Alpha's Undesirable Bride

Unbearable Pain

Venus POV

My heart silently shattered into a thousand pieces as I looked at the picture of Aaron Wolfe.

Kissing my stepsister, Vicky.

It was a selfie that Vicky had sent me. The caption read, “It just happened. I’m so sorry, Venus!”

A week ago, I had confessed to Vicky that I loved Aaron with all my heart. He had been the only wolf I loved ever since I could remember. The emotion I felt for him was like an urgent need crawling beneath my skin, and I was sure that on my eighteenth birthday, which was today, we would recognize each other as mates. But look at the birthday present I got.

Sitting at the island table in the kitchen, I stared at the tuna sandwich my stepmom had made. With my head lowered, I tried to hide my tears, my appetite lost.

“Venus?” my dad’s voice reached me in the kitchen.

Flustered, my reverie snapped. I quickly wiped my tears and looked up at him. “Yes, daddy?”

His brows furrowed for a moment. Glancing at my stepmother, who was whistling while making breakfast for him, he said, “Get ready when you come back from school today. We have been invited by Alpha’s family for dinner.”

I blinked at my eyes in confusion. “Alpha’s family? Why?” I asked, bewildered, looking between him and my stepmother. She grinned at him, unable to contain her joy.

Dad sat at the table and bit into his sandwich. “Just get ready. We have to reach there by 7PM,” he shot at me.

I didn’t want to go. It was going to be humiliating to be around Aaron, seeing him drooling over Vicky, feeling my heart burning. My eyes flashed to my father, my face laced with misery. “I’m sorry, I can’t go,” I replied in a hoarse voice.

“I am not asking you, Venus,” he growled. “You are coming with us and that’s it!”

I winced at his command. I looked to my stepmom to help me out of the situation, but she said, “Come on Venus, you know it is a special day. You have to accompany us.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat because I knew why this was special. Alpha and Luna were going to announce Aaron and Vicky’s engagement. Both were eighteen, and both loved each other. It was important for the pack to know who would be their future Luna as soon as Alpha’s heir came of age.

Before Vicky, Aaron and I bantered with each other, enjoyed each other’s company and loved visiting each other’s houses. The connection between us was electric. I don’t know why he would always love to touch me.

Memories flooded of when I took Vicky to my school for the first time. It was only a few weeks ago. She walked, clutching my arm like a shy girl with wide eyes. I introduced her to him. And things changed.

Ever since Vicky came into the picture, Aaron’s entire personality changed. He was extremely alert in her presence, gave her flowers every now and then, and finally announced in the school that she was his mate, which was shocking. They were both eighteen, and you smelled your mate as soon as you turned eighteen. But they didn’t realize it immediately. Why did it take so much time for them to realize it?

Vicky loved him when he paid attention to her. Aaron ignored me in her presence. It was like a sharp stab to my lovesick heart. When she disregarded him, he would feel sad, and my heart hurt for him.

I chose to suffer in silence because how could I question the supposed “mate-pull” between them? Moreover Vicky was my stepsister, my family. I had to support her, even if my logic defied me.

But the thing was that Vicky also loved Nathan, Aaron’s best friend, and his future Beta. She said that she was Aaron’s mate and loved Nathan. It made little sense. How could she love Nathan when she was Aaron’s mate? She was two-timing Aaron, and I was the only one who knew about it. Vicky specifically asked me not to tell anyone because she was stuck between them and it was really bothering her. Whenever I asked her to get out of the haze, she would end up crying a lot. I hated she was two-timing Aaron. I also wanted to warn him, but Vicky made me promise not to say anything to him.

I had a gut feeling that today Aaron would propose to Vicky in their house. A searing misery burned through my chest, my lungs, and every nerve ending.

“Daddy, please,” I protested in a weak voice. “Can I drop?”

“Venus!” Daddy scolded me. “Stop acting like a brat. Be ready when I return from the office. We all will go to Alpha’s house for dinner!”

