Mistreated and Rejected

The cuts on Chloe’s legs throbbed with every step, a dull, insistent ache that was now a constant companion. James, her mate, had truly outdone himself this time.
She limped towards her 'bedroom'—a glorified broom closet with a lumpy mattress on the floor—the memory of his cruel words a fresh wound. "Ugly, stupid, and weak!" he’d sneered, his green eyes devoid of any warmth.
Her inner wolf whimpered, a sound that mirrored the despair in Chloe's own heart. She had to clean herself up, prepare dinner, or face an even worse beating. The thought of it made her stomach clench.
Perhaps, she mused, this time she wouldn't make it. The idea was almost comforting. To finally escape the relentless pain, the constant reminders that she was worthless. They all told her she deserved it, after all. She had killed her parents. Or so they said.
