CHAPTER 2

A slap resounds in the room, my head turning to the other side.

“ How dare you,wh*re! How dare you seduce your sister's fiance?” My mother hisses,glaring at me.

Leah stands next to her,casting a hateful glance at me.

My tears roll down but I remain tight-lipped. Replying will only get me more beaten,I have learnt that the hard way.

" I always knew you were a loose woman but I never imagined that you would seduce your sister's man.”

I want to shout and explain myself. Lucas was the one who offered to save my ass after Leah pushed me into the pool, turning me an object of ridicule before everyone.

" You can't stand seeing me happy,can yóu Alora? Always jealous of what I have when you can't have it." Leah comments and I swallow a lump of bitterness.

I admit I am jealous of her but I never thought about snatching her fiance.

The only thing I ever craved for was the love and affection my parents showered her but as the years passed, I gave up.

In their eyes, I will never be as good as Leah so I stopped hoping ànd praying.

“You are just a pathetic weak mutt,do yóu think Lucas will want someone like you?” My mother mocks,her words stabbing my heart.

Ofcourse Lucas wouldn't want someone like me, that's why despite being my mate, he agreed to get engaged to Leah.

Lucas ànd I realized that we were mated a year ago. We kept our bond a secret from others or at least that's what he àsked me.

Imagine the pain and betrayal I felt when my father announced his and Leah's engagement.

According to my father, he is the only candidate suitable to take over as the next Alpha.

Since my sister can not become an Alpha, her mate would take over after the two get married.

Faced by power, Lucas did not hesitate to discard our mating bond and accept my father's arrangement.

“ He is the only chance we have to find the next heir and now,you want to sabotage it?"

“ I shouldn't have given  birth to you at all. You are nothing but a stain to our family name." My mother spats, disgust apparent on her face ànd hatred in her voice.

I wince at her words ànd stop myself from shedding tears. It doesn't matter how many terms I hear her say that ,I don't think I'll ever get used to it.

“ Get your ugly face out of here." My mother snarls and I scramble on my legs,rushing upstairs.

Once inside my room, I lock the door and allow my tears to fall without any restraint.

I must have cried myself to sleep, only waking up when someone knocks on the door.

I open my eyes to realize that it's already night time.

Switching the old bedside lamp,I walk to open the door and am greeted by Leah's personal maid.

“Your father asked you to join them for supper.” She announces, gives me a scornful look and turns around on her heels. I smile at my deprecating situation. Even a maid has a higher status in this family than me;the Alpha's daughter.

After washing my face roughly, I head downstairs.

The family of three is seated by the dining table. My father acknowledges my presence with a nod. Leah glares at me and my mother scoffs.

“ Have dinner with us." My father announces and I take a seat at the far end chair.

Dinner is served and despite the delicious food before me, I can't bring myself to enjoy it.

The tension is alarming and there's the issue of wondering why my father took the initiative to invite me to dinner.

The last time he did,I ended up having my heart broken. It was the night my father introduced Lucas as Leah’s fiance and the next Alpha.

I manage to take a few bites throughout the dinner.

When my father clears his throat, I tense, aware that he is about to say something I most probably won't appreciate hearing.

“ Alora, I believe you are old enough to be mated." He starts and dread fills me. I can already predict where this is going. I don't dare interrupt him, instead,I give him my full attention.

“ I am planning on hosting a party here at the pack to help you choose a suitable mate for you." My breathing hitches once the words leave his mouth.

A protest builds in my guts but I hold myself back. Nothing good will come out of me confronting my father,the Alpha.

“ Finally. I can't wait to get rid of this mutt." Leah comments, sending me a disgusted look. I clench my fists and swallow harshly.

“ You should be happy despite your situation,your father is willing to make the effort of ensuring you get mated."  My mother adds and I don't know if she is comforting me or just mocking me.

“Do yóu have something to say about this?" My father inquires and I nod

" Can't it wait? I want to continue with my studies and…”

" Shut up!” My mother snarls, cutting me off.

" Don't look for reasons to stay here and continue sabotaging Leah's life." She adds, glaring at me hatefully.

All she ever cared about was Leah. She never considered my feelings or what I want to do in life.

“ Alora, this is the best I can do. You can't remain unmated. Don't worry, I will find you a good mate." My father intervenes. Listening to him, I fight the urge to scoff. Find me a good mate? Isn't this a plot to get rid of me? He clearly thinks that my presence here will ruin things for their precious daughter.

I don't know how dinner ends or how I walk to the woods. Taking in my surroundings, I realize that I ended up at a place I frequented in the past year.

“ Alora?" A rather familiar voice calls ànd I turn around with every intention of walking away.

“ Alora, wait…”