The Alpha's Fragile Bride

Chloe's POV

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my hand tightly clenched and my lips pressed together to keep the tears at bay. I knew I couldn't ruin my makeup, but I was so scared and sad. The only thing that kept me from completely losing it was my mother's words.

I kept replaying our last conversation in my head. "My beautiful Chloe's, you must not let the alpha king find out that you are not Sarah, or our family will be doomed," my mother had said, her eyes filled with fear.

"Mother, what about Sarah?" I wanted to ask about my sister.

"It's all Sarah's fault for eloping with that bastard before the wedding. If only Sarah knew how to behave like you do."

"You can do it, right? Promise me... or we are doomed!"

I wanted to refuse, but I owed my father so much. His next words reminded me of how much I owe him and how much he loves me.

"Chloe, although I had to foster you in the countryside all these years because I was worried about you being hurt by Sarah mother, you will always be my most precious daughter. Daddy will find a way to bring you home... Daddy loves you."

Why was I so against this marriage? Just imagine being marked by the most ruthless Alpha King of all time. Someone who kills at the flick of his fingers. Although it was a rumor, it sent chills down the spine of anyone who heard it.

King Andrew was rumored to be very brutal and despicable. He had rendered many families homeless and headless in a bid to expand his territory. The very air that he walked on smelled of murderous intent. His eyes breathed out death. That's how brutal he is.

That was the husband I was going to marry in place of my sister.

You might be wondering why I couldn't just refuse or run away. That's because I owe my family my life and every good thing I might be enjoying.

I had been living with my foster parents since the death of my father, who happened to be his mistress. Yeah, I was the illegitimate daughter of my father.

My father's wife only accepted me because my father died as soon as she gave birth to me. I never got to feel the warmth of a father, and I never got it from my father's wife either.

As soon as I was about two years old, my stepmother made a fuss, according to my father, and I was thrown into the foster home where I grew up. The only consolation I had and the only reason I was happy staying there was the occasional visit from my mother.

That's why I was willing to do something, even if it was to the detriment of my happiness. It was just temporary because I was sure that when Sarah would come back, my mother would find a way to save me from this monstrous wedding.

"It's time, Miss," a servant said, drawing me from my thoughts.

I looked up at her with glistening eyes, and I could see the pity in her eyes. Who wouldn't pity someone who was being escorted to the devil as his wife?

"You can do it, Chloe!" I cheered myself on.

The wedding ceremony went smoothly without a hitch, but deep down I was scared stiff! I hardly breathed throughout the ceremony. After everything was done, I was escorted to the bridal room, awaiting the Alpha King.

The sound of heavy, powerful footsteps came, and I shivered uncontrollably. My heart was beating faster and heavier deep down in my throat.

A huge shadow enveloped me, and I was too scared to even look up. I bit down on my urge to look at his face. But my curiosity got the better of me as I looked up to see a very handsome face.

He was also examining me with a pair of dark brown eyes. A kind of magnetic eye that got me hooked.

"Afraid of me?"

The Alpha King's voice was deep and magnetic, but it was laced with a hint of teasing. His rough fingers cupped my chin and rubbed it slowly. "Relax."

I was so scared, but I had to do this for my family. I had to be brave and face this monster. I had to be strong and not let my fear take over. I had to be the one to save my family from this nightmare.

It was clear that he was taking marriage as seriously as he would do a business transaction. His eyes were teasing, but there was no emotion behind them. It was all business, nothing more.

Should I be happy about this?

I watched as the Alpha King removed his beautiful clothing and hung them on a tall rack instead of leaving them on the floor. I gulped, knowing that I would soon have to do the same. I slowly undressed and hung my clothes up too.

Do you know how your heart races when you're on a rollercoaster? That's how my heart felt right then. But it wasn't from excitement; it was from fear.

I felt his burning gaze on my body, and I felt like I was on fire. He drew me closer, his hands exploring my body. I trembled at his touch, yet I wanted more. He brought his lips to mine and started to kiss me.

The Alpha King groaned in pleasure. He kept kissing me, and I had no choice but to go along with it. Just when it was getting intense, he pulled away. I was confused until I heard his next words.

"I will leave my mark on the back of your neck, a golden crescent. You belong to me, Sarah."

