Chapter 3 Not Up to the Mark

Abby's POV

"Alpha Hayden?," I whispered, more to myself than anyone else.

Hayden's eyes met mine, sharp and unreadable. A flicker of something passed through them. Curiosity? Annoyance? Or something else? I couldn't tell.

"Thank you for the invitation," Father said, breaking the tension. He gestured toward my mother. "This is my wife, Luna Marie."

Hayden bowed his head slightly in greeting. "It's an honor to have you here, ma'am."

Father then turned to my sister and me. "These are my daughters," he continued with a grin. "This is Freya. She has recently achieved notable success within the pack and now holds an important position."

Hayden extended a hand, and Freya, glowing in the attention, took it with a confident smile.

"Glad to hear it," he said, offering the barest smile.

Then Father turned to me.

"And this is Abby," he said, his voice dipping. "My youngest. I present her for the arranged marriage with all due respect and consideration."

The way he said it. So formal, so final, made my throat tightened.

Hayden turned to me fully now. "Pleasure to meet you, Abby."

"Thank you for having us, Alpha Hayden," I said, not sure if what I said made sense. I gave a polite nod and managed a small smile, but inside, everything trembled.

Hayden gestured toward a set of comfortable chairs arranged around a low table. "Please, have a seat," he said, indicating the seating area. "We have much to discuss."

As we approached the chairs, my heel caught on the edge of an elaborate decorative rug. I stumbled and crashed straight into a nearby table. Glasswares clattered and shattered to the floor.

The room's chatter stopped, and I felt every eye turn toward me. Their gaze is like daggers.

"Are you alright, Abby?" I heard Hayden's voice cut through the silence. His tone was flat, lacking warmth.

My breath hitched. "I...I'm so sorry," I stammered, my face burning with embarrassment. "I didn't mean to..."

"It's fine," Hayden interrupted, stepping back with a polite but distant nod. "Just be careful."

I crouched, trying to pick up the broken pieces. "Don't worry about it," Hayden said without looking at me again.

Around us, whispers had begun.

"Is this truly the daughter of Alpha Thorn? She seems... not up to the mark," one of the guests said disapprovingly.

"I'm sorry," I repeated under my breath, wishing I could disappear. "At least I didn't bring down the chandelier," I added that in my head.

Hayden turned away. "Let's move to the private lounge," he said to my Father.

Father, with tight jaw, threw me a deadly glare before he muttered to Mother, "This isn't how I wanted things to go tonight."

Mother's eyes narrowed with disappointment as she looked at me. "I hope this doesn't ruin the evening," she said, her tone icy. And then added before she moved away "Try not to embarrass us further."

I looked down, unable to meet her eyes. Even their disappointment felt rehearsed. Like they'd expected me to mess up. As I used to like an incompetent daughter.

Freya stepped forward, offering me a hand with a faint, strained smile. "Let me help you," she said, pulling me to my feet.

She signaled a waitstaff to clean up the spilled drinks. "Abby, I think it's best if you take some time to gather yourself," she said, her eyes betraying her frustration. "I'll handle the rest."

I nodded, feeling the weight of my inadequacies. "Alright," I mumbled, heading towards the courtyard.

As I passed the door to the private lounge, I overheard Father and Hayden inside.

"Hayden, please, let's discuss this," Father's voice was desperate. "Perhaps we can find another arrangement. Maybe Freya would be a better fit."

"No, Alpha Thorn," Hayden interrupted sharply. "Freya's not necessary. I will proceed with the marriage to Abby as planned, and I won't negotiate further." The finality and disappointment in Hayden's voice were clear.

As the evening wore on, I sat quietly at the edge of the event with hands clenched in my lap. Not wanting to be seen, I tried to maintain a low profile. Meanwhile, Freya engaged effortlessly with guests, her graceful smile and lively conversations clearly showing her enjoyment.

After the event ended, my family and I gathered our things, ready to leave. The car ride home was filled with silence, broken only by the hum of the engine. The weight of my wolfless status felt heavier than ever making me more isolated.

As our car turned a corner, I caught sight of a familiar figure on the sidewalk. For a split second, my heart leaped into my throat.

"Derek!" I muttered, almost a whisper.

The figure moved into the streetlight, and the hope I had felt fizzled out when I saw that it was just a stranger.

I looked away quickly, feeling foolish. "It must be the stress," I told myself, though I didn't quite believe it. My fingers found the pendant at my neck, the one he gave me before everything changed. My heart ached as memories of jom flooded back.

"I miss him," I whispered, my voice barely audible, the words spilling before I could stop them. "He always knew how to make things feel less... heavy."

Derek was my only go-to person whenever the pressure at home became overwhelming.

And then, just like that, he vanished.

No warning. No note. Not even a goodbye. Just... gone.

Still clutching the pendant, I whispered to myself "Maybe I was stupid to hold onto it. To hold onto him."

"Abby?" Father's voice cut through my thoughts. "What are you mumbling about?" His eyes caught mine briefly in the rearview mirror.

"Nothing father," I replied quickly, not wanting to cause any more trouble, especially when it seemed their anger was finally fading.

And thankfully, he didn't press.

As I looked out the window, Derek's absence felt like a gaping hole, a harsh reminder that some voids can never be completely filled. 'Or so I thought,' I reflected.