The Disabled Alpha's Bride

Another Alpha's Daughter

Valeria's POV

Adam stammered, "I… I…”

Bella’s voice grew colder with impatience. She cut him off quickly. "This world devours the living. If we don't sacrifice others, we’ll sacrifice ourselves. Think carefully, Adam. If you tell her about our plan, everything we’ve built will be gone.”

At her words, Adam began to sob—a sight I’d never witnessed before. As the future Alpha of the Nightveil pack, he’d always carry himself with pride. Yet here he was, tearful, whispering that he didn’t want to lose Bella, that he was only worried about me for a moment.

I was still surprised at the fact that it was my sister behind all of this. Not even once did she ask, “Is there another way to solve this problem?” No, she determined to sentence me to that hell.

As I made a determination in my heart, I opened the door. Both of them turned, stunned into silence for nearly a full minute.

Ha… I must have looked like their worst nightmare right now.

Bella’s eyes widened slightly, “Oh, hey,” she said as if nothing had happened, but her voice betrayed a note of strain. “When did you come back?”

But she forgot one thing—Adam was still in the room.

“How long?” My voice trembled as I tried to stay calm. “You and Adam?”

“Val.” Bella blinked, forcing a smile. “Adam and I are soulmates. He promised to make me his Luna once he’s Alpha. Please… just let us have this, okay? Sis?”

I didn’t know how to respond to Bella’s wish. I wanted my sister to be happy, but what about me? Had my dear sister even considered my happiness when she made a decision that might cost my life?

I turned and left the room, my mind turning numb. Not long after, I found myself stopping before a hall mirror. I looked at my reflection in it, the dark gown Eric had gifted me still flowing around. But the brightness in my eyes had dimmed.

How did it come to this? When did my sister become so ruthless? Where was the little girl who used to chase after me, calling me ‘Val’? Did I make a mistake by bringing us under Nightveil’s roof?

My lips became pale, and my eyes turned red.

For a moment, I thought I even heard my wolf growling inside me. Gosh, was I too sad that I even began fantasying about something not real?

I haven’t met her, my wolf, remember?

…

At midnight, the Nightveil villa was still brightly lit. Every werewolf in the pack was assembled in the grand living room, forming two neat lines.

In the center, on a plush chair facing the door, sat Alpha Marcus. His legs were spread, one hand resting on his thigh, the other gripping a whip.

On his right, Adam and Bella knelt. Bella was treambling in fear when Adam already bore many fresh whip marks across his bare chest.

“Father, you believe Valeria over me?” Adam’s face, usually proud, looked vulnerable. “I am your son! The future Alpha of Nightveil!”

Cowering behind him, Bella sobbed, “Alpha Marcus, I swear, I’ve done nothing inappropriate with Adam! Valeria is lying! She doesn’t want me to marry Eric, so she’s trying to ruin my innocence. Please, she’s lying!”

The whip hadn’t touched her yet, a sign Marcus still believed her. His brow furrowed, deep wrinkles forming as he looked down at her like she was something vile. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve been up to, Bella.” His voice was cold. “I’m sparing you only because we’re meeting Alpha Eric this weekend.”

The room fell silent at that name; even Bella stopped crying. It was as if the very mention of him brought an icy chill over everyone.

“I called him three times,” Marcus continued, “and made six appointments. Only then did he agree to meet you on Saturday. You know what’s expected, Bella. Until then, behave, or I will make you.”

With a wave of his hand, his Beta nodded, gesturing for two lycan maids to escort Bella upstairs and lock her in her room.

Throughout all seconds, I had remained silent. Saying a word could only mean another whip across my back, and I couldn’t afford that.

I knelt quietly, the pain from the old wounds still fresh. Unlike Adam, the lashes I’d received hadn’t avoided soft areas; they struck my neck, my arms, my cheek.

“Now, Valeria.” Marcus’s voice was like ice. “Tell me who were you planning to see tonight, dressed like some vampire w***e?”

I said nothing, keeping my head down. The wound on my arm throbbed sharply, though it wasn’t as painful as the lash across my cheek.

That whip had shattered something deep within me—my dignity, perhaps. In our world, only those who’ve committed grave wrongs are whipped. Adam and Bella deserved it. But I hadn’t done anything wrong.

But I guessed I was only an outsider to them. So my well-being meant nothing to them, not my sister, not Eric, especially not Marcus.

Being an orphaned lycan was hard enough, but being one without a wolf… I was lower than every werewolf in the Nightveil. Marcus had said right about me being only a weapon to him. I doubt that if I died one day, there would not even be any funeral for me.

Yet none of that had mattered before. I don’t care if they loved me and cared about me. As long as I had Bella around, I could face anything.

But now, I was truly alone. No sister, no family, even no wolf to rely on.

Marcus cleared his throat, and I knew he wanted an answer. Slowly, I lifted my head, meeting his furious gaze. “I know now it wasn’t you, your Beta, or my sister who saved me that night. You didn’t call for backup. Perhaps you all thought I would die that night, right? But guess what, I am not dead yet.”

“Whether it was or wasn’t,” Marcus’s lips tightened, “Nightveil is still your benefactor. When you and your sister were homeless, I took you in.”

“I’ve paid my debt.” My voice was steady. “I’ve been stabbed, shot, bitten, tortured. I’ve survived countless near-death experiences for Nightveil.”

The word “debt” seemed to ignite his anger. With a flick, the whip struck my cheek again, nearly knocking me over.

Snap! Snap! Two more lashes slashed across my back.

“Paid?” His tone was mocking. “What have you paid? Think you can grow fangs and find another pack?”

Luna Lydia’s voice cut through the tension. “Marcus, Valeria is nineteen now, still without her wolf. Maybe it’s time for her to find a better pack.”

His face twisted with fury. “Valeria, you’re nothing but a weapon to Nightveil. Unless on a mission, you will not show yourself in public anymore! If I caught you, I would lock you up in that little room you lived in when you were a child. You heard me?”

Slowly, I straightened, the hem of my gown rustling against the floor like wind over a wheat field. Beneath my hair, my gaze turned steely, my voice a low growl. “I am not your weapon. I am the daughter of the Lunarclaw Pack. Alpha Kai and Luna Lyra were my parents. I thank you for what you did, but you cannot insult an Alpha’s daughter. You know that, Alpha Marcus.”

“You—!” He lifted the whip, but Luna Lydia held his arm.

“Marcus, there’s a car parked outside,” she murmured. “If Valeria came from that car, perhaps we should see who’s inside. Better now than later.”

With a snarl, Marcus threw the whip to the ground. “James, open the door! Let’s see who dares meddle with the Nightveil pack!” His gaze flicked back at me, full of contempt. “Let’s see if your ‘lover’ will stand by you after seeing you like this. You filthy wolf.”

Moments later, the door swung open, and a figure in a wheelchair entered. Marcus paled, collapsing into his chair, terror overtaking his face.

Dressed in a white suit, Eric moved into the light, exuding an icy aura that seemed to freeze everything around him.

Eric was here. He hadn’t left after seeing me sneak in?

His gaze slowly fell on me, then on my bruised, battered form. Then he turned to face Marcus. “Alpha Marcus,” Eric said calmly, “I am that ‘lover’ you were shouting about.”

From behind the crowd, I slowly emerged, my voice steadier than before. “Eric… you finally came.”