"Your highness, this is my daughter, and I offer you my loyalty." At a fancy party, I hid in a corner and watched my father, an alpha, bend over to speak to the prince on the throne, while my sister, Bernice, wore a tight, glamorous dress, sit at the prince's...
Chapter 1 The Daughter Of The Alpha
Delia’s POV
“She is such a pain in the a.ss. Can't she live without a man's attention?”
After my stepsister Bernice finished cursing me, the surrounding guests burst into laughter.
Today, while I was cleaning up for Bernice and her friends' afternoon tea party, I gave directions to one of Bernice's admirers.
“Thank you,” the man in the haute couture suit gave me a standard social smile, and then kept looking for Bernice.
Unfortunately, the flash of his smile was caught by Bernice, whose gaze was like a poisoned arrow.
Though it was just one of her many suitors that she despised.
“Since she likes to pose in front of men, let her perform for us!” Bernice said viciously as her five large hunting dogs ran to me.
As she beckoned, the hounds' expressions grew more fierce, and some of their eyes glowed with a terrible green light.
I have seen with my own eyes how these hounds tear up their prey. The show, she said, was to watch me shiver under their fangs like those poor animals.
The dogs' mouth gave off a strong smell, and the spit dripped down from the teeth onto the grass. My body was in pain from the sudden tension and fear. The burning in my lungs was getting stronger and my legs were cramping up. But I knew I would suffer more if I did not escape.
“No, please. I don't want to die. Help me!” As I retreated, I begged for help from the crowd behind me. However, the ladies were disgusted with me like I was a piece of trash on the ground, afraid that my hand would touch a corner of their clothes, So they all backed away with handkerchiefs over their mouths.
Although Bernice and I are Alpha’s daughters, not every Alpha’s child is loved. I grew up knowing that favoritism was a common thing in the world, but it had nothing to do with me.
I was an outlier in my pack, and I knew this harsh reality when I was 10 years old. How could a werewolf be so weak? My speed, smell, and reaction are more like a human than a werewolf. It was a shame to my entire pack, and traditionally, child like me should be drowned at birth, because a weak offspring is a very bad sign for an Alpha.
The Alpha is the leader of the whole pack, and his children represent the future of the pack. So, I am expected to be strong and must be strong.
However, my father's hesitation saved my life.
“She is my daughter, my first child,” my father announced to the elders as I cried in the delivery room.
“Moon Goddess.” The elders bowed their heads in prayer. “Please bless our pack.”
Ever since I was very young, people around my father always advised him to have another child as an heir, but my father did not pay much attention to it.
At that time, I thought my father loved me, and I tried my best to do everything well. I work hard every day while my peers play and sleep.
Even so, I was still the last one on the test. My peers easily completed the test and then huddled around me whispering and laughing at me, even spitting at me on purpose as I looked at them.
“I can't believe she is the daughter of Alpha. She will be killed by wild animals in the forest sooner or later.”
“I guess she's a bastard from Luan and a human. She doesn't deserve to be a werewolf.”
“Ha ha ha, poor Alpha. I think he should take this piece of crap to a paternity test.”
I was running in the hot sunshine, and the light forced me keep my eyes closed. My heart was pounding, and I was covered in sweat. I was breathing heavily on the training ground, and my skin was tingling all over. Their words are buzzing in my ear like the sound of bees.
Malice from the children is the worst thing. They are like invisible daggers, straight into my heart.
Everyone is estranged from me, consciously or unconsciously, and I can vaguely feel it. I convinced myself over and over that I didn't need friends, that all I had was my tattered doll. She's all I need.
Slowly, my father looked at me with more and more disappointment. Every time he met me, he would look me up and down, frown, turn his back on me, and sigh heavily.
"What a pity."
His sigh was long, like a hammer hitting my heart and taking my breath away. I lowered my head, bit my lip, stared at my shoes, and hugged myself as he left.
“Are you Delia?” At my loneliest, a girl appeared to me.
She is the only person of my age who is willing to be my friend. She's smart and can do anything, whether it's training or social. Everyone smiled at her, marveled at the mention of her name, and even my father made no secret of his affection for her.
