Stupid Alpha's mate

Sally's POV

"Sally, why are you always so stubborn?" My grandfather's voice shouted, waking me up from my sleep. Sitting upright on my bed, I gasped, taking in some air to fill my lungs again. It was just a dream - no, more like my typical nightmare.

Suddenly I realized that my nightgown was soaked with sweat. My hair stuck to my face and neck, and obviously, I was sweating.

I'm a hundred percent sure that the air conditioner was working fine yesterday, I think. But for some reason, this morning, I felt like I was sleeping in a human-sized oven because it was so hot. Although deep inside me, I had a thought that Grandpa intentionally cut off the air cooling system just to torture me or maybe it was broken.

Right now, that's the least of my problems to worry about. I got out of bed, took a cold shower, and got ready for school. My class was going to start at 9 a.m. but the clock on my bedroom wall showed it was only 6:30 a.m. Rolling my eyes, I headed towards the bathroom because I needed to get out of there.

I decided to skip breakfast, again. Just because I don't want to eat with my grandfather and his dark brooding aura lingers over my personal space, especially early in the morning. And everyone knows how badly it will end.

On my way to school, I stopped by a convenience store and bought myself an ice cream, I had been craving it since yesterday.

The middle-aged woman who owned the shop gave me a strange look when she got me the ice cream. Handing her the money, I gave the woman a small smile as I grabbed my ice cream and exited the checkout counter to continue my usual route to school. It's not every day that I laugh or eat ice cream in the morning, but today I needed something cold to calm down.

As I mentioned, what happened early this morning was just another nightmare of mine. It's a recurring vision that I'm still uncomfortable revealing and it makes me hate going to sleep - sometimes, when it gets out of control, I have to force myself to stay awake and no matter how hard I try No matter how hard I try, eventually, I will fall asleep.

I sighed in relief when my school was in sight. My legs increased speed. Taking my phone out of the back pocket of my jeans, I looked at the time, it was 7:45 a.m.

"What am I going to do?" There was an hour and fifteen minutes left until class started. I glanced around the strangely foggy-looking campus while deciding whether I should stay and wait in class or go somewhere else like my secret gazebo.

No one knew about the gazebo's location except my best friend, Athena, and me. I found it during my freshman year and a lot has happened since then.

I passed by the Information Technology department and headed towards the forest behind the school that covered half of the campus. The gazebo is just a few steps from the forest entrance.

Finally arriving at my destination, I sat inside the gazebo. I didn't forget to take out the black leather-covered A4 sketchbook that Athena gave me as a gift on my 20th birthday. Drawing is my passion. I sketch everything except people because I'm simply terrible at drawing people no matter how hard I try.

Lately, I've been obsessed with all kinds of glorious animals like rare breeds of white tigers. However, they are not the type I am talking about, what piqued my interest were the wolves. They are the things that fill my mind and my sketchbook - half the book is filled with sketches and doodles of them.

I don't know why, but maybe because I've read too many novels involving werewolves, vampires, witches, and all those supernatural creatures - I blame Athena because she forced me must read all of them, although I have to admit that half of the books she recommends are very good.

But back to what I was saying, otherworldly creatures are fascinating. Despite their greatness, I will not comment on their existence because they are just stories based on imagination.

After sketching for a few minutes, I felt waves of exhaustion wash over me. I think I have a problem with sleeping in my own house because as soon as I put my head on the bag, I fell asleep, just like that.

I'm not sure how long I slept because the only thing I felt next was someone shaking my left shoulder, waking me up, I could tell very harshly. I could have sworn that person shook me so hard it seemed to dislocate my shoulder.

"What?" I sat up, looked around, panicked.

The person who woke me up was heard snorting. Turning my head to look towards the sound, I saw her standing behind me as she spoke. "Wake up, otherwise you'll be late for class."

Athena! I groaned in frustration.

Without wasting another breath, I packed my sketchbook, pencils, and bag into my backpack, and we hurried to our first class of the day, Art History.

I heard Athena panting as she ran. I forgot that she is a slow runner. However, we entered the classroom just a few seconds before the professor arrived. I was about to sit in my usual seat, but apparently, someone else had taken that spot.

I didn't want to argue with anyone early in the morning over a seat, so I sat behind my old seat. I couldn't help but glare at that person. He has stylish, fringed, champagne-colored hair. He was facing out the window, so I couldn't see his face earlier when I walked up. I ignored him and paid attention to the rest of the class.

I quickly made a mental note, that next time I'd go to class before anyone else, so I wouldn't have to deal with this type of situation. I know that we're allowed to sit anywhere, but I like that seat and I've been sitting there since I started my freshman year.

Sally's POV

"What's the next class?" Athena asked as we left the room.

I stopped and stared at her for a whole minute. "Athena, our senior year is almost over and you still don't remember what grade we were in?"

She shrugged indifferently and walked ahead of me.

