The Alpha's collateral

Amber's POV:

As I sat in the dimly lit living room, the weight of my stepfather's words hung heavy in the air. "You're getting married," he declared, his voice devoid of any warmth. The news hit me like a punch to the gut, leaving me breathless and stunned.

"But why?" I managed to choke out, my voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and anger. "How could you do this to me?"

My stepfather John, clutched my hair tightly and I hissed in pain, his gaze cold and calculating. "It's for the good of the family, you ungrateful bastard child" he spat with contempt, his tone laced with a twisted sense of obligation.

"You're nothing more than collateral, a means to secure our future at least you're useful in some way mutt"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Sold off like a pawn in a twisted game of power and alliances. All because my step-sister Emily was supposed to marry the not only cursed and ruthless alpha, but he was a manwhore and known for his notorious womanizing who even owns a harem and I was nothing more than a convenient substitute for them.

I retreated to my cramped basement room, and waves of uncertainty crashed over me. The space was minimal, furnished only with a tattered mattress, a weathered oak bedside table, and a wardrobe holding my clothes.

"What a great way to start my birthday" I inwardly rolled my eyes expecting nothing enthralling on this not-so-special day because I believe I might have wronged the moon goddess in my past life and she's punishing me with an ill fate in this one.

Today was supposed to be an incredibly thrilling day for me. But truth be told, I couldn't muster up much excitement because I knew deep down that my potential mate might reject me due to my lack of a wolf and to make matters worse, I was sold off by the people whom I call family in a blink of an eye.

I am twenty-five already. Majorly, people find their potential mates at the age of eighteen but here I am, growing older and lonelier. With every passing year, my hopes of finding my soulmate wither like a dandelion on a chilly breeze.

How did I end up in this nightmare? I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, my heartache etched on my face. With long, flowing locks and piercing eyes, I possessed a beauty I couldn't fully comprehend. And yet, I couldn't help but wonder about my true origins. Who was my real father? What secrets lay hidden in my past?

John never misses an opportunity to unleash his anger on me, treating me like his personal punching bag, a target for all his frustrations.

I am really scared of him. He is an absolute monster in disguise and he made sure he unveiled himself to me, showing me how deranged he is, raw and unapologetic. He made sure I knew monsters did not exist just in folk ware and fairytales but rather they existed amongst us, just in better clothing and smiling faces.

An abomination is what I am to them, he said I was born out of wedlock. Not like it was my fault or anything but my mother said my dad had forced himself on her and if that's the case, it explains the amount of disgust they have for me and the anger is justified. I looked nothing like my mother at all.

My heart is devoid and sad because I do not know who even my father was or if he is still alive or not. I don't even know if he was a wolf or human given the fact that I am still wolfless. I am super fast and strong, possessing the senses sharper than an average human. But I could not blame them at all for hating me, I also loathed my so-called "father" because no matter what he ruined our lives all at the end of the day or so I was made to believe. I longed to know my roots. I have so many questions. All my life John has been the father figure in my life. Heck, I thought he was my father at a point but the more I grew up the more obvious his resentment was. I learned he wasn't my father when I was seven because he constantly told me how he hated my guts and how they didn't just let me die.

I guess I'm the replica of my father, from my ocean blue eyes and silver hair that glows now and then which remains a mystery to me, down to my round full pink lips that attract punishment to me. I think this explains the pelt-up loathe John has for me because every time he looks into my eyes, he becomes agitated. it was as if he was staring at the spitting image of my father. And whenever I asked my mom she always snapped at me and her eyes filled with tears.

I wake up each day to the echoes of silence, surrounded by the cold walls of neglect. My step-family, barely notice me. Loneliness wraps around me like a suffocating cloak, reminding me of my insignificance. It's as if I'm invisible, forgotten in the shadows of their affection for each other. At times it felt like my mother wasn't truly mine. I feel a disconnection from her. I have so many unanswered questions. The more I age, her eyes told a different story. She never looked at me how a mother looks at her child. There was no warmth in it. It always felt like I was a burden she couldn't get rid of. After all, the eyes never lie.

The ache in my heart grows with every passing day, yearning for a connection, for love. But amidst the disappontment, a flicker of hope still managed to emerge. Maybe, just maybe, there's a chance for me to find my light, to rise above the despair and discover my worth but I'm not so sure about that either.

Because even the little "hope" I had was snatched away from me just a few minutes ago just like how my dreams, passions, and better still, my identity were all snatched from me. It was too much for me to bear on my little shoulders.

