Marked By The Demon Triplet Alpha Kings

Aurora.

I let out a weary sigh when my eyes met with the huge clock that rested on the wall.

It was past 1am.

Yesterday's chores were heavy. Despite starting them very early before anyone was awake, I finished the next day with no break at all.

Nathalia, the Alpha's daughter was pleased to see me buried in work. She rejected anyone's attempt to assist me and punished them severely...just like she always does.

Her actions pulled people away from me as they were scared of her harsh punishments.

No one dared crossed her or they'll be sorry!

She enjoyed seeing me miserable, it was some sort of entertainment to her.

It pleased her to see that I had no one on my side.

Nathalia and I were born on the same day by different mothers. We shared the same father, but her mother was the Luna while my mother was the Alpha's mistress...or the Alpha's whore.

Twenty years of our existence, Nathalia hates me without a reason. It was understandable, my mother was her father's whore.

She never cease to make my life miserable at the slightest opportunity and also reminding me that I was a bastard who will never get accepted, the daughter of a filthy whore as she calls me.

My mother on the other hand wasn't helping matters. Her role in my life was to add to the miseries that Nathalia created. I thought a mother protects, loves and cares for her child, but my mother did the opposite.

I knew she wished she never had me and she doesn't stop telling me that every day at the slightest provocation. Soon, it became a song that I was used to, a song that never stops. But I didn't let it bother me.

Even though I acted brave and pretended it never got to me...it shattered my heart to pieces knowing my mother hates me.

I had never wronged her in anyway, I was always in my best behaviour, pleasing her even at my detriment...but it didn't change a bit of her feelings towards me.

She love for me was as cold as ice.

Motherly love was something I never tasted...something I long for every day of my life, but I knew i would never get it.

Though my father never showed any affection towards me, he didn't make my life miserable and sad. He never stood up for me when my mother or Nathalia were punishing me, but he didn't add to my problems. On rare occasions, when he was in a good mood, he forbids Nathalia from punishing me. I was grateful for that.

Over the years, I had stopped wallowing in self-pity and accepted it as my destiny, even if it was a horrible one.

I jumped in fright when I heard footsteps towards me, hiding behind a pillar, but relief washed over me when I saw a guard on parole.

Great! I and the guards were the only ones awake.

Thanks to that she-devil for keeping me up until this hour while she snored away on her comfy bed.

My face contorted in a frown as I dragged my weak legs across the hallway, staggering towards my room.

I couldn't wait to crash on my bed...at least, my bed didn't hate me. Every muscle in my body protested as they were sapped out of energy as a result of the work overload. With a long shower and quality sleep, I'll bounce back... except there was no room for quality sleep.

"Shit!" I cursed when I remembered the errand my mother sent me. Horror swept through me as vivid imaginations of what she would do to me flashed in my head.

The air in the hallway shifted and everywhere was suddenly hot.

The weakness I felt earlier disappeared in the blink of an eye as it was replaced with fear. My heart pounded hard against my ribs so loud that I could hear it and my hand began to tremble.

That was it. I was dead!

I hope she doesn't remember. I didn't mind waking up very early before she wakes up to clear the chores. I couldn't imagine being beaten in my current state...I could pass out. Fuck. She hated not being responded to.

"Please, just this time," I pleaded to the Moon goddess, hoping she will hear me, "As early as possible, I'll go to her room and she won't even notice,"

Hope replaced my fear as I walked to my room.

Horror rushed through me when I opened the door to see the last person on my mind. My mother.

It was like a bag of ice was thrown on me as i stood rooted on a spot, unable to move with bulging eyes like I had seen a ghost.

"Come here!" She ordered sharply.

I didn't realize minutes had passed before her voice pulled me out of my train of thoughts.

Even in the darkness, I could see a huge frown plastered on her face and I could hear her pacing.

The air in the room got tensed as her anger filled the air like a thick cloud of smoke that suffocated me.

"You'll have broken bones if I have to repeat myself," She threatened, except they were not empty threats.

She meant every word on her thin lips.

Without a choice, I walked to my death, dragging my feet against the tiles as every step I took became heavy.