I clenched my teeth and nodded. My stepmom smiled at me and winked. Obviously, she didn’t know of my melancholy because she was too happy for Vicky.

“Can’t we go out for a silent birthday dinner instead of going to Alpha’s house?” I hefted my satchel on my shoulder. “After that, you can come with me to the forest where I’ll shift and meet my wolf for the first time.” Father didn’t say happy birthday to me. None of them said it till now.

My father glared at me. “The Alpha has specially invited us, for your birthday.” I gulped in surprise.

Wondering about the whole thing, I walked out of the house to my car. Thankfully, I kept my feelings about Aaron to myself, except for sharing them with Vicky. Otherwise, I would have been mocked. At least Vicky sent me a picture about them kissing each other, putting an end to my stupid unrequited love.

As I drove to school, I steeled my heart. It was too late to pine over someone who was never yours. Aaron would never come to me, even if I tried hard. I had to build walls around my heart so that no one could hurt me again.

My school, Wolfe Academy, was twenty minutes away from my home. Since Vicky had gone earlier, I walked to my class alone. But as soon as I opened the door, I saw Vicky lip-locked with Aaron. I thought I’d puke. Jealousy reared its head in my heart. I wanted to pull Vicky away from him, but I knew that this would be the most ludicrous thing.

So I turned away and rushed to the bathroom, where I puked. I leaned over the counter on my elbows and sobbed as unbearable pain flared. I sobbed till I couldn’t, till my tears stopped flowing out and till I slid to the ground and curled my knees against my chest. The agony was too much to endure. It was a heartbreaking kind of pain to come second to someone whom you wanted first in life. Hard as I tried to move on, I couldn’t. And I didn’t know why I was clinging to this sick love?

When I finally came to my senses, I realized it was already 1PM. Damn it. How could I lose track of my time?

Suddenly, my phone buzzed. It was Vicky.

“Venus, where are you?” she whined.

“Why?” I asked in a hoarse voice.

“I want to meet Nathan and tell him I want to break from him. Please, can you personally convey this message to him?”

“You love him,” I said. “You should tell him, not me.”

She sighed. “I know this sounds horrible,” she sniffled. “But how can I convey it to him? I don’t want to break his heart.”

So she wanted me to break his heart and put me in his bad books while she remained untainted? My lips quivered. “Please Vicky, that would be… cruel.”

“Venus, I know you hate me for being Aaron’s mate, but what can I do? This is the moon goddess’s decision. Please, just once, do this for me, okay? I don’t want to hurt Nathan. Tell him I will marry Aaron, and not him.”

See? Even she knew why Alpha had called our family for dinner. My birthday was just an excuse.

I forced myself to swallow the knot of emotions that rose. “I don’t hate you…” I replied. “Okay, I will tell Nathan.” I resigned.

After I washed my face which looked like that of a pufferfish, I made a messy bun of my blonde hair. I sighed. Some birthday it was going to turn out to be.

Decision

Venus POV

I avoided everyone in the school as much as I could, trying to contain my desolation, but my heart was not listening to me. Whenever I was alone, I ended up crying. Vicky was not just my stepsister, she was also my best friend, and so I didn’t know who to turn to in times of such dejection. Nathan was nowhere to be found and so I couldn’t convey Vicky’s message to him.

When I went back home, I heard my stepmom and Vicky talking about the dress to wear at Alpha’s party in her room. “Wear that red dress,” mom said.

My father was the wealthiest businessman of the Oak Pride pack. His wealth was second to that of Alpha’s, and both he and Alpha partnered in various businesses. My stepmother, Gaia, was my father’s secretary. Her chosen mate had died a year ago. She was all broken-hearted when my father met her. Love blossomed, and the two got married after a torrential affair. Ever since my stepmom, Gaia, married my father a few weeks ago, my life had turned drastically. Both Gaia and Vicky were the sweetest people on this earth and they both made me feel very welcome. I finally had a friend cum sister who I confided things in. But now…

I dragged my feet across the floor and as soon as I reached my room I bolted my door from inside and crashed on the bed, feeling drained of energy. Half an hour later, my father pounded on the door. “Venus, are you ready?”

