Chapter One
Skye
“If only you were half as beautiful as your sister, maybe then even someone as lowly as a beggar would find you attractive," my mother snorted in disgust as she settled onto the kitchen stool. Her words stung, but I paused, taking a moment to look at her face.
Every time I did, I couldn't help but admire her beautiful features, knowing she was right. Even at her age, she was as beautiful as ever. Was it her golden locks that seemed to glow ever so brightly as time progressed, tumbling in waves down her back, or her catlike eyes that seemed to stare into my soul?
Unlike Elizabeth, who was fortunate enough to inherit all her beautiful features, I, on the other hand, was nothing but a monster, as the whole pack calls me. Trust me, they aren't exaggerating—the first time I looked in the mirror, it shattered into pieces from my ugliness, and since then, I haven't bothered to look again.
Maybe I wasn’t quite that bad, but it didn’t change the fact that I felt ugly.
Her cruel words left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth, and I gripped the rags that I had been using to clean the kitchen table tightly in my hands, wishing it was her neck.
“But no, you chose to be the ugly duckling that no one likes. I wonder whose features you inherited because all that is most definitely not from me or your father."She hissed, drumming her well-painted nails on the table, before letting out a frustrated sigh.
"I think I need to go back to the pack doctor who helped birth you and confirm if there wasn't a mistake. I am pretty sure that you aren't my real daughter." She continued, her tone dripping with venom, while I struggled to hold back tears.
"Why do you always have to compare me to her, Mom?"
She raised an eyebrow as she stared at me with a disgusted expression. "Because, dear, comparisons are inevitable when one child is clearly superior to the other."
I clenched my teeth tightly, frustration bubbling to the surface. "Just because I'm not as beautiful as her doesn't mean I'm worthless."
A cold smile tugged at her lips. "Oh, sweetheart, it's not just about looks. It's about charm, grace, and the ability to attract and keep someone's attention. Qualities you sadly lack."
I felt a lump form in my throat, but I forced myself to speak. "You know, Mom, not everything is about appearances. There's more to life than being pretty."
She laughed, making a harsh, mocking sound that made my soul clench in unbearable pain. "Spoken like someone who has no other choice. Face it, darling, in this world, beauty opens doors. And unfortunately for you, those doors remain firmly shut."
My vision blurred with unshed tears, but I refused to let her see me cry. "Maybe those doors aren't worth opening then."
Her eyes narrowed, and she leaned forward, her voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "Keep telling yourself that. But don't come crying to me when you realise how alone you are." She spat, and I forced a smile and continued the work I was doing as I tried so hard to ignore her presence.
Why was I surprised? I should be used to it by now, as it wasn't the first time she said something like this, but each time it hurt just as much. I tried to hide the pain, to pretend her words didn't matter, but deep down, they left scars that never seemed to heal.
It wasn't just her who used cruel words on me and insulted me for my ugliness; hell, everyone in the Winder Pack does so, but the fact that the words were coming from the one person who was supposed to love me hurt the most.
"Make me a cup of tea," she snapped, getting my attention. "And make sure you don't spit inside. I'm watching." She laughed; her laughter was cold and mocking, and I bit my lip to keep from responding because it would do me no good but only cause me more pain.
My hands trembled as I dropped the rags on the table and moved to prepare the tea, my eyes stinging with unshed tears.
My mother was a beauty queen, and according to people just like my sister, during her prime, she had so many men kissing at her feet and were ready to give up their mate just to be with her, but instead she chose my father, who was also her mate, but I doubted that.
My father was also the most influential out of all her suitors, as he was the Zeta, the war general of the pack. He had control over the armies, something even our alpha didn't possess, and that's why she went for him.
"Also make dinner tonight." My mother's voice interrupted my thoughts, pulling me back to the present, and my ears perked up at her words.
Dinner? I hated having people around me, and I tried so much to hide from them.
"We're having an important guest, and I want everything to be perfect." I nodded silently, wishing the world would just end.
"And iron your sister's clothes," she added casually, as though it were an afterthought. "She has an important date tomorrow, and I don't want her looking like a mess."
Forcing a smile, I muttered a quiet acknowledgment and turned my attention back to the tea, my hands shaking as I poured it into a cup. It seemed there was always something I needed to do to earn my place in this family, but no matter how hard I tried, it never seemed to be enough.
I approached my mother cautiously, holding out the tea with a forced smile. Just as she reached for it, my father entered the room, his presence both a relief and a source of anxiety.
"Darling, I have good news and bad news," he announced, stepping over to my mother and planting a kiss on her forehead.
Despite everything, I couldn't help but feel a pang of envy at the display of affection between them. My father might have been a horrible father, but he was a good mate to my mother—something I could only dream of having.
"Which should I say first, honey?" He asked, gazing into my mother's eyes with affection.
"The bad news," she replied, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Alright then... the bad news is that our beautiful and precious Elizabeth will be leaving us soon. She'll still be in the pack, but she'll be marrying Alpha Charles's son, Arthur, and becoming the Luna of the pack."
My heart sank at the news of my sister's departure, but before I could dwell on it, my mother prompted, "And the good news?"
My father's face lit up. "Alpha Charles's father, Albert, who is now a retired alpha, has agreed to take Skye as his tenth wife. Isn't that great?" He said it excitedly.
My mother clapped, but my legs almost gave out as my head began spinning in dizziness. My stomach twisted in disgust at the thought of being married off to someone I barely knew, who was old enough to be my grandfather.
"I can't marry such a man!" The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them, fueled by a surge of defiance and desperation. Before anyone could react, my mother's hand shot out, sending the cup of tea flying towards me. Hot liquid splashed across my face, the scalding pain searing through me as I stumbled back, crying out in shock.
