Claimed By A Disabled Alpha

Serena

The evening was cool and calm. I arched my head to the side, enjoying the soft chirps of the birds from outside. My brows were furrowed as I focused intently on the portrait I was sketching, the charming features of a man slowly coming into shape.

Derek. My heart swelled with love as I stared at my nearly finished portrait. It had taken me almost a week to get it done, and I wanted to present it to him as a gift to mark our second anniversary. My eyes clouded over as I recalled his words from yesterday.

"Will you be my mate, Serena?" he'd asked, his warm eyes staring into mine, seeing my soul. I hadn't hesitated, not even a bit. A smile tugged at my lips. Of course, I said yes.

Derek and I had courted for two years now, and even then, it hadn't been easy. I was born into a strong family, and my father was the Alpha. Contrary to what people thought, I was unloved and mistreated at home. Father had remarried, and my new stepmom, Susan, made it clear that she didn't like me.

It didn't help that father was always busy with pack affairs and so Susan was in charge at home. 'If only I could change,' I thought, sighing deeply, my hands still moved across the sketch pad. I'd been born wolfless, I couldn't change into wolf form. It was a thing of a shame to our family, little wonder father treated me like I was air, instead he treated Susan's children better.

Derek was the only person who treated me nicely and loved me, I'd planned to channel my emotions into painting this portrait, I hoped he'd see it and see the love I had for him. He meant everything to me.

No really, Derek literally meant the world to me, I had never loved anyone this much in my entire life, and considering how much my pack neglected wolfless Omegas like me, Derek was the only person in the world who cared for me too.

I was so engrossed in my sketching that I didn't notice someone had walked in until a shadow loomed over me. My heart jolted and I glanced up, meeting Susan's cold eyes.

"Mo–mother," I stammered, rising to my feet quickly and I closed the sketch pad. "I didn't see you come in," my voice shook and I lowered my head as I spoke, not daring to meet her eyes.

"Hmph!" Susan didn't say a word and she scoffed lightly, her cold eyes raking over me before slowly settling on the sketch pad. "You seem to have forgotten that you're to present yourself at the dinner party later," her eyes filled with contempt. "Not staying here fiddling with rubbish," she sneered.

"You've been the source of shame to this family and you know it," Susan's eyes bored into mine. Her words were threatening, "You'd best be on your best behavior if you make any mistakes..." she trailed off, leaving her barely concealed threat hanging in the air.

I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat and nodded quickly, not daring to say anything. Susan was always concerned about our family's image.

It annoyed her immensely that I was my father's first daughter, despite my special case of not being able to turn I had to attend and represent my father as the daughter of the Alpha. If Susan had her way, my step-siblings would take charge, not like they weren't trying to already.

"I..." I stammered and my cheeks reddened. "I'll get ready right away," I jumped to my feet, closing my sketch pad quickly.

"I want you to get ready in time or else," Susan snapped, her eyes shooting fire as she glared at me. The air became heavy from the weight of her words, and my breath hitched. I stared at her as she turned and walked away without another word.

I heaved a sigh of relief watching her leave and I hurriedly got to my feet. The party was being thrown by one of our pack's wealthiest noblemen, so as the eldest daughter of the Alpha, I couldn't afford to miss it at all.

Thankfully, by the time I got dressed and arrived at the party, I realized that I had made it just in time.

The party was bustling when I arrived, with finely dressed people moving about the place. I couldn't help but sigh as I mentally thought about how I'd recreate such a scene at my wedding with Derek.

I could feel cold stares coming my way but I ignored them, already accustomed to such looks. I'd arrived minutes ago but aside from being announced at the door, no one had come up to welcome me. No one wanted to associate with the castaway daughter of the Alpha.

I sighed at the thought but I forced a smile and raised my head high. I couldn't let them see me cower, Derek had always reminded me of that. I still couldn't believe he wanted to marry me, an unwanted Omega no one else wanted.

Derek wants to marry me! That was all that mattered to me.

I took a deep breath before I walked inside, my eyes searching through the crowd for Derek, I hoped he'd be there. I also wished that Cynthia was here with me, Cynthia was my best friend. My only friend. I'd planned to come with her but she'd texted she was busy with something.