As for my mother, she always avoids my gaze and I really wish it is because the guilt is eating her from the inside watching how John slowly ruins me way beyond repair, taking a piece of me with him each day. When I first complained to her and asked why John physically abuse me, she only shrugged it off, not because she didn't have an answer but rather because the 'love' she has for him has blinded her eyes completely, she'd only say "Don't be a brat, he was kind enough to take you, another's man child in and for that, you should be grateful" how could I comprehend that when I was just a child, not knowing my right from left.

She always convinced me that it was his way of "discipline". But at that time, I knew something was off. If that was just mere 'discipline', why didn't he discipline Emily the same way since she commits all sorts of atrocities? The abuse only grew worse gradually, it started from simple bad-mouthing to starvation, to little shoving, and beatings to everything overall.

I felt a sudden intrusion as I sat on the edge of my bed making me snap out instantly from my daydream. Emily, my step-sister, barged in with a smirk that could rival the Cheshire cat's.

"What's got you so gloomy, princess? Her taunt cut through the air, injecting venom into the peaceful atmosphere. "You deserve this, I pray feeds you to his beast" " I hope he ends your life for good, you don't deserve to live. You're unlovable"

She then pulled a fist full of my hair and twisted it, making pain erupt all over my scalp. She shoved me and slapped my face hard while laughing like a maniac and I just stared at her not having the strength to entertain her.

"Bitch who the fuck are you looking it" she spat on me and snorted. "Ugly bitch". Before I could retort, Emily let out a piercing scream. Shocked, I turned to see her clutching her arm as if in pain. John came rushing in furiously. "What happened?!" he demanded, his eyes flickering between Emily and I.

She pointed at me, her accusation sharp as a dagger. "She shoved me! Look at my arm!"

I let out a pained groan as John exerted all his force, landing a brutal kick to my stomach. "You bastard child, how dare you" | gasped in defiance. Another blow followed, each strike sending waves of agony pulsating through me.

"I need to show you where you belong" and without wasting any much time he unbuckled his belt and lashed down on me.

"You better start counting," he said using all of his might to strike me not caring where he hit.

"O one" I cried out in pain. I had no choice but to count and swallow the pain because If there's one thing I learned over the years, it's that me pleading with him to spare me fuels his anger the more.

"T-wo" lash after lash followed as he brutally assaulted my back.

"..... T- t- twenty-seven" My throat was all dry and patchy and before I could catch my breath. He stroked me in the face "You better start counting again, starting from one, bitch!!!".

After what felt like an eternity, I lay sprawled on the cold floor with my body sore from the beating I had received, I proceeded into the little bathroom and squatted under the shower allowing the water to cascade from my spine down to the floor as I drifted into anticipation of what was to become of my life when I'm taken away by the Alpha.

Why does he need John's daughter when he has females at his disposal, willing to throw themselves at him.

I shuddered as my gaze scanned through the litters of scars my skin was decorated with and finally settled on a slash that ran across my chest, the most prominent and painful one, tears pooled in my eyes as the memories of how I attained it came crashing on me. I will never forgive John for the damage he has caused me ever, the sunken skin is a testimony of how he had brutalized me with a knife coated in wolfsbane. It was the absolute worst night of my life, I traced it gently knowing this would be my story to tell someday.

I closed my eyes not wanting to revisit the bitter memory and snapped out of my self-hate, the disdain I felt for John increasing as I gritted my teeth in sheer anger. I promise one day I will make him fall on his feet before me and beg for my forgiveness and when he is desperate for life, I will snatch it away for him.

I exited the bathroom and got dressed deciding it would be best to stay off their radar for the time being, but when I laid on the bed the events of earlier came crashing down on me.

I hadn't realized I had been crying since I was in the shower. What would happen if I ended it all? What would happen if I had run away?

I mean, if I did, would John be forced to sell off Emily to the Alpha king? What is the worst that could happen?

All I know is that, what is life without risks? Even if the outcome is going to end in bloodshed at least I would die trying.

What if I don't run and am forced to live with that monster for eternity? That is if he doesn't even kill me? What if life with John would be far much better than with him?

But then again, what if I am never to be found? What if I could find a life worth living for?

With a surge of courage and a rush of adrenaline in my veins, I lift my cracked window off its hinges and jumped, sprinting my way toward the woods. I had never taken a risk like this In my life and now I am crossing my thuddering heart in hopes that this favors me. Hoping I could escape.....

"Maybe life was worth living after all...."