Chapter 5 Crown of Thorns!

Valeria's POV

After my alpha father dead: I lowered my head, enduring one painful moment after another, all for a single act of kindness, all for the hope that the woman I called mother would finally see me.

I was always tasked with looking after Summer. She was younger than me, only by a few months, but that difference didn't matter. If a single strand of her hair was harmed, I was the one who faced the consequences.

I was the older sister, meant to protect her and ensure nothing bad ever happened to her.

And in that role, I was the sister. But when it came to toys, sweets, cosmetics, and clothes, everything good was always reserved for her.

I would settle for the things she discarded, the toys and clothes she no longer wanted.

It never felt unfair to me. Deep down, I always knew I wasn't the real daughter. I was the adopted one-the outsider. She was the true child of the family. I was grateful for whatever scraps they could give me.

I did everything I could to fit in, to be accepted by this family, by this pack. But deep down, I knew they never truly accepted me. I had nowhere else to go.

I was like a rat trapped in a cage, with no escape.

The next day, I almost ran away from the house.

I woke up early, desperate to avoid my mother's disappointed gaze and my sister's tearful eyes, which weighed me down with guilt and the responsibility of saving her.

I wandered through the forest for a while. After much thought, I decided to speak to the Alpha one last time, to plead with him, beg him again. But I wouldn't submit to him again....even if it meant dying a thousand times.

If they took her, I think there was nothing I could do. I didn't know what actions my mother would take against me, but nothing could be worse than what I endured yesterday in that room, on that bed.

But as I approached the Alpha's house, the noise of the gathered pack caught my attention. What was happening here?

Then I saw them. Summer, embracing Alpha Arkell in front of everyone, calling him her mate, love and companion.

The others around them hailed her as Queen Luna and congratulated the Alpha on his good fortune in finding his destined mate. He lovingly embraced Summer's small body.

Something inside me broke. I walked toward them mechanically, my eyes fixed on the scene, heart heavy with the weight of hypocritical happiness.

"Summer, what's going on? Why... why are you embracing the Alpha?" I asked, though deep down, I already knew the answer.

"Isn't it obvious? We're destined mates, sis. My wolf came out early, and we recognized each other," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Aren't you happy for me, sister?" she added, smiling as if she were a pure angel. But I could see it-the mockery in her chocolate eyes.

"You're not even 18 yet. How can you be sure?" I asked, trying to mask the pain.

"It's rare, but I was very stressed. My wolf came out early, just when I met the Alpha this morning. What's wrong, Valeria? You don't seem happy for me," she said, pretending to be innocent.

"Does it bother you that I found my destined mate before you?" she asked, her words hurtful, cutting through me. The murmurs around me grew louder.

"Mother, how can you allow this? Just yesterday, we begged the Alpha not to take Summer for the selection, and now it turns out they're mates and you're accepting it just like that?" I asked incredulously.

Without an apology, without anything. My heart shattered as I looked at her.

She knew everything I had done, everything I had sacrificed. Was it all for nothing?

Of course, I didn't want Summer to be taken. I had done everything for her. But to see everyone dismiss my suffering, my sacrifices, without an ounce of compassion, was like a dagger to my soul.

I gave up my body, my mate, to save her. Did anyone care about my feelings?

"I don't understand your question. If they are mates, they should be together. Your sister will be the pack's Luna," my mother said coldly. "You should be happy for her, Valeria. Come, stand by my side. Stop always trying to be the center of attention," she added through gritted teeth, lowering her voice. But I couldn't process her words.

"So, you'll be the mate of a man who, despite your pleas and those of your family, was going to sell you like a slave?" I asked, my voice shaking with fury. "Yesterday, we begged on our knees, and he had no compassion. And today, you embrace him and call him your love?" I glared at my sister, then at him, those black eyes that haunted my nightmares.

That mocking smile on his lips-it seemed like he could read every thought in my head.

"This is the family you begged for. You were my whore, and for nothing," his sneering face said, and I realized that's what I had become-a pawn for this woman, who now embraced him and called him darling.

"Are you happy now, Alpha? Have you gotten everything you wanted?" I said, fury consuming me.

"Valeria, stop causing a scene. Come to my side!" my mother's commanding voice cut through the air.

