Her Mates

Chapter Two

Ella's POV

Where will I go?

These words echoed in my head as I stood alone in the empty hall after everyone had left. My legs protested in pain from standing hours, my eyes stung and felt heavy from all the unshed tears.

I couldn’t go back to the pack house, to Derek. Not after what happened tonight.

Not after he had told me point-blank to die. I could deal with Luna Amelia, but Derek? I wouldn’t survive another word of rejection from him.

Before I could think twice, my legs developed a mind of their own and led me back home. Or so I thought.

I opened the front door, and when I stepped inside, I froze. Colour drained from my face as I stared at the scene in front of me.

Maria was sitting on the couch, her face buried in her hands, her shoulders shaking with each breath, her sobs echoing through the room. Mother sat beside her, rubbing her back, while father sat on the chair just staring at them.

I watched my mother fawning and consoling her in disbelief. Like she was the one betrayed, humiliated, and cheated on by her loved one. When in reality I was the one who needed to be comforted.

After I stood there for what felt like an eternity, with none of them noticing me I was forced to speak out. “What’s going on here?”

My parents' heads snapped up with a stern expression, which made me instinctively take a step backwards. “I should be asking you that question, Ella. What were you hoping to accomplish with the pathetic stunt you pulled tonight?” Mother snapped her face red with anger.

I reeled back, and I stared at her, stunned at her question. “What stunt did I pull? What did I do?” I asked, in disbelief.

“See what I told you? She’s never accountable or responsible for her evil actions.” Mother said, sarcastically turning to Father, before she turned back to me. “Take a good look at your sister and tell me you did nothing wrong?”

“I still don’t understand what you mean.” I repeated.

“Dragging this family, especially Aria, down into your miserable life is what I’m talking about. Announcing to the f*****g world that we’re a family of the disabled and cheaters.” She yelled, her voice shaking in anger. “Congratulations, you succeeded.”

Take Maria down?

They were only worried about her, when she just screwed me over.

The words rang in my head. The pain I have been suppressing for years spread through my veins like wildfires.

Maria has always been their favourite daughter, their pride and joy. I spent my whole life trying to matter to them, but never did.

Not even when I tried to please them by getting perfect grades in school, they never batted an eye, but when the slightest thing happened to Maria they were there for their perfect daughter. To them, I was too emotional, complained too much.

And it f*****g hurts, every damned time.

I fought back the tears in my eyes, taking a deep breath. “I didn’t …”

“You didn't do what?” She shouted. “Didn’t go blabbering to Alpha Alaric that you’re Derek’s mate? You ruined your sister’s engagement and reputation!”

“I didn’t tell them, the Alpha heard it himself, just like everyone else in that hall.” I answered.

At that moment Maria let out a loud sob, a fake cry she had perfected over the years. “Ella, I don’t know why you’ve always hated me, even though I’m your flesh and blood.”

I blinked. “What?”

But I wasn’t surprised, I knew her tricks too well. She always played the victim card whenever she wanted my doll, or my clothes, and in this case my mate. But no, I won’t be deceived, or manipulated into giving in to her.

Not this time.

“You know what?” I jab at the tears on my cheeks, glaring at her with years of pent-up anger. “If people called you a w***e, a slut tonight, it's because you deserve it. You have been screwing Derek for years, despite knowing he’s my mate! So yeah, if the shoe fits…”

“Ella!” Father growled, “Don’t ever call your sister a slut. You two are sisters. Act like it.”

A bitter laugh escaped my lips, and I turned to him after years of being treated indifferently by him. “I’m glad you finally remembered I’m also your daughter. It took you long enough. But I hate to say it Father, your beloved daughter is a f*****g whore.”

Slap.

My vision blurred, as a sharp sting erupted on my face as soon as the words left my mouth. I stood there stunned, my cheeks stinging from the impact, but the pain was nothing compared to the emptiness in my heart.

