Vampire Alpha's Mate

IRIS

"You're no good." He kicked my stomach repeatedly. I tasted something like liquid metal on my tongue which turned out to be blood and I also felt like passing out.

What had I done to deserve this brutal treatment? Was it my fault that my mother and my brother died?

"Don't kill her, father. We need her around the house. If she sustains much damage, who's going to do the chores? Definitely not me." Lyra sat on the other side of the living room, smiling devilishly at me. I stared at her through hooded eyes and gritted teeth.

"That's true, dear." He gave me one last kick before moving away from me.

"Let's go, honey." He grabbed her school back and together, they walked out, but not without Lyra giving me the fakest ugly smile she could ever come up with.

My mother and I used to live happily with my father in the Blood Rose pack. We were the envy of every other family. My father was a beta and so, I got his genes. He was strong and because of that, kids didn't bully me at school.

I was shown all the love and care in the world but there was one mistake I made. I thought my happiness would last forever. Sadly, my father passed away on the battlefield while trying to fight off some rogues. My mother always thought that it wasn't a mere coincidence and that Alpha Nathan had planned for his execution.

When I heard the news, I fell into a coma for a few days. Since then, I have been bullied at school. I was made the caricature of the school. My mother and I eventually got banned from the pack because someone accused my mother of trying to kill the Alpha through food poisoning.

We stayed in the woods. I thought we were going to die because we were abducted and lots of wolves were killed in front of us but luckily, Beta Bennett, found us.

He took a liking to my mother and in less than a year, they got married. Sometimes at night, my mom would come to my room and pat my head. She would cry and ask my late father's spirit to forgive her. She would recount all the good times we had before she would retire to bed. Her words made me cry. She only got married again because she wanted me to have a bright future.

My stepfather and his daughter didn't exactly like me but they did well to accommodate me. All that changed after my mother and Bennett's two-year-old son died. They blamed me, saying I killed them because I was jealous.

If I were that jealous, why didn't I just finish the entire family? And why would I kill my mother? Nobody thought of that. Lyra already had her father tied around her pinky finger and did well to turn the entire Blue Moon Pack against me.

I got harsh treatment from everybody, and if not for the kind Alpha we had, I would have been thrown out or fed to the rogues.

I quickly snapped out of my thoughts and stood up from where I knelt. I went to Lyra's room, as I always did, and saw a huge chunk of dirty clothes. I was expected to wash all those before going to school but then, we had a test and I couldn't risk failing just for some clothes that weren't even mine.

I painstakingly had my bath and put on some clothes. Why was I still staying with them? I questioned myself.

Because of the next in line to be Alpha, Fenrir. I turned eighteen a few days back at school and on my way to the cafeteria, I perceived a scent that made my head spin. I followed the scent and found out it was coming from the Alpha's heir.

From that day, I was happy. Finally, I could leave the trenches and live the life I deserved. Not doing chores but staying in the library all day reading my favorite books in the arms of my mate.

I didn't take much time to dress up because I was already late. I quickly fixed my hair and grabbed my old, torn backpack. I scouted for my skating board but I couldn't find it. When I had a peep in Lyra's room, I found it there. I dared not to take it to avoid another round of brute hitting.

I had only one option; to run. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me and I made it there just in time. Well, barely. As soon as I settled down, that was when the head teacher came in. I felt grateful to the Moon goddess for the gift of running. Mrs. Rowan detested latecomers and never hesitated to punish them.

The door opened and Lyra, her arms linked with Fenrir, walked in. I felt a huge ting of jealousy rush through my blood as I already knew what they were doing. I didn't bother myself about them because once he found out that I was his Luna, he wouldn't have any other choice but to leave her.

"Keep abusing your powers, Fenrir. You'll pay for it one day." Mrs. Rowan threatened but a smirk appeared on his face instead. He didn't feel remorseful for his actions, just pride. I was disgusted by his attitude but that didn't make me love him less.

Every day I woke up, I wanted to go tell him about my discovery but I didn't want him to hate me. He would think I was just throwing myself cheaply at him. He hates me already but hopefully, by his eighteenth birthday, he will begin to see me differently.

He sat in front of me and my heart nearly burst out when he turned back to look at me. A smile formed on his lips and I immediately bowed my head.

"What was that all about?"

**

I was the first person to leave the hall, sadly. I aced the test and I had already finished and was helping Fenrir with some answers when Mrs. Bennett caught me. She asked me to leave freely only because she thought Fenrir was using his influence on me. I was happy but then, I wasn't happy.

While reading for the next test we had a week from then, I saw a pair of feet and when I looked up, it was Fenrir. My eyes opened in shock as I stared at him.

"Thanks for today. I hope I can repay you someday." He took my hand, shook it, and walked away.

I stared down at the palm he touched and looked at his back.

