CHRISTMAS DEAL WITH THE ALPHA

CLEOPATRA POV " Go through that and sign" The strapping muscular alpha sitting before me in a black tuxedo commands as he drops a contract on the desk. " What's this?" I doubt flipping through the pages. He looks up at me. A cloud of anger etched on his face. " I know you are dumb but can't you read" He pretense to question but I know better Jace was one hell of an arrogant bastard who thought himself better than anyone else. His voice always manages to make my blood boil. " I will explain it to you. I need a bride for Christmas and you suit the bill" He confesses oozing with superiority "Name your price" When did I get to this point of desperate, where I am forced to sell myself to a man who is twice my age and hopeless in love with another. Ohhh I remember, It all started last Christmas holiday. My 18th birthday. That was the day I died. ********************************** A YEAR EARLIER I slump against Ryder's pack house wall. The floor seems to be collapsing beneath my feet as I watch my mate and boyfriend of two years (the second alpha Prince of our pack, Ryder) make out with my half sisters Liv on my 18th birthday. At mist the Christmas season, the scent of cookies floating in the air and sweet melodies of Christmas carols, mock me. My chest hurts. My lungs tighten, it feels difficult to breathe, and my limbs wouldn't stand still. " What???.... what is going on here?" I mumble in my state of utter confusion. They finally pull away from each other. A nonchalant look on their faces. " Cleo, you're here. Ever thought of knocking, but then again an omega can't afford manners" He insults thoughtlessly and both traitors burst into laughter. Liv stares down at me, an impetuous smirk on her face like she wanted me to find out. " Well if you must know, I am simply making out with my chosen mate and future Luna of the Red moon pack, Liv" He announces, pulling her by the waist as he brushes his lips against hers. My world scatters. No this can't be, not today of all days. Not when I didn't get my wolf and my adopted father is battling with a kidney failure. " I don't understand, I am your mate. How then can my sister be your chosen mate?" I doubt, searching their faces for answers. " Cleo darling what he means is, he found someone better and worthy to be his Luna" Cleo voices, an arrogant smirk on her face. I look at Ryder and he doesn't seem to be bothered by her words, implying that she speaks the truth. A knot ties in my stomach, anger swelling up in my chest, but more than that, I feel an overwhelming pain, it feels like I have be stabbed in the back literally. All I can do is cry. So it's like that, he choose her because she is the daughter of a beta. I should have thought as much. Liv and I might be siblings from the same mother but the difference couldn't be more clear, her father loved her, he took her in the moment he found out about her existence, my father on the other hand abandoned me at birth. Liv has always hated me but I haven't been able to place a hand on why. " Don't be like that sis. It's not like you ever had a chance. I mean you have a nice body and all but you're hideous, you're uneducated and worst, you're broke. This pack needs a Luna who can actually contribute to it's revenue not a liability" She adds with a laugh. Her words, though bitter to swallow are the absolute truth. I was indeed a liability, mom had said that countless times. She even said she wish she would have aborted me when she had the chance. I didn't even have the opportunity to basic education, I had to work in the fields while my mates went to school. I am hideous, an eye sore. The burn scar that covers the larger part of my face doesn't fail to remind me of that everyday. I acquired this scar when I was just 8 in my attempt to save Ryder from a burning building. I never gave much thought to it, cause he was my only friend back then and I believed he genuinely loved me, but I guess I was wrong. This is the worst betrayal I have ever faced, I should be shouting out in anger but unfortunately my words wouldn't fall, they seem to have drowned in my tears. " Don't cry Cleo you are always going to have a place here. Right babe?" She assures; the last part directed towards Ryder, who's lips quickly curved into a smile. At this point my intrigue is plagued, they only thing I can to do is quietly watch them. " Cleo sweetheart, we spoke about things and I have decided to keep you" His words sends a wave of confusion coursing through me. '" Keep me" does it mean he is choosing me'_ I wonder, hope building with in me but the next thing he says stunts me. " As a mistress" He concludes " Mistress" is he being serious. What an insult. I have never been more ridiculed in my entire existence. Once again he manages to stab my already bleeding heart. At this point my pain is maxed up and all I can do is laugh. " What is so funny?" He questions, a gigantic frown engraved on his face as he raise his brow. Liv on the other hand just rolls her eyes making herself comfortable on a couch a few centimeters away from us. " You. You are a joke" I spit out in anger "You expect me to agree to that dumb offer of your. After everything we have been through. I gave you my heart, my body, my pride, my everything and what did you do? hurt me" " So? I have every right to sleep with you. You are mine, I own you. You should be honored that I even laid with a disfigured howl-less omega like yourself. You should down