The Disabled Alpha's Bride

Valeria's POV “Valeria, you’re finally back!” As the heavy iron gate of Everly’s old mansion swung open, Mary, the maid of Alpha Marcus and Luna Lydia of the Nightveil Pack, hurried forward. “Just in time—today is Alpha Marcus’s birthday, and the whole pack is having a reunion dinner!” Dressed in black and carrying a briefcase, I nodded at Mary. “Hi, it’s been a long time, Mary.” I lifted my slender fingers and drew a delicate jewel box from the outer pocket of my briefcase, slipping it silently into Mary’s apron pocket. “This won’t do!” Mary exclaimed, her eyes widening as she tried to pull the box out. “You’ve worked so hard on this business trip. Don’t waste it on me.” I opened my palm, effortlessly restraining both of Mary’s wrists with a grip that felt more like catching a rabbit than holding a lycan maid. “A small gift,” I said tersely, glancing toward the back of the garden where someone was watching us. Reluctantly, Mary accepted the gift, smiling with red-rimmed eyes and softly saying, “Thank you, Valeria.” I paused briefly at the gate, then turned away and stepped into the courtyard. To every lycan here, I was Valeria Everhart, the outsider of the Nightveil Pack. Orphaned at seven, my sister Bella and I were taken in by Alpha Marcus, who had welcomed us into his family but never truly made us one of his own. Growing up, I helped Alpha Marcus with his errands, striving for independence while supporting my sister. Despite his kindness in taking us in, Alpha Marcus often reminded me that I must learn to live independently. Ironically, he told me that while werewolves tend to live in a pack, not as individuals. Then I second thought about his warm suggestion. Maybe what he really meant was that I could never be seen as one of his pack, and neither could my sister. The pack had a strict hierarchy, from the highest Alpha to the lowest omega. Mary was one of the omega maids but still ranked higher than me and my sister, the outsiders. As I entered the courtyard, Everly’s old mansion was revealed before me. It was a large castle built when the founding families of Rool River Town lived here. After several renovations, it was transformed into a European style that Alpha Marcus favored. French elegance permeated every detail, from the lamp posts at the entrance to the meticulously arranged rose garden and the gravel paths beneath my feet. I felt like a wild animal wandering into a forbidden territory, my shoulder-length hair framing my face in stark contrast to my plain black dress. Then, just as I was about to turn, I overheard whispers from a group of omega maids. “I heard that lycan orphan is coming back today.” I glanced back to see them arranging a champagne tower, glasses stacked precariously atop one another. “It must be today. It’s Alpha Marcus’s sixtieth birthday. She has to come back and make an appearance. After all, she was the adopted daughter of our Alpha.” “Ugh, she’ll probably just show off, as always. What’s there to be proud of? Being an adopted werewolf is worse than being us, the omegas.” “Shh! She’s always had that superiority complex since she saved our former Luna Elaine. She probably thought, because of that, she had earned a lifelong meal ticket in the Nightveil.” “Aww...I am so sick of watching her acting like she was something more than an adopted bastard.” “Considering her status, isn’t she even lower than us? To put it nicely, she’s an adopted daughter. To put it bluntly, she’s just a hired hand for the Alpha couple. Did she really think she could be considered as the daughter of the Alpha?” The whispers pierced my ears like needles, each word a reminder of my place. I hesitated, then turned and ascended the spiral staircase, my footsteps barely making a sound on the carpet. Since I had been taken in by Alpha Marcus and Luna Lydia, the whispers had never ceased; they only grew bolder. Bodyguard, protector, foster orphan, indentured servant—so many labels had been attached to me. But it didn’t matter. I had learned to console myself, imagining those harsh words as mere flies buzzing around me. One maid’s voice cut through the air, “The Nightveil give her too much to handle. If someone pulled the oxygen tube from that lycan she loves, wouldn’t she listen to the Alpha better?” “Exactly! Who knows if that werewolf is even alive? Maybe she’s already dead, and Valeria is just here for sympathy.” Bang! Unable to contain my anger, I pulled out the small knife I always carried and hurled it toward the champagne tower. The sound of shattering glass filled the room as the tower collapsed in ruins. The maids jumped in shock, and when they turned to find the source of the noise, they saw me standing on the stairs, my signature knife lying amidst the broken glasses. “Ah, ah!!!” More maids recognized my knife, staring up at me in disbelief. I met their shocked gazes without blinking. Then I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a nearby mirror. My slender figure was almost paper-thin, with shoulder-length hair slightly tousled. My delicate features hinted at my mother’s heritage, but my eyes were sharp and fierce, a stark contrast to the softness of my face. “If this conversation happens again, the knife won’t hit the glasses. It will hit right at your neck.” My tone was cold, devoid of anger as I continued up the stairs. One maid crumpled to the ground, crying out, but I didn’t stay to hear her words. Instead, I retreated to my room. Night fell quickly. Tonight, all of Alpha Marcus’s children will return to the Everly mansion to pay their respects. A bit later than everyone else, I entered the dining room with Bella. The long marble table was already laden with dishes. The Alpha Marcus, the Luna Lydia, their eldest daughter Vicky, their eldest son Adam, and the Beta couple were all present. Normally, their family dinner won’t invite me or my sister. But surprisingly, Marcus invited us to his birthday dinner tonight. Deep down, I had a feeling there would be more than just a simple dinner. Alpha Marcus sat at the head, his gray hair slicked back, his expression severe as he examined his plate. “Valeria, sit down,” he commanded. Luna Lydia patted his hand. “Honey, what are you saying?” She shot me a warning glance, as if to remind me of my place. But Alpha Marcus’s gaze remained fixed on me. “Come and sit.” After a brief pause, he gestured to my sister beside me. “Bella, you sit too.” None of us dared to question Marcus's command. But I still found myself unmoved. Marcus's unusual kindness shocked me. What was his intention behind all this? However, Bella looked overjoyed and sat down as she heard Alpha Marcus. She quickly picked up the fork and started eating the food before her. My innocent sister probably thought we were finally accepted into the Nightveil pack. Bella was so happy that she even ignored the surprised looks in the room and said to me, “Val, sit down and try this steak. It tasted like heaven!” I observed around the entire room, then quietly sat down next to my sister. I couldn't ignore the rest of the Nightveil like Bella did. I knew there was no such thing as a free dinner. So I kept holding my fork but did not move at all. Then I heard Alpha Marcus speak, “Valeria, how has the Nightveil pack treated you and your sister?”