Fate of the Cursed Omega Bride

"Things can't go on like this, Kaiden. We're losing more men and territory every day! You're our Alpha, you need to do something about this!" Kaiden's beta shouted, knowing that his outburst could result in the Alpha ripping his head off without breaking a sweat.

Kaiden was known for his cruelty and ruthlessness, and few dared to challenge him directly. He stood by the window in his office, watching the shadows dance in the forest outside. His eyes, cold as ice, fixed on the beta, the silence between them filled with an aura as powerful as it was crushing.

The Alpha was an imposing man, with broad shoulders and a presence that exuded power. His black hair fell in waves over his forehead, and an old scar cut across his right eyebrow. Since Kaiden's Luna disappeared many years ago, he had become worse, colder, and more bitter. Some dared to say that whatever humanity he had left died that day.

"You think I'm not aware of the situation, Marcus?" Kaiden's voice was low, but each word made the air feel heavier. "You think I don't see my men falling, that I don't feel the loss of our territory?" He turned slowly, his eyes glinting with restrained anger. "I don't need you to tell me what's happening. I need you to tell me how to fix it."

Marcus swallowed hard, struggling to maintain his composure under the Alpha's intense gaze. "The other packs are banding together against us. They see our weakness, Kaiden. We need a new strategy, an alliance, maybe..."

Kaiden raised an eyebrow, a cold, humorless smile curving his lips. "An alliance? With whom? Who would ally with us when we're at our most vulnerable?"

"There are rumors that the Crescent Moon Pack is open to negotiations," Marcus suggested hesitantly. "They're suffering losses too, and maybe we could find common ground..."

The Alpha walked to his desk, his steps echoing in the silent hall. He picked up a crystal glass and filled it with whiskey, taking a sip before turning back to his beta. "The Crescent Moon Pack, you say. Interesting. But what would they gain by allying with us? We need something that gives them a reason to consider this alliance."

"We can offer protection, Kaiden. And resources," Marcus responded quickly. "Our territories still have riches they lack. And... maybe there's something else we can offer."

Kaiden looked at the beta, his eyes narrowing slightly with interest. "Go on."

"There are rumors that their Alpha, Dominic, is looking for a Luna." Marcus swallowed hard, waiting for any sign of approval on Kaiden's face. "Maybe... we could use that to our advantage since you have two daughters."

The Alpha narrowed his eyes for a moment, feeling anger burn in his chest. "This Alpha Dominic, is it Dominic Riviera?"

The beta only nodded, knowing from Kaiden's expression that it had been a terrible suggestion. A growl rose in the Alpha's throat, anticipating the wave of anger starting to consume his senses.

"Are you joking?" Alpha Kaiden asked with a slight smile, but when the beta nodded again, the anger took over completely. "I would never give Katherine to anyone! Much less someone from Riviera's pack!" The Alpha's roar made Marcus wish to retreat, but he held Kaiden's gaze, trying to maintain his composure in the face of his leader's fury.

The Alpha had a volatile temper, and any mistake could be costly. He could feel the chaotic energy building between them. Kaiden gripped the crystal glass so tightly it seemed about to shatter, his knuckles white. His anger, always lurking, surged fully at the mention of Dominic Riviera's name, stirring Kaiden's wolf.

"Give Katherine, you said?" he repeated, his voice low and dangerous. "You suggest I sacrifice my daughter to strengthen an alliance with that pack of traitors? Are you out of your mind, Marcus?"

Marcus lowered his head, aware that he had touched an extremely sensitive spot. "Sorry, Alpha. I was just trying to think of all the options."

Kaiden took a deep breath, trying to control the fury boiling inside him. Dominic Riviera and his pack were long-standing enemies, a constant source of conflict and resentment. The idea of allying with them was repulsive. He took another sip of whiskey, the amber liquid gleaming in the firelight. He knew Marcus's suggestion came not from disrespect but from desperation. However, the idea of giving Katherine, his eldest daughter, to a stranger, especially a rival Alpha, was inconceivable.

"I won't hand over my firstborn to that bloodthirsty lunatic. Dominic Riviera has a worse reputation than mine, and you know me!" he shouted. "Think of another plan."

The beta knew there weren't many options, but he had to do something. Alpha Kaiden couldn't leave his people in this situation, with the reports of dead and wounded growing ever larger. Marcus's son and even his wife had died protecting the people of the New Moon Pack.