At first, I thought my father paid attention to her because she was my friend. My father still loves me. For many nights, I slept with my old doll in my arms, thinking of this. Although my life is depressing, as long as I think of my father, I still feel not so desperate.
Moon Goddess, bless me to grow up quickly, I will be strong when I am an adult. I will make my father proud of me.
But the moon goddess still played a joke on me. It was only when I was insulted by my peers that I learned that my best friend was my father's bastard.
Soon, she became the new daughter of our pack in public.
At the time I learned the news, my mother had just passed away half a month. I will always remember my mother’s appearance before she died.
Her cheeks were sunken from illness, and she held my hand with tears in her eyes, saying over and over, “My daughter, my dear, what will you do if I die?”
“My father will protect me,” I replied, gripping my teeth to control my tears.
I didn't want the last image my mother saw before she died to be me in tears.
My mother was even sadder when she heard my answer. She shook her head. “No, you don't know... My daughter, what are you going to do? Promise me, live well, no matter……”
Half a month later, when my father brought my best friend Bernice home, I knew what my mother meant.
That day, having lost my mother, I lost my father in another way.
Bernice smiled triumphantly at me, holding the new doll our father had bought her. I stood at the bottom of the stairs and stared at her. At that moment, I finally knew that not every daughter could get the father's love.
Chapter 2 The Lycan Prince's Mate
(back to now)
I accidentally tripped over the lawn mower next to the bushes, and a piece of iron pierced my ankle. I couldn't stand up because of the pain. But the hounds' breath came nearer and nearer to me. I didn't have time to look at my wound. I crawled a few steps forward on both hands and feet before trying to get up and keep running, but I fell to the ground again.
During my struggle, the guests laughed even louder.
I don't know when I stopped being treated like an Alpha's daughter. I became a person who could be insulted and hurt at will.
Bernice became a central figure in the pack's social life, where men and women would flatter and compliment her wherever she was. She looked at me like a proud peacock. Every time she glanced at me, the people around her would give me a hard time.
Ever since she became the official daughter of Alpha, she has made no secret of her ill will towards me, even though she had all the love of our father, the dignity of an alpha daughter, a beautiful dress, expensive jewelry, and even an enviable fiance.
Kral Evans, the most famous Prince of the royal family. A different kind of werewolf. Technically, he's Lycan. He was born and raised in the limelight, enjoying the power and money of the werewolf world at its highest. As he came of age, he became the one everyone feared and admired. He was a famous warrior who successfully killed vampires, established new rules for the royal family with an iron fist, and trained the most powerful werewolf army in the division. Some say he is a womanizer, some say he is the most promising future king, and some say he is the most brutal devil. In short, his name was echoed like a thunderbolt in every werewolf's ear.
Our pack and the royal family maintained only normal diplomatic relations, so we were all surprised to hear that Kral and Bernice were about to get engaged.
The surprise was followed by cheers. To marry a royal prince is the wish of all unmated she-wolves! Kral has not been able to find a fated mate, and there are rumors that he will be looking for someone to be his chosen mate. I never expected he'd choose Bernice.
Bernice became more and more arrogant. Being chosen by Kral means that she is about to become a member of the most exalted royal family.
The dog barked behind me. It was too late. I couldn't get away.
"Wait a minute," said a graceful female voice from the crowd.
Suddenly, I thought the moon goddess finally heard my prayer. Someone spoke for me, and the miracle really appeared.
However, the next second, the voice continues: "You're about to get engaged. If she dies, will Kral have a bad impression of you?"
Bernice was stunned for a moment, then opened her lips and said, "It doesn't matter. Kral loves me, and of course he supports everything I do."
"TSK, tsk, tsk, tsk. You're not even married yet and you're already showing off your affection. How enviable."
“I hear Kral spent $20 million on Bernice just for the Royal Crown!”
"Wow, are you talking about the Crown for his wife? Bernice, I heard Kral gave you a lot of expensive jewelry. Please show us."
I could hardly hear their noise, and could only feel the chill rising from my back. What was I thinking? There is no sympathy for me at all, and my humble fantasies are nothing more than daydreams.
