THE ALPHA'S SUBSTITUTE BRIDE

Be a substitute

*ARYA*

I wasn't sure how long I spent sprawled naked on the floor in the living room, but I woke up, greeted by an immense pain all over my body. No one cared enough to help me up.

I grabbed my clothes and dragged myself to my tiny room. The wounds on my arm stings so much but I had to endure, no matter what.

A second barely passed by without me wincing in agony at the lump around my knees and the fractures in my fingers. I knew I had to see a doctor but I can't even afford to do it. Dad has always been an ignorant father to me ever since mom's death.

I have no idea if he blames me for her death whatsoever, but he has never cared to check up on me even during times when my pain was glaring.

I decided to have a good rest for the day. I was injured, hurt, bruised and heartbroken but there was no way to soothe myself, so I sought solace in my bed for the day.

My moment of peace suddenly ended when the ringing doorbell wouldn't stop. No one was home to get the damn door, and I expected the person knocking to give up after a few knocks.

I took careful steps towards the door, careful enough not to cause any friction between my hands, fingers and my head which was pounding painfully.

"It's a letter for Beta Warren, from the royal palace" the man at the door spoke when I snapped the door open.

I took it gently, bowing slightly before shutting the door again.

As I strolled towards the large table somewhere around the living room, I contemplated on whether I should check the content in the envelope or not but eventually I did. Boldly written on the card was the date chosen for the Alpha prince's wedding with Janelle. I felt my heart race as I recalled Janelle's statement about me filling up the space as his bride.

I tried to convince myself that she just felt miserable enough and she had just simply wished I was his bride in her stead, but I couldn't quench the uneasiness that settled in the pit of my stomach. It wasn't until evening when father summoned me into the living room as usual when he had something to announce.

"According to the letter I received from the palace. Your wedding with the crowned prince is in two days" father said, referring to Janelle and I bit my lips hard, hoping the discussion end here and now, however, my heart dropped when Clyde strode in as gracefully as ever.

"I can't get married to the crowned Alpha, father" Janelle said as silently as ever. Her head was hung low and I rolled my eyes I'm distaste when Clyde held unto her hand gently.

Father's gaze traveled from her face to their entwined hands and a low growl escaped him.

"What are you trying to tell me?" He asked, his voice laced with anger and I couldn't feel more grateful.

"Janelle is my true mate, Beta Warren" Clyde chipped in and I bit back the sob that threatened to escape me. This was the same way he declared me as his mate when father blamed me for following men around.

"What do you mean? Isn't Arya your mate?" He asked and my gaze hung low, not daring to listen to his ridiculous reply to that question.

"I wasn't sure of what I felt for Arya back then, but right now the feeling doesn't match what I feel for Janelle, plus my wolf is completely drawn to her" he replied.

"I'm sure you're aware that the royal proposal can't be rejected, and as far as I know, Janelle was the proposed bride" I didn't miss the look of amusement in father's gaze as he said those words, almost as if he wanted Clyde's so called relationship with Janelle to work out.

Dad wasn't just an indifferent father to me, he just didn't care about me. I bet he sees me as a bastard child for being an omega when he's a Beta.

"I'm pregnant with Clyde's child!" Janelle broke the ice and the entire room went dead silent.

I risked thinking that he would defend me, and blame Clyde for betraying me but he did nothing of such.

"You can't marry the Alpha prince while carrying another man's child in your womb" Father declared in defeat.

The silence dragged out again for another long minute before my step mom broke the silence.

Then what happens to the marriage deal with the royal family?” Lana, my stepmom questioned Dad. My heart ceased.

“I was just about getting to that. Arya, you need to marry the crown prince in Janelle’s place,” I was completely shattered the moment the words came out from his mouth. I had expected it but I was still heartbroken, shocked and overwhelmed by it.

“I refuse!” I objected, “I refuse to be a substitute for Janelle or marry the sickly crown prince!”

“Mind the way you speak about the royal family!” Dad warned, his face holding surprise at how I talked back at him to defend myself. It was my first time talking back at him but I couldn't care less. It doesn't count anyway.

“The truth will always be bitter"

“Why should I care? Are you afraid I'll get killed by calling him that and then your sacred bond with the royals will be broken? What difference does it make? I've been dead since forever, you don't care about anything that happens to me anyway!"

“Arya, I never thought you'd be this dramatic,” father sighed. "I've always thought you were pretenceful but it's a good thing you're letting me see your true colors right before I started feeling guilty" Father threw back irritatedly.

“I refuse to be the solution to Janelle's carelessness,” I spat in anger, disregarding his obvious displease at my protest.

“So what do you want me to do? Give Janelle to the royal family while she's carrying the child of another man? Are you aware of the consequences of what you're thinking? Our family is already plummeting and if we dare to play on the intelligence of the royal family, just be sure you and the entire Warren family won't be in existence,”

“But...,”

“I've never seen someone as self-centered as you are, after all I've done for you. I could have thrown you out or decided not to be responsible for you when your mother died but I took you in but now that the Warren family is depending on you to save our name, you want to turn your back on us?” He talked like he wasn't my biological father in the first place, it was his responsibility to take care of me but now he acts like he did me a favor.

“It's final, I don't care what you think. You're getting married to the crown prince and I don't want to hear a word of argument,” he ruled out. In the end, I was always the bad one, the one who didn't care and yet I was the victim. I've always been the victim.

I felt helpless, hopeless nothing more than a piece of trash, a simple commodity to be sold for the purpose of securing some popularity.

There was no guarantee that I won't get killed on my first day getting married. I will be used as a commodity of replacement without his highness's permission, which was obviously no different from committing treason.

Without another word, I walked out of my father's sight and everyone else. Each one of them buried deep in the painful depth of my heart. If the mom was someone up there, watching me go through all these, I hope that one day, she'll fight for me.

Dabbing at my tears, I slipped on a mask and walked out of the Warren's mansion to goddess knows where.

When it eventually seemed as if several hours had passed from walking, running and crying on the busy street, I ended up facing a faraway bar house. I recognized this place since I've been here several times when I needed time off my stepmother's snare.

"Ariana!" The bartender called and a little smiled curved my lips from beneath the mask. I couldn't be more glad for wearing the mask, he could have seen how sad I was. Even I could feel the sadness oozing from my smile.

"Have a sit" he said, offering me a drink. I hesitated for a second and he clicked his tongue.

"You don't have to pay, it's on the house" he mumbled calmly as he leaned on the desk to take a closer look at my face. I instinctively shifted back, suddenly self conscious of my face.

"Are you okay? Your eyes are puffy" he pointed out, his gaze never leaving mine.

"Of course not! I caught the flu" I lied smoothly and he shifted back almost immediately. I laughed at the gesture as I peeled of the mask from one side and gulped down the drink in one move.

The loud gossips from the three girls behind me suddenly felt annoying and the urge to yell at them tore at my throat until I suddenly heard that title. The man I barely knew, the one I would be getting married to against my will. The crowned Alpha Prince.

"I feel pity for the next girl that'll be taken to him" one with the red hair said, making me cringe.

"Next girl?" I wanted to ask but the girl beside her beat me to it.

"Of course! Apparently, lots of women have been chosen to take care of him and he executed them in less than five days of their arrival" the third girl affirmed and I could immediately hear the sound of my heart beating hard against my ribcage.

Exe...cu...ted!

"Rumors has it that they were executed after making the slightest mistakes"