"What about the other daughter?" Marcus asked hesitantly, almost whispering. "She's young and unmarried, isn't she?"

Kaiden froze in the middle of the room, his eyes narrowing at the beta. Natalie. She had always been the weaker of the Alpha's two daughters, without a wolf, without natural talent, a disgrace in the eyes of many in the pack. However, even though she was seen as an outcast, it was difficult for Kaiden to consider her a bargaining chip, for some reason he couldn't quite understand. "Natalie," Kaiden murmured as if savoring the name. "Do you think Dominic would accept an alliance if we offered him Natalie?"

"She might not have a wolf, but she's still your daughter," Marcus argued. "That would show good faith, and maybe, just maybe, Dominic would consider the offer."

Kaiden pondered for a while, his thoughts turning to his younger daughter. Natalie had always been a constant reminder of his failure as a father and Alpha. Perhaps sending her to the Crescent Moon Pack could ease some of that burden, and if Dominic accepted, it might mean a new opportunity for the pack to recover.

"Prepare the messengers," Kaiden finally ordered, his voice cold as ice. "We'll send a proposal of alliance to the Crescent Moon Pack. We offer protection, resources, and... Natalie."

Marcus nodded, relieved to have found a solution, even if it was a risky one. He knew Kaiden didn't make decisions lightly, and this could be the chance they needed to turn their luck around. Kaiden turned back to the window, watching the darkness overtaking the sky.

His so-hated daughter could be the sacrifice that ensured the survival of his people. She would finally have a purpose.

Natalie Black

Slap! The sound of Katherine's slap, my older sister, against my face was as loud and powerful as the impact of my body hitting the muddy ground. "Can't you do anything right?" she asked as I rubbed my scratched face. Katherine had used her claws.

Katherine's friends laughed at her actions. I didn't know why Katherine hated me so much. We were never friends, that's true, but ever since our mother left, her treatment of me had worsened. We weren't friends, but as far as I knew, we shared the same father and mother, so why did she treat me so harshly?

"I'm sorry, Katherine, I..."

"Katherine?", she said and looked up in disbelief at my courage. she narrowed her eyes at me and cracked her neck. I swallowed and corrected my mistake, "Sorry, Miss Black," I said, getting up from the ground, feeling the mud dripping from the hem of my only pair of jeans. I walked over to where she had thrown the clothes I had just washed for her. "I'll rewash it."

Katherine wrinkled her nose in disgust and rolled her eyes. "I don't want to wear it anyway," she said, crossing her arms over her chest, something she did when annoyed. "It's stained, throw it away."

"Yes, Miss Black," I replied, knowing the dress was in perfect condition when I brought it to her room this morning.

"By throwing it away, I mean in the trash, Natalie," she insisted. "If I see you wearing it at any point, I will have you punished."

"Yes, Miss Black." I lowered my head, swallowing the lump of resentment forming in my throat.

Katherine always knew how to make every gesture seem like a sentence because our father, Alpha Kaiden, gave her the power to do whatever she wanted with me after our mother disappeared.

He was cruel, and Katherine was becoming just like him. The fact that I didn't have a wolf when I turned sixteen encouraged him to let her humiliate me even more. A werewolf without a wolf spirit was nothing more than a pariah, but my father made sure I was treated even worse than that throughout the years.

I picked up the stained dress and turned to go back inside the house. Katherine and her friends continued laughing as I walked away. It wasn't always like this; I have a vague memory of our childhood. The shared laughs at bedtime, the adventures in the gardens... everything seemed so distant now. Our mother's death had created an unbridgeable chasm between us, and Katherine had turned into a cold and ruthless person.

I entered the kitchen, where Mrs. Milligan, the housekeeper and the only person who treated me well in the pack, looked at me with concern. "Oh, dear," she murmured, reaching out to take the dirty dress. "What happened this time?"

"Nothing new, Mrs. Milligan," I replied, my voice low and tired. "Katherine didn't like how I washed the dress and told me to throw it away."

The housekeeper sighed, shaking her head. "She's been harder on you lately. You need to be careful, Natalie."

"I know, but I don't have a choice," I murmured, feeling a lump form in my throat. "She's the Alpha's daughter, and I... I stopped being that a long time ago. Any reason she gives him to punish me more severely will be accepted without question."

I forced a smile, trying to mask the pain in my chest. "I should be glad it was just a slap and not something worse."