Tears started to stream down my face. As wolves, we can identify our mates when we reach the age of eighteen, but only alpha wolves can mark omega wolves. It can only be done once in a lifetime, and once they are marked, they can never identify their mates again.

I wasn't eighteen yet. This meant I would never have the chance to identify my mate again.

I was filled with sadness as I closed my eyes to be marked when the King's lips left the back of my neck.

I wasn't marked.

Why did he stop? Feeling uneasy and scared, I looked into his handsome face, which was now clouded.

He was filled with terror, and his eyes were dark. "You're not Sarah. Who the hell are you?"

And that was it. I was doomed.

Alpha Andrew's POV

My lips grazed her skin as I teased her with my tongue, but I had had enough of her game. It was time to find out who she was and why they had given me someone else to be my bride instead of Sarah.

"You are not Sarah," I said, my eyes narrowing. "Who are you?"

She swallowed hard, and I could tell she was scared. She had every right to be, because what she was doing had serious consequences.

"Answer me!" I growled.

She was shaking, and I couldn't decide if I should pity her or get angry. She had the nerve to try and fool me. She was either the bravest or the most foolish girl alive.

"I don't." She stuttered.

She looked around the room, as if she were searching for a way to escape.

"Let's start small. Who are you?" I walked over to the straight-back chair and sat down.

"Uhm... I'm Chloe." She said.

The girl had gone pale.

"Chloe, what?" I asked.

"Nighler, Chloe nighler."

I thought for a moment. Her last name was the same as Sarah's, but she didn't look anything like the woman I was supposed to marry.

The girl before me had brown hair like Sarah's, but she was not as tall as Sarah's, and her face was soft with beautiful features. Sarah had sharp facial features and a thin lip.

"How are you related to my proposed bride?" I asked, shifting in the chair.

The girl hesitated until I grumbled, then she said, "She's my sister. Step-sister."

I understood better now. This girl had gone out of her way to take her sister's place as my bride so she could enjoy the benefits that came with being my mate.

It infuriated me to think she had almost gotten away with it. She must not have known that a few days ago I had gotten a look at Sarah from afar. I wanted to be sure the woman I was getting married to was up to my standards, and I was impressed by what I saw that night.

"To go behind your sister's back and take her place as my bride while trying to fool me in the process, all for your selfish desire. You really have a death wish, Chloe."

She shook her head frantically. "No. No. No, that's not it!" Her hands went to her mouth as tears gathered in her eyes. "I'd never do something like that."

"You wouldn't?" I asked in a mocking voice.

"Then what is this?"

Her trembling started again, but this time it was more intense. She looked as if she had fallen through the ice into a frozen pond and survived the ordeal.

"I had to do it to protect them."

"Them?" I scratched my stubble. "Your family?"

She nodded.

Her innocent act was almost believable; almost. She was doing it in a way that left me doubting everything I thought I knew.

"Where is Sarah right now?" I asked her.

She threw her hands in the air. "I have no idea."

The pieces were beginning to fit together now. I had a clearer picture of what was happening, and if I was right about this, then the list of people I planned to punish for this mess had just grown.

"Sarah ran away a few days from our wedding, and you had to step up for her by pretending to be my bride. Is that it?"

Her eyes shifted away, and I could see the panic destabilizing her completely. It was probably her mother's idea to carry out this ridiculous plan.

She probably didn't want to be my bride as much as I didn't want to be hers. She had done it all out of duty to her birth mother.

I got up from the chair and walked to the wardrobe, where I'd left my clothes. I got dressed and walked out of the door.

"Please don't blame my mother. It was all my idea." Her voice came from the room.

I sent Jason and Fred to investigate what had happened to her parents. After a few hours, they returned with the news I needed. The information was so upsetting that I had to take a moment to control my anger. Once I was sure I had calmed down, I asked for my bride to be brought to me.

She arrived wearing a long black dress that made her look younger with her big brown eyes. "I had my men talk to your family," I said, my expression conveying that the news wasn't good.

"They denied everything you told me. They said you went behind Alma's back to take her place as my bride. They said you've always been envious of your sister, and they didn't believe you would go this far."