on your knees thanking me for being your first" He snaps, taking me aback. I knew it, he was just like the rest of them, who only saw us omegas as beings unworthy of sharing the same air as them. " Are you taking my offer or not?" He dares questions, his face etched with displeasure. I look into his eyes and there is no love left for me. " No. Thank you for showing me your truth. I pray God give you both a happy married life" I profess with a heavy heart. Tears streaming down my face, and with a deep breath, I run out. *************************** I bash into our minimal apartment, tears streaming down my face as I collapse on my floor, my heart aching with bitterness. Next thing I know the door slams open and mom sails in. " What is wrong? why are you crying?" She questions with a sad expression, consequently stunning me. She was never one to bother about my feelings. ' Could it be she suddenly started caring' I wonder to myself only to be taken aback by her next statement. " Let me guess, Ryder told you about his relationship with Liv" " She told you? why didn't you tell me?" I probe, nonplussed by her resounding words. My heart just seems to be stabbed, over and over again. " I am no answerable to you. By the way, where is the money I asked for?" She inquires, ignoring my trailer load of questions. How could I forget, she had demanded I get the $500,000 need for pa's surgery from Ryder, that's why I when there in the first place. " Mom.....The thing is.......I didn't get the money" I voice underneath my sobs. She looks down on me, a distasteful frown forming on her lip, as she takes in deep breathes to claim herself. " Unbelievable!!! You are good for nothing after all, it's not wonder your father abandoned you" She repeats her favorite voice note, which never fails to get me. I'm aware my mom still has feelings for my father despite all this years and his betrayal, that's why she hates me so much, cause my brown skin complexion reminds her to much of him. " Anyway I had a feeling something like this would happen so I spoke to your little suitor Victor and he said he could help us with the money for your Father's treatment and all you have to do is say yes. He is in the abandoned shelt at the pack's border" She says, beaming with excitement. Again with the Victor think, can she please just give it a rest. I want nothing to do with that man especially now that I am down in the dumps " Mom I can't, I feel nothing for that man.." I try explaining but she cuts in. " And I felt nothing for your father when we first got married, but we are still together aren't we. Cleopatra stop acting so selfish. Your father needs an urgent kidney transplant and all that is standing between him and that is you." She spit acrimoniously. Anger fuming in her eyes. I can see the disappointment in her eyes is three times more than ever before " You better get your sorry ass down to him, cause if anything happens to my husband I would never forgive you" She threatened before walking out. It's true, I was being selfish, only thinking about my own feeling, while uncle Lucas is fighting for his life. It is s clear what must be done. I would have to marry Victor for money. ***************************** 30 minutes later, I finally arrive at the abandoned shelt. I enter, only to find Victor seated on a black wool carpet with a gigantic smile on his face. " Welcome. Please take a seat " He offers, not moving a muscle. I flash a small smile, and I oblige. Taking a seat next to him without an ounce of hesitation. I look around, the walls are enveloped with the most unpleasant strands of comb webs. The ceiling is decorated with wholes, and the entire place smells like an old lady. ' Why exactly would Victor bring me to a place like this?. What is he up to?'_ I wonder " Are you comfortable?" He questions, pulling me out of my thoughts. I don't speak, all I do nod "I take it you are here to grant my request?" I take in a deep breath, pushing down my emotion. " Yes I will marry you" I inform, forcing a smile to my face. His face quickly brightens up. He then pulls me into a hug, thanking me endlessly. Seeing him this happy made me realize something very important. Ryder didn't deserve me, he always made me feel privileged to be his girlfriend, but when I look into Victor's brown eyes I can see that he truly desires me despite all my flaws. Maybe giving him a chance isn't such a bad idea. His affectionate smile feels like a medication to my heart that seems to curbs some of my pain away. " I promise to make you the happiest woman alive" He assures with the upmost sincerely as he caresses my burn, only to be interrupted by a knock on the door "Oh! they are here" He voices, hurrying to the door happily, leaving me in suspense, and doubt. The door is let open. Then Von (A beta) and Nathan (Ryder's twin) faces come to view. " Man we couldn't get the condoms" Von says hastily before spotting me. ' Condom?. what do they want to do with condoms? If they were to want to have s*x with them, why exactly am I the only girl here'_ My mind races a thousand miles per second. " There will be no need for that. She is an omega after all, plus she is clean. We will just have to take her raw. Right Cleopatra?" He states while his eyes roam my body lustfully, the last part directed at me. My heart is racing, I can practically hear my heartbeat in my ears. I'm scared, can't stop sweating. My limbs are shaking. What the f**k is going on here? #################