Caught Between Two Alphas

HELENA'S POINT OF VIEW "You will wed the Lycan King instead of your sister Sofia." Alpha Ricardo's voice sounded steady; my breath stopped. The words sank in, and my heart hammered, a stifling weight straining my chest. "You cannot do this to me, Father!" Desperate, my voice quipped; my giant eyes begged for compassion. No rational person would dare approach, let alone marry—the Lycan King was a beast. "You ought to have considered that before you moved my daughter away from here!" Beatriz snapped, her eyes ablaze with resentment. Her words made my chest contract. Their offspring. They treated me as if I were of no importance. As if I were not theirs as well. Alpha Ricardo sighed wearily and massaged his temples. "We have none of choice, Cassidy." "What are you referring to?" My knees appeared on the verge of collapsing beneath me. Their penalties, the continuous suffering they inflicted upon me for every little error, were familiar to me. But this? This would be permanent: a lifetime term. This would be a lifelong commitment. Do you not know Sofia was betrothed to the Lycan King to save our pack? His voice softened, but it had no effect on calming the tempest within me. Obviously, I know! She told me. My lips trembled as I said the name of my sister. "She fled to guard Cassidy, her unborn pup. However, what does this mean for the pack? What will happen when he gets here and discovers no bride waiting for him?" His intense stare pinned me in place with the weight of my deeds. Tears seared my eyes as understanding tore at me. My fingers reached into my dress. I had merely wished to save my sister from a destiny worse than death. But doing this had doomed everyone else. Alpha will burn this pack right down to the ground. Ricardo said, his voice low and austere. "He won't stop till every one of us passes away. Do you wish to answer for the thousands of innocent deaths?" I gave a strong head shake, terror seizing me. The image of our countries in flames and the cries of our people overwhelmed me. My responsibility was this. We would not be in this predicament if I hadn't helped Sofia flee. "What if he comes upon it?" Fear wriggled in my gut as I spoke. "He won't accept it if you tell him." Now Beatriz's voice was clearer, more forceful. "Nobody else outside of this pack even knows you exist. Even among our people, they hardly know you. Cassidy, you are nothing except a shadow. But you really look just like Sofia. You are qualified to accomplish this. I choked hard, my head whirling. "But what if somebody tells him?" "Nobody will. And, should someone inquire, I would say you stayed with a distant relative. Nobody would come looking for you anyway, she said, her voice contemptuous. Inside me, a piercing agony twisted. I knew I was the unwelcome daughter, the one kept under cover of neglect and silence. But listening to my mother express it so clearly—it ached in a manner I could not explain. "Just do this one thing for Cassidy, for us. You have embarrassed this family just with your words. This moment is your one chance to show you have changed." Though Alpha Ricardo's words were strong, his eyes revealed something I had never seen before—pleading. I looked between them, my parents who never really saw me, and still here they were, depending on me. And for once, I captured their focus. "Fine," I said, just audible. "I am going to do it." I flinched as Beatriz's arms wrapped around me in an unfamiliar hug. My arms paused, then moved gently about her. This was what it felt like? To be held by a mother? Alpha Ricardo patted my back and murmured, "Thank you for thinking of the pack's safety." I nodded; my throat was too thick to talk. "Ask Cassidy; sleep early. You cannot afford to seem worn out. There is a wedding scheduled. Your mother will change Sofia's outfit to fit you exactly." He kissed my forehead for the first time in my life and then turned away with my mother. I watched them go and then flopped into the bed. I gripped the sheets with trembling fingers. The situation felt like a calamity just waiting to strike. The Lycan King was no fool. He was a hybrid, having spent millennia. a predator with dishonesty-smelling ability. How may I possibly fool him? Oh, Moon Goddess, I said softly. "Please help me." But all I noticed when I closed my eyes was the beast poised on the altar. You must get up, ma'am. The voice drew me out of my agitated dream. I moaned and sank my face into the cushion. "Ma'am, you really have to be woken up! If you are late, the Luna will have me kicked out of my position." I scowled and opened my eyes, only to be in Sofia's magnificent bedroom. My breath halted. My parents were not fooling around. My identity had been totally destroyed overnight. "What time is it?" I murmured. "Six," the omega answered with a timid smile. Again I moaned. This was indeed happening. The omega went for my blanket, and I sighed in loss. "Fine, I am getting up." "All by yourselves?" The omega gasped in startled surprise. I stopped. Sofia never engaged in a solo activity. I had lost my self. I am her. I had to behave as such. The door opened three more times before I could fix my error. 'Good morning, ma'am." They welcomed each other simultaneously. Undressing me, scrubbing every square inch of my skin, washing my hair, drying it, and dressing me in Sofia's robe, I nodded stiffly as they started to work. I moved hardly at all, like a doll getting ready for exhibition. "There is my perfect daughter." I turned to see Beatriz proudly standing at the door. "Shortly the makeup artist will be here. She will make sure you shine as naturally lovely as Sofia. Don't mess this up, Cassidy. Should you do so, I will never pardon you." Her comments kept coming back to me as the wedding gown was laid over my body. It was wonderful, delicate, and amazing. However, it did not belong to me. Not one inch of this was. The air in the room changed then. A sharp cold raced down my back. Awareness caused my skin to tingle. 'Mate.' I looked around terrified as I heard my wolf murmur. Not now, when I was being sold to the Lycan King at the price of my family's lives and safety, could I locate my mate. My mouth stayed open as I fixed my gaze on the man before me. Once more, my wolf whispered, and my heart sank. He was my mate? Was this a joke? With this type of suffering, what crime had I committed? Though it kept whining, even my wolf dared not approach him. What was he doing right here? My heart yearned to be near him even while my intellect cautioned me to keep clear of him. Not helping was my wolf's wriggling. My legs started to move suddenly. Though I tried to stop, they wouldn't pay attention. They seemed to have their own mental life. They stopped at last when I was just one inch apart from him. Breathing in his aroma, I shuddered at how it affected my wolf. "Mate." I uttered before I stopped myself. He raised a hand. Though he wasn't touching me, I could sense his hand on my skin. Every time his eyes locked on my mother, Sophia informed me that what I observed in my father's eyes was love. Then all of a sudden it was all gone, like lightning. Left was contempt and disgust, emotions I was used to. I felt hands suddenly encircling my throat. I battled till my very last. I tried to grip the door frame, but one glance at my hand and it was back to my side, rejecting the words of its owner. I battled to untangle his hands, tears welling up in my eyes.