"Mother, please..." My words were cut off by a resounding slap that made me lose balance, throwing me to the floor.

My head went blank for some seconds before my ears began to ring. Before I could recover, another slap landed on my cheeks and I tasted blood. The weight of the slap was so heavy, I thought I would go deaf in a matter of seconds.

"How dare you disobey me!" She roared in rage.

"I didn't, I swear..."

"Shut up, you bastard! Ungrateful little girl!" She cursed, her eyes spitting fire.

I remained quiet, biting my bruised lips from crying. Talking will just make her more mad than she already was.. My face hurt from the slaps I received and I didn't want to receive more.

My explanation didn't matter anyway.

"You brat! First you disobeyed me and now you made me wait for you?! Who do you think you are?" Her voice rang, hurting my ears.

Her voice was loud enough to wake everyone in their sleep, but she didn't care.

Her hand was about to make its way to my face when i held it unconsciously, "I wanted to iron the cloth you will wear for the arrival of the Alpha King tomorrow, but Nathalia forbids that I leave the rest of the chores. I swear, I wanted to," I pleaded, breaking down in tears.

"How dare you touch me with those filthy hands?" She asked in a dangerously low voice and chills ran down my spine.

How could I forget that she hated being touched by me. I irritated her.

"You good-for-nothing bastard!" She screamed louder, moving away from me like I was covered in vomit.

Her hands were about to throw me against the wall when she stopped, walking away from me.

"That's it. You are growing wild. Until you learn, I'll put you in timeout," She hissed and walked out of my room, "You'll spend the night there,"

"Mother, please. I'll do the chores right now if you permit me," I cried but she motioned to a guard who walked into my room watching me like a hawk watching its prey.

"Too late!" Her merciless voice rang, "Escort her out, or won't you be able to do so?" She nodded and gave a brief smile at the guard.

"Piece of cake, ma'am," He replied with a gruff voice, walking closer to me.

Shit!

I had to act fast.

"Please, mother...not the dungeon. Anything but the dungeon...." My voice shook as I knelt, tugging at her expensive gown while she kicked me. The pain that radiated my head when I hit it against the wall was excruciating, but I didn't mind. Anything but not the dungeon.

"What are you waiting for? Take her away!" She yelled at the guard in anger who sprang into action, dragging me away from my room into the place I dreaded the most.

The dungeon.

Aurora

I drifted to sleep not long after I was thrown into the dungeon to rot throughout the night.

I could feel the worms in my stomach growl in hunger, reminding me that i hadn't eaten throughout yesterday.

I was so engulfed in chores that I didn't eat.

Nathalia made sure of that.

Despite being fast asleep, I couldn't stop my teeth from chattering in fear as I hugged my battered body tighter.

The night was going to be a long freezing one.

Panicked shot through me as I felt a pair of tiny legs scurried across my body.

It could only be one thing.

Rats!

The Moon goddess knows how much I detested those creepy creatures.

A scream tore from my mouth as I sprang up to my feet in a flash of light, running to a rat-free spot. I muffled another scream as my head hit the hard brick wall and I fell to the cold floor at once.

For some seconds, everything went blank as my head rang repeatedly.

I massaged the throbbing spot on my head as I sat, resting my back against the wall, wincing in pain.

Peeking into the darkness that surrounded me, fear clawed my heart and I quickly looked away. My heart pounded hard against my ribs and my breath became heavy.

By the Moon goddess, I hated dark places. It made me feel as if I was in the midst of gigantic monsters.

To crown it all, I was the only one in this part of the dungeon.

Quietly, I crawled carefully until I found a safe spot. I curled into a ball and buried my face in-between my palms.

Slowly, I fell into a deep slumber. That was the only way I could survive in darkness.

The last thing I heard were the repeated chattering of my teeth as my torn clothes could cover my body and the fast beating of my heart as I was petrified.

As soon as I shut my eyes, I teleported to another world.

Fear filled my heart as I walked in the midst of two women gawking at me.

My mother and the Luna.

"Mother, help," I called unto her, stretching my hand as the wind blew me away but she remained unperturbed, watching me in scorn as I struggled to get on my feet with the wind tossing me about.

