Chapter 1 Betrayal
1596 Words
Allison's POV
Tears filled my eyes as I stared at the sight before me.
"I never wanted you, Allison. You're cursed. Look at you, your red hair, your scarlet eyes, you are just like a witch! Who wants to mate with a witch girl?"
Those words would never hurt me if they were from a stranger. Pathetically, they came from Merlin, the man I wanted to marry. I even had his ring in my pocket and was ready to propose to him at any anytime.
"I love your sister, Aleria, not you. And it will never be you." He spat in my face, closing the distance between us, "So before I humiliate you, please give your blessing immediately." He urged, his eyes turning green.
***
Ten minutes before Aleria's 18th birthday party.
"Witch!"
"Look how disgusting she looks!"
"Can't she dye her hair or something?"
"Why is she even allowed to attend? She'll bring bad luck wherever she goes. Stay away from her, Aleria. She stinks like shit."
I kept my head down low, attempting to not draw any attention, but it was no use. I had to cross the hall to find my boyfriend, Merlin. The ring in my pocket was burning hot, I had to find Merlin quickly and tell him what I was thinking.
But the five-tier cake in the center of the hall and the luxurious decorations in every corner couldn't escape my notice, even the champagne glasses had Aleria's smiling face etched on them, in stark contrast to the convenience store cake they hurriedly bought for my pitiful birthday.
I clenched my fists bitterly, struggling not to show any emotion. Over the past twenty years, I had been treated unfairly, as if Aleria and I didn't come from the same womb. I could never match the favor she received, she was treated like the princess of the pack while I was everyone's punching bag.
A sharp, stinging pain shot through my head and throat. Unlucky, disaster, curse... These words have followed me since birth. When I was born, the pack suffered a torrential downpour that destroyed everyone's homes, leaving the pack in famine. The moment my head was pulled out by the pack's obstetrician, my fiery red hair and red irises left everyone stunned. My parents both had black irises and brown hair, everyone looked at my father in fear.
My father loved my mother dearly, he wouldn't doubt my mother had an affair. They were both alpha wolves, if my mom cheated on him, my father would absolutely feel the pain, but he didn't. So the problem lied with me, I must be the reincarnation of a witch.
My mother refused to look at me, my father ordered his Beta to take me away immediately. Since then, although I lived in the alpha's house, I only stayed with the servants in the storage room. I had to wake up at 4 am every morning to prepare breakfast for everyone in the pack, or I would be beaten.
"You should be grateful you weren't killed at birth. So you should live with a grateful attitude, live quietly in the pack like a mute." My father's angry voice fused into my bones like blood. I'll never forget his disgust towards me.
I learned to endure because unprepared resistance was meaningless. I once planned to leave this pack when I shifted, but when my wolf showed up, I found she was small and her fur was fiery red. Oh, I had never seen anything like it before. To avoid more bullying, I never told anyone I shifted.
I was the pack's invisible person. No one cared whether I shifted or not, even Merlin didn't. I was glad he saw my golden heart. I had to meet him soon. Plus, my father's tolerance for me had reached its limit. Last night, I overheard them planning to send me off to some alpha.
Thinking of this, I quickened my pace.
A familiar shrill, scathing voice rang out, then a girl dressed in a pretty outfit, looking like a Barbie doll in a princess dress, shoved me.
"If you really want to show your face, couldn't you find something to cover all this up? Do you have to embarrass me?" She said through gritted teeth, her eyes wide open.
Well, the princess with the puppy eyes is my sister, Aleria.
She pulled down my vest, trying to cover that damn mark, waving her fingers in front of my face.
"Wrap a scarf around your red hair, or wear a mask to cover your damn face, please! What makes you think an Alpha would pay for a she-wolf like you? I swear I would cut all your hair off if you reveal it in public again!"
My steps started to falter. Aleria also knew my father wanted to sell me off. My nails dug into my palms as I stared at her back. Why did they have to treat me like this? I haven't done anything wrong. For the past 20 years, I've tried so hard to please them, but they still feel I deserve to die.
I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. I had to take action. I won't submit to the fate they've given me.
Despite the crowd around, my infamous reputation allowed me to move swiftly. They parted for me, no one willing to let my hand or body touch them. I climbed the stairs rapidly, my heart pounding.
Merlin was the first man to look at me differently, the first man who didn't care if my eyes were fiery red or my hair too red, the only man whose eyes held no disgust when touching me, the man I wanted to spend my life with. We had both passed our 20th birthdays without finding mates, so we promised each other to reject our destined ones.
"Merlin!" I called out, opening another door.
I was about to open another door when I caught a whiff of his golden curls, turning my head to see if it was him. A small smile crept across my lips as I walked towards him, about to call out his name, but my steps halted, the sight before me making all music disappear.
My heart tightened, my lungs unable to take in any more air. There he was, his head buried between Aleria's thighs, her head thrown back, hands cradling Merlin's head as she shamelessly moaned for him to enter her.
"Merlin...my other half...I've finally found you," she continued moaning. Wolves only recognize their mates when both turn 18. Today was Aleria's 18th birthday.
"Yes Aleria, I never dreamed a beautiful princess like you would be my mate. I thought Allison was my best choice. But I was wrong..." Merlin repeated, standing up, inserting his p***s into Aleria's v****a.
"You know, I really want Allison to see this right now, her face would definitely match her hair." Aleria smirked wickedly, immediately urging Merlin to go faster.
I could no longer bear it.
"You're...you're mates..." I said, their heads immediately whipping towards me.
A tear rolled down my cheek as my gaze met Merlin's deep green one, my lips quivering violently.
"What are you doing here?" He snarled, releasing Aleria's arms.
"You're...you're together..." I repeated, unable to hide the realization.
"What are you doing here, Allison!" He snarled again, charging at me, immediately slamming my back against the wall.
More tears streamed from my eyes, rolling down my cheeks. Merlin, I was supposed to marry him, yet he chose my sister over me...
"What makes you think I will marry you, wolfless?" He mocked, releasing his grip on me.
"I told you baby, you should have cut ties immediately. Now you've given her false hope, thinking someone as ugly and useless as her deserves to be loved. Aw, poor Allison..." I heard Aleria mock.
"I never wanted you, Allison. You're cursed. Look at you, your red hair, your scarlet eyes, you are just like a witch! Who wants to mate with a witch girl?"
"What a delusional girl," Aleria added, the scorn evident in her voice.
As soon as she finished, the wolf inside me began to howl, rage completely consuming me. I extended my claws, catching Merlin off guard, using all my strength to shove him away.
I was about to go for Aleria's face, so close to the fear in her wide eyes, when I felt a force from behind push me down to the ground.
"Are you crazy?!" Mother yelled loudly.
"Get up," said Father, the Alpha.
I ignored the pain from various parts of my body and stood up, suppressing the rage welling up inside me with all my might, standing to face the three of them.
"Your sister and Merlin are mates. Don't be so stupid to get in the middle of them."
"So stupid..." I said, tears spilling from my eyes, my voice choked up. "H-he promised me to reject his mate... He promised me..."
"That's none of my business. Blame on yourself, b***h. If you weren't a w***e, it shouldn't have happened."
"Slap--"
A stinging slap landed on my cheek, "I am not your father," the Alpha snarled at me.
"Now, before I throw you out of my pack, give them your blessing. Never challenge me, understand?"
I looked up at him, rage blinding my eyes, causing me to utter words I truly wish I had never said.
I met his gaze, my red orbs in stark contrast to his brown ones, snarling at him, "What if I refuse?"
- Writer