Tears filled her eyes, but she managed to hold them back. "They asked for Sarah," I continued. "All they got were excuses."

"That makes me wonder," I said, rubbing my stubble. "Plus, I noticed deep regret on your mother's face while they questioned your stepmother." Fred was the best at reading people, so I had purposely made him follow Jason.

This situation was difficult for me, and I wanted to put it behind me as soon as possible. "I need a bride so I can be seen as the respectable Alpha King, which I am. Sarah, Chloe, Lana, and Ruth, I don't give a damn." I sighed.

"I will punish you for trying to deceive me... but you will remain here in the palace as my bride."

Alpha Andrew's POV

"You're going to stay here in the palace as my bride," I said.

Her expression changed drastically, and I could tell she was too young to have found her mate yet. She had to be eighteen to unlock the ability to sense her mate, and if she was marked by someone else, she would never be able to find her true mate.

"Come here," I commanded.

She hesitated for a moment, but then she started walking towards me. I got up and met her halfway. She was so scared of me, and it was oddly exciting.

"Take it off," I said, my eyes moving to her dress.

She blushed shyly, even though I had already seen her body the night before. Her fingers moved slowly along the fabric and pushed off the straps until it slid from her shoulders. Her dress fell to the floor.

My eyes roamed her naked body, and I had to admit she was a gorgeous sight, even though she was still young. She would make men go to war and kill with a body like that.

"Come closer," I said in a breathy voice.

She did as I said without taking her eyes off mine. Our eyes were locked in a trance that made me breathless.

I kissed her neck and trailed it along a straight line that led to her shoulder. I licked the spot, tickling it with my tongue, before taking a bite. She squirmed and cried as she realized what I had just done.

"As punishment, I decided to mark you as suitable enough. Now you can never find your true mate," I said, kissing the spot and helping her back into her dress.

She just stood there, crying helplessly.

I walked away, leaving her there.

The next day, I made sure she took out my laundry and washed everything, even though it was something the maid was supposed to do.

She got back hours later looking exhausted, and I pointed her into the kitchen, making sure all the cooks and kitchen help vacated the place for her to handle all the cooking for the whole day.

From time to time, I checked up on her progress, peeking into the kitchen, I'm expecting her to break down in tears or pass out in front of the burner, but instead, she hummed and worked with a smile on her face.

By the time she was done, I had made sure she cleaned up our room, bathroom, and toilet. While she was doing that, the cooks served the food she had cooked for me.

I was skeptical about trying it out, but they assured me that the palace tasters had gone through the process of making sure it wasn't poisoned.

My worry wasn't about being poisoned because my blood was strong enough to break down whatever poison she might be able to afford. What I worried about was having to eat food that tasted like ass.

It took a while of heavy contemplation, but I finally took a bite, and to my greatest astonishment, I didn't regret it. I enjoyed every bite of it, and I asked for more. By the time she was done washing the bathroom, I had gone for several rounds. By several, I meant five.

She came into the room and looked like she was going to drop dead any second. I felt pity for her even though I didn't let it show. My face was an expressionless mask.

"Is there anything else that needs my attention?" She asked in a weak voice.

It was already late, and there was nothing else she could do that late except if it meant making her dress up as a guard and take up a shift swap with one of the guards on duty. I was ruthless, but I wasn't a heartless bastard.

"That's it," I said, my voice heavy with apprehension.

She bowed and shuffled over to her bed, which was different from mine. It was smaller and less comfortable than mine. She collapsed onto the bed like a sack of potatoes.

"You haven't eaten all day," I said, stretching to make sure she was still alive. "Go get something."

She lay on the bed, motionless. I was worried, especially since she hadn't responded to what I had said. She was never one to ignore me, no matter what.

I called out to her, but there was no answer. She just lay there, still as a statue. I started to panic.

"Chloe?" I said, a bit louder than before.

Her snoring made me relax a bit, and I was relieved. She wasn't dead after all. That would have been a tragedy, and it also meant I would have to go through the hassle of finding a new Bride.

The next day, she followed the same routine of chores as she had the previous day, but to my surprise, she finished everything early. I made her clean up the stables and scrub out the dungeon. By the time she was done, it was almost midnight, and she had dark circles under her eyes the size of a golf ball.