Mrs. Milligan placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "You're more than this, Natalie. Don't let them make you forget who you are."

She touched my face, and the sting made me pull back a little. She watched me with worried eyes. "We need to take care of this before you get sick from an open wound. Did she use her claws too?"

I nodded slowly, feeling grateful for her concern. "That girl has few limits. Throw this away and come take care of your face."

She was a kind woman, but even she feared Katherine's wrath. I threw the dress in the trash, feeling a wave of sadness seeing the piece of clothing I had washed so carefully discarded as if it were worthless.

The next morning, before dawn, I got up and went to the garden, the only place where I still found peace in the rare moments without a pointless task to complete. The fresh morning breeze caressed my face, and for a moment, I managed to forget the pains and humiliations of the previous day. However, my peace was interrupted when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned and saw Katherine, her eyes shining with coldness.

"What are you doing here so early?" she asked, her voice icy.

"Just... needing some fresh air," I replied, trying to stay calm.

"Have you finished all your chores to have so much time to laze around?" She stepped closer, her eyes fixed on mine. "Do you think you can just do as you please, Natalie? I'm in charge of this house now, and you'll follow my rules, and in them, you don't have time to rest."

"I know, Miss Black," I whispered, anger and frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "The morning tasks are already done, I just thought that..."

"You know?" She took a step closer, her dominating presence, I could feel her wolf close by. "Then prove it. I want you to go to town and buy a new dress for me. And don't come back without it."

I looked at her, surprised. "But I don't have any money, Katherine. You know that..."

"That's not my problem," she interrupted, mercilessly. "Figure it out. And remember, if you don't obey my orders, there will be consequences."

Without another word, Katherine walked away, leaving me alone in the garden. "Great!" I muttered, clenching my hands in my lap. I didn't have enough money for a new dress, especially because Katherine had a specific taste for expensive clothes.

The little money I managed to save over the years from extra jobs in other wolves' houses wouldn't be enough, but I needed a solution because whatever punishment she was preparing for me would be worse. What could I do to get money quickly?

I needed to act fast before anyone noticed my absence. I grabbed my worn-out coat and a small bag with the little money I had saved. Passing through the kitchen, Mrs. Milligan was washing dishes and, upon seeing me, frowned. "Where are you going in such a hurry?" she asked.

"I'm going to town to fetch a dress for Katherine," I replied, keeping my voice calm. "She ordered, and you know how she gets when she doesn't get what she wants."

The housekeeper sighed but nodded. "Be careful, dear. I'll try to cover for you so they won't notice your absence, be quick."

"Thank you, Mrs. Milligan, I promise I'll be back as soon as possible," I said, giving her a quick hug before slipping out the back door.

Natalie Black

I wandered through the entire village, but as I had anticipated, there was nothing I could afford. So I made the decision that could be as foolish as it was ingenious. I ventured further into the forest. It was cold and dark, the chilly wind cutting across my face, but it was the only place where I could procure a beautiful dress within my means.

A secluded old seamstress lived away from the village of the pack, few dared to approach the old lady because of the rumor that she was a witch, but I had no choice but to seek her out. There were rumors that she, the lady known only as Lady Thorn, always did incredible things for a low price.

The trees around me seemed to form a sort of wall as I approached her house. Finally, after a few minutes of walking, I spotted Lady Thorn's cabin. A dim light shone through the window, and the smell of herbs and incense filled the air.

I took a deep breath and knocked on the wooden door, feeling my heart beat faster. The door creaked open, revealing the old lady. Her eyes were piercing, and a mysterious smile played on her lips.

"What brings you here, child?" she asked, her voice gentle but authoritative. "No one from your people ever dares to come this far."

"Lady Thorn, I need your help," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "I need a beautiful dress, but I don't have much money. Katherine, my sister, ordered me to bring her a new dress, and if I fail, there will be consequences."

The old seamstress watched me for a moment, her eyes shining with ancient wisdom. "Come in, dear. Let's see what I can do for you."

I entered the cabin, the warmth from the fireplace providing a welcome relief from the cold outside. Lady Thorn gestured to a chair near the fireplace, and I sat down, feeling a mix of nervousness and hope.

"Katherine, you say?" murmured the old lady as she began to rummage through the fabrics and materials in her workshop. "She has always been a difficult young woman. I remember her when she was little, always demanding and cruel."

I nodded, surprised that she knew my sister, considering she rarely left this hut. "Yes, ma'am. She has been very demanding of me ever since our Luna departed."

