THE ALPHA's BETRAYAL: RUNNING WITH HIS HEIR

Brielle's pov

"Hurry up Brielle! I don't have all day to look at your stupid face." Anna sneered and I increased my pace in cleaning her shoes. My father wouldn't bat an eyelash if my step sisters begin their assault. He never cared, not even when I got a black eye and a broken arm.

Evelyn groaned, "I don't have time for this. My shoes also need some cleaning."

A shoe covered leg kicked my stomach and I bit my lip, swallowing the pain.

"Maybe that would hurry you up." Anna gritted and I blinked back the tears forming in my eyes.

This was a normal behavior in alpha Richard's house. My dad, the Alpha of Crescent hills had seven daughters. I was the fourth of the seven and was the only one who was from another mother. They all had blonde hair and blue eyes while I had green eyes and brown long hair. I was the odd one out.

Hence, the hatred.

They called me the bastard, the unwanted pregnancy. They hated my mother because my father was cheating on their mother, and she gave birth to me.

But instead of taking it out on my father, they took it out on me instead.

Even my father took it out on me, claiming i was a mistake when in reality, i knew he loved my mother.

She died immediately she had me, and I was made to stay here. She was his true mate, and his wife was the chosen mate.

His wife was not happy about it, andashe began to abuse me, until she died, and her children took over.

My family didn't care about me. After my mother's death, i became the maid. When my sisters were allowed to attend the parties and train, I was made to clean after them and stay cooped up, preparing dinner.

Now, even my own father hated me.

I felt a sharp sting on my scalp as my hair was pulled backwards. "Did you wash my clothes?" My father growled. I didn't sense him come in.

My wolf cried in pain, like she always did when he assaulted me.

I nodded quickly, my hand reaching up to hold his hand in my hair, "Yes Father."

His cold eyes studied me for a while then he let go of my hair, causing me to land painfully on the floor.

I groaned a bit but I struggled to keep the tears at bay. Showing weakness would only make things worse. My father's gaze lingered on me, his lips curling into a cruel smile.

"You're lucky I value my reputation," he hissed. "Otherwise, I would've disposed of you a long time ago."

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. It was a constant battle to hold back the anger and resentment that simmered within me. But my survival depended on my ability to endure, to play the role they expected of me.

Anna snickered from the corner of the room, enjoying my humiliation. "Father's right. You're nothing but a burden, a stain on our family's reputation."

"Shut up." I growled then immediately regretted it. My father's eyes flashed with anger. He lifted a hand and it made contact with my skin, making my head spin.

"She's right. You are, like that whore of your mother." He sneered and I couldn't hold the tears anymore.

She's not a whore! My wolf screamed in pain as the rejection cut through her. We should have gotten used to this by now, but it still hurt when our family treated us like this.

"Hurry and help your sisters get dressed. The party already started."

I silently cleaned their shoes and helped them get ready for the moon ball, which we were hosting this year. Alphas from all around we're going to be present and it was the best party of the year. Or so I heard. I had never attended, but now I was eighteen, I was finally old enough.

It was the ball most people found their mates.

I never really thought about mates, but maybe I could find mine?

My father would never allow me to go. I was a disgrace, his shame.

But I was going to go as a cleaner. Better to watch the festivities from afar than not be a part, right?

My sisters filed up in the living room while waiting for my father, and I just stood beside the door, looking at them. How I wish I wasn't the ugliest. They were all pretty and loved by my father, except me.

My father walked to the living room and smiled at each of them and then his eyes landed on me, then turned cold.

"Gabriella." He called, and my eyes widened for a second. He always avoided calling me by my name.

"Y-yes sir?" I stuttered, feeling uncomfortable under everyone's stare.

He glared at me, "Make sure you clean up before we return."

I nodded quickly, refraining from telling him i would be at the ball. He would hate that.

Bowing my head, I waited for every one to leave. They all did, not before hitting me one way or the other.

I sighed as they left, and moved to change into my cleaning uniform.

