Chapter 3. Painful Memories

Etta was stunned. This girl who had suffered unknown horrors was an Alphas daughter? 'How could her pack allow this to happen?' she thought to herself, shuddering slightly.

"Did you not have any other family? Anyone to take you in and care for you?" Etta asked, fearful of what she might hear next.

"No. My aunt and uncle on my fathers side live with another pack across country and my mothers brother was also killed during the rebellion. Once Beta James became Alpha he took me in. He was my fathers most trusted advisor and friend, I had no reason to doubt that he would care for me." Annalise closed her eyes as she thought back to her childhood.

"At first he was kind, telling me how missed my parents were. Then he began to change...he would ask me to help in the kitchens. I didn't mind, I loved the smells and my mother had started to teach me to bake." A watery smile appeared on her face as she remembered her younger self with flour on her nose, her mother laughing and the kitchen staff looking on fondly.

"After a time, less and less of the Omegas in kitchen showed up for work until, one day, it was just me." She was never sure where they had gone but if anyone was found to be helping her too much, the next day they didn't appear.

"So you were left to carry out all the kitchen duties yourself? How big is your pack?" Etta was amazed by Annalise's confessions but couldn't help wanting to know more.

"We are not a big pack. Sixty wolves or so that ate in the packhouse. The Alpha moved me from my bedroom on the third floor to a cold corner of the basement close to the kitchen so I could be there quickly if anyone needed anything." Annalise was very matter of fact about it, as if it was normal behavoiur.

To her her it was her daily life, it had become routine and eventually she had forgotten to question the Alphas decisions.

She reached for the glass of water again and took couple of small sips before continuing. "Alpha James decided that cooking wasn't enough anymore and i started cleaning some of the rooms in the packhouse. No-one offered to help me anymore...I think they were scared of what might happen to them if the did."

Annalise pondered that last sentence out loud as she told Etta more of her young life. "The first time I really thought of him as cruel was when he made me only clean the third floor. It was the Alpha, Beta and Gammas rooms as well as any high ranking guests that we had. He moved into my parents room and never let me forget that it was now his. He made me gather every single one of their possessions and then burned them all in the backyard."

Annalise looked up at Etta. She was no longer smiling, her eyes were red rimmed and tears were threatening to fall.

"I am so sorry Annalise. That was awful of him and those poor Omegas!" Etta, who could usually talk a mile a minute was struggling to find the words to convey the storm of emotions she was feeling.

Annalise and Etta sat in silence for a couple of minutes before it was interrupted by the growling coming from Annalise's stomach.

"How rude of me! You must be so hungry. What would you like? I'll get whatever you want." Etta started fussing and jumped up from the bed.

"I'm okay. I don't want to be a nuisance..." Annalise started to protest when Etta shushed her.

"Nonsense! You are our guest, you need to eat to regain your strength. You're so thin!" Sensing that Etta wouldn't take no for an answer, she thought about it for a minute.

"Umm... I don't know...it's been so long since anyone asked me... a glass of milk and pancakes?" Annalise asked, not getting her hopes up too high.

Etta smiled. "Coming right up! I'll be back soon." She bounced her way to the door and out of the room.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Annalise felt oddly at home here, as if she had been brought up within the walks of this house. It was a strange sensation but one she intended on savouring.

Whilst she was on her own, Annalise gingerly sat on the edge of the bed. She remembered that during her escape her knee had broke. There were bandages wrapped around it. Standing slowly, she tested putting weight on it.

A shooting pain travelled to her hip, taking the air directly from her lungs. She stood on the spot for a minute before hobbling over to the other door in the room.

Annalise opened it to find a beautiful en suite bathroom with a deep bath and separate shower. After relieving herself, she washed her hands and face at the sink. There were all sorts of tantalising smells from the many bottles of shampoos and body washes. She itched to try each and every one.