Craving My Sister's Mate

~Eleanor~ The laughter from down the stairs almost deafened me. I looked down to see my sister and her friends gathered in the sitting room with glasses in their palms. She always does this, and I wonder what benefit she gains from it. It was the weekend, and she knew I would be cleaning the whole house, yet she brought them in so their presence could interrupt me. The last time, my mother had hit me mercilessly until I tasted blood in my mouth, and no matter how I tried to explain to her that I was only trying to wait till Estelle and her friends left, she didn't even listen to me a bit. Now, they were down there, and I wouldn't even care but have that room cleaned up. With the mopping bucket in my hand, I climbed down the stairs and cleared my throat, “I'll be cleaning here…” I said, pulling their gazes towards me. One of them, the most proud, gave me a sinister smile, “Go ahead and show how embarrassing you are, wolfless female.” “She's still wolfless at twenty-three? Isn't that ridiculous?” another added. I pretended I wasn't hearing them, my focus on the mop that I was squeezing. “It would have been better if you were an Omega. That way, you could at least get a wretched mate for yourself instead of not having a wolf at all. Who would want a good for nothing thing like you?” My lips twitched. I had already gotten used to those harsh words from them. No one would believe me and Estelle were twins, and just because I didn't have a wolf, I was treated like a less privileged. A mere carpet was more valuable than me in this household. Everyone, including our parents, had nothing to do with me and always cussed that I was supposed to be the pack's slave. Estelle had always gotten everything she needed. She had gone to college and was now a graduate, and my parents didn't even care that she needed to start working. I only ended my studies in high school. In fact, it was by the goddess’ grace that I graduated from high school. Since then, I have always been at home as the slave, cleaning, dusting, cooking, and all others. No help. No one to talk to. I had just one friend who was as helpless as I was, but my parents had stopped her from visiting me for a long time. Atimes, I sneak out when they aren't around to go spend time with Rianna and forget some of my worries. She was working as a nanny and would always give me some money for my upkeep since my family didn't care about my needs. “Are you sure they are your true family? Who would abandon their child because she's wolfless? You aren't the only one wolfless in this pack…” Rianna would always yell each time we met, and she cried about how unkempt I was. I was used to it already. I wasn't complaining any longer. What mattered to me was to at least feed from their leftovers and survive. “Get that f*****g bucket out of here. You will need to do this when we leave.” Estelle yelled at me, already on her feet. I turned deaf ear. I wasn't going to listen to her again or I would take the whole blame. “Are you deaf, Elea? Get away from here…you stink.” her voice rose in frustration. I was already mopping, and when I reached where they were, she grabbed me by my dress. Before I could get what was going on, a thunderous slap took me to the floor, the mop slipped from my palm and the water from it splattered all over my face. “f**k! This is irritating…” “Let's get out of here.” “I hate this, mehn.” Estelle approached closer. She dragged me like I was some trash bag and made me sit. I was damn weak, hadn't tasted anything since morning and it was 2 pm. “I warned you, didn't I? Why do you keep getting on my nerves?” she hit me again and again and my lips broke. “Looks like you'll taste this water, and maybe you'll get some sense.” “You need some help, baby girl?” one of her friends reached out. I tried to get up—to stop her from whatever she was about to do—but her friends came around and pinned me to the floor. “Dad and mom will regret ever giving birth to you.” she cursed, pulling the mopping bucket closer. “Open her mouth.” I struggled to be set free, but nothing worked. She carried the bucket and raised it towards my face. My eyes shut tight. My body hair rose. “What's going on here?” came a sudden masculine voice, and just instantly, they all let go of me like I was a thorn. “All of you should leave….Estelle, we need to talk.” I wiped my lips, struggling to my feet only to see my Dad seated on the couch. My mom stepped in and scowled at me the moment our gazes met, and then came her horrifying voice, “Yet to clean up here? Why do you always make me cringe?” I sniffed, my eyes landing on Estelle. If I hit her, I would be roasted to death. It isn't as if I wouldn't be able to retaliate, but my fate would be more awkward than it was for harming their favorite daughter. I was so skinny that one would hardly believe we were siblings. “Girls, I'll be out there right away…” Estelle waved at her friends who smiled back at her as they