Chapter 55
My second surprise was Julia was not alone. Sitting in my lounge, was the young girl at the centre of the trouble this morning.
I smiled inwardly. Of course Julia would already be speaking to her. She was going to be an amazing Luna. I could hardly wait to mark her.
I sat right next to Julia and had the satisfaction of seeing her body turn and slip closer to mine. I know I gave her a sappy grin, I just didn’t care.
“What’s this all about My Love?”
I enquired softly.
To say I was not prepared for what came next is an understatement.
“Reece, Piper was just about to tell me why she does not go to school. Even though she is only sixteen. I am eager to hear why. Will you listen too?”
I frowned down at Julia who was now nestled in my arms. I gestured for Piper to start. Of course I would listen. If it helps me make sense of the stuff I had just heard, I would most definitely listen.
“Remember Piper. You are talking to your Alpha, as well as me now. So I want the truth. The whole truth and nothing but the truth, however hard it is to speak of. Okay? Go ahead, tell me why you are no longer attending school.”
I don’t think Julia was aware, but her tone of voice was slightly lower than usual. I doubt many people would Discern it. But my Alpha hearing definitely did.
I chose to say nothing, I would simply listen and learn.
Piper started to speak. Her voice soft and quiet, but firm. Almost resolute.
“Alpha. My Lady. I was taken out of school at the age of thirteen. My parent said it was so they could home school me. Unfortunately my education stopped when I left school. There was no home schooling. Unless you consider turning your own daughter into an unpaid slave, education.”
WHAT!!!!!!
What the fuck did she just say? I had to look at Julia to see if she had heard the same thing I did. By the look on Julia’s face, she definitely had.
“Go on.” Was all Julia said. I turned my horrified expression back to Piper. Worried what I would hear next.
“Six months after leaving school, I became the main cook and cleaner with my home. I had to wait on my father, mother and brother. I had to scrub the house. Do the laundry. And generally just do what ever they wanted of me. At first I pushed back, I would shout, cry and plead with my parents, asking why they were doing this to me. I always got the same answer. Family helps family. That was drilled into my mind at every chance. Family helps family. I was fifteen years old when the punishments started. If I had not cooked something right, I would get the belt. If the house was not clean enough,I would be locked in the cellar for a few days with no food or water.
I thought that was bad enough. Until my brother came home with Stacey. She was a year older than me. I knew her, but we had never been friends.
My mother became obsessed with having the house perfect whenever Stacey came over. Mother said we all had a part to play, as they were now people of standing within the Omega rank.”
Piper stopped talking for a moment. I was trembling with suppressed rage at what I was hearing. The only reason I hadn’t gone straight to pipers home was because Julia was next to me. She was somehow calming me and my wolf down. Enough that we could carry on listening.
“About six months ago, I got sick. Only the flu. But I felt terribly unwell. I managed to get myself up and make breakfast for everyone. But sometime after that I woke up on my bedroom floor. I guess I had passed out, as I believed I had a high fever. Unfortunately for me, Stacey was due to call, and I had not cleaned the house to its usual standard.
What followed put me in the pack hospital. I was found, laying next to the road that runs out of the pack lands. I was unconscious, so the warrior who found me took me straight in. I was in and out of consciousness for a few days because of my high fever. Once the fever broke, I woke to find my mother sitting next to my bed. She made a big show of being horrified by my attack. Stating that had I listened to my parents, and not slept around I would have stayed safe.
When we were alone, my mother told me the manufactured story.
They had told the dr’s at the hospital that I was a rebellious child. Who only thought of myself. And refused to listen to anyone. The told the staff at the hospital that I had snuck out a few days before I was found on the side of the road. They explained to anyone who would listen that they had frantically searched for me for days, before getting the call from the hospital. I was threatened with death if I went against their word. Stacy caught on to the way I was treated, and has been using me as a servant. Picking any and all reasons to justify attacking me. Like you saw this morning.”
The room fell silent as Piper finished speaking. I was shaken to my very core at what I had just heard. But it did do one thing. It made sense of the bullshit I had listened to earlier. This was the true account. This was the proof that cruelty was happening in my pack. To my young wolves.
I could not let this stand. As it was only mid afternoon, I summoned Stephen and Jeremy to my suite. I wanted Julia involved in this, as it was thanks to her and Onyx that this had come to light.
What do I do about Piper though? She was too young to stay at the packhouse living quarters. And I was not sending her back to her family, that was for sure. Before I could mention anything, Julia solved the issue.
“Piper. I would like very much for you to remain here with me for a few days. I will need someone around while I recuperate. I can’t expect the Alpha to do it. He has the pack to run. Would you stay here with me. And keep me company for the next few days?”