CLAIMED BY THR COLDHEARTED BIKER ALPHA

MABEL’S POV “I do.” My vision blurred with tears as my mate whispered those words to my stepsister. It should have been me standing beside him today. Me in the white dress, holding his hands while our families watched us exchange vows. Instead, I stared at the grotesque mockery of the wedding I had once dreamed about. Nike barely spared me a glance before turning his attention back to the guests, smiling for the cameras as though he hadn’t destroyed my life three weeks ago. “You should be happy for them, you know.” My stepmother’s voice slithered through my thoughts. I quickly blinked away my tears before turning to face her. She rested a manicured hand on my shoulder, squeezing lightly as if she were comforting me. “I know this must be difficult for you,” she said softly, her lips curving into a fake smile. “But honestly, Nike deserves someone more refined. You were never quite enough for him.” Her gaze traveled slowly over my body, lingering with visible disgust. “And this dress…” she continued. “It’s doing you absolutely no favors. You look swollen.” She sighed dramatically. “Didn’t you read the weight-loss articles I emailed you? I sent at least six.” I tightened my grip against the hem of my dress. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m trying to help you. At your size, Mabel, attracting a good man is going to be difficult. The least you could do is make an effort.” My stomach twisted violently. I opened my mouth to respond, but she was already walking away, greeting wealthy guests with effortless grace. My stepmother had once been a world-famous supermodel, and Layla inherited every bit of her beauty, golden hair, blue eyes, and a body so thin it looked effortless. Then there was me. No matter how many diets, detox teas, pills, or punishing workout routines I put myself through, I was never skinny enough for my stepmother’s approval. Eventually, I stopped trying to fit into their world and started hiding beneath oversized clothes because I was always going to be invisible beside them. The only person who had ever truly seen me was Nike. Or at least, I thought he did. So when Nike asked me to be his girlfriend, I felt chosen for the first time in my life. It didn’t matter that Layla mocked him constantly or laughed at my “pathetic taste in men.” He wanted me. Then we turned eighteen and discovered we were mates. I thought it was fate. I thought I was finally going to have the family I had spent my entire life craving. I should have known fairy tales were never written for girls like me. Three weeks before our wedding, Layla announced she was pregnant with my fiancé’s child. After that, everything became a blur. One moment, I was planning centerpieces and wedding vows. The next, I was expected to smile while my sister took my place because, according to everyone around me, marrying her was simply “the right thing to do for the baby.” My father approached me carrying two glasses of champagne. “Have you prepared your speech?” he asked calmly. I nodded stiffly. “Good.” He handed me one of the glasses. “We need to maintain a united front in front of the media. You do not want people seeing this family fall apart.” His expression hardened slightly. “Remember: stronger together.” “Yes, Father,” I murmured automatically. He kissed my forehead before walking away, already distracted by business partners and celebrities waiting to speak with him. I inhaled shakily before picking up a knife and gently tapped it against my champagne glass, drawing everyone’s attention toward me. I forced a large smile on my face. “When I first met Nike, I thought he was one of the kindest people I had ever known. He made me laugh when I wanted to cry. He made me feel seen when most people looked right through me.” Layla’s smile stiffened. My father shot me a warning look from across the ballroom. My throat tighten painfully. “I guess….. he deserves my sister,” Silence spread slowly through the crowd. I had imagined this speech so many times in my head. I imagined telling everyone how my sister slept with my fiancé behind my back. How my family forced me to accept it because preserving their reputation mattered more than my heartbreak. But standing here now, surrounded by cameras and pityful stares, I felt tired and empty. “I—” My voice cracked. The tears I had been desperately holding back burned behind my eyes. I looked down quickly, trying to regain composure before I completely embarrassed myself. “Mabel.” Nike stepped forward. The entire room turned toward him. He smiled apologetically at the guests before taking the microphone gently from my trembling hands. “Sorry,” he said softly. “But before the night ends… there’s something I need to do for my wife.” My chest tightened violently at the word wife. Layla beamed instantly. Nike motioned toward the live band and started singing our song for my stepsister. My breathing turned uneven. I couldn’t stay here. I couldn’t— Before anyone noticed the tears finally spilling down my face, I turned and walked out of the ballroom as fast as my heels could carry me, ignoring the confused stares behind me. The second I reached the empty hallway, I broke into a run, crying hysterically. Why wasn’t I enough? Why was I never enough? The thoughts followed me all the way to the balcony overlooking the city. Cold wind hit my skin the moment I stepped outside. Below me, the city lights glittered endlessly beneath the dark sky. I stared down silently. The pain inside me felt unbearable. Maybe everyone would finally be happier if I disappeared. Layla would get her perfect life. My parents would stop being ashamed of me. Slowly, numbly, I climbed over the balcony railing. My breath shook violently as my fingers gripped the cold metal. One step. That was all it would take. I looked down again. The height made my stomach twist instantly and I realised I did not want to die. A sob tore from my throat as panic rushed through me. What was I doing? Quickly, I tried to climb back over the railing but my heel slipped. A scream ripped from my mouth as my body lurched backward into empty air. For one horrifying second, there was nothing beneath me. Then a strong hand shot out and grabbed my wrist.