All these years I never asked for their love, except for the quarter iota of attention they gave to Aria. And tonight, like the past I have only been disappointed.

“No matter what Maria did...” He growled. “You should be out there protecting her, and defending her against the rest of the world. It's what sisters do.”

I held a hand to my chest, to ease the pain I felt there. Tears flowed freely down my face. “Then who protects me?” I screamed, my voice breaking. “Who protects me from Aria, and this wicked world?”

For a brief moment, I saw guilt flicker on his face, but it disappeared almost instantly when Maria chose that moment to release her venom. “I’m sorry, I hurt you. But it’s not my fault you're wolf-less and Derek loves me, and I love him too.” She muttered sadly, but I could see the smirk

that played on her lips.

I certainly didn't expect her perfect mask to slip this soon. “So being wolf-less was the perfect excuse to sleep with my mate? How convenient," I bit out bitterly. “Love? You don’t know the meaning of that word. If you did, you wouldn’t be sleeping around with different men." I let out a bitter chuckle when she turned red and let out another fake cry. “Please, stop pretending this is about love, Maria. If Derek wasn’t the next Alpha, if he didn’t have status, would you have crawled into his bed? Or given him the time of the day? You don’t love him, you only love his title and what's mine, bitch."

“Watch your mouth!” my mother snapped, shielding Maria like some precious porcelain doll.

I didn’t even roll my eyes. I was too exhausted.

“I’m sorry, Ella,” Maria whispered, her voice trembling with feigned remorse.

“No, baby,” my mother cooed, glaring at me. “Don’t apologise for love. You’re not to blame. Ella's just jealous of you, sooner or later, she'll have to suck it up and accept that you and Derek are meant to be.”

That was it, the final straw. They would never change. It was always about Aria's happiness over mine, and they would always choose her. The thought sent a wave of nausea through me, and I fought the tears that threatened to spill. I had nothing left to lose.

I squared my shoulders, training my dead, cold eyes on them. “I've had enough,” I shouted, my voice shaking with pent-up frustration. Their faces were a mixture of shock and anger.

“Don't you dare shout at us like that! We're your parents,” my father scolded, but I ignored him.

“Enough of trying to please you, being the good girl, and giving in to Aria's whims for the scraps of your love, which I shouldn't have to beg or fight for,” I yelled, a hot tear trailing down my face. The years I spent living for them and Maria played in my head. “And Aria, Derek is mine. I'll die before I let you steal what's rightfully mine. So get that through your thick, selfish skull.” My gaze remained unwavering.

My mother gasped as if I had slapped her. “Do you hear this?!” she cried, turning to my father. “I told you we shouldn’t have raised her as our own, what an ungrateful child.”

My heart stopped.

“Raised me?” I whispered, the words echoing in my head as I stared at her, filled with confusion. “What do you mean you raised me? I'm your daughter, isn't that your responsibility?”

Mother opened her mouth to speak, perhaps to shed light on my questions, but Father interrupted with a growl. "That's enough! No more questions, Ella." He commanded, his gaze shifting between Aria and me. "Both of you, go to your rooms right now. I need to speak with your mother.”

My brows furrowed, a deep frown creasing my forehead as my mind swirled with questions. Was Mother just saying this out of anger, or was there a hidden truth in her words? Why did Father cut her off so abruptly?

I glanced back at them one last time, noticing a flicker of concern in Mother's eyes, as if she regretted her outburst.

"Now, Ella." Father snapped, breaking me from my thoughts.

I retreated to my room, the weight of Mother's words still heavy on my mind.

Maybe she meant they should have aborted me when they found out she was pregnant with me or left me up for adoption? But did a favour by raising me?

Perhaps it was the anger talking, and she didn't mean it. I tried to excuse those words, because I couldn't bear the thought that I'm not their biological daughter, and I deserved their cruel treatment.

Exhausted, I surr

endered to self-pity and fatigue, seeking refuge from the raging storm within me that threatens to drive me insane.