Chapter 1: Anyssa

~ Nyssa's Pov ~

“Nyssa! Nyssa! Nyssa! Nyssa!” The crowd cheered as I poured bourbon all over my face, spilling it onto my exposed chest.

“One more shot! One more shot!” they screamed. I loved crowds like this. If you ever want to have fun, go to a college party because they know how to vibe. I staggered toward where the cups of liquor stood alongside packs of cans, where taut college boys sniffed. One by one, I chugged down the liquor from each of the six cups, with them cheering me on.

“O-kay… that’s enough,” Vanessa said, pulling me out of the crowd while draping a cloth over my bare chest.

“You’ve had too much to drink. Here,” she handed me a bottle of water. What a killjoy… Vanessa.

“You know…p-parties are meant to be enjoyed. You do the opposite of that, my friend,” I said, my slurred words barely audible. Vanessa stood straighter and looked at me with her ‘just behave’ eyes. I swear, she sometimes scares me with those eyes.

“Parties are meant to be enjoyed doesn’t mean you should strip for every boy at UCF.”

I laughed as I brought the water to my lips. “What? It was fun, okay?”

She nodded as I drank. Once I finished, I handed her the half-empty bottle.

“We need to go. It’s already past your curfew, and your dad wouldn’t like it.”

“You mean he wouldn’t give a shift,” I joked.

“Still… it’s already late.”

“I know it is. You don’t have to tell me that. But going back to meet Daddy Dearest is not on my radar tonight,” I said, standing up on my barely strong feet. “I came here to have fun and not think about what the old man wants.”

“He is still your father and the Alpha of our pack. If he knew I stayed out this late with you, he would have my head.” I looked at her like she had suddenly grown two heads—she must be to spew this nonsense.

My father would do anything other than worry about my well-being. In fact, he doesn’t see me as a daughter, only his other child, Ruby.

“Look,” she said, holding my hand. “I know you’re avoiding meeting your father, but he is still your father, and one way or another, you’ll need to go back home. For a change of clothes, anyway. I love you, but I can’t bear sharing my clothes with you.”

If only she knew why I haven’t gone back to my father’s house. It was already enough with the names they called me—disgrace, cursed daughter, but Daddy dearest decided to add fuel to the fire by informing me about my stepsister’s upcoming engagement. I had to be there as a “supportive” sister. Supportive? Fuck them.

“I'll drive you home,” Vanessa said, holding me while I stuttered my way to the entrance of the room. As we climbed down the patio stairs, I staggered and fell on my face, cursing under my breath while Vanessa pulled me back up. Finally, we got to her Toyota Camry, and like a brick of wood, she pushed me into the passenger seat and buckled my seat belt before she got in.

“So…we’re good. How tipsy are you?”

I smiled sheepishly at the stars I was seeing above my head. They suddenly changed to dancing ducks. Stars or ducks?

“Dancing ducks,” I answered.

“Oh my god! You are drunk drunk.”

“Relax. I can hear you perfectly,” I said, my words slurring.

“How many fingers do I have up?” Vanessa asked, holding out three fingers in front of my face.

“Three.”

She slapped a hand to her face and groaned. Pushing back her glasses to the rim of her nose, she said, “It’s two, dummy. You’re drunk. I can’t drop you home and let the Alpha see this. That would look bad.”

“Just drop me home, Vanessa. I’m fine, and I can walk fine.”

“You could barely walk,” she argued.

“The longer we s-stay here, the d-drunker I’ll become.”

And we drove home with that. Honestly, I wasn’t mentally prepared to go to my father’s house. Returning there only made it clear that I am nothing but an outsider to them, just like my mother.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

Vanessa dropped me off, and I slowly staggered to the front door. I dug my hand into my bag, searching for the card to unlock the door. Finally, I found it and entered the house, coming face to face with four pairs of eyes staring at me.

My dad stood firm with his prudish wife—my stepmom—by his side. Beside her stood her vicious daughter, Ruby: my unapologetic, annoying sister. Our nanny, Priscilla, stood beside Ruby, holding a bottle of red wine.

I staggered on my feet and slowly walked up to the couch. “W-why is everyone staring?”

My father's disapproving scowl greeted me as he walked to where I sat.

“You are late,” he said.

“Really? I didn't know I would be this late.”

“And you are drunk,” my stepmother added.

I scoffed and relaxed into the chair. “I am aware of that, stepmother. You didn’t have to point it out. I’m pretty sure that’s evident.”

She swallowed and clutched my father’s free arm tighter. My father watched me, his eyes roving over my face from head to toe. My father, Alpha Calder, Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack in Orlando was a disciplinarian. But that only applied to me, not to his sweet daughter, Ruby.

“You were supposed to come back early…and sober.”

“Relax, daddy dearest, I am sober.”

“You are drunk...again, Anyssa.”

God, I hate when he calls me by my full name. It’s his way of being “serious” and not tolerating my “nonsense.”

“It’s Nyssa, and you know that.”

“What I call you doesn’t matter. You were supposed to come back earlier because tonight is a special night.”

I sat up straighter and cleared my throat. I was drunk before, but now I just wanted to barf.

“I don’t think she got the message, Dad. She’s been drinking later, and I bet she wasn’t sober when you told her,” Ruby said, eyeing me from the corner of her eye.

It didn’t matter. I did not give a fuck about any of them, especially the golden child.

“Since you’re here, I will make the announcement. Ruby will be getting married to Mavis King. Their engagement ceremony will be in two days’ time. I expect you to attend, Anyssa.”

Wait… what? Mavis? No way! No fucking way! The drowsiness cleared from my eyes instantly.

“She can’t!” I stood up, opposing. My eyes were much clearer as I glared at the three of them.

“I beg your pardon?”

“She can’t marry Mavis.”

“Why, dear sister?” Ruby asked with a wicked grin on her face. She knows this…she knows that I have had a crush on Mavis forever. She knows this!

“You know why…why would you agree to this?!” She can't, she knows how much I like him. Why would she do this to me?

“Who I marry is not your problem. Besides, I am the Alpha’s daughter, and Mavis is his father’s first son, who is also Alpha. It’s a legacy. I don’t see why you should disagree.”

“You know how I feel about him!” I screamed, trying to reel my anger back in.

“A mere crush can simply dissipate. I am now his future Luna.”

I turned to my dad and fell to my knees. “Please. Please don’t do this. Don’t make her marry him.”

Dad looked at me, and for a moment, an emotion ran through his eyes before I could understand it. He cleared his throat before speaking: “It has been settled. The engagement of your sister will be in two days’ time. This will be good for both our families since it will unite both packs and families. I expect you to be at least sober and happy for your sister, Anyssa.”

No…please.

He turned around, my stepmother and sister following suit, leaving me on my knees.