Shit. I jumped out of the bed and opened the door for him.

He stared at me with his deep blue eyes that mirrored mine. My father had dark hair, but I had my mom’s hair. He placed his hand on my forehead. “Are you okay, chickee?” he asked. “You look like a bulldozer ran over you.”

I smiled at him through my misery. “I’m fine, dad.”

“Then change into something decent.” He said before closing the door. “We will leave in fifteen minutes.”

Sighing, I quickly changed into a yellow shirt, denim shorts and converse shoes, and walked out. My hair looked like a bird could make a nest in them.

I saw Vicky wearing a beautiful red dress that ended at her thighs. Her red hair was pulled up in a chignon over which she had adorned pearls. She had matched them with red ballet high heels. She was so jubilant that she swirled and asked, “How do I look, Venus?”

“Beautiful,” I replied with a forced smile.

She hugged me tightly and said, “Goddess, I am so happy! Finally, Aaron and I are going to be engaged. Imagine being the Luna of the strongest and wealthiest pack in all of America?”

“I am happy for you, Vicky,” I murmured.

She placed her hand on my shoulders. “Please don’t be mad at me. I just didn’t know who to choose: Aaron and Nathan. I think Aaron is the best choice for me. He is my mate.”

The way she talked about them really freaked me. How could she love two people and choose one? Why not choose both? Polyandry or polygamy were not uncommon in our community.

“Did you talk to Nathan?”

I licked my lips. “I—I couldn’t meet Nathan,” I blurted.

“What?” Her eyebrows scrunched over her light brown eyes.

I shrugged. “He wasn’t there.”

“Damn it!” she gritted. “Please, just call him.”

“Girls!” my father’s voice echoed, cutting our conversation. “Come on, we are getting late.”

Vicky gave me a once over. “Is that what you’ll wear for dinner?” she sneered.

“Yes,” I replied and walked to the driveway where my father was waiting with Gaia.

We arrived at Alpha’s manor in half an hour. As we entered the foyer, the butler announced our presence. Alpha Martin came out immediately along with his wife, Luna Marie.

“Patrick!” Alpha Martin greeted my father as he glanced at me. “How are you?”

My parents, Vicky and I bowed to the Alpha and Luna. “I’m well!” he said.

Luna Marie smiled kindly at me. “Happy Birthday, Venus,” she said, hugging me. “What gifts did you get today? You must be waiting for your wolf to come out!”

I was waiting to meet my wolf for so long, but I could sense her reluctance to come out because Aaron’s dismissiveness towards us dejected her. It was odd why my wolf was feeling bad about him.

We all exchanged pleasantries while walking inside. This was the first time Vicky had come to Alpha’s manor, and her eyes were wide open as she looked at all the luxury around us. When we reached inside, we saw Eric, Aaron’s younger brother, sitting on a sofa. Without acknowledging her, he jumped up when he saw me and came to hug me. “Happy Birthday, humbug!” he chortled with a bright smile. “You look like a tornado has passed over you!” he remarked. Eric looked like his brother, only an inch shorter. And I was shorter than both of them at just 5’5”.

“It’s nothing,” I muttered. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Vicky watching us. I couldn’t help but clasping my clammy hands because I wanted to get out of here as soon as possible and avoid embarrassment and heartache.

“Where’s Aaron?” my stepmom asked, scanning the house excitedly with curiosity.

“He’ll join us in a few moments,” Alpha Martin said.

I sat down with Eric and Luna Marie as Vicky sat down with mom while dad sat down with Alpha.

My stepmother started, “You have a very beautiful house, Luna Marie.”

“Thanks,” she replied with her patent soft smile. “It takes a lot to manage this place and the pack.”

Gaia giggled. “Of course, I can imagine.” She looked fondly at Vicky, who blushed under her gaze. “My Vicky is also perfect at looking after our house. She makes sure that everything is prim and proper. Not only that, she makes excellent food.”

