Penelope's POV
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!"
"Penelope, what the hell is wrong with you?! If you don't want to sleep, get the hell out!"
I sat up in bed, drenched in sweat, gasping for air. "S-sorry... I had a nightmare."
Outside the door, Emma cursed under her breath before stomping away. I remained seated, still panting, barely registering her words—because in my dream, I had relived the moment Scott cornered me in the garden. Ever since that day, I had been running a high fever for days. Even now, weeks later, I still heard Scott's demonic whispers in my sleep.
That day, when Scott trapped me in the garden, just as I thought I was truly done for—the weight crushing me suddenly vanished. All I heard was Scott letting out a pained howl.
"Aghhh!!!" Scott screamed.
I opened my eyes to see him rolling across the ground like a barrel, flung several meters away. Standing in front of me was my stepbrother, Austin Woods.
Austin was dressed in casual loungewear, as if he had just stepped out of the house. He looked down at me—half-naked, curled up on the ground like a helpless shrimp—with undisguised contempt. "Do you know why you're the disgrace of this family, Penelope Fanning?"
The moment those words left his mouth, tears welled up in my eyes. Not out of gratitude, but sorrow. Penelope Fanning—that was my original name. After Mom remarried, I became Penelope Woods. No one had called me "Fanning" in years... except for Austin.
He was telling me he didn't consider me part of this family.
"Losing a fight is one thing, but you couldn't even escape a low-tier wolf's chase. Penelope Fanning, what right do you have to call yourself a Woods?"
"I—I tried—" I tried to run, I wanted to say.
"You tried crying? Is that it? You think your pathetic tears mean anything?" Austin sneered, cutting me off. He turned away, walking toward Scott.
Scott had barely managed to stand up after tumbling across the ground—only for Austin to slam him back down with a single stomp.
"A Young pack mutt dares to cause trouble here? You think you're worthy? Get lost!"
"Agh!"
Scott howled again, but this time, he didn't hesitate. He scrambled up like a beaten dog and fled, not even bothering to pull up his pants.
"You planning to lie there until the next rapist comes along?"
Austin's voice was icy, devoid of warmth, like cold metal. For a moment, it made me forget my fear and grief, forcing me to obey and hurriedly cover myself.
Truthfully, in this house, I wasn't most afraid of Charles—it was Austin. A single glare from him could leave me trembling for hours. He was a born Alpha. At just twenty, his size and combat prowess already rivaled my stepfather's. Worse, his strength was still growing.
Meaning he would surpass Charles.
Fumbling, I pulled my pants back on, only to realize Austin had already vanished.
BOOM!
Thunder cracked across the sky, and the rain finally began to fall.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Heavy raindrops pelted the ground. The garden was empty now—no people, no wind. If not for the stinging pain of my wounds, I might've thought it was all a dream. But I knew better.
Even if it was a dream, it was a nightmare.
And now, weeks later, it still haunted me.
I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and saw several messages from Mia.
"Penelope, prom's at the Versailles Hotel. Did you get a dress yet?"
"Penelope, are you okay? Why aren't you answering? I'm worried."
"Penelope, where've you been? Reply as soon as you see this, okay?"
Was Mia the one who betrayed me?
Yes. It was her. A cold, logical voice whispered in my mind. But I violently shook my head, trying to silence it.
It can't be Mia. If I lost her, I'd have no one left. No one in this world loved me—except Mia. Even if that love was fake, I'd take it.
"I'm fine. See you at school tomorrow." My fingers trembled as I hit send. The moment the message delivered, a tear splashed onto the screen.
I looked up, startled. It was my own.
Is it wrong to hate being alone? To want to be loved? I'm not weak, I told myself. I just... value friendship.
***
The next morning, I packed my bag for school. As I headed downstairs, I froze—Austin was still at the breakfast table, which was rare. Usually, he'd already be training or in class by now.
For two awkward seconds, I stared at him, remembering how I'd sobbed naked and broken in front of him. Part of me wanted to retreat to my room, but I had to go to school today. So I forced myself forward, pretending he wasn't there.
"Emma mentioned your prom's coming up."
His voice stopped me dead in my tracks. I glanced around. No one else was nearby.
Austin... spoke to me?
"Did you forget all the etiquette they taught you at school?" He tapped the table with his index finger. When I dared to meet his gaze, his eyes were filled with such impatience that I immediately looked away.
"Yes," I whispered, voice barely audible.
Austin stopped tapping. Silence stretched between us.
Like a scolded child, I bit my lip—then realized he'd asked two questions, and I'd only answered one. "I mean, yes, prom is—"
"Don't show up." His interruption was icy, laced with something close to hatred.
Normally, I would've obediently agreed. But today, his sudden venom stunned me so much that fear momentarily fled. "Why?" I blurted, staring at him.
Austin was objectively handsome—golden hair, piercing green eyes, the kind of effortless charm that made every girl in Dark Wood Pack swoon. But if you'd been on the receiving end of his disdain as often as I had, you'd be immune too.
He stood abruptly, closing the distance between us in one stride. His glare was so intense that every instinct screamed at me to retreat—but somehow, I held my ground.
"Did Scott's cock taste good?" he murmured, just loud enough for me to hear. Just loud enough to humiliate.
Heat flooded my face. "You—!"
"See?" His lips curled into a cold smirk. "All you do is cry and beg. That's why I don't want you in public, Penelope Fanning. You're weak. You're an embarrassment."
His gaze flickered to my neck—just for a second, so fast I almost missed it—before he turned and walked away.
I watched his retreating figure, fists clenched, fighting back tears even as my breath came in ragged gasps. Emma tormented me more often, but Austin's words always cut deeper.
I'll leave this house soon, I swore silently. I'll get out.