B E L L A

I looked through my wardrobe. I didn't have many clothes of different sorts with me. So, it was easy for me to pack.

I zipped my bag once I completed filling it. "Hand me the bags and check if you've left something else that you need. I'll go and place them in my car," he said grabbing my bags. 

"I want to end everything with them today."  

"Just say a word and they'll be gone," he said with a dead serious look.

"You just go keep these bags, you psychopath." He obeyed my words and was quick to disappear.

 Stepping out of my room, I glanced back for one last time and sighed, "I'm surely not going to miss you." I chuckled at myself as I spoke to my non-living room.

I walked to my front door but halted when I heard my father's harsh voice. "Stand where you are standing!"

I spun around and glared at my father with hatred and anger. My blood boiled as I thought of my past ten years of living with him and his family. I bit my lip in anger.

With new confidence, I advanced forward; towards my father.

"Don't you dare glare at him, mutt." I scowled at the name Angelo called me.

My glare shifted to my stepmother. "I'll glare, Angelo! It's my wish. I can do whatever I w-want," I stuttered a bit as my confidence slightly wavered.

"What did you say?" I squirmed under her intense glare, nevertheless, stood my ground.

I took another step forward. "I said," I paused. "I can do whatever I want to do."

I shut my eyes tightly at the sight of Lewis. He made me trust him though in a rude way, but when I got whipped by my own father, he didn't even try to stop the situation.

He used the relation card to break me mentally and succeeded in that.

I opened my eyes and glared at him. "Before answering your question, I want to tell a few w-words to you." I gulped my fear of getting beaten for speaking against him and took a step forward."You were never a good brother of mine. A brother always tries to protect his siblings but no, you helped them!" I took a deep breath to calm my outrage. "You partially succeeded in breaking me. You believed your parents about me being an attention seeker!" I wiped the tears that fell from my eyes while I was yelling.

Lewis had a look of shock on his face. Angelo and my father looked at me blankly.

"You asked me why I chose to ignore your orders, right? Well, it's because I am no longer under your control. I no longer need to depend on your people. I got freedom from you all. I am sure Xanthos will never raise his hand on me, unlike you people. Ten years I have been living with you as a slave! I hate you all! I hate you, monsters!" I panted and tried to catch my breath. My chest felt less heavy than before as I poured out all my hidden anger of the last ten years.

Lewis lifted his hand up. Before I could comprehend what he was going to do, I flew across the hall and smashed against the front door making it swing open. I attempted to get up but only to cry in pain. I clutched my chest as I struggled to catch my breath.

My gaze connected with my father's. He had a malicious look on his face. He raised his free hand and slapped me hard on my right cheek. The sting was merely bearable. The place his hand came in contact with heated up. I bit my lip to control my wince as I knew he would enjoy listening to me being in pain. I didn't want to satisfy him.

Xan, where are you?

"I should have done this earlier to your ugly face." With that said, his fingernails grew up into claws which were long and pointed. It looked like an animal's claws. What was he going to do?

He brought his index finger to my face and dragged his animalistic sharp claws on my cheek where he slapped me; making me hiss in agony.

"Awe! Is bitch in pain? I'm so sorry, but I like it," he said, with a humourless chuckle.

All of a sudden, I was pulled into someone's arms. By the sparks that exploded, as my skin came in contact with the other person's, I knew it was Xanthos.

He was carrying me with his one arm under my knee and the other arm around my shoulder. A growl erupted from him which made me squeeze my eyes shut in fear.

"Is your mate becoming protective, Belwhore?" My eyes snapped open when Lewis called me by the name he gave me.

"L-Lewis, y-you." I cleared my throat as my voice sounded frail. "How dare you c-call me, Belwhore?" I tried to yell but just ended up puffing for air.

Instinctively, I swing my arm around Xanthos's neck and bury my head at the crook of it. I sighed as his scent smelt delicious. I was so tired of my family and the past trauma that I just wanted to get out of here.

I peered up at Xanthos who was already looking down at me with his onyx coloured eyes. There was no white left in them. My eyes widened in fear and I squirm by staring into his black orifices. His eyes were so dark with no emotion in them which is what made me feel afraid. His body was shaking and I felt his temperature drop as each second passed. What was going on with him?

"X-Xanthos?" I asked him in a small voice. I wriggled in his grasp; an attempt to get out of his hold and stay away from him. Nonetheless, he pulled me closer to him.

"Mate, I'm trying to calm myself. Please don't push me away," he said in a desperate deep voice.

"Is it you, Luciano?" I asked staring at him.

"Ye- Vlaxin please stop. Mate is here. Calm down!"