I frowned. Vicky was never interested in those things.

“But I can’t say the same for Venus,” my mom chuckled. “Venus is more like a tomboy! She is sporty and loves to make a mess in her room,” she laughed. “She’s the brightest bulb in the chandelier! And it’s amazing how she finds new ways to be wrong. But I adore her completely.” She placed her hand on her chest, laughing softly.

Her backhand compliments were unexpected, and flustering me. Luna Marie glanced at me without replying.

Suddenly, the door of the main hall opened and Aaron walked in. My breath lodged in my throat. The effect he had on me was electrifying and deeply emotional. My pulse quickened, and my heart seemed to skip a beat. The air around me felt charged as I looked at him.

Aaron Wolfe was the most beautiful man I’d seen in my life. He looked like an Adonis. With high cheekbones and a strong jawline, tall at 6’3”, his presence commanded attention. He had broad and muscular shoulders with an athletic build. His face was strikingly handsome, with chiseled features and he had a rugged edge to his appearance. And his lips… oh, they were so kissable. He had thick, dark, tousled hair in which I wanted to sink my fingers.

His gray eyes dropped to me, and I felt a flutter of anticipation. But then his eyes went to Vicky, who grinned. “Hi!” she waved her hand.

And my insides turned to ashes.

“Hi!” he said to her excitedly, and came to sit next to his father.

Alpha Martin looked at his future heir with pride in his eyes and said, “I’m glad you are here in time, Aaron.”

Aaron beamed. “I had to be.”

Alpha Martin looked from him to my father. “Patrick, I’ve called you here to inform that we have decided that Aaron will marry—”

My stepmom squealed softly. Vicky giggled. Anticipation permeated the air.

My heart plummeted. I lowered my face to my lap, fighting my tears, waiting for the Alpha to drop the bomb.

Alpha paused and then completed his sentence, “—your daughter, Venus.”

My Worst Nightmare

Venus POV

“What?” Aaron retorted, standing up.

“What?” Gaia and Vicky said in unison.

“Wh—what?” I rasped, my eyes going wide in shock.

They wanted me to marry Aaron? Did I listen wrong? Hell, no. “N—no!”

Aaron seethed with anger. “How can you do that, father?” he retorted. “I won’t marry someone who isn’t my mate! Vicky is my mate and I will marry her!”

“My decision is final,” Alpha Martin growled. “You will marry Venus. You are both getting engaged in two days and will get married at the next full moon.”

“This is ridiculous!” Aaron shouted as his hands curled up into fists.

“Lower your fucking tone!” Alpha Martin said in a menacing voice, his eyes flashing amber, his wolf hating anyone questioning his authority. “I know this is in the best interest of the pack.”

Vicky started crying as she looked at me with accusation in her eyes. My stepmother turned to her and hugged her, pressing her head to her chest, trying to calm her. “Hush, no baby…”

My heart thundered in my ribs. This marriage would be a disaster. Aaron would never love me, and I would die loving him. I glanced at my father, who was sitting there with absolute calm, watching Aaron. Why wasn’t he saying anything? I got up from my place to take hold of the situation. “Alpha Martin,” I said in a low, cautious voice. “I can’t marry Aaron. He loves Vicky and Vicky loves him. They are both mates. It would be a catastrophe if I marry Aaron. Please reconsider your decision.”

Alpha Martin raised his eyebrow as if saying that I dared to challenge his decision. I withered under his gaze, but I couldn’t allow him to force me to marry Aaron. I had to stop this nonsense before it catapulted into a ruin for all of us.

Luna Marie held my hand and said, “Sit down, Venus. I know that this can be overwhelming for all of you at the moment, but this is your Alpha’s decision. We have thought about it for a long time before announcing it.”

“B—but Luna Marie, Vicky is his mate, not me. It’s not justified,” I argued, trying to be as courteous as possible even though my inside was in a state of turmoil.