Have to make that extra money if I want to eat more than once in a day.

Brielle's POV

I avoided my sisters, because I couldn't bear be humiliated this night. The hall was filled with beautiful men and women, all looking every bit regal as they danced around the hall.

I watched in jealousy but I did my work, so I wouldn't be scolded by the head maid.

Who was storming towards me now.

"Gabriella. " She called, and I lifted my head to look at her.

"Yes ma'am?"

She gestured to a tray of food. "Go and serve the Alphas and Betas. Hurry up."

My heart leaped to my chest. The Alpha, my dad, and the beta's son, Cole.

I always had a crush on Cole. Despite the way everyone treated me, he never treated me that way.

Could he be my mate? No way, a low slave like me, and a beta like him?

Only in my dreams.

Smoothing my dress, I dragged the tray up to the table where they were, my body shaking as I avoided the glare from everyone, including my father who wasn't happy to see me here.

I would probably get beaten for that later.

My eyes met Cole's and the strangest thing happened.

A beautiful scent wafted into my nose, and his eyes widened.

My wolf whispered the one word I never knew I could hear.

Mate.

Cole was my mate?

A wide smile came onto my lips as I looked into his eyes.

My world came to a standstill. A whole Beta was my mate? That meant I wouldn't be a slave anymore.

That meant good things. Maybe he would come to love me.

My head pounded with happiness and hope filled my chest.

However, reality crashed down on me as I noticed the disapproving scowl on my father's face.

He sneered at me, his voice laced with disdain. "What is this lowly servant doing here? Get back to the kitchen, Gabriella!"

I hesitated, my eyes still locked with Cole's, but all my excitement died as he let out a loud sigh, standing to his feet.

Everyone was watching now, and they made fun of me, but I didn't care. I had eyes for my mate only.

But my mate didn't have eyes only for me.

Hitting me from behind, my eldest sister Anna walked past me with a smirk on her lips. She reached Cole and what happened next felt like a knife was stuck into my chest.

They kissed, leaving me gaping at them and the tray in my hand came crashing to the floor, the sound resonating in the whole ball.

"C-cole?" I stuttered, tears falling from my eyes. Mates are supposed to love eachother, right? Why was mine kissing my sister?

"But you are my mate!" I cried, ignoring the hisses of anger my father was directing at me.

Cole sighed.

"You are not my mate, Anna is."

The world crumbled around me, and I fell to my knees, the realization hitting me like a tidal wave.

The one glimmer of hope, the fantasy of escaping my life as a servant, vanished before my eyes.

"But... the scent," I whispered, my voice choked with sorrow. "My wolf said..."

Cole interrupted, his tone indifferent. "Your wolf was mistaken. You're nothing to me."

My heart seared in pain at the rejection, and I looked at them with tears in my eyes as Anna kissed him deeply, both not caring that I was here, dying.

Anna broke the kiss, grinning at me. "Cole, reject her officially. I don't want her getting the wrong idea."

"Yes baby."

Cole pinned me with a stern look. "I, Beta Cole, reject you, lowly servant, as my mate." He pronounced, and the whole guests presents laughed loudly as I screamed in pain, feeling the mate bond cut.

All my life, I have been hated. Even by my own mate.

Was there a reason to be here anymore?

"Guards!" My father thundered, his face red with anger as he glared hard at me.

I was on the floor, surrounded by food and have just been rejected by my mate who was kissing my sister.

I was every bit of the disgrace he saw me to be.

"Take this wretched being out of this castle. Do whatever you want with her. She's no longer needed in my life!"

The guards snickered as they lifted me roughly from the floor and I just let them. He finally disowned me.

I was finally alone, unwanted and unloved.

The guards took me to the border, and with anger, flung me out of the pack and decided to leave me a parting gift.

They all descended on me, punching me in every area until I couldn't cry or block anymore.

"Wretched whore." They snickered as they left me outside the border, where the rogues and every other monster stayed.

