of school with a decent appearance.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked coldly, which made me wonder if he knew how to smile. I did not remember the last time I saw his happy face. His fierce green eyes were filled with hostility toward me, and my gray ones were filled with fear and dread.

"School," I replied in a muffled tone while maintaining eye contact. He hated it when I averted my gaze from his, and I learned that the very hard way. I earned another scar on my back from that day.

He scoffed. "You will come home as fast as you can when school is over. I will have guests in the evening, so I want you to make a good dinner, understand?" he demanded, and I paled. Guests...

"Yes, brother," I answered instantly, and he returned to his room. It could have been worse, he did not lay a hand on me, and I did not want to jinx my luck. I ran from the house like my feet were on fire in case he decided to change his mind.

I saw my old bike parked near the side road, and I finally smiled, taking in the fresh air. It was a peaceful morning, and it had been years since I felt this refreshed. The chilly weather was perfect for me since my body was always warm. I loved this feeling, the cold breeze was like drinking a cold cup of water in summer.

I glanced at the children escorted by their loving parents to their school and sighed. I missed being this small, where my parents were still alive. They were the sun that guided me around. However, an unexpected plane crash extinguished the light from my life.

I had Raymond by my side at first. He took good care of me, considering he was only sixteen with no relatives to help, and I was only eight. Money was never a problem because our parents saved money for us in case of an emergency. He took custody of me after a social worker, who constantly visited us, saw that he was fit for the job.

He loved me and showed me how a good older brother should be until he flipped. Everything turned upside down one day, and I did not know why he became abusive and cruel. I got loathed without an explanation.

"Stella, stop!" I was knocked out of my thoughts by someone's voice. I focused back on the road and saw that I was about to crash into my school entrance. I swiftly slammed my hand on the brakes and completely stopped the bike with my legs' aid. I was about to bump into my teacher because of my stupidity.

"Are you okay? I'm so sorry, Ms. Rodriguez, I wasn't paying attention, I'm sorr-" she cut off my babbling with a small tap on my arm.

"Stella, I am okay, you didn't hit me. Are you okay, though?"

I smiled." Yes, and good morning."

"Good morning, dear. Ready for the last day?" she asked with a grin, and I chuckled. She was reasonably in desperate need of a vacation.

"No, I don't want to finish high school. It's my second home." I genuinely admitted. If I were more precise, it was my first home because I did not view the house that Raymond and I lived in as a home. I could not say this out loud.

No one knew what happened behind closed curtains, and I wanted to keep it that way. No one knew, not even my best friend, because I did not want to be a burden and drag them into my dark world.

I looked around and saw Skye walking toward me with a smile. "Hey, Stella, excited?" she asked, her wide black eyes were dancing with excitement, and her brown hair was bouncing up and down since she was jumping. I adored her enthusiasm and wished to be this carefree one day.

"Good morning, Skye," I greeted her with a hug, then headed to class. I was welcomed by other students and teachers as we walked through the hallways. I was not the popular student with an extraordinary look or excellent grades. I considered myself good-looking, with good grades.

I was merely known for being a good athlete or for winning the gold medal in sprinting and swimming in my first year of high school. I loved sports, it was the only activity I could practice without Raymond disapproving because it was within the school borders, and he did not see.

As soon as we entered the last music class, Joana, as our teacher liked to be called, cleared his throat. "Good morning, fellas, please take your seat. We have some talking to do."

"Are we in trouble?" Thomas, the class clown, asked. We laughed, and Jaona chuckled at the spontaneous response.

"No, you are not. Unless there's something I should know about!" Joana remarked, and Thomas shook his head. "Okay then, let's get to the point. Since it's your last day here, I want every one of you, ladies and gentlemen, to discuss your thoughts about your future," he announced, and most students groaned. It was a challenge to talk about ourselves, but I was excited to share my feelings with them since I rarely speak in class, and I want someone to listen. I was never given the opportunity with Raymond.

As students took turns to talk, my mind drifted back to Raymond's words. He would be having guests, and I needed to think of a very good meal to make. I did not want to disrespect them, as he put it, with 'burnt' food.

I once received a beating that got me to lose consciousness for hours because the food was slightly overheated. He broke some of my rips and my index finger. I had bruises on my stomach, which lasted for more than a month. I was a mess, and yet he refused to take me to the hospital, saying that I would expose him. I could not dare do such a thing. He would hurt me even more.

"Stella... Stella!" Skye called as she touched my shoulder, where I got a punch from Raymond the other day. I almost winced but endured the pain and looked at her.

"Yes?"

"You're up," she pointed at Joana. I looked at him and saw that he was waiting for me to stand up and talk. On second thought, talking was not that fun.