I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms, and, as always, lowered my head. Everyone around me thought I was just jealous of Summer, of her good fortune.

No one would sympathize with the orphan, so I decided to stop making a spectacle of myself. I already felt like a clown, a fool.

Exposing myself would only lead to more rejection and pain. I didn't want anyone to know the shame I carried. But my dear sister wouldn't pass up such an easy opportunity.

"Valeria, sister, you don't have to react like this. I know... I know you liked the Alpha, but being so easy with men doesn't always work..." she said meekly as I passed her, whispering, but everyone could hear it.

The murmurs grew louder, and the implication of her words hit me like a slap.

She was revealing my darkest secret, that I had slept with the Alpha for my own benefit.

"How dare you say that, of all people?" I stopped, turning to face her, barely holding onto the little calm I had left.

My hands trembled with anger and helplessness.

"Valeria, I didn't want to embarrass you in front of everyone, but the truth is, you got into the Alpha's bed just to stay in the pack, so they wouldn't choose you in the selection. Now that I know he's my mate, it hurts too much," she said, her voice oozing false concern.

"I thought you'd at least feel bad, guilty for your shameless act. But instead, you attack me? I thought... I thought you'd be more grateful to my family..." she continued, her words sharp like daggers.

Insults like "shameless," "whore," "we shouldn't have let her into the pack," "she's a disgrace," "bitch," "ungrateful" rang out loudly from the crowd.

They were all echoing what they'd truly felt for years.

"I forgive your slip-up because I considered you a sister, but please, don't get any closer to my mate," Summer said, feigning concern.

"Mother raised you well, but it seems blood speaks louder," she added.

"Summer, you're a disgrace, and you're the ungrateful one here! This man, your so-called mate, is a disgusting rapist who took advantage of my desperation for you. I did what I did to save you! I considered you a sister!" I shouted, my voice breaking with rage.

"How do you twist everything to your convenience like this? I did it because they were going to give you away as a slave! And now, I'm the one being blamed for your misery?"

"Now it's my fault you were promiscuous? Really, Valeria? What a shame! You are a whore for the previous Alpha, and because of you and that bastard Zarek my father died. He must be rolling in his grave, regretting saving you!" she spat, the final blow that crushed my spirit.

"How dare you say that to me?! How dare you?!" I screamed, losing control, and lunged at her.

I attacked with all the fury in my soul.

They say when a noble person turns rebellious, it's worse than any fighter.

'Deliver me from calm waters, for I am my own worst enemy in rough ones,' I thought to myself as I hit her with every ounce of my resentment.

My claws tore through her face. I couldn't see anything but red, the rage consuming me, until strong hands pulled me away and restrained me. The pack's men held me down, forcing me to kneel.

I struggled against them, driven by revenge and fury. A sharp slap cracked across my face, splitting my lip and sending me reeling.

"How dare you defame your Alpha and strike your Luna?" the Alpha's voice boomed, cold and hard, making everyone shiver in fear.

"We took you in, saved you from being a rogue, and this is how you repay us?" he continued, his words full of malice.

I looked up at him, my swollen eye barely open.

"You're no better than the Alpha King. You're just a tyrant!" I shouted, my voice hoarse. "Listen to me, everyone. It may be me now, the insignificant orphan, but tomorrow, when your beloved Alpha targets one of your daughters, you'll see how far he'll go to force an innocent woman into submission!"

My voice rang out, but as always, I didn't expect any different response.

"Don't compare our daughters to you, prostitute!" a woman shouted from the crowd.

Chaos erupted around me.

"Get out of our pack, ungrateful wretch!" someone yelled.

"It was you who seduced the Alpha! Heartless villain!"

My ears barely registered the insults, how they twisted the truth, how they now defended their Luna when just yesterday, they were relieved it wasn't their daughters being chosen.

Suddenly, something hit me in the head. I looked down and saw a carrot.

One of the women had thrown it, and that gave others the idea. Soon, vegetables, eggs, anything they could find rained down on me.

I knelt there, humiliated, enduring their blows. When the vegetables ran out, the stones began to fall.

The guards didn't even flinch, allowing them to stone me like a true outcast.

A stone hit me in the temple, and blood poured down my already swollen face. It was the last thing I knew before losing consciousness.