A betrothal
"Take your bags outside, Noelle."
I froze at the door, my hand gripping the handle of my small, worn-out bag. My mother—no, foster mother—stood there, arms crossed, her face blank and cold. I hadn't asked what this was about yet, because deep down, I already knew. Something had been off all morning. The way my foster parents exchanged strange glances and whispered behind closed doors. My younger siblings, Bethany and Liam, barely even spoke to me.
"Why?" My voice cracked as I spoke, my heart already pounding. "Where am I going?"
Her expression hardened. "You're going to the Alpha. The deal's been made."
I felt the floor drop beneath me. "The Alpha? But... why? I don't understand." My voice shook, disbelief flooding my senses. "You're sending me to him?"
"Yes," she said without a hint of emotion. "He chose you. It's done. There's no turning back now."
My head spun. I had never even met the Alpha of our pack, only heard the whispered rumors of him—dark, terrifying rumors. Tales of his ruthlessness, his control over the territory. Why would he choose me? I'm a nobody, an omega. A commoner. "But I don't even know him," I pleaded, panic clawing at my throat. "Why would you send me to someone I don't know? What if he's—"
"He paid us enough to keep your siblings alive. You should be grateful, Noelle. Marrying into royalty is a privilege," she cut me off sharply.
My eyes widened in shock. "So that's what this is about? Money? You're selling me?"
Bethany scoffed from across the room. "Oh, come on, Noelle. It's not like you have anyone else. You should be thrilled. Maybe you'll finally be useful."
My blood boiled. "What did you just say?" I asked, trying to control the hurt, my voice low. She quickly looked away, her expression unbothered.
"I didn't say anything," Bethany muttered, retreating.
Trembling, I turned back to my mother. "I can't do this. I can't go with him. Please don't make me. He's—"
"Enough." She gave me a hard look before softening. "Do it for your family, Noelle."
The words crushed me, my body shaking under the weight of them. They were handing me over to a man I didn't know, to a life I hadn't chosen. And not a single person in this house—my so-called family—cared. I lowered my head, fighting back tears as I grabbed my small bag, holding the few belongings I had, and walked out the door.
The cool evening breeze hit my face, but it did nothing to soothe the storm inside me. A large black car was parked outside, and a guard stood next to it, stiff and expressionless. No one came to say goodbye. No hugs, no parting words. Nothing. I was completely alone.
I climbed into the car, my thoughts spinning out of control. My family wasn't even really my family. They had adopted me a few years ago, saying they found me wandering the streets with no memory of who I was or where I came from. Everything about my past was a blur, and now, without warning, I was being sent off to marry a man I had never even laid eyes on. The Alpha. Why would he choose me? What made me special?
The car ride felt endless, every passing mile feeding the knot of fear growing in my stomach. When we finally pulled up in front of a massive stone mansion, I could barely breathe. The Alpha's palace loomed before me, cold and uninviting.
A butler led me inside. The hallways were grand, but they felt suffocating. As I walked, I noticed the maids glancing at me, whispering behind their hands, but no one said a word to me. No one welcomed me.
We stopped in front of a door, and the butler stepped inside for a moment, leaving me outside to wait. I stood there, feeling like a stranger, and a group of maids passed by, whispering to each other.
"Is she the new maid?" one of them muttered, her eyes drifting over my modest bag and clothes.
"Maybe. They're always bringing in more help," another responded, shrugging.
I frowned. Maid? They couldn't think I was here to work for them. I was here to marry the Alpha. My mother had told me so. Didn't they know? Shouldn't the whole pack be aware of the arrangement? But the maids didn't mention the Alpha, and they certainly didn't treat me like someone important.
Why did they think I was just another servant?
A strange, uneasy feeling crept into my chest. If I was supposed to be marrying into royalty, why didn't anyone seem to know?
The butler returned, clearing his throat to signal me. He gestured toward the door. With trembling hands, I opened it and stepped into what seemed like a study. The room was dimly lit, the air heavy with the scent of old books and leather. At the far end, a man stood with his back to me, looking out the window.
This had to be the Alpha.
"Alpha," I whispered, bowing my head, unsure of what to do.
There was a moment of silence before he spoke, his voice low and dangerous. "You're finally here."
I dared to glance up, my heart pounding even faster. He still hadn't turned to face me.
"What's your name?" he asked, his tone cold.
"N-Noelle," I stammered, feeling small under his scrutiny.
He chuckled darkly, finally turning around. My breath caught in my throat. Micky was tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair that framed his sharp features. His piercing eyes seemed to see right through me. And then he smiled—a sickening grin that made my skin crawl.
"At least my money bought me something pretty," he said, stepping toward me slowly.
I stiffened as he reached out, his hand brushing against my cheek. His touch was surprisingly gentle at first, and for a brief second, I allowed myself to hope that maybe this wouldn't be as bad as I feared. Maybe he wasn't the monster everyone said he was.
But then his grip tightened.
I gasped in pain, my eyes widening in terror as his fingers dug into my skin, hard enough to leave bruises. I tried to pull away, but he held me firm, his expression shifting from amused to cruel.
"Alpha, please—" I whimpered, panic rising within me.
He ignored my pleas, his grip only tightening further until I thought my bones might break. Tears welled up in my eyes as I begged him to stop. "Please...I'll do whatever you want."
He sneered, and with a violent shove, he threw me to the floor like I was nothing. I landed hard, the breath knocked out of me as pain shot through my body. I lay there, trembling, my heart racing in terror.
Micky towered over me, his eyes cold and devoid of any warmth. "Now, let's get to work," he said darkly.
My heart sank as I stared up at him, fear clawing at my insides. I had no idea what he wanted, but the way he looked at me made it clear I was in danger. This wasn't some fairytale wedding. I was just a pawn in his twisted game.
I pushed myself up, wincing as pain radiated through my limbs. My mind raced, searching for a way to escape, but all I could think of was how trapped I felt. I had come here hoping for a chance at a better life, but instead, I was facing a nightmare.
"Get up," he commanded, his voice sharp and unyielding.
I scrambled to my feet, heart pounding. "What do you want from me?" I asked, my voice shaking.
Micky took a step closer, his eyes narrowing as a sick smile played across his feature, "I just want to have fun."