The Dragon King's Substitute Bride [ON HIATUS]

[Roanna's pov] This is how it starts for everyone. This is how it started for me. A dog. A descendant, I mean. Practically the same thing. Born with a target on my back. Born unwanted by everyone in this little pack. Raised as a soldier with only one reason to live; taking care of my family. If I fail to do that then I have no purpose. So if they wanted a show dog to fight people they pissed off, then I would be just that. It’s the life I’ve grown to know. To constantly be angry. To never lose a battle as it gives my family pride. They can do whatever they want as long as I am strong. The needed pillar that holds them together. They are weak without me. In a sense. They love each other. But they love what I can do for them. I really shouldn’t be that surprised. But the situation today drew out my surprise. My sister was given to a man twice her age. She was happy at first because he was rich until she realized she would have to sleep with him. This isn’t the first time they’ve pulled this trick. But normally, I am not involved. Today is different. They pissed off the wrong guy when my sister tried to call off the marriage. She ended up doing what she always did when she was scared. She placed the blame on me. Saying that I was the one who told her to call it off. I don’t know why I even bothered to be shocked at this point. I should be used to it. “Bring out the dog!” The angry men outside shouted. I felt the tug of the chain connected to the collar around my neck. I got up, slipping out of the cage I slept in. My nostrils flared, and the sharp scent of a dragon hit me. They’re nearby. Dragon shifters. I caught my father’s eye and he was sweating. My gut told me this was more than just the angry guys I was staring at. There was something else. Had they angered another person overnight? A dragon perhaps? I nodded my head in a way that asked the silent question. My father looked at my mother right away. Yeah, that was all I needed to know. They’ve overdone it this time. Who sent them to piss off a dragon shifter? What am I supposed to do against that barbaric race? I’m not fireproof. I will try my best, but f**k. They never learn. They can’t fight for s**t, but they keep dragging me into messes thinking I will always win. A fist smacked the underside of my jaw. I locked my gaze on the pathetic werewolf who had done it. He shrunk back with fear. “We had a deal. You can’t just tell your sister to back out last minute. This is the problem with your kind. You think you can rule the world. You can’t. You’re beneath us wolves. Not the other way around. You hear me?” I lifted my hand, clenched my fist, and struck him directly at the top of his head. Sending him to the ground with a split skull. The men behind him gasped, and I knew my family was smiling. They only love what you can do for them. Remember that, Roanna. You’re actually on your own. Behind your back, they talk about you. Wondering if perhaps you were meant to be a man. Look at you. Look at your body. Have you ever seen anyone even socialize with someone like you? If you weren’t a descendant, you would still be hated. You’re just a dog, hahaha. A guard dog. That was a constant. The voice that spoke to me. It sounded so feminine, so spiteful. I let the words sink in. I don’t mind it. It’s nothing I haven’t heard before. I heard shouting before I could do anything else. “Dragons!! Dragons are here!” the men in front of me suddenly fled. They didn’t even confirm if the words were true. But from the woman’s face, you can tell just how petrified she truly is. I stepped closer to my father. “What did you do?” “don’t give me that tone. I did nothing. They were in our territory, I had to show them who’s boss.” he said. Even though his voice wavered. “what are you waiting for? A cookie? Go and stop them.” I gave him a crazy look, feeling frustrated. f**k, they don’t listen. They don’t f*****g listen! I gritted my teeth and turned my angry attention to the screaming woman. She was sprinting as fast as she could, forgetting that she could shift. Forgetting that she was a wolf, and it would be faster for her if she shifted. Behind her came the roar of several dragons. I heard the flapping of wings before I even saw the first one. The crest on their shoulder told me they were wyndorian dragons. We’re screwed. For sure. Fuck, what is my father’s problem? He must really want me dead. I would still try but looking at the snarl on the shifters, I knew they didn’t give a f**k. They were going to kill everyone in sight. I rushed at the first, fist tight, teeth bared. I landed the punch, toppling the dragon shifter to the ground. I didn’t get a chance to check if my hit had hurt him because more were on me immediately. Yeah, this wasn’t a battle I could win. But I still fought them. They had plenty of ammunition. From their tails to their claws, the non-shifting dragons that they brought with them, while I was fighting as many as I could. I heard my sister scream, and my father called out to one of the shifters. “stop! Stop! Please. I’m sorry. Can we make a deal?” you would think this is a good thing. But if my parents were in the position to beg, that meant I’d failed them. And now, they were disappointed and I was useless to them. One of the shifters held me down. “I like this one. She’s strong. You’re going to be a nice trophy for my king.” he squeezed harder, and my vision blurred. I hate dragon shifters. I hate them more than I hate my own family. I hate them for being stronger than me. I hate them for making it obvious I was weak in many ways. Being strong is all I have going for me. If I can’t make life easier for my family, then what use do I have in this world? “Why do we keep her around?” “We could have had a boy, you know? Instead, we got some freak hybrid between a man and a woman. Who’s ever heard of a female alpha wolf? Disgusting.” “People judge us for having her around. Build a doghouse for her, Daddy. Let her sleep there so they know she’s more of a pet than a member of our family.” “This is your fault, Roanna. If you weren’t born then your sister wouldn’t have broken that man’s vase. It’s all your fault that Jessica is rebelling.” “There’s no food for you today. I suggest you deal with it. With all that height and muscle, what do you even need food for?” Words are an uncanny ammunition. My body is desensitized to them. It used to hurt when I was younger. But as I aged, I learned there’s no point in crying. When you’re a freak like me, you find a way to make yourself necessary. Even if it puts your life at risk. Who cares if you live anyway?