A pawn in the Alpha game

Natalie POV

“Where is that bitch?" Kathleen, my mother-in-law, sneered, her voice sending a huge shrill down my spine.

I was in the kitchen preparing dinner when her voice rang out, making me knock over a dish, which accidentally broke with its fragments splattering on the floor, with a sharp piece seeping into my flesh.

A soft gasp escaped my lips.

Something metallic slipped down my toes, staining the damp slippers I wore, but I ignored the pain biting into my skin.

My steps were heavy with her voice cracking through the air like a whip. My fingers trembled as I descended the stairs, my face pale with concern, striding inside the living room.

Something stirred in my belly, but I struggled to maintain my composure.

“Good morning," I greeted, my words tasting like metal in my mouth as her stare rested on me.

Nothing good ever came from my mother-in-law's visit to the house, which made my life feel like a living hell.

“What's good about this morning?” She asked in an icy tone, her voice making me tremble under her gaze.

“What happened?” I asked in a low tone with the apron dangling on my waist and water dripping from my hands, my breath ragged as her stares pierced into my soul.

“Why are you still here?" She sneered with a scowl covering her face, her words laced with poison aimed directly at me.

Her tone made my tummy twist.

My heart stopped.

“What do you mean by that? I asked in a low growl; my chest tightened into knots as she shot me a glare.

“You are just a lowly omega, and you are still freeloading in our house after my son made it clear he doesn't want you," she barked at me with disdain dripping from her comment.

My head snapped up as those words escaped from her mouth with a deadly smirk lifting her lips.

I turned my gaze sharply towards her with a chuckle erupting from my throat.

Tears were brimming in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

She dipped her hand into her handbag. My eyes widened as she pulled a piece of paper from her bag.

“The Alpha told me to give you this," she whispered, stroking her jaw thoughtfully with a wild grin twisting on her face.

“What are they up to now?” Many questions pondered in my mind as I bit my lips, my lips stretching into a frown, gazing directly into her eyes.

She slipped a document and placed it on the table, and it was an invitation letter with colorful designs, and the name boldly written caught my attention.

I stepped closer, my fingers shaking as I stared at the piece.

I felt a chill down my spine with beads of sweat stretched on my forehead as my eyes landed on the letter specifically addressed to me.

Before I could speak, the doors swung open, and his beta, Marcus, walked towards us draped in his blue suit with the pack emblem embroidered beautifully.

His expression was stern, his pupils dilated with his heavy footsteps echoing in the room.

Silence enveloped the room as he strode in carefully towards us.

“Greetings," he spoke, his voice thundering in the room.

“It has been a long while, Marcus," my mother-in-law said, complimenting his appearance.

“Yes, I have been busy; please pardon my negligence," he replied softly.

Then his gaze shifted to me.

“ Well the alpha wants to see Miss Natalie” he declared,his voice heavy as he spat those words.

I felt a lump in my throat with the words, which felt like ice shards piercing through me.

“Lead the way," I said, trailing behind him, following the exit.

******

Nothing good ever came from being called to the alpha office with windows that reminded me of prison bars.

I sat down, my hands trembling as I faced his stone-cold expression. The silence between us made me more nervous as I bit my lips.

"I have news for you," he said, his voice devoid of warmth.

My mind raced. Perhaps another business merger among the conglomerates?

I don't think I can handle another business meeting right now.

He slid a thick file across the polished desk. I hesitated, looking at him before opening it with careful fingers, flipping through page after page.

But it was all blank.

"What's... this? Why are the pages blank?"

"Those will be your marriage contract," he said coldly. "The terms will be filled in once negotiations with the Harrison family are finalized."

My heart stopped. "Marriage contract?"

"You're getting married to Richard Harrison," he declared, as if announcing a business transaction.

“Why?" I asked, my nails digging into my palms as my eyes blazed, facing him.

“The pack needs an alliance to uphold the sovereignty of the pack," he spat out, his blue piercing eyes peering deep into my soul.

The words hit me like a physical blow.

I stared at him, my mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air. "I... what? Darren, you can't be serious."

“I don't need any marriage since I'm your mate," I murmured, and a bitter laugh escaped his throat.

His expression didn't change. "The arrangement benefits both packs... The Harrison shipping empire will complement our manufacturing business perfectly."

My heart constricted as my hand flew to my chest.

"But I don't even know him!" My voice cracked, rising with panic. "You can't just... decide this for me!"

He leaned back in his chair, unmoved by my distress. "You'll have time to get acquainted before the wedding."

“Darren," I shrieked, my jaw tightening as he adjusted the sleeves of his shirt.

"This marriage has been decided by the pack council, and there is no going back," he snarled, rolling his eyes at me.

That was the dagger that struck into my heart.

"You are sending me to the lion's den," I cried out with rage burning inside of me with his hand resting on the table.

“Why are you doing this?” I inquired, gritting my teeth, my sobs heavy, but his tone was resolute.

"This is for your own good." He lifted his piercing blue eyes to look at me.

The words crushed me as the weight of his attitude began to sink in.

"This is not a marriage; it is a trap," I cried out.

My chest hammered into pieces as it dawned on me that he only saw me as a tool for acquiring power.

"You know nothing about what is good for me!" Tears filled my eyes as I began to cry.

My hands clenched beside me.

Everything inside me went still.

"What is this supposed to mean?" he demanded, his face pale, slamming the table hard, echoing in the room.

After our eyes locked, I held on to my chest, which was ripping apart.

It felt like glass piercing through my soul, but deep inside me, I knew this was the beginning of my nightmare.