"Oh... thanks."

"Stella, could you please share your thoughts or future plan with us?" he asked with a comforting smile.

I nodded, giving up. "Of course," I turned my gaze to the rest of the class and smiled. "High school was great," I began speaking, everyone was giving me their full attention, and it felt nice.

"I truly like all teachers and students, they were amazing with me, at least. Some treated me like a sister and a friend, and some like a daughter or even a granddaughter. Most of you don't love school. Heck, you even hate it!" they chuckled, and I beamed, feeling more confident. "But I am grateful for it," I said. It was my safe haven from Raymond. "Joana, you are one of my favorite teachers, and everyone knows that your classes are incredible. You would always say that to have the rainbow, we have to love the rain. Thank you because this phrase was on my mind whenever I was upset," or in physical pain. "As for my future plan, I might be a dancer or a ballerina or a teacher. I am not sure yet. The universe is baking a great plan for all of us, so have faith and keep going." I finished my short speech with tears in my eyes, remembering what I missed in life because of my brother.

I will miss feeling at home in school.

Stella

(Edited once)

After the last bell rang, I bid my goodbyes to Skye. I felt like it was the last time I might ever get the chance to see her, so I cried in her embrace. I knew that we still had our graduation ceremony, but it was two months away. A senior student had a kidney transplant two days ago, and he needs two months to recover from the surgery, so the school was considerate enough to postpone the ceremony for his sake.

I had a bad feeling concerning Raymond's guests, and I was more than worried about returning a bit later than usual. Sorrowfully, I was forced to oblige. I took deep breaths as I reached the house. "I hope nothing bad happens," I whispered before I opened the door and entered. Raymond was nowhere in sight, so I rushed to the bathroom to take a quick cold shower to cool my nerves.

Five minutes later, I got out of the bathroom, fully clothed, and started cooking dinner. I was thrilled to cook when Raymond was not around because cooking reminded me of Mom and her gentle hands, which taught me how to cook from such a young age. She would always say that the way to capture your man's heart was through deliciousness. I was still waiting for that man to make his grand appearance in my life and save me from this hellhole.

I glanced at the clock, and it was fifteen minutes past six, so I had fifteen more minutes to put the last touches on the dinner table: the dessert.

I fled to my room as soon as they stepped foot into the house. Luckily, I was done with dinner. They were loud, but I ignored them. It was always better to disregard some behaviors and save me from a fist. "I want out! I want to be free..." I cried in agony as I looked at the barely visible moon. "What did I do wrong? How is that fair?" I whispered.

I stayed in the same position for an hour until I heard what I had hoped to avoid. Raymond called me to meet his guests, and I felt the color drain from my face. The last time I met some of his guests, they hit me for their entertainment. They were vicious men with rotten minds, and they could surpass Raymond's torturing methods if they wanted. However, my dear brother would stop them just before I passed out so he could finish the job.

I looked at my face through a small mirror placed on the floor and saw Dad's eyes. The thought of him made me less tense, so I gathered my courage and exited my room. "Stella! Move it."

"I'm here," I announced as I stepped on the last staircase. As Raymond saw me, his smirk widened, and I winced at its meaning. I looked behind him and saw the same five men I met before. They were the guests who beat me up. I wanted to scream; however, I knew that I would make matters worse. Therefore I remind silent.

I stared at them and noticed their lustful eyes traveling all over my body. My flesh was covered, yet I felt too exposed to their wandering thoughts. I needed to get out. All the mental and physical abuse came down on me like a bucket full of icy water, and I almost vomited. I was terrified.

I needed to get out.

"Stella, thanks to your body and face, I was able to make a fortune. The stage is yours, guys. Feel free to touch her wherever you desire." My head snapped to meet his gaze, and I almost lunged at him. There was a limit to everything. I would never give up my innocence for these mongrels. As long as I was still breathing, I would not hand the only whole thing in my life. I was cherishing it for the one, and not for scums like them. But it was apparent that the major bastard of them all was my brother. I was repulsed beyond reason. "No!" I managed to say after my inner battle subsided. "Never."

Raymond was shocked at my sudden outburst since I never raised my voice or spoke against his words. He recovered instantly and grabbed me by the hair. One of a girl's weaknesses was her hair because pulling it hurt too much. "The fuck did you say?" he screeched. I spat on his face and glared.

"I fucking said no!" as I repeated what I said louder, he punched me in the cheek. I was about to fall down, but he did not let go of my hair. Instead, he delivered another punch to my stomach. I gasped for air and felt tears threatening to fall. I refused to obey anymore. I refused to be submissive.

