Mated To the Cruel Rogue Alpha

Marietta's PovAll my life, I've always believed the Moon Goddess.And all those times, she's never answered my prayers. Not once.But tonight would be different. Tonight was my mating ceremony and the night my sufferings would end.I trailed my fingers over the fabric of my dress, smoothing out the visible creases as I stood before the mirror. The gown wasn't new. It was something I had altered from an old gown. But it was the only nicest thing I owned. The dress was soft blue with slightly worn lace at the edges. It wasn't much but it made me feel… pretty. For the first time in my life, I allowed myself to dream. My mate would take one look at me and whisk me away from this terrible pack, from father's cold stares, from the whispers of “daughter of a whore”My heart thundered in my chest as I stepped out of my tiny room in the attic and into the night. The ceremony was about to begin.The venue was more beautiful then I had imagined it to be — decorated with golden lanterns, p

Marietta’s PovPain.Deep, excruciating pain.It was the first thing I felt when I woke up.The pain was a throbbing ache that pulse through my skull like a child had cracked it open and glued it back together with baby hands.I winced, forcing my eyes open, which was a terrible idea.A blinding light stabbed through my skull, making my head pounded even harder.Oh my freaking God.I squeezed my eyes shut and took a shaky breath.My body felt… so wrong. My wrist ached, my arms were stiff, and there was a dull sting at the back of my head. And where the hell was I?I threw my eyes open again, this time slower, and warm, yellow, lights flooded my vision. Only the light wasn't from the sun. It was from the torches flickering against stone walls — cracked, worn, and ominously, damp walls.I stiffened and a strange smell hit me next.Sweat. Blood.Mold.Oh, that was never a good combination.I tried to sit up, but a rattling sound pierced through my brain. I couldn't move my hands. T

Marietta's PovThe second the door shut behind me, I collapsed onto my bed.My body ached all over and my back burned from the whips. I buried my face in my pillows, biting down in the soft pillowcase as sobs racked through me.Why does it always end like this?I had wanted to see father and for what?For this? For him to look at me like I wasn't worth asking what had happened to me. For him to regard me like I was nothing.It was clear now.I had no one.No one except myself.I forced myself to sit up and the movement sent a sharp pain through my back and I hissed.My dress was still sticking to my wounds.I shuffled to the small mirror on my dresser and whipped out a white cloth. I dampened it in water and wiped off the dried blood. Each stung, each aching pulse, only made my anger burn hotter. I stared at my reflection, my breath shaky.I looked pathetic but this feeling brewing in the pit of my stomach wasn't weakness anymore.It was pure rage.They thought I was nothing.The