The Alpha's Ghost Bride

Chapter 2 – Searching for a mate

Megan

I am the adopted daughter of the rich Harris family, but it always felt like I lived in a world that was completely separate from theirs.

Even though I stayed under their roof in the attic, ate their-over food, and carried their last names, there was never a day when I didn’t feel out of place.

Harry and Karla, my adoptive parents, never made any effort to show me love or even the smallest hint of care.

To them, I wasn’t really their daughter. They gave me their names, but that was as far as it went. I was treated more like their personal servant than part of the family.

I spent most of my days cleaning, cooking, and running errands for them and especially for their biological daughter, Mika.

Mika had always made it clear I wasn’t welcome. She bullied me whenever she could, making sure I never forgot my place beneath her. She was everything I wasn’t—beautiful, loved, adored—and she knew it.

As I was cleaning the stairs one afternoon, I overheard them talking in the living room. Their voices carried over, loud and full of excitement. Mika, Harry, and Karla were sitting comfortably on the plush sofa, chatting about something that seemed to thrill them.

"Did you hear the news about Alpha Jake?" Harry said, his voice full of admiration. "He just conquered the Green Eye Pack. The man is unstoppable."

I froze, my hands clutching the cleaning rag a little tighter. Alpha Jake. I’d heard of him, of course. Everyone had. He was the leader of the Crest Moon Pack, the most powerful werewolf pack in the region.

He was rich, strong, and feared by all, both humans and werewolves alike. Stories of his strength and mysterious nature had spread far and wide, making him almost like a legend.

"If only our president were like Alpha Jake," Harry continued with a chuckle. "There wouldn’t be any corruption in the government. The man is so smart, so strong—no one could defeat him."

I tried to ignore the conversation, focusing on my work, but it was hard. They never spoke like this around me. Whenever they did talk to me, it was only to criticize or give me more tasks to do. The contrast stung.

Karla’s voice joined in, sounding eager and greedy, the way it always did when she had some scheme in mind. "You know, even though we’re human, there’s no reason we can’t be part of Alpha Jake’s world. There are ways to get involved."

I frowned, wondering what she meant. Part of Alpha Jake’s world? He was a werewolf, and we were humans. How could they possibly think they had any place in his life?

Harry sounded interested, his tone almost excited. "How exactly do you think we could do that?"

Mika, who had been quiet until now, suddenly chimed in with a giggle that made my stomach twist. "Oh, please, who wouldn’t want to be a part of Alpha Jake’s life? He’s not just strong—he’s drop-dead handsome. And let’s not forget, he’s filthy rich. Even a human girl like me could fall for him. It’s not just the werewolf women who want him. I’d run straight into his arms if I had the chance."

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to keep scrubbing the steps, though my mind was racing. Mika was always shallow, obsessed with wealth and looks. The idea of her, a spoiled, selfish girl, even thinking about being with someone like Alpha Jake made my skin crawl.

There was a sound of paper rustling, and Karla’s voice took on an even more excited tone. "Well, we just might have that chance."

"What are you talking about?" Mika asked, sounding intrigued.

"Look at this," Karla said proudly, and I imagined her holding up some kind of document. "It’s an invitation from the Crest Moon Pack. They’re holding a Luna Selection."

Luna Selection?

The words echoed in my head, making my heart skip a beat. That meant Alpha Jake was looking for a mate, for someone to rule alongside him. But why would humans be interested in that?

Mika’s voice was sharp with shock. "Luna Selection? But we’re human. How could I—"

Karla cut her off with a laugh, one that made me feel sick. "The letter says human women are allowed to join. This is a rare opportunity, and we’d be fools to pass it up. Mika, you could become the Luna of the Crest Moon Pack."

Harry laughed as well, clearly excited by the idea. "You hear that, Mika? You could be Alpha Jake’s Luna. Imagine the power, the wealth. You’d be like a Queen."

My hands trembled as I continued cleaning, trying to make sense of what I was hearing. Mika, the girl who had tormented me for years, could be considered for something as important as this? It was absurd. And yet, I could hear the excitement in their voices. They actually believed it.

Mika’s tone was full of pride as she spoke again. "Of course I won’t miss that chance. I’ll make sure Alpha Jake notices me. After all, who could resist someone like me?"

That was it. I couldn’t take it anymore. The idea of someone as cruel and selfish as Mika becoming Luna, standing next to someone as powerful as Alpha Jake, made my blood boil.

In my frustration, my hand slipped, and the bucket of water I had been using tipped over. Soapy water spilled across the floor, making a mess.

For a moment, there was silence. Then I heard Karla’s sharp intake of breath, followed by her angry voice. "Megan! What have you done?"

I scrambled to grab the bucket, my heart pounding with fear. "I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—"

"You’re useless!" Karla snapped, storming over to me. Before I could react, her hand flew out, and I felt a sharp sting as she slapped me across the face.

Tears sprang to my eyes, but I bit my lip, trying to hold them back. "You worthless girl," she hissed. "If it weren’t for us, you’d be living on the streets like a beggar. You should be thanking us every day for adopting you, but instead, you just make more work for us!"

Mika smirked from her seat, watching me with cold, amused eyes. "Maybe she was eavesdropping on us. It wouldn’t surprise me. She’s always lurking around, listening to things she shouldn’t."

Harry, who had been quiet up until now, spoke up angrily. "Megan, you won’t have dinner tonight. That’s what you get for being clumsy and disrespectful."

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t trust myself to speak without crying. Instead, I knelt down and started cleaning the mess, my hands trembling as I wiped the soapy water from the floor.

The sting from Karla’s slap still burned on my cheek, but what hurt more was the humiliation. I could hear Mika giggling behind me, her laughter filled with mockery.

As I scrubbed the floor, I fought back the tears that threatened to spill over. This was my life—being treated like dirt, like I didn’t matter. No matter how hard I worked or how much I tried to stay out of their way, it was never enough. I would never be enough for them.

And yet, deep inside, I knew I was more than what they saw. They could treat me like a servant, like a worthless outsider, but that didn’t mean it was true.

One day, I will find a way to prove them wrong. But for now, all I could do was clean the floor and try not to let them see how much they hurt me.