Sierra pov.
As William asked me to leave, I couldn't help but feel a whirlwind of emotions stirring inside of me. I stood up slowly, my eyes unable to meet his as I turned around and began walking back to where I had just come from. Tears streamed down my face as I tried to comprehend why William had never believed me.
My chest ached as I clutched it tightly with my hands, trying to ease the pain that threatened to overcome me. I had hoped he would call out to me, tell me to stop, but he remained silent, watching as I walked away.
Leaving the castle, I looked around at the maids who had once been my allies. Now, they stared at me with judgmental eyes, their disdain palpable. I felt like an outcast, unworthy of their respect.
The cold air outside only served to amplify the chill that had settled in my bones, and I huddled my arms around my body, searching for warmth that I knew wouldn't come. I wondered if I should go home, but the thought of facing the rumors and gossip that would surely follow me made me hesitate.
As hunger gnawed at my stomach, I knew I had to do something. I set off towards my mother's house, hoping to find solace there. With each step, I became acutely aware of how people looked at me, their whispers cutting me like knives. I saw them glance at their phones before turning their attention back to me, and I knew that Alex had posted something about me online.
I longed to disappear, to fade away into the background, but there was no one to turn to. I felt utterly alone in the world, with nothing to cling to but the hope that things would get better.
As I walked, exhaustion set in, weighing down my limbs until they felt like lead. I knew I had to keep going, to find a way to survive in a world that had turned against me.
I looked ahead and saw my mom's house was just a mile away. I knew I just needed to walk a little more before I could get home. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the neighborhood. The air smelled of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers. I heard birds chirping in the distance, a peaceful sound that contrasted with the tension I was feeling.
As I took another step, I found myself falling on the hard, cold floor. I stood up quickly, not wanting to draw attention to myself. The concrete felt rough against my skin, and I could feel a sharp pain in my knee. I glanced around, and I saw people staring at me, their eyes filled with contempt.
Just as I started to walk again, someone yelled, "There's the bitch!" I froze in place, feeling my heart race. I turned around, and I saw a woman throw a cup of water at me, making me gasp in shock. Then, everyone started throwing things at me, and that was when I noticed how cold I had become.
I couldn't move; I just stood there with my body shaking as if I was about to pass out any minute. They kept yelling at me, calling me all kinds of names like "bitch" and a lot more. The sound of their voices echoed in my ears like a chorus of hatred.
I could feel the coldness in my feet, making it so hard to walk. Just then, I felt a hand around me, wrapping my body with a blanket. When I looked up, I saw Williams with his front facing me. He was my savior, and I felt a surge of relief.
I wanted to run into his arms and cry, but I just stood there as I couldn't move. Everyone had stopped throwing things at me, and I guessed it was because of William's presence, as he was the Alpha. He lifted me up from the ground and turned towards the direction of my mom's house, where I was already planning on going.
I couldn't stop looking at him, wondering why he had come to save me. I couldn't say anything, and neither did he. We both stayed silent, and he started walking towards my mom's house.
After we got home, I noticed how my mom ran out on seeing me, and she cried and hugged me tightly. "Mom," I said as I cried back, knowing how much I had missed her. Just as she saw Williams, her face changed.
"What are you doing here, Alpha?" She yelled at his face, and I tried to stop her, but she didn't care to listen.
"You have made my daughter a slave, after all she did for you. If I had known this was how her life would turn out, I could have locked her up the moment you said you were about to take her. Or, I could have sent her to another pack instead."
I could feel the anger in my mom's voice as she said those words. Her eyes were filled with rage.
Williams stood there, not saying anything. I looked up at him, but looked away after he looked back at me.
"Thank you," I whispered to him, and he nodded.
"Get out!" My mother yelled, her anger boiling over. "I say get out, Alpha/beast, whatever you are known as."
I did all I could to stop her, so she wouldn't get in trouble, but by the looks of it, I knew she was waiting for whatever was about to happen.
Just then, I thought maybe Williams might get angry at my mom. But, just as I was about to beg him, he turned his face away from us.
"I only came to make sure she return home safe. I don't want to see her face any longer," he said as he walked away.
As he walked away, I wanted to yell out to him to stop, but my mom pulled me back and into the house. I looked out of the window, watching as he walked further and further away. I wanted to cry because the pain was too much.
My mom stood behind me, and I turned to look at her.
"Am I to blame, Mom?" I asked her. She moved closer to me, pulling me more to her. "Am I to blame?" I whispered again, tears falling on her shoulder.
She hugged me tight, and I could feel how hurt she was.
"You are not to blame, Sierra," she whispered. "The Alpha is the one that needs to be blamed."
My skin prickled as I felt the pain of betrayal. Williams had promised to take care of me, but now, he had left me alone with the mess he had created. It was like a dagger had been plunged into my heart.
As I looked at my mother, I realized that she was my rock, my safe haven. She had always been there for me, and I knew that she always would be. In that moment, I understood that love is not always easy, but it is always worth it.