What I saw, made me jump out of his hands as soon as his hold became lose on me and run to the other side of the hall. This was too much to take.

Black veins were popping out of his neck and his strong arms. He looked taller and more muscular than before. His nails grew into claws which were even more longer and sharper than my father's claws. His eyes were now a charcoal black. His figure was intimidating the entire room.

I turned my neck to glance at my so-called family. Lewis seemed as though he was ready to run to the washroom. Angelo's face was as white as a sheet and my 'father' was standing there with a shocked expression plastered on his face.

A loud roar boomed in the hall.

I winced as the aching and wetness in my cheek grew more. My hand flew up to wipe my blood which was dripping drop by drop on my shoulder. I was sure the cut was deep.

"My love." My eyes roamed around the room to look at the dark scary orbs. But they were nowhere to be seen.

"You needn't search for me... I will always be by your side." I shivered as the warm air nipped my ear.

I whirled my head to look at the strong monstrous figure standing beside me.

"Luciano?" I whispered.

He shook his head and clicked his tongue. "Sweetheart, It seems they haven't told you about me," he huffed. "They are such a meanie. They didn't want you to know about me?" He shook his head disappointed. "Well, I guess, I have to introduce myself to you. But before that why I can see your blood dripping from your cheek?"

His orbs peeked behind me. My eyes widened as I remember my 'family' to be standing behind me.

"Did they hurt you?" He kept his eyes behind me. His voice was calm but I can sense the rage underlying his tone. "Of course they  did. I am going to have a very sweet talk with your family, Bella."

He took a menacing step forward but I stopped him by stretching my right arm in front of him.

"I'm trying to be calm for your sake, my love. I know you don't want them dead. However, the blood that's leaking from your cheek isn't calming me at all. Instead, it's fueling the anger that has been initiated inside me." He pushed my arm gently to my side and took threatening steps towards Lewis.

The endearments that he was using for me was making me feel giddy but I had to ignore them.

"Lewhore." He pushed Lewis harshly against the wall with his hand wrapped around Lewis's neck. Lewis struggled under his hold. "It's small, yet you go around insulting others." Lewis had a look of confusion on his face before his eyes enlarged in size.

My mouth was ajar, this guy was being too direct about it. I would have laughed if it weren't for the critical situation.

 Xanthos tightened his grip on Lewis and bent down to his eye level.

"I-I- never was involved in hu-hu-rting h-her!" Lewis struggled to speak.

"I  hate lies," His grasp tightened impossibly more on my brother. He was very close to snapping it.

What should I do? How should I stop Xanthos or Vlaxin whoever it was?

I unawares got a glimpse of a forest where I saw Amanda running towards two muscular figures. One of them who I recognised it to be Leonardo was punching a man continuously. Amanda's violet long gown swept the grassy ground while running.

"I don't appreciate anyone telling lies!" Leonardo's powerful voice ricocheted through the dense forest.

"I am telling you again! It was all your mate's fault that the supernatural unions came to know about your plan, Not me. You have to believe me. Why would I, your close friend, share all the secrets to those filthy creatures?" The man screamed as he got another blow on his jaw.

"Vlaxin, please stop. I request you to leave him." She hesitated, "I beg you," She whispered kneeling near his foot with her head bowed.

"Please get up, My love. I can't bear you kneeling down for me," he whispered with a pained expression.

He kneeled in front of her. Hugging her tightly against him, he whispered in her ear, "And never beg me. It makes me strongly stop whatever I am doing."

I blinked my eyes rapidly as I saw Lewis crying to come out of Xanthos's grasp. Why did I see that vision? I thought of it for a few seconds.

Then It clicked me.

"Vlaxin?" I whispered, yet I didn't get any response back.

"You are hurting my son, Alpha. Please leave him," Angelo yelled desperately.

Xanthos smirked and continued to slowly tilt Lewis's head.

"Vlaxin, please stop. I beg you!" I shouted frantically and stooped down beneath his figure with my head bowed. I copied the actions that Amanda did while Leonardo was angry.

I knew one thing, that Vlaxin was Xanthos's inner beast. He didn't want me to know about him. I have to ask him later as to why he didn't let me know.

I peered up through my eyelashes to see Lewis and my parents sauntering away. I moved my orbs to the left to find Xanthos crouched with his arms wrapped around me. His face was hidden in the crook of my neck. I felt him breathe in my scent deeply.

"How many times should I remind you, Amanda? You will never play this act with me again. I am so fucking tired of you acting all afraid to me. I know you are a stubborn and strong-headed girl. You also know I get trapped in your submissive act. Never ever bow to me, my love."

"I'll not bow to you, Vlaxin. You have lots to explain when we reach your home."

"Our home, my queen."