Bet My Life to Alpha Jace

Give In

It was past eight, and I woke up with nothing but a continuous lecture from my father. He knew about my sneaky moment towards the human territory last night, which angers him. Jace and his big mouth is something I must have to get used to by now.

I wanted to cuddle my pillows more since I have slept late due to all the overthinking and such, but my father's voice is too dramatic to bear.

"Solene, are you listening to me?"

I grumbled before looking at him. My father looks so done with all my whims, but he can't do anything about it.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, dad. I want to sleep. Can you get out now?"

I saw a glint of disappointment on his rigid face that somehow disappeared in just a blink of an eye before he got out of my room. Somehow, being the only daughter of my parents who gives them nothing but problems...makes me guilty. It seems like they're trying their best to understand me to the core. But here I am, being selfish and thinking about nothing but myself.

Who am I doing this rebellion? For myself? The Alpha? My parents? Or the Red Moonians? My answer to that is always the latter.

I sighed in annoyance, thinking that what I did was truly unreasonable. If only I had been born human. I would not have had this ton of problems.

I tossed back and forth in my bed, trying to figure out how to change myself without further upsetting my parents. My heart tells me to change, but my mind tells me to keep doing what makes me comfortable.

Though I want to sleep, the look my father gave me a while ago makes me feel guilty. What I did was more than simply a revolt. A part of me just wanted the pleasure and perhaps happiness that I couldn't find here in the pack.

Nevertheless, whatever I do— it's always dim wrong. Unlike in human territory where none of them judge me. I was embraced there, accepted, and loved. Sometimes I wonder if the limelight I have comes from being a Beta's daughter. If I was born a normal she-wolf, would they also give me this kind of treatment and attention?

I scratched my head in frustration as I rose from the bed. Too much of this thinking, or I'll end up going insane. I am young- I shouldn't be having these tons of problems. I'm doing this because I want to be happy, but at the same time, my parents aren't.

"Young lady, breakfast is ready!"

Someone from the door shouted as it knocked three times. I lazily got up and went straight to the bathroom. Perhaps a cold shower can help me soothe my burning emotions.

My life has been messed up, and I don't know what to do to make it worthwhile. I am not getting any younger, and my parents are as well. But I couldn't just give up the things that made me feel happy. 'Father, I'm sorry, but let me turn a deaf ear just this one.'

I finished my bath quickly and went straight into my walk-in closet. Today, I decided to behave myself as I'm also trying to escape from meeting the Alpha. I'm afraid that if I go back there into the human territory, he'll follow me— I can't handle getting entangled in his world again as I'm afraid I'll give in.

"Oh, Solene, come here. Good thing you came out," my mother utters as she guides me to my seat.

"Did you get enough sleep?" she asked again while pouring some milk into my glass. I have not seen father in the house anymore. Perhaps he is already doing his job in the pack.

"Solene, have you not heard?"

"Of what, mother?"

"Your father will be stripped off from being a beta once he has no successor to follow his step," my mother utters softly.

I know what this conversation leads us to. They want me to accept my father's responsibility and be the beta of this pack. Long before, I had already told them that I would not accept such a position. I prefer a free life with no one to follow and rules to obey.

"Let them do that. Are they scaring us?" I uttered while munching my pancake.

My mother and I talked and shared our views and opinions when a couple of soldiers entered our house without permission.

"Permission, Mrs. De Vera, but your husband was brought to the hospital— he had a stroke," one of the soldiers said.

My mother's face became as pale as ice while it followed the soldier's lead. I immediately finished my breakfast and went after them. The pack only has one hospital, so I probably know where to go as I've gone there a couple of times already.

I was almost near the place when a familiar scent lingered on my nose again. I looked around and noticed that Jace was at my side.

Damn, what an unlucky day to begin!

I advance my pace, but the i***t advances his as well. I stopped on the hospital stairs so that he could pass by, but he did stop also.

"Are you following me?" I annoyingly asked. I could no longer keep my cool.

"Of course not," Jace replied as he went straight to the entrance.

I rolled my eyes before I followed his step. I asked the receptionist about my father's room and they immediately disclosed the information. I went straight to room 1A out of fear, though I did not think negatively about my father's situation. He is a fighter and a mere stroke won't defeat him.

Unfortunately, after I enter the room, the Alpha is also present. He's like a f*****g pest that I could not get rid of quickly— well, of course, putting into account his position. He had all the right to do whatever he wanted. In his rule, we are just his mere pawns, and he is the king.

"How is he, mother?" I asked after seeing my father lying on the bed unconscious.

"He's fine now, but the doctor said that he should take a rest for a month. If he strains himself, he might end up getting paralyzed," my mother replied without humor.

"I know that you hate doing your father's work. That's why I decided to be his substitute for a month."

I raised my brows at her comment. I sighed in frustration, but I had no choice left. I could not just let my sickly mother do my father's work— afraid that she'd end up getting in the hospital as well.

"No, I'll... I'm going to sub him for a month. You're sick. You can't work," I uttered in a defeated voice.

At least, I would not bear the guilt if something terrible happened to them. As their only daughter, it is my responsibility to look out for them. I might be rebellious, but I'm not that heartless. Now, I must give in for their sake. This is the least I could to appease the guilt I had stored inside for my father.