"Well, ain't you a brave little sister," he mocked. I frowned at the word sister coming out of his dirty mouth. It was clear to me that he was drunk and high, though that did not stop me from defending my honor.

I arched my eyebrows. "I'm not your sister. You lost the right to call me that when you were eighteen and I was just ten. A fucking child, remember? You lost your role as a brother when you started beating the shit out of me! I am done with this bullshit." I yelled. He tightened his grip on my hair, and I winced in pain. I should not be suffering from his ways. I should fight my way out.

"You will obey me. Now, strip from your clothes, and give these gentlemen the show they deserve." He exclaimed with an irritated tone.

I scoffed and let out a humorless chuckle. "Gentlemen? You must be high! Oh wait, you freaking are. I will not listen to you anymore. I am not afraid." I was horrified.

My last statement made him go completely nuts. He grabbed my shirt and ripped it apart, leaving me in my sports bra. I tried to pry from his grip. Still, he was stronger than me. "You were saying?" he asked, and I wiggled my body to escape. He removed my pants as I was screaming, and he received a lucky kick from me to his knee. "You bitch!" he yelled and slapped me. I looked at the men, hoping for a miracle to happen, but they enjoyed the show. They waited patiently for me to be fully naked, which would never occur. The only thing that was to my advantage that night was the fact that I decided to wear shorts under my pants in addition to underwear. I had a gut feeling, and I always trusted my instincts.

"Let us see that sexy body of yours. I can't wait to taste it!" one of the ugly men said, and I wanted to kill him. If only I could release myself from Raymond's deadly grasp. I could if I just strick at the perfect moment.

I looked at the front door and noticed that it was slightly ajar, and I saw a glimmer of hope as my immediate plan formed in my head. I looked back at Raymond and sighed. "Mom and Dad would be so disappointed in you. They would be revolted to even call you son. You are a disgrace. I despise you." I shouted at the top of my lungs and saw his eyes twitch. I knew that I had hit a nerve because he never liked to talk about them.

His hand loosened for a split second when he raised his other hand to hit me with a vase that was near him. I took that as my chance and lifted my knee fast and hit his sensitive region. He winced in pain and let go of me. I did not think twice. I ran out of the house and sprinted like my life depended on it, which it did.

I heard footsteps running behind me, and I knew that his friends were following me. They would not let me escape when they put money on my body. I did not look back, and I did not stop. I just kept on running.

Stella

(Edited once)

I felt the adrenaline rush through my veins as I felt my body get hot, but I did not feel tired. I wanted to get as far away as possible from Raymond's dull and toxic world. I was running for a long time, and his bastard friends gave up chasing me at some point. It was solely Raymond and me in the cryptic and dark forest.

"Stella, if you don't stop right now," Raymond started threatening with a breathless tone.

I cut him off before he could finish his threat. Still, I did not stop to look behind me because I did not want to trip and fall into his violent grip again. "You will what? Raymond, what could you do more? Slap me? You've done that. Kick me? Every single day. Punch me and knock me out? You can scratch that. Make me bleed? Starve me? Old news. What else can you do, Raymond? You were planning on using my body for your benefit! You can't get any lower than that!" I was shouting at the top of my lungs, with tears cascading down my face.

I stopped talking and kept ongoing. I did not get a reply from him, just heard the increased pace of his running. He was determined to catch me, and I was more determined to escape. I ran faster and finally spotted a big house in the middle of the woods. It was beautiful, but what drew me in was the lights. They were on, and the hope resurfaced. I believed my salvation was waiting for me inside.

I did not waste a second and headed toward the house.

I quickly glanced behind me and saw Raymond trip over a rock. He looked pathetic, but I was in no position to laugh. I barged into the house with heavy pants. It took me a second to realize that more than a dozen men, maybe 20, were cautiously staring at me. All reason flew out of the window as I did not care, I closed the door behind me and sat on the floor.

"Please help," I whispered. My fate was in their hands as I had no power to run anymore. They stood up and walked towards me. Conflicted emotions were visible on their faces, and I understood their confusion because I would be frightened if a random girl entered my house without warning.

"What's wrong?" one of them asked as he kneeled down in front of me. "Who are you?" he asked again as worry was apparent in his dark brown eyes. When I was about to answer his questions, the door swung open by an enraged ugly Raymond.

I quickly stood up and stepped closer to the men. They were strangers, but they surely would not join my brother's abuse because the one who talked to me was genuinely concerned about my well-being. For some reason, I felt safe. Secure. Or... they could be human traffickers playing nice.

