Loving The Wrong Alpha.

The Tower.

My mother struck me with a cane. The first blow sent pain shooting through my body. I screamed, but she showed no mercy. Again and again, the cane came down on me. When one broke, she grabbed another and continued.

Blood ran from my head, nose, and mouth. Bruises, welts, and deep cuts covered my skin.

Weak and trembling, I could barely stay conscious. All I could do was whisper Griffith’s name through my tears, begging him to save me.

“Griffith... Griffith... Griffith...”

“I’ve told you countless times to shut up,” my mother snapped. “This tower will be your home from now on until the day you are married.”

Her eyes were cold and merciless.

“You are not leaving this place until I say otherwise. And if you make another sound, I’ll come back and punish you even more severely.”

"Please, Mom... don't do this to me."

"Do you want me to expose what you've done to the entire realm so they can stone you to death? Or have you forgotten that this world doesn't belong to humans? We are the true rulers here, and I will deal with every act of taboo, including the person you committed it with. No one will care if you're a princess. They'll strip you of your title and throw you into the trenches like filth. So behave yourself, or I'll make sure you do. And don't think I'll spare you just because I gave birth to you."

"Please... Mom... it won't happen again. I'm sorry. I thought it was just a game. I didn't know it was wrong."

My voice trembled as I slowly rose to my feet before dropping to my knees, bowing my head in respect to the Queen of the Realms.

"Please... Mom..."

Without another word, she lashed the cane across my back with merciless force before grabbing my face with her claws.

"If you know what's good for you, keep your filthy mouth shut and stay here. If you want to be saved, sit where you are and obey every word I say. Do you understand me?" she snarled, her eyes blazing with fury.

Hot tears streamed down my cheeks as I nodded.

"I'm sorry, Mom. It won't happen again. I won't ever do that to him again. I didn't know it was wrong. Please... don't leave me here."

A wicked grin spread across her face as she tightened her grip on my cheeks, her claws digging into my skin.

Instead of begging her to stop hurting me, I cried harder, overwhelmed by how hopeless and pitiful my life had become.

I never understood why my mother had never shown me love since the day I was born.

She was always frightening, an Alpha who was cold, fearless, strict, and never smiled.

Every tiny mistake I made earned me another beating until I crumbled before her. She never played with me or any of my siblings. It was always the nannies who cared for us, comforted us, and gave us the affection our parents never did.

Maybe that's why I feared her so much.

Even though she was my mother, she felt like a complete stranger.

I'd rather spend every moment with Griffith, my younger siblings, and my nannies than be anywhere near her.

"I don't want to stay here anymore..."

"When did you learn to do something like that, Princess?" she demanded, narrowing her dark eyes.

"I... I saw one of the maids... and one of the guards doing it. That's how I learned."

My heart pounded violently in my chest as I forced the words out, praying my punishment wouldn't become even worse.

What had I done that was so unforgivable? Couldn't she just forgive me?

"Hmm... I see."

She released my face before grabbing my long white hair, which reached all the way to my waist.

"Please, Mom. I'll do anything you want. Just don't leave me. Please..."

I cried as she yanked my hair backward, gathering it tightly into a ponytail.

"Emily!" she shouted.

The maid who served my mother hurried inside and bowed.

"Your Majesty, you called for me?"

"Bring me a sharp knife."

Emily hesitated.

"But... Your Majesty—"

My mother's icy glare silenced her instantly.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

She hurried out of the tower.

As a child, terror consumed me. Why did she need a knife? My eyes drifted toward the fireplace. Was she going to heat the blade and burn me with it? Or carve a permanent mark into my skin so I'd never forget what I'd done?

My entire body trembled.

The moment Emily returned carrying the heated knife, I lost control and wet myself in fear. Without hesitation, my mother took the blade from her.

Then she cut off my long white hair.

I gasped.

In an instant, every ounce of strength vanished from my body. My legs gave out beneath me.

My wolf...

My mother had killed my wolf.

My body convulsed violently as blood spilled from my mouth. A burning agony ripped through my throat, and I clutched at my neck with both hands, desperately trying to stop the unbearable fire spreading inside me.

Mother... Please help me...

I begged silently through my tears.

Violent seizures wracked my body as I screamed in agony, pleading for my mother to save me. Several maids rushed inside and pinned me to the floor before I could lose control completely.

The only thing my mother said was,

"I have severed your power. You will not leave this place until I decide otherwise... and until I marry you off."

I wanted to die.

She shoved me away from the maids, and my head slammed against the cold stone floor.

"Leave her," she ordered.

"This should teach you never to kiss your brother again, you little slut."

She dismissed everyone before pouring water over the fireplace, extinguishing its flames.

The room quickly became freezing. I curled into myself, shivering violently as my teeth chattered.

My mother smiled with cruel satisfaction before closing the heavy door behind her. Then she locked it.

The maid I had seen kissing one of the guards was executed the very next day.

Her body was hung before the entire realm as a warning. The horrifying sight haunted me.

I couldn't count how many times I threw up after remembering her battered corpse. For days, I cried without stopping. I begged every servant who came near my room to let me speak to my father...

Or my mother...

Anyone...

I pleaded to see Griffith. But no one allowed me to see him.