I lost my father the day I lost my mother. I have nothing behind me, I can only rely on myself.
I have no way out, but at this time, my heart is calm down a lot.
"Are you scared silly? What a coward," said Bernice, thinking I was scared out of my wits, and growing more complacent, ready to wave to the dogs again and direct them to attack.
Before her hand fell, I closed my eyes and asked, "Bernice, since it's an act, if I can scare your dog off, will you let me go today?"
Bernice looked at me in surprise and disdain as if she had just heard a big joke. "Just you? Are you crazy? Of course, I can promise you. You're the one who asked for death today."
I knew that Bernice was a person who cared a lot about her face. She boasted in front of her friends and would probably honor it.
A male friend of Bernice's scoffed, "You see, the coward, even her voice is shaking!"
He puffed out his chest, as if his words could add to his manly charm.
But yes, my throat was sore and hoarse, and I had no time to drink water all day to prepare for this afternoon tea.
The hounds seemed to see through my weakness, knew I had no gun, no power, and I couldn't even stand up. They were ready to pounce on me.
"Bite her!"
"Well done, my darlings!"
"Bernice, the royal family must really like a brave and cheerful hostess like you."
The crowd cheered. They all thought my fate was sealed and were ready to see my tragedy.
At this point, I couldn't care less about what they were saying. I stood up in pain, grabbed a black parasol on the side, opened it quickly, and then quickly pulled it back, and so on, with the strange sound of steel bones colliding.
The bloodhounds, their eyes blazing, were just a step away from me, but when they saw my movement, they instinctively stopped, stared at me with their sharp teeth, and then began to wander.
And I half crouched down, and quickly stood up and ran toward them. At the same time, my mouth was still full of roar.
Sure enough, the hounds, in the face of provocation, did not dare to come forward and bite me, but retreated.
Dogs instinctively fear the squat of humans. They all thought that once humans squatted down, they would be ready to pick up stones to attack them. And I suddenly stood up and rushed towards them. This is to enhance the action.
My body was already trembling from the pain, but my hands were moving faster and faster.
And the hounds, barking, ran away. No matter how much Bernice whistled, they wouldn't come back, only to surround me from a distance.
Use an umbrella to ward off dogs in times of crisis. I've read about it secretly from an old book in the study.
I had given up hope, but to my surprise, I succeeded.
"How can this be? Come on!" The audience did not see the fun they wanted, obviously very disappointed.
In the middle of the crowd, I looked at Bernice and said, "Bernice, I did it. It's time for you to fulfill your promise. You're the most noble Prince's fiancee. You have to keep your word, don't you?"
"You don't have to tell me," Bernice said slowly.
Before I had time to feel a trace of joy, I heard the second half of her sentence.
“But since my dog won't listen to me, you be my dog and go get my ring.”
As she spoke, she took off her ring and threw it into the open-air pool.
I froze. She raised her eyebrows and stared straight at me, and her eyes had an indescribable meaning.
This is a sure sign of danger. And her friends, who had subconsciously moved closer behind her, gave me cold, sharp eyes, apparently afraid that Bernice would lose face.
I was not afraid of them, but after biting my lip hard, I jumped into the water with everyone watching.
Bernice has Kral on her side now, and I can't afford to get into a fight with her.
Just hang in there. Everything will be fine once she's married.
I promised my mother that I would take good care of myself, brush my teeth and eat on time every day. I do these things seriously every day. Although I have to work until more than two o'clock in the morning to eat, but can eat full.
Looking for a ring in the huge luxury pool was like looking for a needle in a haystack. The water was so cold that I almost froze.
It was almost dark when I found the ring.
Now my skin is frozen gray and cold. I think I really like a stray dog now.
The eyes around me were either mocking or staring straight at my chest.
My big old blouse was all wet and clinging to me, revealing my lines clearly.
Bernice's lips curled into a smile, and she seemed to be discussing with her best friend how she would continue to punish and humiliate me, but when she saw this, she was clearly angry and went up to me and slapped me.