I thought he hated me when all this while, he probably knew nothing about me.

I am never washing this hand.

IRIS

The happiness on my face disappeared when I noticed my stepfather standing at the door with a whip. I gulped hard as I approached him. I knew the whip was for me but what I didn't know was my offense.

"Good afternoon, sir." I greeted him and made to walk past him but the glare on his face was enough to make me rethink that action.

I wondered what Lyra had said this time to make him look that angry.

"What's your mission, Iris? Haven't you taken enough from me and now, you want to take from my daughter?" He said through gritted teeth and fire-blazing eyes.

What was he talking about?

"I'm sorry, sir." Trying to ask questions would only make things worse, I learned this the hard way over the years. I bowed my head, my eyes meeting the ground. I dared not look into his face. The next thing I felt was a lash on my arms. I instinctively moved away from him, holding my arm.

"Now, Iris, let me give you a warning. Stay away from Alpha Fenrir. He belongs to my daughter. A lowlife like you should never be seen speaking with him, understood?"

"Yes, sir," I replied quickly to ease his pride. I heard some kids laughing from a distance. Even if my stepfather was killing me, none of them would intervene. I sometimes wondered how people could be so inhumane to their fellow kind. I went straight to Lyra's room and picked her clothes, washed and sundried them before proceeding to clean the house. I made dinner and had mine only after they had finished eating.

I planned on making them pay badly for all the harsh treatment they've been showing me. When I become Luna, I will make sure they and their generation suffer for eternity.

When I was done with my night chores, I decided to hit my room and see if I could read a little before being overwhelmed by sleep. On my way to my room, I met Lyra standing in the hallway, obviously waiting for me. I wanted to ignore her drama but that became impossible when she stood in my way. I rolled my eyes and let her spill the rubbish she had in her mouth.

"So, you and Fenrir are getting close." She frowned. "That's my mate. Stay away from him." She warned. I kept mute and let her rant about how she'd become the Luna of the pack when he finally discovers her as his mate. I only loathed within because I knew how disappointed and broken she'd be in the end.

After she was done, she gave another warning and she used her father to threaten me. I hated her for the single fact. She knew her father had the upper hand against me and would always report to him, even when I was innocent.

I went to my room and once I plopped onto my bed, tears began to stroll freely down my cheeks.

"Mom, Dad, I hope you're watching." I sobbed. "I hope you're seeing how they treating the daughter you waited ten years to have."

Countless times have I attempted suicide but my mate bond to Fenrir was the barrier. And now that he finally spoke to me, I couldn't even think twice about joining my parents wherever they were. I was so much in love with him that I was ready to go through hell just to be with him.

That was what gave me the courage and the will to live every day. And tomorrow, I would see him again.

I looked at my palm. Damn Lyra's clothes. If only those demons would let me use the washing machine, I never would have let water touch this hand.

*****

I stayed up half the night reading one of my favorite fantasy novels. Even though I had read it more than ten times, I still couldn't get enough of it.

I was having a chill time, discussing with Fenrir about books when suddenly, someone splashed water all over my face. I jerked up from my sleep only to realize the talk with Fenrir was a dream but the water wasn't. Lyra was standing beside my bed with a bucket.

"What's your problem?" I asked, standing up from the wet small bed.

"What? Are you going to hit me?" She asked daringly. I wanted nothing but to pounce on her and rip apart her gorgeous hair. But instead, I clenched my fist and stared daggers at her.

"Come down and prepare breakfast, I don't want to be late for school." She laughed victoriously and left my room. I just let it go and took the mattress outside. After that, I fixed breakfast and cleaned the room of the 'queen'.

My stepfather didn't ease my pain that morning. He made sure to send me on different errands till I was late for school. It was one of those days I wished Fenrir would just turn eighteen immediately and claim me as his mate. Living with these two was as good as living in hell. They both treated me like dirt, as though I was bought from the slave market, and their hatred extended to the entire pack.

***

The long-awaited party had arrived. It was the talk of the town; everybody spoke about the prince and his destined mate, Lyra. The announcement will be made official today. And as tradition, all the young ladies of the pack who didn't have mates were to present gifts to him to make the search easier. He didn't want that but that was the custom.

I was happy. My time to shine was finally there and I wouldn't let the opportunity go to waste. I was preparing to go to the party, just like everyone else.

I twirled in the hot pink gown that my mom made specially for me on my seventeenth birthday. Sure it was short, but it was the best cloth I had. My makeup was simple. I applied some brown powder to my face and some lipgloss. I packed my hair in a messy bun and I put on my sandals.

I looked like a princess.

I had already prepared my gifts which I would hand over to him and I was getting one last glance at my reflection when Lyra and her father entered my room.

