Page 2 of Nest Of Lies

Aurelia Raines aged 12

I stand there listeningto my mother rant and rave, careful not to move a muscle to draw her ire. She throws all the good plates at the kitchen walls; the shards bounce all over the place. It’s nothing unusual or out of the ordinary, though she’s more upset this time. I shift my feet as she grabs the new mugs and sends them through the kitchen window.

Her latest boyfriend, an alpha who was fun and kind and a man I really liked, just walked out. Well, no. They fought loudly while I hid in my special room and tried hard not to hear the hateful things Mama was saying about me.

What did she mean when she said he wanted me?

Andy had big muscles that he got from lifting weights, a big, scratchy beard, tattoos, and he rode a motorcycle. He was the first person not to treat me like I’m broken. Instead, he treated me like I was precious. He brought me lollies that I’m forbidden from eating and gave me soda and burgers. Andy told me about what the city is like and the ocean.

He made the outside world not so scary.

I can’t stop the fat tears sliding down my face. He didn’t think I was broken. He thought I was beautiful. Andy showed me how to play poker. How to skip stones. He said he wished he really was my father.

I wished he were my father.

My dad is a deadbeat who Mama won’t ever name. She says I don’t need that scum in my life.

Andy said there was nothing wrong with me. I was perfect. When I confessed in a tear-filled whisper, Andy held me tight and told me I wasn’t sick and to never believe that lie ever again. It was Mama that was sick; he said. He told me about his son and said we would be the best of friends. Andy said this boy would be like a brother to me.

I’d been so excited that I’d missed the sound of Mama walking into the house, so I have no idea how much she heard.

And then they fought.

Over me.

And he left. He didn’t even say goodbye. Just packed his bags, got on his bike, and roared away.

I know I won’t see him again. Mama doesn’t forgive.

My heart is broken. No father-like figure. No brother, and no outside world. Now I’m back in the cage again. No burgers or lollies, no stories. Just the staff, Mama, and me.

Mama slams out of the kitchen, her mascara runs down her cheeks, and she looks like a nightmare. She storms up to me, her kimono flying out behind her like the wings of a devil. I’m terrified of her and how far she will go. I don’t know when admiration turned to fear or when the scales tipped. But when I hear her shouting, I get shivers up my spine, and I long to hide.

“You did this!”

I shake my head in a wordless protest.

“You did this!” she howls. “I told you that you were broken, that you were sick. This is all your fault. You poisoned him. You turned him away from me,” She screams so loud spit spray hits my face.

I back away from her.

But she continues to rant, to shout at me until the police are called. Only then does she go silent.

Her bitter accusation is like a knife in my back. In my heart.

Did I poison Andy?

I tremble, her words circling around and around in the empty room. I can hear her screams, even though there is silence.

Aurelia Raines aged 16

“What do you mean,she’s a beta?”

Oh, yes, because no daughter of the great and powerful pop princess China Raines could be anything but an omega. Perhaps I really am sick. Maybe that’s why I’m constantly disappointing her. I’m tired of failing to measure up. Being myself just makes her mad. Being anyone else infuriates her. It’s like my existence enrages her.

The doctor frowns. She’s the fifth doctor we’ve seen. I’m tired and embarrassed and a beta. This should be a good thing, right?

“Your daughter is a beta. You cannot change her biology no matter how much you might wish it.”

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