I'd just walked in when I heard hushed whispers from around me.

"Oh my gosh look! Aren't they the cutest couple ever? I heard someone exclaim as they stared towards the dance floor where I noticed a small crowd had already gathered.

"Damn! I wish a man would look at me with as much love as he looks at her." Another guest sighed.

Who could that be? I wondered, walking forward as I craned my neck curiously to see who it was that'd gotten everyone agitated.

But the minute I got there, my feet halted in their tracks before my brain could even process the sight in front of me. "What!" the blood drained from my face as I stared in shock.

A couple were truly dancing very intimately on the dance floor, the man's hands were wrapped possessively around her as they moved slowly to the music. "How..." my breath caught in my throat. "How can this be?" I felt as if my legs were about to give way beneath me, my eyes were glued to the man.

It was Derek, my Derek! He held the woman whose face I couldn't see because it was tucked into his neck. He was smiling and peppering loving kisses on her bare shoulders.

I felt as If a knife was slowly twisting in my gut as I watched, shocked to my bones.

I stared at him, unable to move. Unable to even breathe as my heart and my dreams shattered into a million pieces in just one second! How could he? My eyes blurred with tears, and I felt my heart give way within me.

This couldn't be happening, except, it was.

Serena

Derek! My world crumbled before me as I stared at him in the embrace of another, they slowly moved along to the music and the woman's features became clearer.

"What?" A wave of disbelief washed over me and my throat tightened with hot tears that threatened to spill over.

I knew her! I knew who the woman was. Cynthia, my best friend and training partner. But didn't she say she was sick? My eyes were wide as I stared at them.

Derek was cheating on me with my friend! I suddenly felt very dizzy.

My shirek had attracted stares my way and Derek suddenly looked up and his eyes met mine.

"Serena," his face changed and he froze. A stab of pain shot through me as I met Cynthia's surprised face, she didn't look guilty. She stared at me as a look of pity filled her features. Derek let go of her as he took a few steps forward, "Serena, I can ex..."

"I trusted you," my voice trembled as I stared at him, ignoring the gazes that focused on us as the hall settled into a stunned silence.

"I..." Derek tried to speak but I wasn't hearing any of it. I quickly turned around and ran from the crowd as the tears began to run down my face.

How could he? My sight blurred with tears as I bumped into a waiter, spilling over a tray of drinks to the floor. "Sorry," I sobbed, not stopping as I stumbled away. All I wanted to do was leave this place, I had to be dreaming, this couldn't be real.

What was the problem? Was I not enough for him?

Painful sobs began to wrack through my body and I couldn't hold it in anymore. The pain in my heart was too much!

I'd just gotten to the door when someone pulled me, drawing me to the side. I tensed as the scent of Derek's cologne filled my nostrils and I struggled in his grasp. "Let me go, how could you?" My body trembled with sobs as I shook.

I looked up through tears to stare at him, his eyes avoided mine and I saw a flash of guilt in their depths.

"Serena, please I can explain, it's not what you think," I stiffened and struggled out of his grasp when he tried to hold me. "It's all a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding?" I exploded, anger and pain filling me. "I saw you, Derek! You and her. Together." My voice lowered to a whisper, "How's that a misunderstanding?"

"I-I.." Derek's eyes evaded mine as he stammered. "She doesn't mean anything to me, honey. It's you I love. She's your training partner, I was just talking to her about expanding our training center." He stuttered and my vision turned red.

"You were talking to her about training Derek? Do I look like a fucking child to you? So you talk about training by kissing and hugging in public right? Do you take me for a a fucking fool Derek?" I screamed incredulously.

A flash went past his eyes and his expression hardened. "Can you keep your voice down, Serena? People will hear us!" He snapped, his cold voice made me shiver.

"Or what?" I whispered, and tears streamed down my face. "Let them hear us! At least they'll know what a lying scumbag you are!" I yelled with tears pouring down my face. "You looked like you were two seconds away from tearing off her clothes back there! What kind of fucking training partner is that Derek?!" I couldn't believe he dared to tell me such a terrible lie.