"Go home, you shameless bitch! What can you do but seduce men!"
The slap was so hard that it almost knocked me over.
Ignoring the burning pain, I limped to the storeroom, where I was staying, covering my face.
I knew I had escaped, and the sky was completely dark. Every day seems like it. Only with all my strength can I survive.
In the distance, on the lawn, there was the sound of music and the clinking of glasses, as if the farce had never happened. The fire crackled, and the air was filled with spices and the smell of roast meat, but everything has nothing to do with me.
Chapter 3 A Gift From Nick
As I scrubbed my bleached ankle with a ragged towel in my room, I felt a rush of exhaustion almost overwhelm me. My wet clothes hung in the corner to dry, and I could lick my wounds like a mouse back in the den, but the distant din of the party was a reminder that my day was not over, and I still need to work.
In the spacious hall, the long mahogany dining table was covered with smooth wax, and silver chandeliers were arranged on the gray silk tablecloth in the center of the table. The bright light from the candles illuminated the faces of the four people at the table. My father sat at the head of the table, Bernice on his right, his favorite nephew, Nike, on his left, and since my mother's death, I've gradually lost my place at the table, standing aside in my gray smock, like an out-of-place maid.
"Bernice, how was the banquet today?" My father put down his fork and knocked on the table. I immediately put away his cutlery and put it on the small table beside him.
"Of course it's going well, father. Everyone knows that Kral is coming to pack and marry me tomorrow. Our pack will be more prestigious in the future." Bernice lifted her chin proudly, replied with a voice that tried to suppress ostentation and feigned indifference.
"That's great, Bernice. You're such a good girl. You'll never let me down." Our father almost smiled. Standing beside him, I felt a pain in my heart. I had never made him so happy, but Bernice had always done it so easily.
“Uncle,” Nick said, running his fingers through the back of his hair, “My mother has sent Bernice some gifts, hoping she'll look even more radiant when she meets Kral tomorrow.
He took out a black velvet box and opened it. Inside were sets of earrings, necklaces, and rings in the shape of irises, made of diamonds and pearls. The perfectly cut diamond glowed, and Bernice picked up an earring from the velvet cloth and stroked it with satisfaction. I watched quietly as the beautiful diamond adorned her face, then I hung my head in the shadows and thought of the last pearl necklace left by my mother.
Though I had been careful not to let the three people at the table pay attention to me, Bernice really wanted a bigger audience.
"You," she knocked on the table, and as I walked past my father to pick up her dinner plate, she gave me a sidelong glance from the corner of her eye and held out her hand. "Put this ring on me.".
I saw the other ring on her finger that I'd been looking for in the pool. The biting chill seemed to strike me again from the icy water. I thought I had a cold. I felt dizzy and nauseous. I tried to hold it down, ready to pick up the iris ring on the table and put it on her.
"Wait," Nick suddenly looked at me and smiled as if he'd just seen me, it's my fault for forgetting my uncle's another daughter. I brought a present for Bernice and forgot yours. Don't be mad at me, Delia.
He looked at me with a smile and seemed very friendly, but Bernice's face had darkened, "Come on, Nick, she's just a loser who doesn't have a wolf. She's a disgrace to our pack. What jewelry do you have for her? Is she going to meet the noble Kral tomorrow? It would embarrass us."
I froze, afraid to look at my father's face.
“Bernice is right. Finish your work early tomorrow and leave. We have an important meeting tomorrow. Don't disturb us,” our father said.
"It's a shame that Delia can't come to the meeting tomorrow. I heard there are a lot of werewolves in the royal family, so maybe Delia will find a good choice." Nick's voice was soft, his eyes wandered over my old sackcloth like a stain that could not be thrown away.
"Well, no one's going to like her. Look at her skinny frame, her sickly pale skin and her dry hair," Bernice said, looking at me critically, as if I'd been stripped and displayed in front of their eyes.
Hold on, I told myself I couldn't cry here.
“Well, don't talk about such trivial matters. Bernice, you have a good rest tonight. You must make sure that Kral is satisfied with you tomorrow, Understand?” Our father got up and left.