"Oh, I know," Mrs. Thorn said, sighing. "There's a darkness in her heart that's hard to dispel. But we're not here to talk about her; we're here to find a solution for you."

She picked up a piece of fabric in a deep blue shade, with a shimmer reminiscent of the night sky. "This fabric should please your sister. But making a dress takes time, and you need it quickly, right?"

"Yes, ma'am," I confirmed, feeling the urgency tighten my chest. If she couldn't deliver the dress on time, I would have very big problems to deal with.

The old lady looked at me with a piercing gaze for a long time. "There's a way to speed up the process, but it requires a small sacrifice on your part."

I swallowed hard, ready to accept any condition. The last time Katherine punished me left scars until today; it was when I couldn't deliver her breakfast on time. She sent two betas, much older than me, to beat me for forty minutes, then gave me a cold shower and made me sleep outside the house. It was snowing, and she didn't let me wear dry clothes. The result was a relentless fever for a week, but that didn't stop Katherine from giving me more duties to fulfill that week while our father just watched from the window. I knew he was there, watching Katherine torture me from afar; I could feel his alpha aura, but he did nothing to defend me.

I almost died that week, and to be honest, I would have preferred to die.

"I'll accept anything, ma'am. What do I need to do?"

"You shouldn't act like this near a witch, Miss Black. One doesn't accept a deal without knowing the price," I swallowed hard but ignored the cold fear in my fingers.

"Whatever the price, it can't be worse than everything I've lived through in that house," I replied. "Alright. Don't say you weren't warned." She picked up a small silver dagger and handed it to me. "I need a drop of your blood. It's an ancient ritual that speeds up the sewing time, but don't worry; it won't hurt."

With a slight tremor, I took the dagger and made a small cut on my finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto the fabric. Mrs. Thorn murmured words in an unknown language, and a soft light enveloped the fabric. Almost instantly, the fabric began to transform, sewing itself into an elegant and stunning dress.

I was amazed to see the dress taking shape before my eyes. In just a few minutes, the dress was complete, more beautiful than anything I had ever seen. I extended the bag of coins to her, and the old lady shook her head.

"I won't be needing your money, child. Remember, this dress is special," the lady said. "Thorn. It has a charm that will protect you, but I will return for my payment."

"If it keeps me from getting a beating tonight, that's enough for me," I replied, grabbing the dress. I nodded, thanking her once again before leaving the cabin with the dress. The walk back seemed less daunting, my heart light with renewed hope. When I arrived at the mansion, I searched and handed the dress to Katherine, who was visibly impressed.

"How did you manage to get this?" she asked, still suspicious, narrowing her eyes at me. "You said you had no money."

"I simply did what you asked, Miss Black," I replied, trying to hide the pride in my voice.

Katherine accepted the dress, and for the first time, there was no disdain in her gaze. Perhaps, Mrs. Thorn's magic had some effect on her too. But for now, I had accomplished the task, and that was a small victory for me.

"Do you need anything else?" I asked before stepping away.

"No. Just leave my sight," she replied. I returned to my small attic room, feeling exhausted but happy; at least tonight, I wouldn't have a series of bandages to change.

I grabbed the only photo of my mother that my father hadn't destroyed. I was becoming more like her every day, with the same blonde hair and delicate features, and even though Katherine was leaving my body full of scars that never fully healed due to the absence of my wolf, I was developing a beautiful body like Mom's. I don't remember much from before she left, but I remember well the day Alpha Kaiden came to tell us that she had died and would never return. We couldn't give her a proper burial because he wouldn't allow it. A week later, all of Katherine's abuses began, but the worst part came when my wolf didn't show up. The whole pack was waiting. Alpha Kaiden threw a huge party for the day, as it was also my birthday. He told me that I would finally have value.

When my wolf didn't appear, he told Katherine that I would be her servant from that moment on. I'm sure I wouldn't be treated this way if our mother were with us. I thought about running away several times after that day. Becoming a rogue. Without a pack. But how would I survive in other packs if I could barely defend myself from Katherine and her friends? I slept crying, clinging to the only memory of my days of peace.

My peace lasted briefly, a dull thud of knocks on the door woke me up. I swallowed hard, preparing myself for what was to come. Did something go wrong? Did they know about my deal with Mrs. Thorn? Another knock on the door, louder and more insistent, made me get up quickly.