Claimed By The Ugly Alpha

IMANI REYES Emptiness… One word that held so much power. One word that could make the whole f*ucking world understands me. But no one would understand me anyway because I wouldn't tell them and no one would give their ears. The entire world skipped a beat and time froze. My broken heart throbbed painfully against my chest as the cold floor sent shivers into my body. My eyes were full of tears and my nostrils could only sniff back the unwanted slime that threatened to flow if I didn't stop sobbing. But how could I stop bawling my eyes out? I was alone in a world of my own. A world that screamed pain, death, misery, and a whole lot of others that I couldn't put a name tag on. Tears flowed freely down my cheeks and at a point, I let my runny nose run free. I gave up on everything and blamed myself repeatedly for what I had done. I was empty, cold, alone, and miserable… But this was just the beginning. “This is the end of us!” The familiar, annoying, and irritating voice of a woman that would do anything to remind me that I was a disgrace, pierced through the thick layer of shield I had around me. She was Rebecca Reyes, my stepmother. She had become someone I could finally be thankful for because she would never let me live a day without reminding me of what I had done… and that I should never forget. I had no right to forget and move on. I should be stuck right here on this cold floor, in this cold room and forever be trapped in emptiness. That, I deserved. “She has brought us all to our end!” Rebecca screamed, wailing somewhere close to me but I didn't take my eyes off the last piece of my peace. That, I dare not. A lump formed in my throat when a wave of pain hit me coupled with Rebecca’s wails. My eyes blurred as tears clouded my sight but I quickly wiped my eyes without considering being gentle to my facial skin which had never once endured harshness. He never let me endure the slightest pain yet I caused him so much pain… Rebecca’s voice found me amid my soul-crushing thoughts as she yelled for others in the room, “She caused his death. She killed him and brought our end!” She was right. I… I killed him. But she was also wrong, this wasn't the end, it was just the beginning of my miserable life. Maybe at that time, I thought my life would end after I caused his death but I soon discovered that the end of my father didn't mean my end. It simply meant the end of my good life. Yes, I killed my father. Do you see why I don't deserve a good life? I mean, if there was a god somewhere, he would have placed a curse on me for killing my father, my only piece of peace– my everything. Nothing in the world could stop the flow of tears that trickled down my face. Not the fact that I was staring at his immobile body that has been placed in what reporters would probably call “The finest coffin”. Nothing could save me from the unforgiving clenches of guilt. “What do you mean by she killed him?” One of the supposed well-wishers that came to attend my father’s funeral; God that was hard to say or thin; voiced. He was also an investor. I have heard him speak in the meetings countless times. “How is that possible? Imani Reyes is the sole heir and only daughter of Mr. Denzel Reyes. She would never kill him.” Someone uttered. Even though I wanted nothing to do with the ongoing argument, I knew it revolved around me. More and more investors that were around began to speak. They might have gotten my ears but they would never get my eyes off my father. Just so you know, we were all in a hall. One of which my father had built during his life. Denzel Reyes was the best thing that happened to me. He was meant to be with me forever, or at least until he grew old enough to pass peacefully. However, I let my stupidity kill him. A few months ago, I met this man, Richard, a man I fell deeply in love with even though my father wasn't happy about my choice. I thought I could make Richard the man that my father would love. Even though my father had said two months ago, “He is using you, bunny. He doesn't deserve you.” I should have listened to my Dad. I should have. After all, just like Dad foresaw, Richard toyed with my heart, my body, my soul, and all my Dad worked hard to gather as a famous businessman. Denzel Reyes. A lovely father that stood by me and never let me feel lonely. I was his companion ever since my Mom died and he has been mine since I was born. But now I was an orphan with a spiteful stepmom and b***h stepsister. “Imani Reyes had become an orphan after she killed her loving father” Although I have stayed off social media and shut the world out, I could hear them saying those words, pointing fingers, and accusing me. I felt my heart constricting again as I recalled my father’s last moments with me. It was three days ago. I was in my room. On my phone, trying to contact Richard, who had suddenly gone AWOL after he told me plainly that he was done with me. I thought it was a joke. I was certain he loved me just as much as I loved him. Each time I dial his number, it goes straight to voicemail, making me furious, anxious, and unhappy. One would think that was all. But that wasn't it. My Dad rushed into my room with unasked questions in his eyes. I immediately assumed he had found out that Richard broke up with me and I whimpered, “Dad…” However, his whimper was even more misery transmitting than mine. Dad had cut in, “What have you done, bunny?” “I will be fine, Dad. You don't have to