Raymond was holding a huge rock and raised it as he spotted my shaking form. "Stella, you fucking bitch!" he approached me with hatred shown in his eyes. I immediately closed my eyes, preparing for the dreadful blow. However, nothing happened.

I forced my eyes open only to see a tall, muscular man standing in front of me, shielding my body. He protected me with a bronze tray, which shoved the rock from my way. The sight was comical, yet I did not react.

"What do you think you are doing?" my protector asked Raymond angrily. It was the first time someone showed such anger for my sake and not at me.

Raymond looked at him for a second, then at me, and I put on my tough face. "She's my sister, I want her home," he replied. I gagged at his disgusting untruthful words. He was dead in my eyes.

I let out a laugh, but it was not humorous at all. "Sister? I think we have established that already. Home? What home? You never viewed me as your sister, you were about to sell me, for God's sake! I will never consider that building as my home. Leave me alone." I yelled, feeling the rage rise inside of me. I used to scream in my head whenever I was overwhelmed by the beating, but never aloud. Raymond being outnumbered gave me strength.

"You heard her. Get out of my house!" my protector spat and pushed Raymond out. As foolish as he was, Raymond swung his fist, wanting to hit him. However, he was stopped mid-air and then shoved roughly to the ground. The man made it look so easy. Raymond was big, but all of the men here were bigger in body. The man punched Raymond's face, and I could not and will not ever feel sorry for my brother.

It was the least he could get after years of being the merciless being he was. I just stood there, watching them, not caring that he was bleeding and possibly dying.

A few moments later, I remembered that we were not alone. Hence, I looked behind me and noticed that the men were agitated and embarrassed for some reason. They were blushing, and I arched my eyebrows in confusion until realization hit me hard.

I was practically half naked with my old shorts on and a sports bra. They were not the expensive type, so if one were to focus their vision, they would see through the bra. "Well, that's awkward," I pointed out in a whisper.

All men abruptly turned around, facing the wall. I was sure that my voice was inaudible, so it was weird how they acted as if they heard me.

I shook my head and looked outside to see what happened with the fighting pair, but two arms wrapped around my waist, making me freeze. The warmth and tingly sensation were the best way to describe what it felt to be in his arms.

I glanced behind me to be met with my protector's stunning eyes. They were a bright honey color that shined like the sun's setting orbs. His dark blond, almost brown hair was trimmed perfectly, and his tan skin made him look beyond beautiful. I was clearly checking him out, and yet something inside me would not let me avoid eye contact. It was bizarre.

He smiled, and his adorable dimples were displayed to admire because dimples were my weakness. It was true that all my life I was an abused individual. However, I was still a teenage girl who liked to look at boys from time to time. I never dared to approach anyone, though.

The pull that I felt with this man was unnatural, as I wanted him to lure me closer and capture my senses. I should be afraid of having these unforeseen emotions to a complete stranger, but I was not.

Am I broken beyond repair?

"Mine," he growled this one word as his eyes turned to a darker color, and I thought I imagined things. His inhumane growl brought me back to reality, where I was in the same room as other men whom I just met.

The word that he uttered registered in my head, and I shifted my body so I was facing him. "No, I don't think so..." I trailed off, and I got lost in his eyes again. He tightened his hold on me, yet it was not painful. It was secure.

I was grateful that I was saved. Though, I did not want to be a caged bird once again. I was not ready to be the helpless girl when I barely got myself free. I felt no threat or danger from any of them, but I knew that something was wrong.

No human could ever feel at home in a house they recently entered, yet I was contradicting myself. What was wrong with my brain?

He was stronger than me; accordingly, I stopped trying to get out of his grasp. He smiled again, and I was enchanted. "You are mine," he repeated and glared at the men, who were staring at us in admiration, dare I say. "All of you, return to your rooms, and do not dare spare another glance at her." What surprised me the most was that they bowed their heads without hesitation and walked away in silence. The man screamed authority, even I got tensed.

I was lost and did not know what to say except ask what was on my mind. "I am yours? How come?" I raised my eyebrows in confusion. It was not normal for relationships to start this way. Is this his way of flirting with me?

This thought excited me, and yet I was perplexed at my own turmoil. For all I knew, all men were like Raymond. I did not trust anyone but myself. Sometimes, I would even doubt myself as well. I was a train full of wrecked emotions, and I needed answers. My tormentor was nowhere in sight, and I was left with this peculiar man alone. "What's your name, beautiful?" he asked.

As cliche as this might sound, butterflies erupted in my stomach at his words. It sounded genuine. "Stella," my name came out of my mouth before I could stop myself, and his smile got brighter.

"I'm Julian Woods," he introduced himself. I nodded, not knowing what else to do.