I was shocked when I first saw them. They smelt of trouble. I wondered what they wanted to do.

"Better remove those clothes because you're not going anywhere," Lyra spoke, making my head spin.

"What?"

IRIS

"What do you mean by that? That's not for you to decide. It's the custom and I have to abide by it." I defended myself against them.

"See, Daddy? I told you she has eyes for him. She just wants to show her ugly face to the world and the prince. She thinks he likes her just because he spoke to her a few times." Lyra scoffed and folded her hands. "I don't want her to go there, daddy. Stop her."

"You heard my daughter, take off your clothes and find something reasonable to do," Bennett commanded. As expected, I was supposed to bow my head dejectedly and give in to their demands but no! Not today.

"No, I refuse to let you tie me down here when every other person will be at the party," I yelled in defense. Bennett took predatory steps toward me while I carefully moved away from him.

"I see you've grown wings." He slapped me with his full strength, making me fall to the ground and yelping in pain. He started kicking me all over. All I could do was cry and watch Lyra smile at the scene. We were supposed to be sisters but right from childhood, she was always jealous of everything I had. My mother's love, my little stepbrother's love, and the love of the entire pack, except my stepfather's.

She took every valuable thing I had, but one thing I wouldn't let her take was my mate.

"It's getting late, daddy. We need to leave." She tugged on his shirt and that was when he left me alone. I struggled to breathe after the heavy kicks but luckily, I caught my breath after some minutes.

I looked down at the once beautiful dress which part of it had been shredded to pieces. I cried when I saw that my mother's handiwork had been destroyed by someone who claimed to have loved her. I didn't have any suitable dresses to wear.

Was this how I was going to live the rest of my life? No parents, no mate. Why was Lyra so evil to me? I never for once showed her my bad side or abused her with hurtful words. I never laid my hands on her even though she was getting on my nerves.

Why was she tormenting me? All this wouldn't have happened if only the Moon goddess had spared my father's life. Is it possible that gods get bored and they try to make one's life so shîtty so they get entertained? Was the explanation for all the horrible things that have been happening in my life? Was I worth nothing that the gods would use me for amusement?

No, not even the gods can change my fate. I was destined to be with Fenrir as his luna and no man or god can stop it. I wiped my wet face and picked up my gifts. I didn't bother looking in the mirror because I would end up making some changes.

I tried to leave my room but I found out it was locked from the outside.

"Gosh!" I kicked the door but it wouldn't budge. I jammed my shoulder into it, seeing that the door was already quite old, but I ended up getting hurt.

When the pains subsided, I decided to look for another means. The window was the only thing that crossed my mind. And luckily, the jump wasn't a huge one. I threw the gift to the ground first and after much persuasion from my inner mind, I jumped too. I was successful but I twisted an ankle in the process.

It hurt but that wasn't what I had to think about. The thought of Lyra getting close to the prince made every pain disappear.

I managed to limp to the venue of the party and what I saw was Fenrir holding Lyra's hand and the crowd was cheering.

I felt discouraged and defeated. No matter how hard I tried, I still lost him.

I began to march slowly toward them. I could hear whisperings and laughter from the crowd but I didn't care. All I cared about was Fenrir's eyes on me. He seemed shocked by the way his lips parted. Had he finally noticed me?

I could imagine the look on Bennett's face and Lyra's pathetic surprised look was to die for. She looked like the ground would open up and swallow her.

"What are you doing here?" Fenrir asked with an indifferent gaze.

"I'm just here to present my gift to you, as custom demands," I said and stretched out my hand to give the parcel to him. He received it but his facial expressions were saying something else entirely.

"Iris, is it?"

"Yes, Iris," I replied dreamily. He knew my name!

"You shouldn't have come here, Iris." He said seriously. The smiles on my face faded away. It was replaced with worry.

"Why? I am your mate, am I not? You know that." I said softly, hoping to reason with him.

"I know that. In fact, I knew a long time ago and that was why it was easy to use you to cheat during those tests. I knew you'd do anything for me." He said it as though it meant nothing to him.

He used me only to pass?

"What do you mean?"

The next thing I heard was a crash, he had thrown away the gift I had presented to him.

"I, Fenrir Radolf, reject you, Iris Sandalio, as my mate and Luna." He shouted to the crowd. There were loud gasps everywhere, even I could see the disappointment on the Alpha's face.

Did he really mean that? A bond that the moon goddess herself created, he was breaking it. I was scared this would happen. I knew I wouldn't be able to handle the humiliation. Why didn't he just accept me? Where had I gone wrong? Was it because of the rumors that were being spread around? Why couldn't he get to know me first before rejecting me?

A pair of strong arms grabbed me and began to pull me out after apologizing for the embarrassment I had caused. I looked at Fenrir with teary eyes, knowing that it would be the last time I would see him.