The Alpha Lord's Weakness

Chapter two

Danielle's pov

The wedding preparations started in earnest, with flower decorations arriving in huge trucks and expensive ornaments being carefully unloaded.

This wasn't just any wedding; it was touted as the wedding of the century, the kind of grand affair people would talk about for years to come.

I sighed as one of the workers roughly shoved me aside, not even bothering to apologize. He glanced over his shoulder, sneering as if I were in the way on purpose.

This was my life: always in the way, always an afterthought.

My mother had been the second wife of Mr. Baker, the man I'm supposedly meant to call my dad. He had been expecting a son but instead, he got me. To him, I was a mistake, a disappointment, and a constant reminder of what he didn't get. Uncalled-for and useless in the family — that's how I felt every single day.

Across the room, my elder sister, the bride-to-be, was showing off her latest designer gown to an admiring crowd of friends and family. The dress was exquisite, shimmering under the crystal chandeliers, and her face was glowing with happiness.

I couldn't help but smile at her joy; I loved seeing her happy. But she never wanted to see as much as a hint of a smile on my face. Any joy I showed seemed to irritate her, as if my happiness was a ploy to take her position.

"Hey, you skunk! Don't just stand around, get to work!" My stepmother's voice rang out, sharp and grating, cutting through the noise made from the surrounding activity.

She looked at me with pure, undisguised disgust as she dumped a basket full of onions into my arms.

The weight of the basket made me wince, a sharp pain shooting through my arms, but I nodded and watched her leave, her heels clicking against the polished floor.

I turned towards the kitchen, trying to steady the basket in my arms, when I heard a voice behind me. "Here, let me help you." It was Jai, always so helpful and kind. He took the basket from me with ease, his touch gentle, and my lips stretched into a small smile in

"Thanks..." I murmured, following him to the kitchen.

He set the basket down on the counter and started peeling the onions, his hands moving quickly and efficiently.

"I heard your sister's betrothed will be flying over today." Jai said casually as he washed the onions. I nodded slightly, my brown hair falling across my face.

Jai dried his hands and came to stand behind me. "Here..." he said softly.

He began to braid my hair, his fingers working through the long strands that reached down to my waist. The simple, tender act brought a warmth to my heart. Jai and a few of the other servants were the only ones that were nice to me.

"Thank you..." I mouthed slowly, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Come on, no need to be so formal, you know." Jai replied, a playful note in his voice. He jabbed me gently in the ribs, and I couldn't help but laugh, the sound bubbling over.

I playfully smacked him on the shoulder, and he grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. Jai is a complete jerk, always getting on my nerves, but on the flip side, he's fun to be with.

"But he won't be here, they'll be meeting over at a high-end restaurant." I reminded him as I grabbed the spinach and made quick work of it.

Jai nodded thoughtfully at what I said, his eyes distant as he mulled over his thoughts. "She's scared you'll steal her man from her..." He finally said, turning to the oven and carefully placing the spiced apple pie inside.

"What?!" I looked up incredulously, my eyes wide with shock. The very idea seemed absurd to me.

"You're going to get us in trouble!" I hissed, lowering my voice to a whisper. We both knew how risky it was to speak openly in this house, especially about my sister and her fiancé.

We weren't even meant to be heard talking!

"You and I know it's the truth," Jai replied, his tone matter-of-fact. He wiped his hands on a kitchen towel, his movements unhurried and calm.

"You think I'd stoop so low as to take her fiancé from her?" I asked, a mixture of disbelief and hurt in my voice.

"No, not that," Jai said, shaking his head. "Any man in his right senses would pick you over your sister. Your one hell of an artwork." He whistled softly, his eyes scanning me from head to toe in a way that made me blush.

"Silly child!" I giggled, unable to suppress the laughter that came out.

Despite the compliment, I couldn't see myself as beautiful. Years of being treated as an object, of being made to feel invisible and unwanted, had already taken a toll.

Evening came faster than usual that day. I was in the garden, tending to the flowers, the earthy scent of soil and blooming petals filling the air.

The garden was my sanctuary, basically the only place where I could find a tiny bit of peace.

"Danielle!" My name echoed across the yard, jolting me from my thoughts.

I wiped my hands on my dress, leaving smudges of mud on the faded fabric, and hurried inside to the living room.

"Yes, ma'am?" I said, standing straight, my head bowed low.

"Take these gifts and drop them in your sister's room!" My stepmother barked, flicking her wrist dismissively toward a stack of beautifully wrapped boxes.

I bowed respectfully and reached out to carry the gifts when my hand was smacked away roughly. I looked up, meeting the wicked glint in Ashley's eyes as she used a finger to lift my chin.

"Those boxes hold precious gifts you wouldn't even be able to afford in the next ten years. So I don't want a single scratch on them. They're specially brought by my sweet fiancé," she said, her voice dripping with degradation to me.

She cradled her chest and looked up dreamily, lost in thoughts of her soon-to-be husband. This man must be super hot to have such an effect on my sister.

"Go to your room after that until you're called," Claire, my stepmother, said coldly as she pulled Ashley away from me as if I was a plague. The disdain in her eyes was unmistakable.

I nodded and carefully lifted the boxes, their weight a sharp reminder of my place in this household. As I carried them to Ashley's room, I couldn't help but feel the familiar sting of resentment and sadness.

These gifts, these tokens of love and admiration, were things I had never experienced.

After placing the boxes delicately on Ashley's ornate vanity, I retreated to my small, sparsely furnished room. The walls, once a pale blue, were now faded and peeling, much like my heart.

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring out the window at the darkening sky. The fact that my father was further enraged when he found out I was an Omega only deepened my sense of worthlessness.

In a family of strong, dominant wolves, I was just a weak Omega, the lowest rank, hardly worthy of notice. He didn't even bat an eyelash at my unfair treatment, turning a blind eye to the cruelty I endured each day.

My mother had died giving birth to me, and her absence was a huge void in my life. With her gone, I had no one to turn to, no one to shield me from the harshness of this curse I call life.

I laid down on my small, hard bed, the worn-out sheets a stark contrast to the luxurious linens my sister enjoyed. As I closed my eyes, exhaustion overtook me.

As I drifted off, I found myself imagining a different life — a life where I was valued and loved, where my mother was still alive, and where my father's eyes held pride instead of disappointment. In my dreams, I was not an Omega, but a strong, confident wolf, respected and cherished by those around me.

But as comforting as these dreams were, I knew they were just that: dreams. The reality I woke up to each day was far from the wonderful life I had in Dreamland.