The Princess's Broken Alpha

“I don’t f*****g want him!”  Her voice echoes through the hall and I can hear her scrambling around the room, the door open ajar. They are so caught up in the argument that they don’t even close the door. I catch a glimpse of the white floral dress she’s wearing that spans at her hips, flattering her curves. “Jessie listen. He’s not that bad. Sure, he’s not what you were expecting but at least he’s Alpha. Does that not at least count for something?” he pleads, his voice booms through the corridor and I wonder how many others in the building are listening to the conversation and the embarrassment of their Alpha. There’s a pause and I’m holding my breath. I can hear my heart pounding in my ears and my mouth is dry. “I’m not trying to be a b***h Daniel. I just don’t want him. It’s uncomfortable even looking at him. Jesus. If we’re being honest, he makes my skin crawl!” her voice is laced with disgust and of course she’s being harsh but she thinks this is her being kind. I can picture her saying these words. Her red hair perfectly curled around her small face. She has the most amazing almond shaped brown eyes and I can tell by just looking at the softest lips. It pains me to hear her so distraught over something that I did not bring upon myself. “You’re acting like he’s the first person you’ve ever met or seen in a wheelchair.” he says incredulously.  “He is the first Alpha in a wheelchair and it’s very rare when you find a werewolf in a wheelchair Daniel. A werewolf in a wheelchair is worse than death. Stop acting ignorant!” I could hear Daniel pacing back and forth. He’s probably counting to ten. If my soul wasn’t being ripped apart I would be surprised he actually lasted this long.   “He can’t even protect himself much less our children. It’s weird and creepy. I don’t want that for the rest of my life Daniel. I want a man not a charity case.” I release the breath I’ve been holding. The one that I feel like I’ve been holding all my life. A sharp pain comes with it and my chest feels like it’s ripping apart with every word she spits out and I try my best to steady my hands. To steady my erratic heart beat. “What would he teach our children? How to ride around in a wheelchair?” I can tell Daniel is holding in his anger with all the strength he has in the hope she changes her mind because he wants me to be happy. He sees the way I look at her and the hope in my eyes when I told him I had finally found her. “He’s not a charity case and he is a man. He’s twice any man!” he says through gritted teeth, “At least take some time to think about it? You guys must be destined mates for a reason Jessie. If anything you will be Luna.” I lean forward hoping she’ll at least reconsider. But the pieces I’m barely holding on to slip away from me when she scoffs. “This is a joke. I don’t want him Daniel.  I don’t want to be Luna with him!” her voice is laced with venom as she claps her hands together trying to get her point across and the sound is amplifying, shattering to my ears. I wonder what I have done to receive such a sting. The hate she has for me, not because of who I am but what I am. “There’s nothing to reconsider I’m rejecting him. He shouldn’t have even been paired up with anybody!” she shouts at him in frustration as if he is deaf and not getting her point. Daniel is losing it bit by bit, just as I feel as if I’m losing my sanity. “Hey! Now I get he’s not what you expect but everyone deserves love. Quite frankly, you don’t deserve him and I’m only here because of him!” his voice carries a harsh edge to it. He really is trying his hardest and it doubles the pain of having to have my own brother in a room trying to convince a woman to be my mate though she cringes at the sight of me. If I ever felt lesser than in life,  today I feel like nothing. She laughs at him and I place my sweaty hands on the arm rests to call it a day. I’ve heard enough. “I can’t even look at his legs without gagging.” she exclaims and my chest twists painfully.  I let out a small cry that surprises me and I don’t even realise it until I feel the wetness running down my shirt that these are tears. That I’m actually crying, that I’ve been crying all this time. I struggle to blink away the tears. Is it that bad or is she just exaggerating? To myself, I look like a normal man just sitting down. The room is quiet and I figure they heard the sound and I push the remaining strength I have forward. Daniel lets out a growl and I push open the door. They both look at me shocked and I wonder if it's the tears or the fact that they realize I was actually listening. Daniel has his hands clenched at his sides. His burly frame overshadowed her. Seeing her standing in front of the window with the light caressing her makes the pain and embarrassment magnify even more and I try to focus. I look at her brown eyes and she looks down at me in my wheel chair and though she is shocked she isn’t backing down. She said what she said and she meant it. I don’t spare her anymore torture of being bonded to me by cruel fate.  I don’t spare her the time to do what she is dead set on doing. I take a deep breath and let out the words that will make her happy. “I Zion Cartier of the Cartier Pack refuse you Jessica Smith as my mate and release you from this bond.” My voice comes out surprisingly deep and steady. She wastes no time to be rid of me. “I Jessica Smith of the Cartier Pack accept and release you from this bond.” she rushes the words out and breathes a sigh of relief running her pale hands across her face   There is a burning pain in my chest and for a moment I feel dizzy. She falls from the impact of the pain taking us over and when it subsides she struggles to get up sitting by the window sill. She closes those beautiful brown eyes and looks relieved letting out a sigh and touches her chest. “Thank goodness!” she smiles, glad to be free from a burden and a life of servitude. My hands are shaking and I stop to try and make them steady again. I should have known better. Dammit, I knew better!  I give Daniel a nod and a mind linked command to let him know not to follow me and to just let me be. Just let me be. I wheel out of there as fast as I can feeling everything and hearing nothing.