I shook my head in disbelief and followed. "Advanced programming," I said as I caught up to her.

"What?"

I sighed. "Next class, it's Advanced Programming."

Athena's mouth turned into an 'o' shape. "Wow, okay! Good luck with that. I'll wait for you at the library." She had two hours free because she was an Art major and she would rather skip half of her time in class to wait for me in the library.

While I majored in Information Technology and minored in Fine Arts, I had to take everything seriously.

I know most people will ask why a granddaughter of the legendary Donne family would go out and study Information Technology, and why not just stay at home, and take over the family business or major.

I wasn't interested at all in being a part of them or majoring in business as my career path. I don't want anything to do with what they do. But, I can't cut ties with them that easily without getting killed.

Going to my next class, I accidentally bumped into someone on the street. We both apologized at the same time, but then laughed and walked into the room together.

"Seriously, I'm sorry for bumping into you. I didn't see you." He says. He seemed like a calm person who reasoned carefully without involving any fists or insults in a small matter like this. He looks gentle with friendly and kind features.

I chuckled. "No, I'm the one who should apologize. I didn't see you either, I was in a hurry."

He smiled and stretched out his hand to shake my hand. "We are all at fault and we make peace."

I held his hand tightly and we shook hands. "Agree,"

He nodded, motioning towards the door. "Please go first."

I smiled awkwardly before finding a seat. I sat and watched the lesson until it was time for lunch. I got out of class and went to the library, it was finally free time. When I got there, I saw Athena resting her head on the table.

"You shouldn't sleep in public, my lady." I scoffed.

Athena raised her head, staring at me, and I waved my hand. Her stares or death threats don't affect me because I'm immune to them. Plus, I've heard better threats than her and she's too cute to be taken seriously.

"Come on, let's go to the cafe. My treat." I gave a tired smile, and she responded with a nod, agreeing.

On the way to the coffee shop, I somehow bumped into someone with a familiar champagne-colored head.

Serious. What's wrong with me and bumping into everyone today? I silently cursed myself and turned around to apologize but instead, I was glared at, there was so much hatred in his eyes. I was about to say sorry but he had already left.

"What's going on?" Athena asked and I could hear the irritation in her voice.

I shrugged and said. "Nothing! Let's go, I'm hungry." I said and led both of us to a nearby coffee shop.

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"What do you choose?" Athena asked.

I stared at the menu. "Chicken Alfredo,"

"Penne, Linguine or Farfalle"

"Uhm... Farfalle, please. Thank you."

Athena smiled as she went and ordered our food. While I wait, I take out my sketchbook and go to the page I was drawing this morning. A frown suddenly etched on my face, I turned page after page, and my half-finished sketch of a black wolf that I had drawn earlier had disappeared.

I looked closely at the page and it was as if someone had torn the page.

Not long after Athena went to order, she returned with our meal. "Hey, Athena, did you rip a page out of my sketchbook while I was sleeping in the gazebo?"

Athena frowned. "Why did I tear up your sketches of wolves? And how many times do I have to tell you not to sleep in places like that?" She frowned, looking disapproving.

I gave a weak smile, and bit my lower lip, trying to restrain myself from cursing anyone. I could feel my temper bubbling to the surface, but I pushed it down, stopping before doing something stupid, like finding out who stole my sketch and breaking their arm.

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"Sally, wake up,"

I rubbed my eyes and woke up to see my grandmother sitting on the edge of the bed. My eyes fluttered tiredly. "What's the matter, grandmother?"

The woman in front of me looked very calm, but her voice sounded tired. "Your grandfather has returned from Paris. He needs everyone to assemble in the dining room, now."

I groaned. Even though I was very tired after all the study sessions I went through, I still stood up in the end. My class doesn't start for the next 6 hours and I just fell asleep not long ago. What was so important that Grandpa had to gather us all together at 3 a.m.?

Following my grandmother into the dining room, I remembered that my grandfather had gone to Paris on a two-week business trip, to check on the progress - the business.

Right after my parents passed away - yes, I was an orphan. But my father's grandparents took full care of me while I stayed with my mother's grandparents during winter break.

The question that lingers in everyone's mind is how I became an orphan. Well, it's a long story, my grandparents told me my parents died in a car accident, a tragedy that I won't be revealing at this time. And all I can say is that their funeral was a private ceremony.

If it were up to him, he would take me back to Paris after my parents' funeral. But, I've stood my ground to stay here - home - plus, I think my parents have mentioned before to them that I won't move anywhere until I'm old enough to make my own decisions. I'm 22 now and I'm more than capable of making a simple decision, but here we are.

I was tired of standing next to my grandmother while everyone stood around. Not long after, Grandpa walked in, sending chills down everyone's spines, except Grandma and me.