"Please, mother, help me!" I screamed louder, desperately struggling to reach out to her, "Mother..."

"Don't you dare call me that!" She yelled, growling at me like a wild beast.

The Luna on the other hand stared at me quietly with compassion unlike my mother whose appearance was like that of a fire-breathing monster.

"I'm sinking! Help, mother!" I screamed, struggling with the sand that was about to swallow me and the wind that made me fall repeatedly.

"You think I care? You ruined my life, I hate you!" She spat angrily turned her back and walking away nonchalantly.

"I'll help you, dear," The Luna's smooth voice filled my ears and a gasp rolled off my mouth.

How nice!

I was about to stretch my hand to meet hers when the wind caught me and threw me off balance, burying me in the sand.

I jerked with force as I woke up from the nightmare, snapping my eyes open as my heartbeat accelerated.

The dream was so vivid, I could almost smell my mother's scent.

I had dreamt of my mother's nonchalant behaviour toward me...but there was something strange about this dream.

It frightened me.

I screamed in fear as my eyes met with the terrifying darkness.

It was as if my mother's figure was staring at me.

Despite her absence, I could feel her burning gaze hovering around my vulnerable frame.

Does she find pleasure in haunting me even in my sleep?!

I swallowed the hard lump in my throat, hugging my knees and burying my face into them.

Thinking about this would only fill me with fear. I needed to get this out of my mind.

Sleeping would help.

***

"...bitch...how dare...steal..."

I tossed in my sleep, groaning and covering my ears with my palms.

Who was making that hell of a noise?!

I couldn't make out the words as sleep still clouded my eyes. It took time to fall asleep after the strange nightmare.

"Get her...instant..."

"Just shut up already," I hissed when the voice grew loud, tossing as i sought for a comfortable spot on the cold hard floor.

"Open it, now!" The voice commanded, but I was not disturbed. I hadn't done anything wrong. Meanwhile, it was still early.

I was so engrossed in my sleep that I didn't know when my door flung open.

I was woken by a splash of water.

Turned out a bucket of water was emptied on me.

Why was that? What did I do this time?

I was still processing everything when a familiar aura hit me. My face deepened in a frown as realization dawned on me.

That bitch, Nathalia!

I should have known that she was the one screaming her head off. My head ached from the poor sleep and her annoying voice.

What does she want this time?

"How are you steal my jewelry!" Nathalia's voice rang on my ears, making me cringe.

The sleep in my eyes and my blurry vision vanished the moment I heard her words.

Did she just say steal?

I followed the direction of her gaze to be sure of who she was referring to and her gaze landed on me.

Surely, it was some sort of mistake.

"Are you deaf? Where is my jewelry?" She demanded, stretching her hand toward me.

My brows creased in confusion as my brain tried to process my last encounter with her.

She instructed me to finish the chores that ten people would do. I completed them without complaining and got myself in the dungeon.

Why was she accusing me of stealing some jewelry?

I was short of words as I stared at her with a more confused face, expecting her to burst into a pearl of laughter, telling me that it was a joke but her face remained as hard as a rock.

Before I could open my mouth, my cheeks stung from a heavy slap. Tears dropped from my eyes as my hand caressed my face. I was sure that it would be red by now.

Did she just slap me?

Anger built up in me, but I struggled to contain myself.

She was the Alpha's daughter, going against her would bring more punishment.

"But I didn't steal your jewelry," I cried, more years streamed down my eyes as I swallowed hard.

"Are you raising your voice at me?" She asked, laughing hysterically, "Are you trying to play dumb? You cheap slut. You are a whore, just like your mother!" She lashed out.

Her words doesn't get to me, but that moment, her words cut me like a hot knife, causing pain that seared my heart.

"Shut up!" I screamed, ignoring my pounding headache.

How dare her accuse me wrongly?

I wouldn't let her toss me around. I was the Alpha's daughter too!

"Don't you dare, raise your voice at me!"

Her hand was about to find its way to my face again, but I held it mid-way, refraining it from slapping me.

Satisfaction courses through me the way her eyes widened in surprise.

She didn't expect that I could stand for myself.