This went on for a week, and by the end of the week, she had gotten so used to the routine that she completed it without looking like she had just been visited by the grim reaper.

One Friday morning, as she got up to get dressed for her chores, I rolled out of bed and called her over. "Chloe."

She turned around, looking like a ray of sunshine.

"Come here for a second."

"You're going to stay here in the palace as my bride," I said.

Her expression changed drastically, and I could tell she was too young to have found her mate yet. She had to be eighteen to unlock the ability to sense her mate, and if she was marked by someone else, she would never be able to find her true mate.

"Come here," I commanded.

She hesitated for a moment, but then she started walking towards me. I got up and met her halfway. She was so scared of me, and it was oddly exciting.

"Take it off," I said, my eyes moving to her dress.

She blushed shyly, even though I had already seen her body the night before. Her fingers moved slowly along the fabric and pushed off the straps until it slid from her shoulders. Her dress fell to the floor.

My eyes roamed her naked body, and I had to admit she was a gorgeous sight, even though she was still young. She would make men go to war and kill with a body like that.

"Come closer," I said in a breathy voice.

She did as I said without taking her eyes off mine. Our eyes were locked in a trance that made me breathless.

I kissed her neck and trailed it along a straight line that led to her shoulder. I licked the spot, tickling it with my tongue, before taking a bite. She squirmed and cried as she realized what I had just done.

"As punishment, I decided to mark you as suitable enough. Now you can never find your true mate," I said, kissing the spot and helping her back into her dress.

She just stood there, crying helplessly.

I walked away, leaving her there.

The next day, I made sure she took out my laundry and washed everything, even though it was something the maid was supposed to do.

She got back hours later looking exhausted, and I pointed her into the kitchen, making sure all the cooks and kitchen help vacated the place for her to handle all the cooking for the whole day.

From time to time, I checked up on her progress, peeking into the kitchen, I'm expecting her to break down in tears or pass out in front of the burner, but instead, she hummed and worked with a smile on her face.

By the time she was done, I had made sure she cleaned up our room, bathroom, and toilet. While she was doing that, the cooks served the food she had cooked for me.

I was skeptical about trying it out, but they assured me that the palace tasters had gone through the process of making sure it wasn't poisoned.

My worry wasn't about being poisoned because my blood was strong enough to break down whatever poison she might be able to afford. What I worried about was having to eat food that tasted like ass.

It took a while of heavy contemplation, but I finally took a bite, and to my greatest astonishment, I didn't regret it. I enjoyed every bite of it, and I asked for more. By the time she was done washing the bathroom, I had gone for several rounds. By several, I meant five.

She came into the room and looked like she was going to drop dead any second. I felt pity for her even though I didn't let it show. My face was an expressionless mask.

"Is there anything else that needs my attention?" She asked in a weak voice.

It was already late, and there was nothing else she could do that late except if it meant making her dress up as a guard and take up a shift swap with one of the guards on duty. I was ruthless, but I wasn't a heartless bastard.

"That's it," I said, my voice heavy with apprehension.

She bowed and shuffled over to her bed, which was different from mine. It was smaller and less comfortable than mine. She collapsed onto the bed like a sack of potatoes.

"You haven't eaten all day," I said, stretching to make sure she was still alive. "Go get something."

She lay on the bed, motionless. I was worried, especially since she hadn't responded to what I had said. She was never one to ignore me, no matter what.

I called out to her, but there was no answer. She just lay there, still as a statue. I started to panic.

"Chloe?" I said, a bit louder than before.

Her snoring made me relax a bit, and I was relieved. She wasn't dead after all. That would have been a tragedy, and it also meant I would have to go through the hassle of finding a new Bride.

The next day, she followed the same routine of chores as she had the previous day, but to my surprise, she finished everything early. I made her clean up the stables and scrub out the dungeon. By the time she was done, it was almost midnight, and she had dark circles under her eyes the size of a golf ball.

This went on for a week, and by the end of the week, she had gotten so used to the routine that she completed it without looking like she had just been visited by the grim reaper.

One Friday morning, as she got up to get dressed for her chores, I rolled out of bed and called her over. "Chloe."

She turned around, looking like a ray of sunshine.

"Come here for a second."