Did he think I was that stupid? That I'd just believe his crap?!

"You're pushing it, Serena," Derek snarled, his eye flashing with dark forbidding lights. "I've had enough of this," a smile tugged at his lips.

All of a sudden, there was a shift in his eyes and his demeanor abruptly changed. The worry and panic in his eyes instantly disappeared and were replaced by something cold and sinister. I had never seen him look at me that way.

"Fine Serena, you want to hear the truth?" Derek smiled mockingly. "Here it is..... Yes, I have been sleeping with her behind your back." His words were like a bucket full of cold water had been splashed all over me.

No, he didn't mean it. I shook my head frantically, not wanting to believe his words. It had to be a lie, wasn't it? But even as I stared into his eyes, I saw the truth, he meant it.

My body shuddered violently, the shock of his confession settling in.

"Derek?" My voice was barely above a whisper. "How could you do this to me? After everything I have done for you?" I dabbed at my eyes, pressing down my tears.

"Hahaha," Derek suddenly burst into laughter, he stared at me like a fool. "What have you done Serena?" he sneered. "Just because you got me a good position at your father's pack and gave me a few million doesn't mean I should bow and worship you."

His words were like daggers that shot into me, sending stabs of pain into me. I couldn't even breathe as I stared at him, his words pushing me over the brink.

Derek continued, not minding my white face. "Cynthia is the daughter of a well-respected nobleman man too, and since your pack and family don't even want you, she is ten times more valuable and more influential than you'll ever be, I'm just using her to get the life I deserve." He snarled.

What! I felt a wave of nausea and I nearly threw up. His cold-hearted words sent a chill into me. All this while I'd thought the best years of my life were the moments I'd spent with him, but it turned out he'd been using me.

"Derek," I whispered. "I gave you everything! I gave you everything you asked, anything you wanted, whenever you wanted. I gave you all of me, even when I didn't have anything for myself! How could you do this? How can you be such a fucking monster?!"

No sooner had the words left my mouth, before Derek's hand swung at my face, giving me a horrible hard slap that left me stumbling back in pain and shock. Derek slapped me.

"You should know when to shut your fucking mouth, Serena," Derek's lips curled in a cold smile. "I've been itching to do that for years! You don't know how hard it was for me not to show you my real self!" He snapped. "To listen to your poor pitiful self whine about how useless you are, you are useless Serena."

Derek spat in disgust, "You're useless not just to me, but also to the Alpha," his words stunned me and I froze staring into the dark eyes of who was once my future. Now turned Nightmare.

It wasn't over.

Serena.

My heart thudded in my chest as I stared at Derek, my hands that cupped my cheek came away bloodstained.

My eyes were still wide in disbelief. Derek slapped me? I stared at him, shock washing over me. My eyes swept over him, his strong slender hands that once cupped my cheeks now the weapon he used to inflict pain.

But only the pain hadn't come from his hands, his words were much worse. My eyes blurred with tears as his words echoed in my head at that moment. I was useless, good for nothing... and naive.

"Take that back, Derek," I sobbed and I wiped my tears away with the back of my hand.

"Or what?" Derek scoffed, and he took a step forward. His threatening gaze pierced through me, "There's nothing you can do," a cold smile tugged at his lips.

"You..." Hot tears of pain and humiliation streamed down my face. This was all my fault! I had been such a fool to believe that anyone.. or worse, someone as handsome and talented as Derek could ever love someone like me. He'd used me.

I couldn't stand there any longer, I could feel the last threads of my sanity snapping.

"I hate you, Derek," my voice cracked, exposing the deep pain I felt. With one last look at his cold face, I turned to leave. I didn't want anything to ever do with him or love, ever again!

"Winds of change are going to blow Serena, and I'll be at the center of it," Derek's harsh voice filled the air as he stared at me with scorn in his eyes.

But I wasn't listening, I immediately rushed past him before he could stop me. I rushed toward the exit, ignoring the pitiful stares that shot my way. All I wanted to do was get home.

I'd just gotten out the door when I bumped into someone, I almost stumbled but a pair of hands held my shoulders, steadying me.

