My Crippled Alpha

Barbara POV The air-conditioned car jumped in protest as we ascended the hill, tossing us sideways front and back. I sighed for the umpteenth time running a hand around the ring on the third finger of my right hand. All I could feel was emptiness and a hollow in my heart that seemed to widen every time the car jumped into a pothole. A few hours ago, I was forced to reject my fated mate, Derrick because I had to replace my step-sister Ava who eloped with Nelson, her childhood friend and sweetheart. A letter had come from the King’s palace six months ago, proposing an arranged marriage between Ava and Sean, one of the princes of the Seven Kingdoms. But the problem was, no one wanted to marry Sean Grey because he was born a cripple according to the rumours and no one wanted a disabled spouse, especially in our world where beauty and strength were the major determinants for success. Because of Sean’s condition, the Lycan King had kept him hidden from the public so our guess was he was desperate to marry him off and had reached out to my Father Henry Wilson, Alpha of the First Moon Pack and had commanded that one of his daughters be wedded to the prince. According to hierarchy, Ava was chosen and, in the beginning, had been joyful about becoming a princess and marrying into the royal family only for us to wake up this morning to a hasty note on the breakfast table asking us not to ever look for her and that she was happy with spending the rest of her life with Nelson. Distraught, I was asked to reject Derrick whom I just smelt out on my eighteenth birthday two days ago and go replace my step-sister, not as Barbara Wilson but as Ava Wilson. I would take up my sister’s identity until my dad found a solution. Star, my wolf whimpered in pain, she had refused to talk to me since we left the pack. The suddenness of being yanked from our mate had gotten so much to her that I’ll be a miracle if she forgave me. “Don’t mess this up, Barbara," My dad warned me sternly from where he was sitting beside me "If the king should find out that you aren’t Ava, he’s going to put all of us in prison. So don’t get any ideas into your head,”. “But for how long, dad?” I turned to him, tears brimming in my eyes “How long do I have to put up with this charade? Why are you not trying to go after Ava? Surely, the king would have granted you a few more days to look for Ava. Why must I be forced to replace her?” I yelled. Thwack! A slap landed across my cheeks, and for a moment the world blackened. “How dare you question my authority?” My dad yelled, “I can’t believe you have the guts to talk back to me after everything I’ve done for you and your stupid mother,”. I held my smarting cheeks and turned to him with rage in my eyes “Leave mom out of this,”. “Or else?” he taunted “I would have allowed them to lock you up with her, you cursed child! You’re the reason why your mom was banished from the pack. Your foolishness and carelessness caused it. This is a chance to do something for the pack for all the kindness, I’ve shown to you and this is how you choose to treat us?” “All I am asking; Dad is to be with my mate. Is it too much to ask for?” I sobbed. “Yes,” he said coldly “The pack comes first before your feelings. Fulfill your duties as the first child and if you as much as try to reveal your true identity...” he leaned towards me and grabbed my neck, choking me. “I’ll kill your mother before the king gets to us,”. He finally lets me go and I fall back to the car seat, coughing and taking in as much air as I could. It was useless trying to cry at this point. My father hated me so much that if he had his way, he would have killed me himself. My mom was banished instead of me. My step-mom had accused me of causing her miscarriage when she was pregnant two months ago and no matter how much I tried to explain to my father that she was lying, it had fallen on deaf ears. I was charged with treason for trying to hurt the Luna and her pup and my punishment would be banishment from the pack since I was an Alpha’s daughter, I couldn’t be killed. My mom had gone in my stead. She was driven out of the pack and sent to “The Dome” all on her own. Helplessly, I slump against the seat, resigning to my fate. No one was coming to help me. I knew that more than anything. ~~~ Finally, we arrived at the Lycan King’s Palace. The black, shiny gate shone under the afternoon sun like a threat, daring people to come through it. We stopped at security and my father showed them his invitation letter from the king and his identity tag before we were allowed to pass. When we arrived at the palace, I noticed that the king was standing in front alongside a few people and from the anxiety in his eyes, I could tell he was waiting for us. “Fix your posture and those damned, puffy eyes,” My father screeched looking at me with disgust. I brought out my compact mirror and dabbed some powder under my eyes and at the red line that had formed on my neck from my father’s abuse moments ago. I straightened the gown I had on, the first gift my dad had ever bought for me since I came to this world, and sat upright, putting on a smile. My father took one glance at my appearance and nodded in approval before he came down from the car and turned to the other side to open the door for me. I hurled the heavy gown in my hands and with my father’s assistance, stepped out of the car. As soon as the Lycan King saw me, he strolled majestically towards us, his eyes already running through me as he came close. “Your majesty,” My dad bowed while I curtseyed “It’s a pleasure for my family to serve you,”. “Rise, Henry,” the King said impatiently “We’re practically in-laws now, save me the formality. So, this is your daughter Ava?” he asked. “Yes, my king,” he said cheerfully. “She’s well versed in matters concerning women and have been trained to carry out her duties as Luna from birth,”. “And she’s untouched, I presume,” he asked, still scrutinizing me. I felt naked and uncomfortable under his gaze. “As good as new, my king,”. “Good,” the king nodded “She’s beautiful enough to carry the strong genes of my Pack and of course, I expect she’d give birth to a lot of children. None of the other Princes' wives are pregnant and I’m anxious for an heir. I hope you understand that., Ava,” the King pinned his gaze at me. “I do, your majesty,” I responded. “It’s settled then. They’re to be wed immediately. Come, let’s go meet the joining priest,”. “Of course, my king,” my dad nodded and linked my arms with his as we walked behind the king. My dad and the king were throwing banters at each other and laughing. I knew that there was never going to be a way out for me from this bondage. I might as well make a good deal with it. I tugged at my father’s sleeve and whispered “May I talk to you, father?” His brows clouded with annoyance “This is neither the time nor avenue to throw tantrums, Barbara,” he said through gritted teeth. “Then should I go tell the king that I am not who you promised him,” I said with a smile “I have nothing to lose, dad,”. Anger flashed in his eyes and for a moment, I thought he was going to hit me again but he must have considered that we were in the palace, so he decided against it. “Fine! What do you want?” “Restore mom to the pack. I don’t care how you do it but I’m going to give you two days and if you don’t... I will expose your lies,”. I pulled out my phone tucked inside my purse and showed him the screen. I recorded our conversation in the car. “I have a lot of evidence; Dad and I won’t feel remorseful if my entire family is killed. You all hate me so; your deaths will benefit me. Don’t you think?” “I have no power to restore her,” he hissed digging his fingers into my arms “I can’t change century-old laws,”. “There’s a little settlement just outside the Pack, put her there and give her soldiers and a maid at least,” I said “And don’t dare refuse this,”. “Fine,” he exhaled “I’ll do that,”. “Thanks, Dad,” I smiled at him and then walked ahead of him ignoring the scowl on his face. When we caught up with the King and his entourage, we noticed that the King was pacing the room, an angry expression on his face. A while later, a valet ran to him and knelt in front of him. “Your majesty, the prince is having a session with his doctor and says he cannot come for the wedding,”. “What nonsense!" the king roared "Didn't I tell him he's to be wed today?" "The appointment was sudden, Your Majesty," his Beta said soothingly "And who says we need the presence of the Prince before they're wed,". A few moments later, I was standing in front of the priest, holding a bouquet while the King's Beta was standing opposite me, a phone in his hand. "Please recite your vows, Your Majesty," the priest urged him. "I, Sean Grey, Prince of the Seven Kingdom accept you as my mate," he said gruffly. "I, Ava Wilson, daughter to Alpha Wilson accept to be your mate,". That was the fastest wedding I've ever attended.