“She’s right!” Aaron shot a glare at me. “And why did you hide your decision?” he said to his parents. “You can’t expect me to marry someone I don’t love!”

Upon his words, Vicky started crying loudly. “This can’t be…” she murmured.

Gaia looked at me as if I was the one responsible for this debacle. She intervened. “That’s the right thing to do. Vicky and Aaron are meant to be with each other. Please don’t be so harsh.”

“I can’t marry Aaron,” I said to Luna with pleading eyes. “Let Vicky marry him.”

Luna Marie’s eyes softened. She cupped my face with one hand. “Venus, I gave my word to your mother that you will marry my son, Aaron. I know that this is all shocking for both of you, but I’m sure that with time, things will be fine. You both complete each other. There was a reason I insisted that you be trained as a Luna. We have talked to the Elders about this marriage and they are of the same opinion. From the bottom of my heart, I know for sure that Aaron is going to be thankful to the Moon Goddess for marrying you.”

I blinked my eyes in astonishment at her. They had also talked to the Elders about it? My heart drummed in my chest like a drummer gone mad. I peered at my father with pleading eyes, but he just stared at me with a hint of a smile. Seriously, what was going on? And then my father said, “Happy birthday, Venus.”

My mouth dropped to the floor. So this was why he hadn’t wished me since morning?

Aaron was so furious that he stomped out of the room.

“I want to go home,” Vicky said through tears. “Please take me home, mom.”

My stepmother and Vicky got up. They bowed to the Alpha and Luna and walked out. I rushed after Vicky. “Vicky!” I breathed as I caught her in the foyer. “I— this is all so surprising! I didn’t know—”

“Oh, cut the crap!” Vicky hissed at me. “How could you? Why didn’t you deny their decision? You wanted Aaron to yourself and become the queen of this wealth and pack. You’re a disgusting, greedy little bitch! I should’ve been the Luna of the Oak Pride pack, not you. I am Aaron’s mate, not you. You have usurped my place with your shenanigans!”

“Vicky!” I said as shock flickered wildly through me. “What are you saying? I protested because I know Aaron is your mate.” Acknowledging that was killing me, but I caught her hand gently. “Please listen to me.”

“Oh please! You protested weakly!” She jerked her hand away, her face contorted with anger. “You are such an ingrate! After what my mother and I have done for you, this is how you repay us? If you have any shame left, you will reject this marriage before coming home.” With that, she spun and walked out of the house with Gaia. Gaia gave me a hateful look as she stormed out of the manor. Blood drained from my face, watching them leave. Until a few moments back, they were the sweetest people in my life. How could they turn so bitter in less than thirty minutes for something that wasn’t in my control?

As if in a haze, I turned to go to the main hall. Somehow in my heart, I knew Aaron was the right wolf for me, but did Aaron know? Did he believe in me even once?

Eric came over and hugged me warmly. “Congratulations, humbug! Welcome to the fam!”

“Bah!” I dismissed him. “This gotta be my worst nightmare,” I murmured.

“No, it isn’t,” he chuckled. “And if Aaron fails you, I’m always there.”

I smacked his forearm, and he laughed. Eric, Aaron and I had been friends ever since I can recall. Eric was two years younger than Aaron, and we both bonded well. He was like a brother I had never had.

My mom died when I was fourteen. It was an enormous loss for both me and my dad, but Alpha’s family had been there for me always.

“Don’t go back home now,” Luna Marie said when I arrived in the main hall. “We will be there for your first shift.”

The Alpha and Luna were there for the first shift of every pup. They gave them their blessings. I hoped Aaron would be there with me on the first shift, but my heart sank a little more when I realized he would probably be with Vicky, nursing her wounds. Tears burned in my eyes all over again.

“Yes, Luna,” I said, glancing at dad. Why was he still so cool about it? Wasn’t he concerned about Gaia? He was in deep conversation with Alpha Martin about the engagement. “Father, can I speak with you?” Only he could convince Alpha to take his decision back.