Chapter Six

VI: A Stranger In My Own Home

Alyssa's POV

It's crazy how something as simple and small as a ring can change your life for the better or worse. In this case, it is a shackle; a chain that will bind me to the man I disliked with every fiber of my being, and now I am tied to him.

Omegas are now treated fairly unlike hundreds of years before where my kind are treated like slaves. We can now have our own jobs and acquire almost the same rights as a man. It is forbidden to mistreat and abuse us. Although of course, assholes like my father and brothers who belittle Omegas are still there.

We were on our way back home after finalizing the engagement and the union of our families. I haven't seen my father smile so much in my life. We left with a heavy weight on my heart, and came back with a heavy weight on my shoulders this time.

"You must really like the ring. You haven't stopped looking at it since we left. But it's really pretty so I can't blame you. I bet that must cost a million." Kelly said, breaking me out of my stupor and she's right, I haven't stopped looking at the beautiful ring adorning my ring finger.

"Of course it does. Volkov is one of the richest families in the world and we are now united as one. Hah! Let's see if those darn pests can still look down on us. They'd be licking my boots now." My father sneered and I just sighed out of my breath, speechless for the first time.

When we arrived home, I didn't expect a feast waiting for us. I was flabbergasted when I saw our pack waiting for us, immediately greeting us with a huge smile on their faces when they saw us.

"Alyssa! Oh, I heard the good news! We are so happy for you!"

"Oh my gosh, is that the ring? It's gorgeous!"

"I'm envious of you, cousin. We've been pining over that hunk for years and you snatched him in an instant!"

"Right! You're so lucky, Aly! You get to keep him to yourself!"

My cousins who will often sneer at me, ignore me and talk shīt behind my back are now talking to me as if we've been close since we're kids. The same cousins who will join our other cousins or some members of the pack in bullying me.

It's really amusing yet terrifying how power and money can change someone.

"I don't understand why Vladimir chose her when he could have chosen someone better." Mary, the only cousin who did not attempt to suck up to me, scoffed.

"Shut it, Mary. You're just jealous of Aly," Anna, Mary's younger sister snapped and turned back to me. "How did you meet Knox Volkov, Aly? Tell us!"

"Hmp! I'm sure Knox isn't even attracted to her. His father must have forced him to do so." Mary interjected again and my lips curved into a smile.

"We spent the night together. That's how I know him." I answered with a sweet and taunting smile showing on my face and I saw how Mary's face turned red in anger and jealousy.

I thought my annoying cousins would finally leave me, but my answer only piqued their interest more, much to my annoyance.

"You lucky girl! How was it?!"

"Is he big?"

"Girl, is that even a question? We heard he was!"

I successfully escaped them and their stupid questions, but who I saw next is even worse than them.

"Look who it is, Mortel, the pride of our family!" Marcel said, my oldest brother, who seemed to be drunk out of his mind already. He slung his arm around me and I flinched, cringing in disgust when I smelled his breath. "Our savior!"

I was never close to my older brothers. Mainly because they are my number one tormentors when they are the ones who should have been my saviors, and because they also blame me for our mother's death.

"Shut up, Marcel. You look pathetic." Mortel hissed at our older brother while rolling his eyes and shaking his head. He might be younger than Marcel, but Mortel acts a little mature. When he doesn't fūck around that is. "Congratulations. At least you ended up with a good man."

He reached out to ruffle my hair and I quickly swatted his hand, glaring at him in annoyance.

"Our baby sister is getting married before us." Marcel slurred, slinging an arm around my shoulder.

"That is because you two are too childish to get married. No woman wants a drunkard and a manwhore."

They both chuckled, not taking my words seriously as always.

"Think of it as a little sacrifice for everything you did." Mortel said seriously, and I pushed Marcel away from me.

"I didn't ask to be born as much as you did." I said coldly and left them before things got heated between us again.

I know my father will pick their side like he always does even if I was right. It's just really unfair how they are making my life miserable just because Mom died when she gave birth to me. How is that even my fault?! I was a freaking baby! I lost my mother too!

"No, I can't do this. I won't do this!" I hissed under my breath and searched for my father until I saw him in his office, drinking with Kelly.

"I don't want to get married. Not with Knox, Dad. I will find a much better man. I don't want to marry him!"

Dad gritted his teeth, the smile falling from his face. He gave his drink to Kelly and strode over to where I was.

"There is no better choice than him, Alyssa. He is a Volkov! He is the choice!" He bellowed, almost breaking my eardrums. "We've already gone through this, haven't we? The engagement has been finalized, the ring is on your finger so why are you backing out now? Give me one good reason why you don't want to marry him."

I opened my mouth to answer but found no words to say. I can't tell him that I rejected Knox because then he will be angrier.

"I just... can't." I answered with a frown, swallowing the lump in my throat and looking on the floor as if it would give me the answer I needed.

"You can't even give me a valid reason so don't think I will let you back out. What will they say about our family, huh? What do you think they will do to us if we humiliate them? And what about our family? The pack? What will happen to us if you break off the engagement, Alyssa? Do you really want us on the streets? Is that what you want?"

"Alright, let's try to calm down," Kelly said, coming closer. "Aly, why don't you want to marry Knox? He seems like a great guy and he seems sincere."

I ignored Kelly's words, my chest heaving and tears blurring my vision. "Why? Why can Mortel and Marcel choose what they want to do and I can't? Why is everything on me? Why do I have to save the family that is hell bent on ruining my life?!"

A slap echoed around the room and I felt my cheek burning for the second time in a week.

"I don't care what you want. You are my daughter, you owe your life to me, and you will do as I say. You will marry Knox Volkov and starting tomorrow, you will live with him!" He snatched my chin and I almost whimpered in pain. "You better behave while you are there and do everything they tell you to or so help me God. I don't care if they ask you to wipe their asses or mop the damn floor!"

My whole world came crashing down at his words. I glared hatefully at him, pushing to my feet and running out of the room. I ran and ran without looking back until I reached the woods where I let my wolf breathe. My head was spinning and my heart feels so heavy.

I let out a loud howl, breaking the silence of the night, destroying the peace of the animals living around here, praying that the Goddess will hear me.

'Fine, I will marry Knox if that is what everyone wants, and if that will save my pack. But I won't let him or anyone break me.'