THE ALPHA KING'S MUTE BRIDE

POV: Astoria Riverton I dragged the mop down the long hallway, my body feeling sore. The bucket beside me was almost empty, and the foul dirty water smelled awful, but if I quit now, Flora would yell at me again. "Go faster, mute girl!" Molly's voice rang out behind me. She was crossing her arms, her golden hair falling perfectly on her shoulders. "You've been dusting this same spot for almost a ten-minute. Are you trying to sleep on the floor?" I lowered my head and kept washing. I couldn't answer her even if I wanted to. My voice… my words… had been taken from me when I was a child. "Why waste your breath even attempting to speak to her?" Mavis walked by, her high heels clicking against the tile. "She doesn't understand. She's just a wolfless useless child… Father should have thrown her out years ago." Molly smiled and edged nearer to me. "Maybe we can leave her outside tonight to see how she fares with the rogues." I gritted my teeth and kept on cleaning. If I responded, if I scowled, if I did anything at all, then they would retaliate. Eloise was at the end of the hallway, a basket of fresh laundry in her arms. She glared when she saw her sisters. "Mavis. Molly. Leave her alone." "Mind your own business, Eloise," Mavis snapped. "You always interfere on her behalf like she's something." "She's still our sister," Eloise said firmly. "Half-sister," Molly inserted, smiling unpleasantly. "And cursed.". My chest tightened, but I still refused to glance up. Eloise sighed and stood between us, placing the basket on a nearby chair. She brushed against my shoulder as she passed. I glanced up at her, and she smiled faintly before heading out of her room. When they were finally gone, I leaned the mop against the wall and sat on the floor for a moment. My knees had bruises from kneeling all day. My hands were dry and cracked. But I didn't complain, I never complained. I remembered the day my life was forever altered. I was fifteen. It was my birthday. My little cake had but one candle, stolen from the kitchen by my mother. I had smiled that evening, hoping my family might remember me. Screams, however, filled the house instead. My brother—Edward's only son—was discovered dead in the woods. Father's fury was bottomless. And since it occurred on my birthday, he pointed his finger at me and accused me of being cursed. Nothing was ever the same after that. And my mother. She was thrown out. Flora, Father's rightful mate, made sure of that. I still remembered the shouting, the begging. My mother's arms around me before she was removed. She never came back. I shook my head, chasing the memory away. I picked up the pail and took it outside to pour it out. On the way down to the back yard, there were faint scratching noises. My heart was filled with excitement right away. I set down the pail and sneaked behind the shed, where a little brown puppy wagged its tail in my direction. "Shhh," I panted, though my voice barely came out, being raw and congested. My throat hurts as I try to utter something. Nevertheless, the puppy kissed my fingers and snuggled into my lap. "You're the only one who likes her," Eloise's voice said behind me. I turned. She was there, arms crossed but smiling kindly. "Don't worry," she went on. "I won't tell. But you'll have to watch out. If Father finds out you're keeping a dog, he'll get rid of it." I nodded repeatedly, holding the puppy tighter. Eloise sighed. "I don't get how you do it all. If I were in your shoes, I'd already have left." I tilted my head, arching my eyebrows. I have always wanted to leave but father always makes sure it's impossible. "Yes, I understand," she said, reading my face. "You have no place to call home. However, you are greater than this." She reached forward and stroked the puppy's head. "At least you have a friend now." Her words shook me even though I did not say a word. Eloise was the only one in the household who treated me like I mattered. Before I could return the puppy, a shrill cry came from the front of the estate. "Alpha Edward! Alpha Edward!" The voice was one of panic. Eloise stiffened her back, her eyes widening. "Who's that?" I hugged the puppy once more and hid it behind the shed before following Eloise towards the main hall. We arrived to see Flora already coming down the stairs, Mavis and Molly following behind her in like flies Father stood in the center of the hall, dominating the room with his presence and power. He wore the same stern look he always had when his eyes caught me, as though I were filth he could not bear to look at. Two guards entered, carrying a tall man in a black coat. The man bowed. "I brought a message from the Twilight Pack." Everyone froze at those words. Even Flora's eyes widened in excitement. "'The Twilight Pack?'" Mavis gasped. "Does that mean—" "Silence," Father growled. He took a step closer. "Talk." The messenger pulled out a letter with a bleeding gob of wax sealing it and handed it over. Father tore it open and read aloud: "From Alpha Blackwood of Twilight Pack. His eldest son, Alpha Raiden Blackwood, will visit Wolfsburg Pack to select a bride. The daughter he chooses shall be his bride." Gasps filled the hallway. Mavis had both hands over her mouth, her eyes shining with greed. Molly screamed and covered her face with her hands. Flora appeared to go pale with excitement. "Raiden Blackwood…" Molly whispered, glassy-eyed. "The most powerful Alpha in the world. He's coming here?" "Father," Mavis interrupted quickly, moving forward, "you know I am the most appropriate one. I will bring glory to the family. Raiden requires someone like me, not a weakling." "Don't be in such a hurry," Flora snapped. "Eloise will be a good bride. She got her wolf just last month. She's prettier than you." What about me?" Molly demanded, frowning at both of them. "Lady Beatrice, Alpha Raiden's mother, knows me already. She favors me. That gives me an edge." The hall exploded into debate, each sister claiming the right to be the bride. Father raised a hand, silencing them. "Enough. This will not be done in haste.". His eyes crawled slowly around the room. When they met mine, standing respectfully in the back, his face darkened. "And you," he snarled, "don't even think of it. You're not part of this. Do you hear me?" I lowered my head, clutching my skirt in a firm fold. I already knew. I was never going to measure up in his eyes. Eloise stepped forward nervously. "Father, maybe we ought—" "Shh," he growled at her. "I'll handle this." The messenger bowed again. "Alpha Raiden will arrive in three days." Flora put a hand over her chest theatrically. "Three days! We won't have time to prepare. The girls need new dresses, new jewels, proper training—" Mavis glared at me across the room, her face contorted into a sneer. "Don't worry. The mute won't need any of that." We all laughed, but Eloise didn't. My cheeks burned, but I didn't glance up. Three days. Three days until Alpha Raiden Blackwood arrived. And somehow, I knew that my cursed life was going to be changed forever.