I was unwanted, unloved and unneeded.

Curling into a ball to minimise the pain, darkness finally took over, and I let myself fall unconscious

Brielle

"She's not dead, just unconscious." A gruff voice pierced into my consciousness and a foot hit my stomach, pulling me out of my daze.

I hunched forward, holding my stomach to prevent any more attacks.

"Yep, she's very much alive. Who are you, rogue? Answer before I kill you for trespassing." The voice threatened, and I felt my heart race in fear.

I avoided their gaze. "Please, don't hurt me. I don't mean any harm." I pleaded, fear enveloping me as I recalled what my father used to do to rogues and trespassers.

I had no idea I had trespassed. If I wasn't at the border, that means...

No!

That means I was in the neighbouring pack... The cruel Alpha king, feared across all kingdoms and known for being unforgiving.

Those guards! They did it on purpose.

I was good as dead. Only the goddess can save me.

A hand held my collar roughly, dragging me up to my feet.

I avoided my gaze, not allowing them to take my eye contact for deviance.

"Hm. She looks harmless."

Relief washed over me, but just briefly as he grabbed my face roughly. "And pretty too, maybe I'll take her for myself." He grinned darkly, his yellow teeth visible under the dark light and I shivered.

Take me? I began trashing in his hold, but he held me tighter. He couldn't take me. I cannot allow him to take me.

His eyes darkened as I tried to pull away, and his hand came crashing on my jaw. "Stop that if you want to live for another second you whore."

My head and jaw throbbed as I felt the taste of blood on my tongue, and my eyes flowed with tears.

Was this what my fate was? To be used and discarded?

The other guard laughed darkly. "You can't take her, lo. You took the last one."

He turned to shoot a glare at his partner, while I stood, pleading with the moon goddess that something delivered me from this fate.

"Well if I can't have her, we would just hand her to the king."

I said deliver, not make worse. The stories that were said of him were the most terrifying. Some said he killed rogues on sight.

That was a fate I didn't want.

"Please don't take me to the king! I'll do anything." I cried, but his hand gripped my throat, dragging me to face him.

"Let me hear your voice one more time, and I would make sure you never talk again. Clear?"

I shook like a leaf as he turned back, and dragged me into the pack like an animal.

They threw me into a cold empty cell and the cold hard floor sent shivers down my spine as they locked me in.

My jaw hurt and my head spun with the million possibilities of how I was going to die, and I crawled to the bars of the cell, looking up at the guards who were retreating.

"Please let me out! I don't want to die!"

They ignored me and shut the door loudly, the echo bouncing off the walls as I was emerged in darkness, and I held my body with my little hands, my tears flowing down like a river.

Father was so fast to disown me and throw me out like I wasn't his child. Everything I've ever done was for him. Did I deserve such treatment from my family?

Tears poured down my face as I gripped my aching jaw. Why did you leave me mother? If you were here, things would have been better.

If you were here, I would know how love feels-

The sound of the large door opening cut off my train of thoughts and I scrambled to the corner of the cell.

They were here to take me to him. To my death.

The footsteps echoed through the cell and the footsteps halted when they reached my cell door.

I held my mouth with my hands to stop the sobs that threatened to escape.

"Come out." The voice different from the earlier guards echoed heartless through the cell and the door flung open.

I stayed frozen in the corner. He was here to drag me out to my death.

"Are you deaf rogue? Do you want me to drag you out myself?"

I stumbled to my feet, reluctantly accepting my fate and the guard put cuffs on my hands and dragged me to my fate.

This is my fate. I was going to die. Like the low life they called me.

I followed him through the dimly lit corridors, my heart pounding with each step. He dragged me forcefully, pausing when we reached a tall door.

I swallowed harshly as he pushed the door opened.

"Your highness. The rogue is here."

And before my eyes adjusted to the light, the most beautiful scent wafted into my nose, and a loud growl echoed from the inside.

"Is the moon goddess now a fucking joker?"