Bonnie

"Are you ok, Bonnie? Alpha's voice brings me back to the present and along with it a wave of embarrassment that I zoned out in the presence of our Alpha. "Sorry, Alpha. Yes, I am great, thank you. How are you doing today?" He nods smiling. "I'm perfect thanks, Bonnie. Please take a seat. I'd like to discuss something with you. I know you and Blue have school, so I won't keep you long."

I nod at Alpha Harold and then take a seat next to Blue. She treats me the same as my dad and brother, but it's the obvious seat to sit in. "Is everything ok, Alpha?" I can see the confusion on my dad's face as to why the Alpha is here. Usually, as a Beta to the pack, he would know about any issues that need raising before the Alpha either personally address them or has him do it, but it's clear to see that he has no idea about what's going on right now, and I can imagine he is pissed about it.

"Yes Beta, everything is fine. We have already spoken about this issue, but I just wanted to personally address it and see if I could be of any help," I watch as realization washes over him, and for a second he looks pissed, but he does his best to quickly mask it. He knows what this is about and he isn't happy.

"Bonnie, this is Elder Royston. He is visiting on some formal business and decided to join me here today." I don't know if my dad has met this Elder, but I'm pretty sure the rest of us haven't. "There's nothing to worry about, so please relax. I just wanted to stop in and remind you about all the ball at the Diamond Pack this weekend and I also wanted a quick chat with you, Bonnie."

How could I forget about the ball? It's all anyone has been speaking about, especially at school. The Alpha of the Diamond pack is hosting the annual Blue Moon Ball this year and everyone is crazily excited. The Blue Moon Ball is hosted every year by different packs. It's a ball designed to help unmated wolves find their mate and, as far as I know, it's usually pretty successful, which is why it has been held once a year for over 100 years. Throw in the fact that the Alpha of the Diamond pack is also unmated, and you have thousands of she-wolves everywhere melting.

"So Bonnie. I have been informed that you will not be attending the ball?" You're not allowed to attend the ball until you are 18, so this year is the first year that Blue and I are allowed to attend but, of course, my dad had already informed me that I wouldn't be attending. In his words, he won't have me embarrass him and, besides, it's not like my mate is going to want me anyway, so I should stay home and save both myself and my mate from any embarrassment.

"That's right, Alpha. I won't be attending." He gives me a puzzled look before shaking his head. "But why?" I take a moment to think of a reason while also holding in a wince as my dad pinches my hip from around the back of Blue. "I just don't feel up to going Alpha. We're almost finished with school, and I'm working hard on my last assignment, so I figured that I would stay here and finish that instead."

It's not a lie as such. I am working hard for school, but that's because I am finishing Blue's assessment. I've already finished mine and handed it in. Hopefully, he doesn't know that. I've also got my own plans for while they are gone. Plans I don't want to cancel.

"You have always been a hard worker when it comes to school, Bonnie. And while I admire that, I'm afraid that your assignment will have to wait until you come home, as I'm here to inform you that, as of this year, it is now mandatory for all wolves of age to attend the Blue Moon Ball. There would need to be a major reason for not going and, sadly, homework isn't it." Fuck!

I bite back a response and instead smile and nod my head. He gives me a genuine smile and then rises to his feet with Elder Royston following. "I'm glad that it is settled. Try and look forward to it, Bonnie. I have a feeling that you will have a lot of fun." I smile, encouraging his words as he says his goodbyes and exits the house, leaving me confused and well scared. Scared of what my dad's going to say.

It won't matter that the Alpha himself is the one who told us about this or that this is now a new wolf law and that I have no choice but to go, it will still somehow be my fault, and he will make me pay for it. After the beating, I received last night and again this morning, I don't think I can handle any more pain right now, but that won't matter to my so-called dad, he will do as he sees fit. It wouldn't be the first time that he blessed me with several beatings in a row and I doubt it will be the last. He'll beat me until I'm unconscious and then just leave me on the floor until I come around so he can restart his torment.

Before the Alpha has even made it out of the house, I try to make a quick exit out of the living room and away from my hell-hole family in the hopes that I can get out of here before they start their shit with me again. Thankfully, I was smart enough to drop my bag by the front door when I came downstairs and could leave without any fuss.

Of course, I'm far from dull, and I know that I'm going to pay for all of this later, but for now... for now, I'm just going to hold my head up high and head to school. There's only one more week left of school and I can't wait to finally be done. Done with school. Done with my so-called family and done with this pack for good!

Thankfully, I make it out of the door, and I'm soon on my way. "Hey, Bon." I look up and smile at Lilly as she comes out of her front door. Lilly has been my best friend since her family joined the pack when I was 4, and I couldn't imagine my life without her. She knows everything about my life, she's never judged me or my situation and has always been there for me. Until Lexi came along, Lily was the only good thing in my life and now that I have both of them I feel blessed. I know it probably sounds dull considering the life that I live, but it's true. I wouldn't want to be without either of them.

Lilly is also the reason why I'm still here, the only reason, even though I turned 18 seven months ago. You see, while my life is hell, so is hers. Her dad is also an abusive man who bullies her every day. He was also abusive to her mom until she sadly passed away a few years ago. Just like my situation, the Alpha knows nothing about the abuse, and her dad keeps her injury to where it can be hidden, as does my Dad. While her dad doesn't hit her as often as my dad hits me, I've often wondered if there's more to her abuse than mine. I'm not sure what it is, but there's just something that doesn't quite sit right with me, and one day I hope she confides in me about it.

Since we've been 9 years old, we have planned to leave the pack once we turned 18. Yes, we could run away before then, but that also means they could search for us, and if they found us, we would pay dearly, whereas if we left once we were 18 they couldn't force us back here, and whereas I turned 18 seven months ago, Lilly is still 17, so that's why I'm still here. Although Lilly is turning 18 in two days, it's almost time to leave. We have had our plan in place for several years, and we're all ready to go.

"Bon, I know we were supposed to leave this weekend while everyone was gone, but what if we just use the ball as our getaway?" I give her a confused look, but she starts speaking again before I can say anything. "Think about it, Bon. The Diamond Pack is 4 hours away from here. If we can make a new plan and get away from there the night of the ball, we will be able to get a good head start before anyone will even notice that we are gone. I doubt anyone will come looking for us, but still, if they do, we will already be far away. I don't want to wait any longer than necessary. I can't."

The pain in her eyes is raw and goes straight to my heart. It may be riskier running from the ball, but I also get why she doesn't want to wait any longer because neither do I. "You're right, Lil. Let's do it. Now we just need to get a new plan together." She smiles while giving me a side hug. "Leave it with me, Bon Bon."