The Billionaire Alpha's Secret Empire

Chapter2

Violet's POV

As I stepped deeper into the world of my new life, a whirlwind of emotions bubbled up inside me. I had always wondered what it would be like outside of my childhood home—my mother’s fragile health weighing heavily on me, and the suffocating atmosphere fostered by Freya and Kiana.

Now that I was on the brink of starting fresh with Allaistar, I couldn't help but feel anxious and excited at the same time.

“Wow, she looked nice today, don't you see mum?” Freya giggled, murmuring to her mother as I stepped down the flight of stairs leading to the living room.

“Yes, indeed. She doesn't look like the clumsy pig we are all used to.”

I tried to ignore them, reminding myself I needed to preserve my energy for something much better, maybe something more worthy.

It was the day I was to get bonded to Allaistar and I didn't know how to feel about that. On one hand, I was glad I was finally leaving the house, where I had always treated like an outcast but on the other hand, I was afraid of how he would treat me.

I had prayed silently to the moon Goddess, that he should treat me well.

As I stepped out of the house, my father was already waiting impatiently inside his car. I looked back to hear the chattering voices of Freya and Kiana, my step mother.

I could see how happy they were to ship me off and finally get rid of me in the house.

I hesitated a bit and took a last glance at the house.

I had spent so many years here, and although it hadn’t been a happy home, parting felt heavy.

“What are you doing there, standing like a tree?” Kiana snapped, breaking my moment of reflection. I shook my head and climbed into the SUV, the engine rumbling to life.

I glanced at my father, grip tight on the wheel. He’d barely spoken two words to me that morning – just a grunt when I’d greeted him, like I was air.

He’d always kept me at arm’s length, treating Freya like the prized child… but this felt different. He hadn’t looked my way once.

I could feel Freya's eyes on me as we began rolling down the driveway. “Mrs. Vaughn! You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” she sneered.

“Shut up, Freya,” I muttered, but my voice lacked the strength it needed.

“Why is this loser feeling so feisty today?” Freya leaned closer, her tone mocking. “Your mother raised a real loser.”

I could feel anger swelling within me, but I kept my mouth shut. It wasn’t worth it. I had to remind myself of my purpose. I had to look after my mother. That was my mission.

"He’d always complained about how you walk heavily like a helpless animal and your hair's all wrong." Freya sneered.

She leaned in, voice a low snarl. “Tell me, how’d a mongrel like you get Dylan?”

My wolf growled I bit my tongue hard, wrestling the urge to snap.

“And you’re the one who deserves him?” “Course not. You were just a distraction.”

Freya flicked my cheek like I was a nuisance, and a growl ruffled my throat. Her words dug deep, gnawing at me. Dylan 'd been my moon and stars – treated me like a rare find, like I was precious… and he’d shredded that trust with Freya, of all people. My own stepsister .

“How long?” I found myself asking, my voice barely above a whisper. I couldn’t believe I was about to ask her this.

“What?” Freya's eyes narrowed, briefly pulling away from her phone.

“How long have you been seeing him?” The question hung in the air like a storm cloud waiting to burst.

“Why does that matter?” she responded feigning innocence.

“Just answer me,” I insisted, wiping away tears that threatened to fall.

Freya smirked, tilting her head in a way that made my blood boil. “Well, if you’re dying to know, I slept with him on the first day he came over. He can’t get enough of me,” she added, whispering the last part directly into my ear.

My wolf was furious. A growl rose up my throat, but I pushed it down, forcing myself to breathe. I remembered the day she was talking about. I had come back from the store, groceries in hand, and saw Dylan sitting on the couch with her. They had looked so innocent, so friendly. I had felt a surge of warmth, thinking he was here to see me.

But now? The reality hung like a shadow over my heart. Tears slipped down my face, but I quickly brushed them away. I couldn’t dwell on him any longer. He was my past now, and my duty lay with my mother.

“You would always be a loser. That loser blood is from your mother’s pack,” Freya taunted.

My wolf growls.

