1: Young Alpha

Alora’s POV

I tried to clean the stain on the floor but it is not coming off and I’m sure the maids intentionally left it for me to clean when they couldn’t do it.

I let out a frustrated sigh and tuck the strand of my hair away from my face. The hair that is getting me into so much trouble recently that I want to cut it all off.

Adding more bleach on the stain, I tried to scrub some more then I heard the click clacks of high heels and knew I was in for another badge of trouble this early morning.

“Where the fuck is she?" I heard Cielle cursing in a shriek-y voice of hers that startled me.

I rushed out of the bathroom in a hurry before she thought I’m slacking off. I was very tired this entire week because I got up at 5 am every day to do the cleaning under Cielle’s order.

It’s not like I can say no to the princess of the house when she wants to be a brat. No one could actually. She does what she wants anytime she wants to whoever she decides to fuck.

Although I was also my parents' daughter, I was more like a servant now in the house. After the truth was uncovered years ago, everything changed entirely. I now live a life I don’t understand anymore.

When Cielle saw me coming out, she scolded as usual, "The kitchen table is so dirty, how did you clean it?"

If I could muster the courage to swing it at her head, it would make my day or in this case, the whole past year. But I knew I couldn't. If I want to live longer than today then I won’t try it.

"Do you know what day it is today? How dare you slack off like that?" Cielle continued, her blue eyes blazing angrily into slits.

“What day is it?" I asked weakly while moving my arms to relieve the soreness.

"It's the day my brother comes back home! How could you forget? Idiot." She glared some more coming to my face like she wanted to slap me so I moved back.

I recoiled in revulsion, a shiver of disgust running down my spine as the words sunk in. The realization hit me with a sickening weight: he’s back.

The thought of his return filled me with a deep sense of dread and unease, twisting my insides into knots. The mere idea of facing him again, of enduring the oppressive atmosphere he brought with him, was almost too much to bear.

I've lived in the Arctic Canines pack for as long as I can remember. I used to be the cherished daughter of the Alpha and Luna, and Rune was my loving brother. But everything changed five years ago.

When my parents discovered I wasn’t their biological child, their world unraveled. They searched tirelessly to find their real daughter, Cielle, and when they brought her home, my life turned into a waking nightmare.

Since then, my existence has descended from a once-coveted place to an unending hell. I’ve been reduced to nothing more than a servant to Cielle, enduring her relentless cruelty.

My parents still put on a facade of normalcy, but their once-warm affection has been replaced by barely masked disdain. I don’t know how they could go from loving to hating me.

Every day feels like a cruel reminder of how my life has transformed from one of privilege to a ceaseless ordeal of rejection and exploitation. I have endured all that for five years now.

At that moment, there was a noise outside the gates. Several maids pulled up to the door. My heart raced with nervousness and anxiety threatened to make me throw up my breakfast. He is back!

Alpha Rune was welcomed by the whole family with wide smiles and laughter. Father and mother rose to greet him from the coach like the proud parents they were. They always want to celebrate every small success.

Alpha Rune went to the only powerful and large pack that is bigger than our own to form a new alliance with their new Alpha. The other was killed in a war and a rogue that killed him took over.

I glanced down the stairs and was taken aback by how much more handsome and mature Alpha Rune appeared. It was as if the past two months had chiseled away any remnants of boyishness, leaving a striking, authoritative figure in its place.

His presence seemed to command even more respect and attention, making it hard to reconcile this imposing Alpha with the brother I once knew.

Well, he has been anything but that doting loving brother for five years.

At that moment, I heard my mother scolded loudly, "Where's Alora? Why hasn’t she come down yet? Doesn’t she know that her brother is back?”

I rushed downstairs to stand with the others despite my reluctance. I don’t want to give them any other reason to scold me. Rune stared at me with those piercing eyes of his, and an unsettling shiver ran down my spine.

His gaze was intense and predatory, filled with a dark hunger that made my skin crawl. It felt as if he could see right through me, stripping away any semblance of safety or comfort.

The look in his eyes was enough to make me want to recoil in fear and dread. Oh no.

Cielle jumped into Rune's arms like the little brat she is and asked, "Bro, where's my gift?"

Rune smiled dotingly and took out an exquisite box, handing it to her. That smile used to be mine with so much softness and warmth. Now, I get the exact opposite if at all he acknowledges me not for his needs.

"Wow, it's the limited edition necklace I couldn’t order!" Cielle jumped around holding the piece of jewelry

Rune continued to give gifts to his father, mother, and even the head maid who literally brought the two of us up when they were busy. She smiled tentatively then went back to her work.

I saw the smile on Cielle’s face before she could talk and knew nothing good was going to come out of her mouth. I bowed my head so she wouldn't see the hurt in my eyes. She has taken my place.

"Bro, you haven't given Alora a gift yet. Where is her own?" She asked with a smirk directed at me.

Rune turned to me and I was forced to meet his eyes with my bright green ones, completely opposite of his and our parents. That was the first sign they knew something was wrong and I might not be their biological daughter after all.

“I forgot yours." He said in that unapologetic emotionless voice that made a pang hit my chest.

“Ouuu, you always forget hers.” Cielle laughed and ran up the stairs probably to show her friends her new limited jewelry.

“You need to freshen up then come down and eat. We have made all your favorite meals today.” Mother said to Rune who dragged his eyes away from mine to smile at her.

“Sure.” He kissed her forehead then brushed past me to his room.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.