8 That Brute, Flynn

♔ Eustacia (P.O.V.)

"You are fortunate Akela has a good heart Eustacia," Zoe breaks the silence that has lingered in the room since Akela left.

"Mhm. I know Zoe, I'm just grateful not everyone wants to beat me to death for whatever reason." It's true. Although I'm grateful for Akela for fixing my hand, better than I could've might I add, I'm more grateful she isn't out for my blood too.

It's common knowledge that I was once the alpha's daughter, but that alpha died. Leaving Flynn in charge. For whatever reason, he decided to allow anyone and everyone to use me as their slave. It started off slow at first. Get me this, get me that, fix this, fix that, well why don't you-… I could live with it before.

Then about a year after he became alpha, he started bringing in the rogues, the wolves with no pack no anything. Some of the rogues they caught or found on pack territory made it into the pack. No one could make sense of what he was doing. Everyone always murmured amongst themselves, but no one dared to ask that loose cannon of an alpha.

Then there was Yve, an elder one of the people that had been in this pack for the longest. Flynn often had a pack meeting once a month to expand the warriors he had. He would hold the meeting right in the courtyard, a very open place right outside the packhouse. Yve got the courage one day and asked why he was bringing in these people. She expressed her concerns with food, space, and safety.

Flynn simply flashed his perfect smile at her and ran his hand through his long hair. He said it was to make the pack stronger, safer. Said he was preparing for if anyone ever attacked like our allies were when my father was alpha. He declared a new era, one where rogues would be welcomed into the pack as one. One with new management and less pampering.

Flynn went over to Yve and gave her a small hug. Then almost as easily as he lied through his teeth, he violently snapped Yve's neck. I took it as his display of dominance. After all, he beamed with pride with what he had done to her. Right after he killed Yve he announced that no one was to ever question him again. Warned that if anyone was to he would pursue the same route with them.

So no one challenged him, but it never hindered me. Eventually, I started noticing that the rogue he collected, over half of them never joined or left. With the event of Yve, I began to wonder. What happened to those who fail to join? To those who lie and could not be broken? Do they end up like Yve? Dead?

I found out that the whole spiel about it being for the pack was all a lie. Sure the strength they provided benefited him. Come to find out it benefited him more than anyone realized. Except those in high ranks among the pack. They all knew about it. The Gray Room. A place I would later come to know and loathe myself.

The more I think about the past, the more I realize when the rogues showed up is when my life went to absolute pandemonium. Sure, the pack treated me like a maid already but the rogues… they're ruthless. It got worse with one rogue; Emma. She was one of the first to join the pack during the time Flynn recruited.

One of the few I'm aware of that didn't get beaten, for whatever reason. Eventually, they started taking pleasure in hurting me. Everyone, even some of the pack members that were here when my father was alpha. Then you have people like Roxy who help you but still take part in the abuse. Saving face I guess.

"Okay," sighing I push the thoughts away. Pulling my knees up to my chest I hug them tightly, being careful not to hurt my hand further. It's almost as if any moment everything will fall apart. Like I'll crumble like a poorly glued puzzle.

My face begins to burn red hot as tears start to seep down my face. Who am I kidding? I'm already broken.

My body is scarred, I have to scrape by just to live, I haven't had an actual shower in years. I've been alone for years. What's worse is that I can't even protect myself let alone seek treatment if I'm wounded. I'm not worth the resources or so I'm told.

"Zoe, I can't do this anymore." I sob

"Hey, hey. Dry those tears." Zoe coos into my mind. "You will eventually be out of this shit hole."

"I want out of it NOW," I whine.

"Eustacia darling, we will be out of here soon. I promise, but we can't leave yet. We're too weak." She pauses, "and if we make Flynn mad by trying to escape it'll be hell to pay. Worse than the first time. Worse than the first time all the beatings started. You remember don't you?"

"Of course I do." A shiver runs down my spine at the very thought.

Three years ago, two years after Flynn became my Alpha, that's when I made a very simple mistake of leaving a room when I shouldn't have. That's around when the thrashings started getting bad. I was normally left alone to do my business. Clean, cook and whatever else anyone wanted me to do. It was nice. Flynn never came around for at least a year so I didn't have to worry about getting in trouble with the alpha for whatever reason. Which always seemed to be a thing for whatever reason.