I couldn’t take it anymore. At the mention of my mother, I snapped. My hand flew out, connecting with her cheek, and she gasped in disbelief. I had never hit her in kiana's presence before.

But before I could process what I had done, I felt two sharp slaps against my own cheeks. Kiana’s fury was quick, and my body burned with the pain.

Tears welled in my eyes immediately but I immediately wipe it off with the back of my hand.

“Next time, pig, learn not to hit my child for no reason,” Kiana warned facing me from the front seat, her voice cold and unforgiving.

I expected my father to intervene, to at least offer some kind of defense, but he remained stoic, eyes fixed on the road. I felt completely alone.

I remembered he once regarded me an outcast, and so I took his thoughts away from my mind. As long as I know only my mother remains my family.

The car finally slid to a halt, and I quickly wiped my tears away and looked out the windshield. We had arrived at the venue for the ceremony.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was next. As I slid out of the SUV, I noticed how grand everything looked. The flowers were in full bloom, the decorations were elaborate, and everyone seemed to exude excitement.

As I took my seat right beside Allaistar, I studied him carefully and breathed a sigh of relief as I saw his sideview.

He wasn't so bad as I had envisaged. His curly black hair was styled perfectly to fit with his face, and perfectly his black suit hug his athletic frame.

He glanced at his watch, impatience written all over him.

He didn't even throw a glance at me.

As the council of elders began the ceremony, I felt the pressure of their gazes on me, sizing me up. Allaistar remained distant, creating a physical space that felt like it echoed back to my old home. Even as the vows were spoken, I couldn’t help but feel the disconnect between us.

Once the ceremony concluded, I sighed in relief. It was over. But as I tried to approach Allaistar, he quickly marched toward the exit, not even offering a glance back. I followed him, the long hem of my Pink gown dragging behind me.

“You should at least wait for me to catch up,” I said breathlessly, quickening my pace to keep up. “This is no way for a gentle man to treat his betrothed.”

He stopped abruptly, turning to face me. His piercing grey eyes scanned me, and I held my breath, desperate for something—kindness, perhaps? But instead, he let out a scoff.

“And who said I am a gentle man?”

Shock coursed through my veins as he turned away, slamming the door of the car shut behind him.

As I slid into the passenger seat, the atmosphere felt thick with tension. The drive to his home was silent, and I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that had settled deep inside me. Was this how it would always be?

When we arrived at the compound, I was taken aback. The house was grand—a stark contrast to what I had envisioned based on Allaistar’s family financial situation. My heart raced at the beauty of it all, yet unease lingered.

We are home,” Allaistar said, cutting the engine. His tone was flat, devoid of warmth.

“Home? You own this place?” I asked, letting the shock slip out. “I thought…”

“You thought I would live in a low-budget house, huh?” His anger surged, and it made me flinch.

Before I could stammer out an apology, he turned away and marched toward the front door. I hurried after him, confusion swirling in my mind.

“Nice apartment,” I said weakly, attempting to lighten the mood as we entered.

“Your room is right over there,” he gestured dismissively. “The maid will attend to you.”

“My room? I thought we’d be sleeping in the same room?” It was a genuine question. I had hoped we could start this bond on a better foot.

“It seems you haven’t noticed, darling. We are only married on paper, nothing else,” he stated flatly, leaving me momentarily stunned.

“Nothing else,” I echoed, confusion swirling in my mind. This was a wedding, a bonding—wasn’t it supposed to mean more than that?

He walked away, leaving me alone in the vast corridor. The silence was deafening, and I felt the weight of all that had happened crash around me. I was in a new world, surrounded by extravagant beauty, yet feeling more lost than ever.

I leaned against the wall, reminding myself of my purpose. I had to look after my mother. This was my new life, and there was no room for weakness.

Taking a deep breath, I grasped at the hope that maybe, just maybe, I could figure out a way to make this work—even if it started with just me. I had always been a survivor, and I wouldn’t let this opportunity pass by without a fight.

As I moved toward my new room, determination filled my chest. I would carve out my own path in this unfamiliar life, even if it meant starting from scratch. I glanced at the door before entering, ready to take on whatever the future would hold.