exited the room. They always feel like this is their home each time they come. They don't even respect my parents in terms of simple greetings and my parents don't talk about it much….not when their favorite daughter would yell at them for trying to make her lose her friends. My dad cleared his throat, signaling Estelle to get seated. I picked up the mop on the floor, ready to leave the room as I had no right to listen to their conversations. “This has to do with you too, so step back here.” My father’s voice sent shivers down my spine. Has to do with me? What for? They had never let me listen to their plans and I didnt even care. Of what use was I to them anyways? “Get seated now.” my mom commanded before I could put myself together. I got to the sofa, to sit, but Estelle screamed the heck outta me that I flinched. “Get your stinking ass off that sofa. Stay on the floor.” I released a deep breath, and since our parents only had their eyes on me like they were waiting to see if I would dare to disrespect my sister. I crouched down, my butt slammed on the wooden floor. “So, we had a deal with the alpha king. As you know, our company is losing a lot these days, so we needed help. I had to meet with him, and after striking the deal, we agreed on offering my daughter to him as Luna.” my dad started, his eyes rolling from one corner to the other. “I had thought about it and agreed, so everything needs to get started.” Estelle frowned. Her lips pouted. As far as I know, the alpha king is one devil in disguise. Although they say he was charming enough for any lady out there to crave him, no one would long to live with him. “But dad,” Estelle shook her head. “....you know I can't do this. How would I be with some demon as my alpha husband? He would skin me alive, and you know that. He's so brutal.” “No one said you'll be taken to him. My dear daughter can't be with some savage man.” my mom cut in. Hearing that, my breath hitched. “We are only telling you just so you know what we plan ahead. You can't be taken to him as a commodity.” she added, her eyes fixated on my sister. A knot twisted in my belly. If Estelle won't be taken to him, then who would play the role? He's the alpha king and needs someone suitable like Estelle as Luna. My parents and sister were betas, so it made enough sense why the deal was struck. “Eleanor will be taken to him. She will be his Luna, so if she doesn't survive we won't be at loss.” my dad averted his gaze towards me. My lips dropped open but no words came out. No way! How on earth was I going to do that? It was Estelle that was supposed to be the Luna, not me. They were actually trying to play the alpha king so I would take the blame. “So get ready to replace Estelle on the wedding day, Eleanor.” my dad referred to me. Something snapped in me—a feeling I had not recognised before. I was already on my feet, my head shaking constantly. “What is it? Can't you replace your sister?” my mother stood to her feet. “They are mates, if not the alpha king wouldn't have accepted. All you need to do is to stay still, with the veil covering your face, until you enter the palace. You won't be returned once taken. Is it so hard to play?” Mates? They were mates? Then they had to replace her with me? I won't do that! Never!!! “Eleanor, you should be happy to be taken to the alpha king.” Estelle shrugged her shoulders. I scoffed at her, “Is that so? Then why are you running away from your mate? If you two were not mates, the king couldn't have agreed to the deal, right?” “Shut up and sit down there…” I shook my head for the first time at my father's command. Before they could utter another word, I took to my heels, rushing out of the room. I had no other destination than to go see Rianna. She was a year older than I was and could hide me away from them. I wasn't going to be some tool for a deal—a commodity to a man. The moment I entered the tarred road, about to cross to the other side, the loud horn of a car made me stiff. I looked like I had been picked up from the dustbin. My eyes went to the left, and it was a car, flashing its light across to me….then the door flung open and a man stepped down, dressed in black throughout. He pulled down his dark glass, narrowed his eyes while coming straight to me. My heart leaped to my throat. I almost caused an accident right now. “Foolish? You don't know you gotta check well before crossing the road?” his voice came loud and commanding. Goosebumps fell on my skin. How could I fall into death while escaping a harsh life? “I'll pretend I didn't see you, but do not cross my path again.” Having said that, he turned instantly and dashed away towards his car. I still stood there, face dropped, watching as the car started and drove through the other lane past me. My muscles tensed. Legs trembled. I tried to hold onto myself—to ignore the stares from people, but my body betrayed me. The last thing I heard was my name that echoed aloud, then I blacked out.