Alpha Valtor's Substitute Bride

Chapter One

Astrid

I have never seen Father fly into a fit of rage like this one. My sister has just dropped the ear-tingling news that she is pregnant after her betrothal to Thane Valtor, and the news has forced something to snap in my father’s head. His eyes are bloodshot, as if he is high on his fury.

He sweeps a hand over the dining table and the China plates come crashing down, and I watch as blood red wine spills over the white tablecloth as the wine cups topple over. No one can stop him tonight, not my mother, not even me. I bite down on my lip hard when one shard of broken chinaware skids off the table, and my movements are not quick enough to dodge the sailing object before it drives itself into the skin of my arm.

He shoves my mother away from the window where she is trying to shield my twin sister and drags her forward. I'm torn between staunching the wound on my arm and thrusting myself in the middle of the chaos to plead on my sister's behalf. My sister grabs the curtain by the window and I wince when a loud rip fills the air. My mother's pleading eyes collide with mine and I look away, unwilling to interpret the message in them even though I know I don't need to.

Blood is dripping onto the marble tiles but I lock the pain away. My head spins for a moment, but I manage to keep my eyes focused. My father's arm is in the air, and when it descends, my sister's face twists to the side from the weight of the slap.

“Astrid," My mother calls out to me. I can taste the thick metallic tang of blood in my mouth from biting my lower lip too hard.

“I can't do it." I tell her, shaking my head while I fight to keep my thoughts focused on helping my sister without sabotaging myself or worsening the situation.

My father's arm is swinging again and when Bryn's eyes flashes my way, I know I have to step forward with a plan. It's one I thought of the moment she announced she was pregnant. I swallow deeply, the copper taste of blood mixing with saliva.

“I’ll do it.” The moment the words leave my mouth, I regret them, but then my father's arm suspended in the air gives me the confidence to push forward. He doesn't let Bryn go but his arm lowers to his side.

“What did you say?" He asks in a loud rumble that warns me not to slip up in my plan. Bryn shakes her head subtly, a warning to swallow back whatever it is I'm planning to say.

“I'll do it. I'll take her place." I answer in an unsteady voice. The wound in my arm is throbbing and I can't see past the pain dancing on my skin.

I hear my mother sigh softly in relief but I don't glance her way. I know what I'll see in her eyes, and I do not wish to be treated like a heroine when I loath the very idea of what I am about to do.

My father throws an accusatory look in my mother's direction. My mother shrinks into herself as if there is a shell for her to hide in.

“What is she talking about? Was this your plan? Did you know about the pregnancy?" My father barks.

“No, no, she didn't tell me. I swear!" Her voice cracks midway through her sentence, swallowed in a muffled whisper that makes me wonder if she is sobbing or just merely trying to put up a weak front.

“Do you know what this means? What your sister has done?" He jerks her arm and Bryn stifles a whimper by slapping her palm over her mouth. But my father doesn't loosen his grip. He will dislocate her arm at this rate.

“Do you know what this means for the treaty? We will lose everything we've worked for! I'll lose my status as the Ambassador to the Shifter's Clan and your sister has set it in motion!" He twists her arm.

I stretch out my good arm. “Please, stop hurting her. I'll take her place as Thane Valtor’s bride."

“Not his bride, silly girl. His Mate. You should know better, Astrid, you're the wise twin. He will sniff out your charade and he'll annul the treaty."

I bite the inside of my cheek. I didn't think about this, but it's not like I have a plan B.

“I'll make sure he doesn't."

“He will, Astrid, you haven't met him." My sister warns. I should hate her right now, but I know Bryn. She's as defiant as they come.

“We'll think of something, but let us send word to Thane before he begins to suspect foul play." My mother suggests. Well done, Astrid, her eyes seem to say.

Father drops Bryn's arm. She staggers backwards but my mother's arms are already outstretched to catch her.

“You have fifteen hours to prepare yourself. Thane is a ruthless pack leader, and he will stop at nothing to get what he wants. If you screw this up for me, you will never forgive me after I'm done with you. All of you!" He glares at us for a minute longer before turning on his heels, shattering the broken shards of the chinaware beneath his boots as he storms out of the dinning area.

Mother is already at my side, lifting my injured arm to take a look at it. Bryn's eyes refuse to meet mine.

“You did the right thing, Astrid." She says quietly, lifting my chin so she can gaze into my eyes. Her soft brown eyes tell me all the things she cannot bring herself to say. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you and your sister. I'm sorry for being the weakest of mothers, for failing to use my voice. I'm sorry I let my weakness overwhelm me. But she doesn't say these words aloud, and I wonder if I'm merely trying to protect her from the anger boiling in my veins, pulsating and breathing like a living thing.

It takes my mother six minutes to treat and slap a bandage over the injury on my arm. The pain has subsided to a dull throb but it still hurts to breath even though it has nothing to do with the injury.

“Let me see what your father is up to." It's my mother's language for let me make sure your father is not trying to set us ablaze.

When her footsteps no longer echo back to us, Bryn grabs my uninjured arm but I steal it back. She sighs.

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put you on the altar like this. I didn't even know I was pregnant until-"

“You don't need to apologize, Bryn. It's already done." I tell her flippantly. I'm no heroine, and I do not need their Yay, you saved the day! remarks or pity.

“I'm truly sorry, Astrid. I wasn't thinking. I was only -"

“Thinking of yourself. Being selfish. Forgetting it would backfire. I'm just the one roasting this time. Who does the baby belong to?" I ask her, once again stealing back my arm from her grasp. She folds her hands across her chest resignedly.

“I can't tell you, Astrid. At least not now."

“Yeah, you can keep your secrets. I shouldn't have asked anyway." I flex my injured arm to test the pressure of the wound. For the next two weeks, it will be just my left hand and I. I turn, no longer interested in continuing the conversation with my sister.

“Wait," She calls out. I hesitate for a moment, one foot not quite touching the ground as I decide if to honor her request or not.

“I'm listening, Bryn." I say impatiently. Under the chandelier hanging above the stairs, I can make out the swell of the skin of my injured arm.

“You should know, Thane Valtor hates being asked questions."

I don't answer. I don't even know what to say to a statement like that. I have never met Thane, Alpha of the Wulfgar pack, before. The little facts I know about him are rumors garnered from unreliable sources.

“Just like father." I finally say.

Bryn laughs, a humorless laugh that does nothing to soothe my fried nerves.

“No, sister, father is human. Thane is a shifter, a man who commands the respect of the Shifter's Clan in and outside New York." Her words are laced with a strong warning I know not to take for granted.

“Should I be scared?" I ask, still backing her.

“In your case? No. You should be terrified."