She pushed me against the wall.

"Get your filthy hands off me, bitch!" She yelled, pushing me away like I was covered in garbage.

"Leave me the hell alone. You made me work from dawn till dusk. I didn't even eat or take a break. You are the reason I spent the night in this hell and now you are accusing me of stealing your jewelry?!" I fired. Anger rose in my chest as I stared at her annoying face.

I was one step from pouncing on her and breaking her nose.

"The reason you stayed up late was because you wanted to steal something. You know the Alpha King will be here any moment, that was the reason you want to look beautiful with my necklace, right?"

I scoffed as her words irritated me.

Me? Steal?

"Clearly, you are out of your mind," I hissed, walking away from her but she grabbed me by my hair, flinging me against the wall.

I bit my lips from screaming. I could feel my bone break in the process. My legs couldn't support my body and I crashed on the floor, holding my side that hurt.

Good thing werewolves heal fast.

"You stole it! The mistress found my jewelry in your room while she was waiting for you. It was also reported that you left the chores once. I can tell that that was the time you hid it in your room because you felt nobody was watching," Her lips curled into an evil smile as she stared at me.

My heart became heavy as my mother walked in, confirming all that Nathalia had said.

"I swear, mother, it's not true. I only left to pee once. She is lying,"

"Silence!" My mother ordered before slapping me hard on my place, "How did it get into your room then? Did it grow wings and fly?" She asked, laughing hysterically.

I let the tears fall freely from my eyes this time as my lips trembled.

I couldn't believe my mother slapped me because of Nathalia.

She didn't even care to know the truth!

What kind of mother was she?

"I thought putting you in timeout will put some sense into you. But I was wrong. You ungrateful child! All you do is embarrass me. I hate you!" Her shot dagger at me before they softened a bit as she turned to Nathalia, "She should be punished,"

My heart shattered into a thousand pieces as her words sank into my heart, ripping them apart even more.

I couldn't believe my mother placed a stranger over me.

The dream made sense now.

"Make it quick, darling," She urged Nathalia, "She embarrassed me, she should be embarrassed!" She hissed as her eyes made contact with mine.

"Please, believe me. I never stole anything, I swear. Someone put it in my room. I haven't entered my room all day," I tried to convince her desperately.

"I didn't raise a thief!" She mumbled, looking away.

I noticed the fake smile Nathalia flashed at my mother. Not because she liked my mother, but because hating on me was the only reason they got along.

That was the only thing they shared in common.

With a heavy heart, I looked at my mother as she couldn't wait for Nathalia's punishment. I could tell she was excited.

"She will attend the meeting that we will be having with the Alpha King. But instead of attending as a part of the Alpha's family as we agreed on earlier, she will only be there as a maid, serving dishes to us," Nathalia smiled at my mother when she was done before glancing at me.

"So be it," My mother confirmed and walked away, leaving me with Nathalia and a guard.

My heart skipped two beats at Nathalia's pronouncement, making me to stagger backwards.

I couldn't believe my ears.

I was supposed to seat while the maid served us. Why would Nathalia make me the maid? Didn't she think of the shame on my part?

"I didn't steal anything!" I cried in frustration, hoping my tears would touch my mother's heart, but her ears were deaf to my pleas.

She will never believe me no matter what I say or do.

It was a waste of time trying to convince her.

That instant, I hated my life.

Maybe I should just end it all and be free from the tortured since she hated my existence.

"It will be so much fun to watch you humiliated," She smirked, her face burning with anger and jealousy.

Damon

My canines gritted in anger as my eyes narrowed to meet the half-dead man pleading for his life before me like a coward.

I hated cowards!

And pleading only rekindles the burning inferno inside me.

"Be a fucking man, not a pussy!" I lashed at him, ignoring his screams as my elongated claws dug deep into his flesh, slashing his ugly face.

"You weren't pleading when you joined the conspiracy," I spat, irritated by his pitiful state.

Fucking hypocrite!

"Please, my king," he coughed weakly. I could feel his pulse getting weaker as seconds went by. By the way his blood oozed, he won't last long.

"It was the devil," His trembling fingers grabbed the edge of my shirt in desperation.