Bernice took the velvet box from the table and took our father's hand. As they walked away, Bernice gave me a look of contempt and menace, which I knew was a warning not to disturb them tomorrow.
The moon had risen to its highest point, and the whole pack was asleep. I picked up the cutlery and went to the laundry room to get the dry clothes back. I don't have too many clothes. This old sackcloth is too torn. By contrast, this gray smock is ugly but strong. I took off my sackcloth and headband at the window and let my long chestnut hair fall down. The moonlight shone on my naked skin. I touched my emaciated body, thought of what Bernice had said, and hugged myself tightly, as if someone could comfort me.
“clack”
A long hard life has trained my senses. Although I was still indulging my emotions for a second, I immediately became alert for the next second. I promised my mother that I would live well, and I will not break that promise.
I quickly put on my clothes, crept to the door and pulled it open. "Who is it?" I asked loudly, but there was nothing outside. The laundry was out of the way and it was very late. No one was supposed to be here.
I went out again and looked around, but still no one was there. Just when I thought I was too tired to hear voices, a pair of strong hands suddenly tied me tightly from behind. I only felt a pain in the back of my neck, and I lost consciousness.
I felt heavy all over, like a stone was pressing down on me, and the back of my neck and ankles were aching all the time. I opened my eyes wearily, and in the blur of vision, I saw Nick.
"Are you awake? My cousin?" Nick crouched in front of me, and I realized that my hands were tied behind my back. A few wisps of his hair fell on his forehead, and his face had the same friendly smile, if his hands hadn't been on me all the time.
“Let me go, I'm Alpha's daughter. Are you trying to anger my pack?” I tried to look angry and arrogant, but my trembling body betrayed my vulnerability.
"Alpha's daughter? Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. That's funny." His fingers pressed against my face, forcing me to moan in pain. His forehead was pressed against mine, and I could see the sarcasm and lust in his eyes. “You're your pack's trash, okay? Nobody wants you but me.” His husky voice rubbed against my ear, his teeth were about to bite my neck, and he was enjoying my fear, which is a common way for wolves to play with their prey.
This is the lakeside forest, the edge of our pack. I have no wolf, and no one will save me. I couldn't fight him either. The fever took the last of my strength, not to mention I was tied up.
I could only confront him with words, "If you wanted me, why didn't you go to my father and tie me up here instead?" I looked at him and laughed, “My father likes you more than me. Are you afraid that he won't agree? After all, even if everyone thinks that I'm trash, I'm still his daughter. You don't have the right to have me.”
I stared at him, trying to see a guilty look on his face, but he didn't relax his fingers around my face. As he got closer and closer, his other hand began to slowly pull my clothes off along the buttons.
"You're smart, Delia, but you don't have a wolf, or," he said with a teasing look in his eyes, and I felt something was wrong. My clothes were slipping off, and I was so scared that I felt like I was going to throw up. The moonlight seeped through the gaps in the leaves, leaving my body with a trail of light.
"You think I would have brought you here tonight without your father's permission? Don't forget, we werewolves have a very strong sense of smell."
There was a flash in my head, as if I'd seen the tears my mother had shed the day she died, and the cold look my father had given me the day he returned with Bernice.
He grew more and more excited, licking my tears, tearing off his clothes, pressing himself against my body, his body hot, his heart beating like a drum, his teeth left marks on my quivering body, but I was like a log frozen in the moonlight. He began to be dissatisfied, and he pulled my hair, made me moan. I looked at the Moon. Is this what the Moon goddess has planned for me?
Who else can save me?
If only I could have my wolf...
"Whoooooo" the wind brings a faint howl of anger, distant and dignified.
Nick stopped what he was doing to me. He suddenly turned to look deep into the forest. Two golden eyes locked on him coldly in a dark, moonless corner.
"F.uck!!!" Nick's werewolf blood makes him feel powerful. He looked at me who was almost naked. The threat in the darkness grew closer and closer, and the struggle made his eyes redden with bloodshot. Finally, he chose to run away.
The next moment he turned and ran, a huge black wolf rushed out of the shadows and stood in front of me.