Sally's POV

It doesn't affect me as much as it used to because I've been through worse than receiving a glare from him. My grandmother was the queen of the Donne family. I had the idea that she knew what happened to me when she was away in Paris that one time.

If she saw what was done to me, she would have everyone's heads on a silver platter, including my grandfather's, but then she would kill herself because of Donne's code.

They have these rules. If you kill one of your family members, one way to repent or be punished is by scarring your own body. Otherwise, you have to chop off one of your toes fingers, or ears. Awful! So imagine what you'd have to do if you killed Donne's entire family - you'd kill yourself. Overall, it's a stupid rule.

I looked at everyone with a bored expression. The second the old man sat down, I took my seat. All he could do was glare at me.

"What did I miss?" Grandpa asked his right-hand man, Mr. Aiden, about the reports.

"About 20 men from the Black Python died." Mr. Aiden said.

I rolled my eyes. If this awakens me, I would rather go back to sleep and welcome my nightmare. On my feet, I challenged the old man. "This doesn't concern me, and so, can I go now?" I didn't wait for his answer and didn't spare him a second glance.

But the next thing I heard was the sound of cutting through the air, my quick reflexes made me shift my left leg, almost causing me to fall backward. The dagger was now stuck into the wall, swaying – if I hadn't moved so quickly, the dagger would have hit the back of my left head. Instead, it just grazed the skin of my left cheekbone.

The estimated distance I could give from where he was sitting to the door was about 30 feet apart and I was only standing a few feet from the exit. I glanced at the dagger and him. The temperature and atmosphere of the room changed coldly.

"Why don't you stab me in the face too, Grandpa?" I knew the moment those words left my lips, that I had just ripped open an old wound on everyone and myself. My eyes were fixed on my grandmother.

"Repent?"

I wiped the excess blood from my cheek. "Repent, never." I rolled my eyes and left the hall.

I made my way back to my room with some colorful words leaving my mouth - there was no way I could go back to sleep after what had just happened. I paced around the room, feeling uncomfortable and agitated at the same time. The last thing I did was turn off the lights, lie on the floor, lie on my back, and simply stare at the ceiling.

I could have sworn that my grandfather and time were best friends, as much as I wished the time was 6 a.m. when, in reality, it was only 4:40 a.m. Switching sides, I lay on my back with my forehead resting on the bed. "Let me sleep, please," I sighed tiredly.

Returning to my previous position, speaking incoherent words I wanted to fall asleep, I was very tired and I felt my body weak from lack of sleep. I haven't had a proper sleep for four days in a row. The nightmare is similar to what happened to me 4-5 years ago, another story of my life that I will not reveal soon.

Finally, after 20-25 minutes, my eyes started drooping and finally, I fell asleep.

"Get her!" My grandfather's voice echoed throughout the house.

I ran from hallway to hallway, trying to find my way out. I heard my grandfather's men approaching me - the next thing I knew, I was being dragged away by one of the men and I was taken to the dining room.

My grandfather looked very angry. I can say that I don't know who the man in front of me is anymore. He was so blinded by rage that he forgot that I was his niece. He also forgot that I was the one who should be angry, cry, and most of all comforted because my parents were dead. He should have been there and helped me through it all, not hurt me more.

I saw a few more of my grandfather's men in the room and very few women present. I wasn't sure what would happen, but I knew it would be bad when I saw the sharp bamboo stick and the black ink next to it - Grandpa would stain my skin with our family symbol, the Raven.

"You're just dreaming, Sally. Wake up."

I felt my body pounding violently, but the nightmare continued to toy with my mind.

My grandfather took a bamboo stick and dipped the tip in black ink. Midway through the process, his lips moved in an almost frightening delirium, chanting something about Raven being the cloak of the night. And that was all I could grasp until I felt my left shoulder throb in the most intense pain I had ever felt. It was as if someone stabbed me only to pull out the knife and stab me again.

I yelled for Grandpa to stop, I begged him for forgiveness even though I wasn't sure what I did wrong...

"Sally, wake up," I screamed for my subconscious to wake up and the final stab of the sharp bamboo stick through my skin woke me up instantly. I sat up, panting and sweating, and as always, I looked like I had been through a storm.

The first thing I did was check the time, it was 5:50 a.m. I groaned and stood up immediately, I didn't care anymore. I have to get out of this house as soon as possible because if I don't, I might lose my sanity.

I wear whatever clothes I have on hand. A plain black hoodie and black sweatpants. Slinging the bag's strap over my shoulder, I quickly went to the bathroom to wash my face. I left the house as quiet as a mouse with nothing but a rumbling sound coming from my stomach.

The gazebo was the only thing and place that crossed my mind. Silence in the neighborhood is a sign that people are still sleeping. I checked the time on my phone again and it was 6:10 a.m. I could see the colors and streaks of pastel blue and white coloring the sky, I breathed a sigh of relief because let me see such a sight. So, it soothed the discomfort I had been feeling all night.