Two dark pools of grey stared at me. "Are you alright?" His hand traced the bruise Derek's slap had left and his eyes narrowed slightly. "Who did this to you?"

"Please," my voice hitched in my throat and I shook my head without answering him. There was nothing he could do to help me. I ran past him before he could try to stop me again.

The dam burst as I slipped into the car, my fingers shook as I hurriedly locked the doors, fearing Derek would come after me.

I rested my head on the steering and let the painful sobs tear out of my throat. My whole body shook with the force of my cries.

My chest felt heavy with the weight of my tears, but finally, my tear ducts dried up. I stared at my reflection in the rearview mirror, my eyes were swollen with dark circles underneath. I could already imagine Susan's cold gaze by the time I got home.

The thought had barely crossed my mind when my cell phone buzzed suddenly, snapping me out of my thoughts. My eyes widened as I stared at the screen.

20 missed calls from St. Louise hospital, and a text that'd just come in from Susan, my stepmother.

"Your Father's just been admitted to the hospital. He's in critical condition..."

My breath hitched in my throat and the cell phone fell. Daddy?

I switched the car on immediately, my heart thudding in my chest. "Nothing's going to happen, Father," I whispered, silently praying. Within moments I'd put the car in drive and I was on the way, heading towards the hospital. Susan had mentioned the name in the text.

My phone buzzed again, and Susan's name flashed across the screen. I picked up immediately and my hands tightened around the steering wheel. Susan never called me, seeing her call filled me with a sense of dread.

"Hello?" My heart lurched along with the movements of the car as I moved from side to side, overtaking cars on the way. I could get a speeding ticket but I couldn't care less at this moment.

"Serena. Where are you?" Susan snapped, her tone was murderous. "I've been calling."

"I'm on my way to the hospital. How's father?" I asked, my hands holding the steering were sweaty.

There was a slight pause on the line before she finally spoke, her voice was cold. "He suffered a sudden seizure. The doctors say he has a ten percent chance of surviving it."

"What!" I whispered as I felt a shiver run through me, I unconsciously pressed my foot harder on the gas, increasing my speed.

I and my father might have never been close, but he was still the only living family I had in the pack and I loved him despite everything. I didn't want anything bad to happen to him.

"What happened?" I asked, my mind racing with thoughts. How could a father suddenly have a seizure, werewolves were immune to most diseases. Something wasn't adding up.

"You even dare to ask? You're the cause of all this, don't play smart with me you damn little bitch." Susan burst into profanities as she cursed at me over the line. "Don't you know already? Haven't you heard the news?"

I frowned in confusion. "What news?" What was going on? My mind spun with questions and thoughts as I tried to wrap my mind around her words.

A loud car horn snapped me out of my daze and I hurriedly turned the steering, narrowly evading the car by inches. My heart lept to my throat and I broke out in cold sweat. I sat up, more watchful as I reduced my speed. The cell phone was still pressed to my ear with my free hand

Susan continued speaking, her voice becoming colder by the second. "This is all your fault, Serena, we warned you but you wouldn't listen. And now?" Her cold voice sent chills down my spine. " Now your father is going to die because of your foolishness." She hissed.

My heart stopped at that moment and thoughts rushed through my mind. What was she saying? She wasn't making any sense. Father had a heart attack? What was going on? I felt cold hands of fear wrap around my heart.

"Su– mother, I don't know what you're talki-"I began but she cut me off.

"Your father lost everything, Serena!" She snarled, her patience on the verge of collapse. "They've stripped him of his position."

"How..." I gaped, my eyes widening as the weight of the news hit me, I swiftly swerved to the curb, slowly grinding to a halt.

"He is no longer the Alpha," Susan's voice choked with emotion but she continued. "We are going bankrupt, we have over fifty million in debt, everything we have worked all our lives for is crashing down, and it's all your fault!"

Her hit me like a slap, the accusation clear in her tone. But what made matters worse, was that I didn't know what she was even talking about.

"I..." I began but the line went dead as Susan ended the call. My heart lurched in my chest as Susan's words echoed in my head.

This was bad.