Chapter 1

Eso POV

"I'm not done speaking, you fat motherfucker."

"One more word from you, Leah, and I'll tell you why I'm the fat one here. You skinny bitch."

For the first time in a very long time, I felt something I had never admitted to myself, not now, not anytime soon.

A few years ago, my mother died. My father married my mother's best friend. Life had been hell, and every day I tried to make it perfect. I was always the perfect daughter. Then she came with her daughter, and life changed. Leah was the most beautiful person I could ever imagine, with the perfect body. And I was just there, my body bloating all over the place.

She sneered and dragged her feet closer to me, our breaths meeting each other's, hot like something filled with fury and hate. "You dare stand up to me, Eso?" She chuckled mockingly.

Standing up to her felt more than good. She had ruled my life over the years, making me sacrifice because I was meant to be in my own position, or just because I'm fat.

"Leah Blackwood, I'm the legitimate daughter of this family. You can't threaten me."

She laughed louder this time. I didn't shift my gaze or flinch at her words.

She looked at me one more time. My esteem dropped, but I wasn't letting a girl I had begged my father to bring in take me down or make me shed tears again.

"You just make yourself look more of a clown with each passing second." Her laughter faded into thin air as she said the words.

I let out a sigh, and my feet dragged closer to her. I filled the space between us. Her eyes opened in shock for a split second. "Girl, this is my time to rule. You have ruled for the past 20 years, now it's my time."

As soon as the words rolled off my tongue, I didn't care what feelings showed on her face. I just turned around and walked out the door.

My chest tightened hard. I forced my feet into my room, shutting the door behind me. I collapsed onto the bed.

Life hadn't been what I had pictured when I was a kid. Life now was way harder for me. Rejected by two Alphas because of my weight, I now had zero hope of getting a low-rank Omega, let alone an Alpha again.

I looked straight at the ceiling like it held answers to my problems.

Before my mother died, every night she would walk into my room, hug me warmly, and pat my hair gently while she sang calm songs for me and made me believe in whatever I thought was right.

I took a deep inhale.

"Eso…" A loud bang hit my door.

I knew exactly what that meant. No one plays with the perfect daughter.

I slowly walked toward the door, feeling more relaxed than ever.

"What do you want?" I asked from the other side.

"Open this door, Eso."

"No, this is my space and I make the rules. Tell me what you want from me again."

The words rolled off before I could process anything.

Maria's familiar voice struck like lightning. "Stop being a spoilt brat and open this door!"

Leah's voice followed. "Mother, she's been acting up lately."

I let out a strong exhale. I held the knob, and for a second, different thoughts ran through my head. The last time I stood up for myself in this house, things went south.

"Eso, this is important." I could feel the urgency in her words.

I took a moment before giving a reply. "How urgent?"

"It's from your father."

I twisted the knob.

"From Father…" The words slipped out.

"It's a letter from him," Maria said.

My gaze reached hers. She held a shining envelope, her hands gripping it firmly. Leah leaned against the wall like the sassy girl she had always been.

"What does the content say, Maria?"

She took in a long breath. Her hands slowly flipped open the envelope. A white paper was inside. Curiosity hit me harder by the second.

Two lines into the reading, her face hardened.

"What does it say?"

I pushed. Her eyes were still fixed on the paper.

Maria had always been the best person to me before my mom died. She was the perfect lady, her smile was charming, and the way she carried me was the best thing I could ever wish for. But as soon as she married my father, she changed. She treated me like a rag and gave me junk that made me fatter each day.

She made me think about every little action.

"Mother…" Leah dragged her out of her thoughts.

"Your father arranged a ball for you both with the Alphas of Nightridge pack." The words felt heavy for her at first, but as soon as she said them, she tilted her head, and her gaze met mine.

"The ball will be held tonight."

Something flickered from within.

Nightridge pack stands as the strongest pack across the 12 nations. Why would the Alpha send a personal invite?

"Eso, you won't be attending."

The words felt like a dagger pulled through my chest.

"Why? I have done nothing wrong."

Her expression darkened. I could see the burning fury in her eyes.

"You being fat would definitely send the Alpha into a straight-up coma."

Leah laughed.

"Maria…"

"My words remain the same, and there will be no debate about it."

She turned around and walked out. I stood there, tears filling my eyes.

"I told you, you can never be like me," Leah said.

I shut the door.

"That's rude, bastard."

Rage filled my chest. I felt hard and pained. The feelings were something I couldn't explain.

I clenched my fist, hard and firm, almost piercing my skin.

"If I can't attend that ball, then no one will."