Blinding rage washed over me as my eyes turned red.

How dare he touch my cloth with his filthy hands?! He was lucky he didn't touch me.

"It would be a pleasure to send you back to him," I shot coldly, ripping out his heart from his chest and watched his lifeless body slump down like a pack of cards.

"What have you done? You monster!" A voice from behind yelled.

Monster?

I have been called all sorts of strange names, but not a monster.

A thrill of excitement coursed through my bones at the way the name sounded on his lips.

Monster. Hmm. I like that.

A dark smile played on my lips as I turned to meet him, "I forgot you were here for a minute," I walked toward my second prisoner. I recognized him at once despite his battered face. He was a member of my council.

The thumping of my heavy boot against the hard floor and his erratic breathing were the only sound that filled the dungeon.

Unlike the first one, this one was no pussy. He was a man. But beneath his brave face, was a scared cat. The smell of his fear only excited me.

I couldn't wait to feed on his fear and end him!

I hated long talks.

"We know who our king is. You won't occupy that position for long, your end is near, you demon!" He growled pinning his gaze on me.

Demon? I liked that too.

I commended his boldness but his arrogance started to irritate me.

"And who will the unfortunate successor be?" I asked calmly, leaning close to him.

He grinned, flashing his bloody teeth and torn lips, "It would be a surprise," His bloodshot eyes were still fixed on mine.

Was he challenging me?

"You think we like you and want you to rule over us as the Alpha King?" He started.

It was no news that almost all my council members hated me and they didn't like my judgment. They hated that I survived this long on the throne as the Alpha king, but I didn't let it bother me. Leading my people was my priority, no matter how cruel I was.

It was high time I sanitized my council members.

"A war is coming, Damon," His voice filled my ears, snapping me out of my thoughts.

Anger flooded me at the way he addressed me without adding my title. But I contained it, I wanted to hear what the bastard would say.

"You will be overthrown and your life will be wasted just like brother and Ivy,"

"Enough!"

"You can't even father a child..." He gave a mocking laughter.

"Enough!" I bellowed, growling at him and slashing his face with my claws. My voice was so loud that I could feel the room vibrate.

I could feel rage taking over me as smoke radiated me.

How dare he mention my late brothers and my mate!

And my problem.

His words only brought back the memories that I tried hard to forget. His words were like a sharp knife that pierced my heart, opening scratching a huge half-healed wound.

I shut my eyes to stop the hot tears from steaming down my face. Seeing me cry was the last thing I wanted.

No one has ever seen me cry and no one will!

The memories resurfaced in a rush, playing in my head. It was so vivid, I could picture every detail of it.

The rogue's attack on my pack made me lose everything I loved dearly. My mate and my brothers.

We were triplets Alpha Kings ruling other packs fearlessly, but I was the only one alive. For years I tried to move on, but I was stuck.

No matter what I did, I never healed. I was broken, no one could fix me.

I acted tough before my subjects, but deep down, I was shattered to pieces. I needed help, but I wasn't going to allow anyone to perceive my vulnerability. I was the Alpha King.

Moving on was almost impossible, most nights, I see them and I talk to them as if they still existed. I knew I couldn't move on no matter how hard I tried, instead, I buried myself in work, but it only made me more cruel and ruthless.

I bit my lips hard as guilt overshadowed me.

Maybe if I was there on time to help, my brothers wouldn't have been captured and killed and our mate wouldn't have drowned in the river with our... No! I wouldn't think about it. The last thing I wanted was to lose my shit before this son of a bitch.

Molten anger rolled through me as I grabbed the man by his collar, choking him hard and pinning him with my blazing eyes.

"How dare you speak of my brother and our mate?!" I roared, punching him hard in his face till he lost all his teeth.

But I wasn't done with him yet.

I would tear him limb from limb!

I would make sure that he doesn't forget me in a hurry after killing him in the most unimaginable manner.

Satisfaction courses through me as his fear almost suffocated him faster than I choked him.

Now I could feed on his fear.

I growled, baring my canines at him as I was irritated by the way his eyes rested on mine.

Stinking arrogance!