~Three years ago~

Emma's room is clean which means I've finished my chores for the day. The chores aren't much. I just need to cook and clean. Maybe a few other things they request of me. I like to think it could always be worse.

Shrugging, with my chore done it's time to get the hell out of dodge. I got lucky today Emma isn't here. Although she's not physically bad she is an utter bitch. In normal day to day life, she ordinarily ignores me. On her bad days, the worst she does to me is shove me out of her way, or the like.

Packing my supplies up, which is very few. An all-purpose cleaner and a few towels to dry and clean with. I look around the room to make sure that I got everything clear and clean. The white walls are in the process of being painted a vibrant pink. Plain white sheets litter the floor underneath where it's being painted. The fuzzy pink bed set is tucked nicely into place. The white vanity is snuggly set in its corner set up against the back wall that has already been painted pink. Other than the bed and vanity it's a very empty and bland room.

I open the door, which opens inward, to leave and immediately bump into a wall. Did I for some reason miss the doorway? Murmuring I look up to see what the hell I ran into. Dread instantly sank into my body as it began to tremble.

Flynn. His solid jawline tensed up as rage flooded through his body. His eyes turned his wolfy red as I could hear a low growl raise from his throat. Quickly he raises his hands in front of him, right in between us. Before my brain could grasp what was going on my rear end hit the hard floor; hard.

"You stupid bitch!" He howls.

Instantly flinching as his words melt in my ears, I feel the pain run through my body. Almost like an electric shock. Yielding, I hold my tongue.

"Why are you even in her room? Why are you even here?" His voice no more than a whisper as he continues, "why is it you?" Whatever was bothering him seemed to wake the storm inside him as anger radiates across the entire area. His anger so powerful it can be physically felt.

Still bowing my head shaking in fear I clutch my arms around my body trying to hold myself together. A strong hand is laid against my head and instantly starts pulling on my hair. Hard. It's a wonder my hair isn't being pulled completely out, although I'm sure a few strands have detached themselves.

"You are insignificant! The previous alpha's daughter! Your father died so you won't amount to much. You're weak!" His grip gets tighter on my hair as he pulls harder. I begin clawing at his hands, trying to get him to let loose. Quickly realizing it is useless as he pulls harder every time I land a scratch on him.

"I shouldn't even keep you around! Yet, I'm nice enough to let you stay as a maid. Perhaps that isn't enough of a punishment. Maybe I need to have you work to repay your father's sins." Laughing as he continues, "that's what I'll do. All your privileges are stripped away from you. You won't eat the pack food, you won't use the pack bathrooms. Anything Emma or anyone request of you, you're to do it without any hesitation. Otherwise, the consequences will be enforced."

Growling at me he lifts me up by my hair and forcibly slams me against the wall. Gasping as the air is knocked out of me I let out a small whine. Electric like shocks rush through my body as the pain quickly slips around, letting itself be known.

Flynn finally lets go of my hair and stops pushing me against the wall. His voice no more than a stern whisper, "I'm done with you, Eustacia Van."

Raising my head up I see only his frame walking away from me. Tears slowly begin to trickle down my cheeks. To worsen the blow of the pain and unwelcomed sadness, those words he uttered hurt me more than they needed too. What's worse is I have no idea why. Sliding with my back against the wall I stay put. I curled into a ball with my head tucked in my knees and my arms holding me together, almost as if the world will crumble apart around me.

No thoughts cross my mind. An empty void fills my being and I gladly accept it.

"Get up mutt." A voice swims in my ear.

Groaning I open my eyes and see I'm still on the floor. I must've drifted off to sleep in the hallway. An enraged Emma looms over me. Fear and realization set into me as I remember everything that just happened.

"I said get up." Emma grabs ahold of my arm and quickly pulls me up. "You're coming with me."

"Where to?" I question.

"The Gray Room." She states blandly.

The Gray Room. The place where people are taken to be taught a thing or two. I've been there a few times myself but the beatings aren't as severe as they could be. I've seen worse done to other werewolves than what has been done to me.

Holding my breath I bow my head and simply follow Emma. After my instructions were given to me by Flynn only moments earlier, I'm afraid of what might happen if I disobey his orders. Even more so since he seemed angrier than normal when he walked off.

So I obeyed.