G_Greetings, A_Alpha Gabriel. I am Ava W_Williams. I am t_truly h_honored to w_welcome you " Ava said, pacing around her room and holding up the tears that had formed in her eyes already.

She was so nervous that she didn't realize that she was biting her finger nails again until the Alpha of the crescent pack entered her room. Hearing his staff strike the floor, she hurriedly hid her hands behind her back.

"G_Greetings F_father". 

Alpha Xander sighed, feeling more disgusted. "Haven't I wanted you over and over again about that disgusting habit of yours?"

"F_forgive m_me.." 

"Stop talking, you disabled fool."

Ava bent her head low upon hearing the cold tone of her father. Her hands, which were on her back, were busy picking her fingers anxiously.

Alpha Xander clicked his tongue repeatedly.

"You can embarrass me all you want, Ava Williams. But not in front of Alpha Gabriel. No way is he supposed to find out about your disability.

"I_it's n_not a d_disability f_ father." . Ava tried to explain softly.

"Shut the fuck up and repeat the lines I asked you to practice."

She looked up at her father sharply, and her heart sank to her stomach, which suddenly formed a knot. Her brows furrowed in doubt. Ava bit her lips from the inside, wondering what to do. 'This is not the time to be anxious, Ava. It's time to do it right. 

"Did you suddenly go dump and deaf as well? Alpha Xander growled in frustration.

Greetings, Alpha Gabriel. I am Ava Williams, the prince_ss of the C_cresent pack. I_I f_feel t_truly h_honored to w_welc w_welc..."

A heavy strike landed on Ava's back, and she swallowed the rest of her words in pain.

Alpha Xander clicked his tongues again, his eyes hot red with fury. "I do not know why you hate what your father does passionately. It's been over a week, and you still can't memorize just a sentence without embarrassing my name? If only you do not stammer. No. I mean, if only you were as good as Anastasia. I still regret ever calling you my daughter. If your mother were alive, I could at least have asked her about your real father, because obviously I am not. You cursed yourself and killed your mother even before she could set her eyes on you."

With these horrible words, Alpha Xander stumbled out of the room and banged on the door behind him in frustration.

Ava shrugged and sighed silently. She walked slowly towards the window and looked out at the beautiful city, which she had never been allowed to explore only because she stammers Sometimes she wonders if stammering is a dangerous and infectious disease that she was cursed with.

No member of the pack has never set their eyes on Ava. She just exists. They assumed that the heir princess was abroad studying and would be back once she was ripe for marriage. Meanwhile, Ava Williams was lucky enough to get a home tutor, which his father even concluded that she did not deserve.

No need to cry again. She has cried enough for the past eighteen years of her life. Not anymore. She blinked her eyes repeatedly, encouraging herself to stay strong and smiling back at the sun that was radiating from her glowing skin.

Anastasia, Ava's half sister, could be all that, but she wasn't as beautiful as Ava is. However, each time Alpha Xander would love to compare Ava with her half sister, this has made Ava more annoyed and has built an inferiority complex within her.

"Ava, Father seeks your presence; Alpha Gabriel is here." Ava turned to the voice to behold Anastasia walking proudly around her room, like she was inspecting its neatness.

"H_haven't I_I W_warned Y_you to K_knock b_bef...

"Save your spits, sister; Alpha Gabriel might end up leaving before you finish your sentence. Just dress up and be out quickly" Anastasia said, before rushing out of the room. She knows so well that that particular sentence could land her in a hospital bed if Ava got hold of her with her hot temper.

Ava clenched her fist tightly, trying to hold back the anger.

Dressed in a deep red gown made of a silky smooth fabric that flows elegantly as she walks, Ava made her way to the sitting room, where she was instructed to meet Alpha Gabriel. The dress is firm and fits her body, with a scoop necklace that accentuates her graceful neck.

'I_I am going to be okay,' Ava murmured to herself as she heaved a sigh of relief.

Ava had no single idea about the man she was going to meet. Apart from the fact that she heard he is a ruthless Alpha and that he is the most powerful and wealthy Alpha in South America. She has no idea that he is a misogynist who doesn't believe in love, marriage, or mating bonds. He was a man who treated everyone so rudely, like he had a grudge against them.

The news even said that he has never been seen smiling for any reason

However, had no choice than to obey herfather,r who wanted a connection with the Alpha of Alphas; she wanted to please and at least get an approval from her father. Even if it was a hug or a smile, she would be so satisfied., If she gets any of that. although she was so sure that there was no way this powerful man would be interested in marrying a stammering, nerdy, wolf-less girl. There was nothing she had, especially, nothing that could move Alpha Gabriel to choose her as his mate. She doesn't even have a wolf yet.

If not for the pack elder's persistence, Gabriel wouldn't have set out on this journey. This particular morning, he walked arrogantly as usual to his office, mummuring to himself how much he hated being confined in that small room for almost the whole morning and part of the afternoon. He wanted something else. Something like going to war and bringing his enemy's head back to his people. He wanted to do that so desperately that he didn't even mind causing the war himself.

however,Alpha Gabriel opened his computer to  see a mail from the pack elder's but with a different heading. Normally, the mails usually says something like, "Your bride has been chosen." And each time, he either deleted the mail or ignored it completely. However, it was different today. It read that his mother was sick and it was critical.

He rushed to his mother's chamber only to find her pleading with him to have mercy and allow her to see even just one grandchild before she died.

It wasn't so difficult, in as much as it didn't require him to get tied down with a woman. His mother needed a grandchild and not a daughter-in-law after all.

That is just why he is here. The last "your bride has been chosen" email was for Ava Williams.

"This. Sucks!" Alpha Gabriel murmured to himself loudly as his mean face waited for Ava to arrive after receiving warm, pretentious, and overly clingy greetings from Alpha Xander.

Unfortunately, it was a rude coincidence that Ava arrived at the sitting room at that exact time.

"S_sorry?" Ava furrowed her brows in confusion, wondering why the man sitting like a master on his father's cushion would dare to say she sucked.

"A stammerer?" A curious gaze was fixed on Ava's green eyes. A gaze that seemed to see straight into his mind. Alpha Gabriel looked at her like a beast about to devour fresh meat.

Ava hastily lowered her gaze. She could feel her face burning.