I would make sure all he saw was darkness as he walked through the lonely path leading to hell.

"Don't you fucking look me in the eye!" I spat, gorging out his eyes without warning, enjoying his horrifying screams.

But I wasn't done with him yet.

"Any last words before I send you to hell?" I chuckled dangerously, picking up a large hook that was resting on the wall and caressing it.

I couldn't wait to put it into use. My hands ached in anticipation.

"I won't forget you in a hurry and I'll make sure to avoid paths with you if we come to the world a second time..." He coughed out blood, gasping for air.

"You are dead!" He started choking on his blood as I stabbed him with the hook, ripping his insides with it and watching his body split into two as they fell lifelessly on the cold floor.

I earned another name. Death! I fucking love that.

The sound of footsteps made me glance at the door sharply. Relieve courses through me seeing my Beta. Jasper was everything to me. My Beta, he was more than a best friend, he was like a brother to me. He was my right-hand man and I trust him with my life.

"Monster, Demon and now Death? I'm impressed. How did you do that?" He asked excitedly, clapping his hands.

"Watch and learn, Jasper" I replied my Beta in a gruff voice, "Learn from the best,"

I just hope he says what he wants and leaves. I wasn't in the mood for fun, thanks to that son of a bitch.

"I hate to spoil your fun but we have a meeting with the Alpha of the Diamond Heart pack, right now," He stated, going through his iPad before putting it down and glancing at me.

The moment his eyes softened, I looked away from his gaze. I didn't want to be bothered by him.

But I was wrong, he saw my troubled face before I could mask my expression.

Great!

Now the never-ending lecture begins.

I like the fact that he cared about me and put the pack and I first, but sometimes, I nodded to be alone. I didn't want his pity.

"Are you okay?" He asked gently, walking to meet me. I shifted uncomfortably when his hands held onto mine.

I wasn't comfortable with physical contact.

"Is it because of what the fucker said? Or is it because of the incoming attack and the conspiracy?" He gave me a light squeeze, making me tense.

I didn't like physical contact. It was worse with the opposite sex.

"Don't worry about the attack. It's because you don't have an heir yet. Once you find an heir, this madness will stop," He assured, patting my shoulder.

It sounded so easy.

Find an heir and all this will stop. But I have been trying and it's not working. Nothing seemed to work.

I don't know what else to do.

I was already fed-up with myself.

I rolled my eyes, giving him a pensive look while he raised his hands on a surrender.

He knew how much I hated being reminded of my problem

I don't need his pity. I don't need anyone's pity. Pity means weak people. I was not a weakling!

I can handle anything. I was the Alpha King.

"Have you been eavesdropping?" I asked, waving his questions.

"I couldn't leave you with them, plus I couldn't help but give in to the urge to see how you will kill that one," He sighed, pointing at the man who got ripped into two.

"How do you even come up with creative ways to kill?"

"Watch and learn," I said, looking away from him.

I couldn't deny that what the bastard said got to me badly.

My insides were raging with rage and my hands trembled.

Fuck!

I quickly buried my hands in my pocket to avoid My Beta from noticing. I didn't want another round of lecture and sympathy.

Silence stretched and my breathing became more erratic. I couldn't stay around him, my body language would give me away.

I needed a distraction.

"Give me a minute," I said sharply, walking away immediately, leaving him no room for questions.

I had a very bad temper and I hated it when I lost it.

I couldn't go to the Diamond Heart pack like this, I could kill them all.

Why did he have to bring this up, knowing how much I hated to be reminded of my past and how I failed my family!

I knew he did it to mock me, to remind me that I was weak. But I would prove him wrong.

I needed to relieve myself of this burden right now.

Anxiety filled me as my legs found their way to Rosa's chamber. Rosa would do.

Rosa was my mistress. She was the only one that could relieve me and accept me the way I was. After the death of my Luna, Rosa was the only woman I had. She pleased me the way no woman can and she understands my desires and limitations.

Without knocking, I flung her door open, bursting into her room and flooding it with my terrifying aura. I didn't need to look at the maids before they scurried like scared rats out of her room.

"Strip!" I commanded, leaving no room for hesitation.