Broken Little Mate

Mia's POV

"Madison," I greet my stepmother with a fake smile and gritted teeth.

"I do wish that you would call me Mother while we are in public," she says as she tips a flute to her lips and drinks champagne.

"Tell me," I whisper to Madison. "Were there no Alphas or Betas closer to my age that could have attended tonight's debacle?"

My stepmother snorts loudly. She looks out over the crowd and refuses to meet my gaze. "None that would tolerate your reputation."

"And exactly what reputation would that be?" I have to keep myself from snarling in her direction.

"No one wants used goods for a mate," my stepmother hisses at me. "Now come and meet some of our most honored guests."

The last thing that I want to do is meet anyone at this party. I looked stupid in this itchy dress and if I had to hold this fake smile for a few minutes longer, I was sure that my cheeks would fall off.

"So, you can humiliate me further. I don't think so," I hissed back at her through gritted teeth.

My stepmother heartily laughs before saying, "You did that all on your own. The dress was just an added touch."

This yellow dress against my pale skin makes me look like a bottle of mustard. Yellow is definitely not my color, but my stepmother knew this. She made sure to take advantage of every little thing to make me suffer.

I watch from the corner of my eyes and try not to let jealousy bubble to the surface as I watch my half-sister glide effortlessly through the ballroom in her custom-made royal blue gown.

'That should be me. It's not fair,' I thought trying to control my rage. She is the clear favorite of the evening but too bad for everyone here that she is already spoken for. My father and stepmother made sure to match her with one of the more eligible Alphas in the country, creating a strong alliance for our little pack.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, I shift uneasily on my feet. "I don't understand any of this Madison. Why keep up with this charade? Both my older sister and younger half-sister have already secured chosen mates from powerful packs. I don't understand why I must also be offered up like a piece of meat." I hissed at her again.

"Enough of your complaining. Go meet our guests," Madison said firmly.

Glancing around the room at my possible suitors I have to swallow the bile that rises in my throat. They are all at least forty years old and grossly overweight. I snatch a flute of champagne off the tray of a passing waiter and tilt it to my lips. But before the sweet liquid can touch my lips the flute is ripped out of my hands by none other than the witch herself.

"You don't need to drink anymore tonight," Madison hisses at me.

"I think I need to drink more," I mumble under my breath.

"Mia," Madison growls at me. "Stop causing a scene."

From the moment that Madison walked into our lives eighteen years ago, she has hated me. I was only two years old and I could tell that she treated me differently from my older sister, Jessica. From the moment that I was old enough, I was made to work with the Omegas in the kitchens. Most of the time my family pretended like I didn't exist, and I came to like it that way. It was easier than dealing with the judgemental looks of my family.

I can't help but blame my father for my mistreatment. He hasn't forgiven me for taking the life of his fated mate in childbirth. Deep down I know that he wishes she would have survived and I had been the one to die.