worry about us.” I had said three days ago, hoping to stop my Dad from talking down on what I thought Richard and I had. I still defended that bastard! “I can't help but worry, Imani Reyes!” For the first time in a long time, My Dad yelled at me. His eyes were full of accusations and hurt, but still, I could see the glitter of love. “Daddy–” He cut me off, “Why would you make such a big move without informing me, and for what reasons!” I became confused at this point. “What are you talking about, Dad?” I had to ask him. “Don't act dumb with me when we both have access to that account! What has he done to you? You have never lied to me before!” My Dad lashed out at me, attracting Rebbeca’s pokey-nose, and of course, Bianca, my step-sister came in with her mother. They were grinning as Dad and I had never had a reason to fight or argue. We were a team but three days ago changed everything. My heart was broken from being dumped by Richard and my Dad was obviously not pleased with me. I placed my hand on my chest and said to my Dad, “You don't have to worry about his influence on me, anymore. He left me.” I choked on my breath as I said, “Richard and I are over.” “You both are over?” My Dad gasped, making me think he was suddenly worried about my love life which he had always rebuked. I stated, “I thought that would make you happy.” my voice cracked in the middle. “I don't understand you, Bunny.” My Dad had whispered, pacing in front of me while his wife snarled at me. I promised that I wouldn't give Rebecca and Bianca the pleasure of seeing me break because of Richard. So I pulled a straight face, asking my dad, “What's there to understand, Dadd? We are--” “I won't get why you transferred everything to him after he dumped you!” my Dad yelled again and his eyes found mine. I saw accusations in those orbs that had always loved me, even before my Dad voiced accusingly, “Did you make a stupid move to appease him? What have you done, Imani?” I was heartbroken and the accusation my Dad had in his voice and eyes broke me more. My heart constricted but I still blurted, “I might be in love, but I am not stupid, Daddy. What are you talking about?” “Maybe you will find out when you use your damn phone for something other than chasing after a silly purposeless boy!” My Dad cried out. He was breathless but I didn't move to him because he was hurting me with his words and Rebecca was closer to him. I checked through my cellphone, going through the notifications. “There is nothing new here, Daddy…” At this point, I thought my Dad was acting based on whatever Rebecca had told him. Rebecca hated me but she knew how to act nice whenever my Dad was around to see her true ugly colors. I uttered, “I don't know what you must have heard, but I think we should sit and converse like two adults–” “Adults don't make the kind of decisions you make, Imani.” My Dad lashed out at me. He panted yet added, “You gave everything we have worked for to that bastard yet you don't feel any remorse. What happened to my daughter?” Rebecca cut in with all her fairness, “Calm down, honey. You are–” I hissed “Don't interfere when my father and I are discussing–” “Don't talk to your mom like that, Imani!” My Dad yelled at me, gasping for air but I still ignored him. I shouldn't have ignored his struggles. I should have heard him out. However, I yelled right back, “That woman isn't my mother. She hates me and her daughter does as well, but you never see that. Yet you believe everything she tells you about me.” “Imani…” Dad gasped again. But I was angry. I barked, “I will leave for you all to be a loving family, since I am not needed here.” I started shoving clothes into my box and my heart kept breaking as I thought I had lost the man I loved and my father on the same day. Maybe if I had listened to Dad more. Maybe I would have heard him and we would have sorted the issue. We would have avoided his collapse, which happened as I packed angrily. “Imani…” Dad had repeated my name before he fell into Rebecca's arms. My teary eyes finally found him but it was too late to save his heart from failing. Before he lost consciousness, he uttered the same way he used to just to soothe my painful heart, “He duped you, bunny. He used my bunny.” That was how my father’s warm eyes became cold. They closed and I still didn't realize that was the last time I would see these eyes open and close. Dad died before we reached the hospital and it was after that I had access to his phone and found out that he had received alerts that I transferred all the money in all of our accounts to an account that had the name “Richard Harry Duncan”. That was what he was trying to tell me but somehow, Richard had tampered with the alert system on my phone. Richard didn't know my Dad also had access to accounts whose passwords and codes he had stolen when I wasn't aware of his dubious intentions. A sad melody began to play in my head as I went further into my memory but a harsh sting in my cheek brought me back to the present. My eyes blinked rapidly and tears trickled down to the floor of the funeral hall. I saw Rebecca’s hand coming down to strike my face again as she yelled, “You killed him!” I anticipated the stinging effect of her slap and I even hoped that my jaw would c***k if she kept hitting me but the second slap didn't happen. Instead, a dominant masculine voice resonated, “You will leave her alone…” That voice saved me but at that moment, I hated the owner of the voice…