Chapter 1

Vivian's POV

"Get out of my way, fattie!" Chloe snapped at me, struggling to shove me aside with her tiny, petite body.

I pressed my lips together, not replying before getting out of her way.

My mother rushed across the living room to us, glaring at me before adjusting Chloe's hair and makeup. "Don't get worked up because of your sister. Your hair and makeup have to be perfect for today."

Chloe's annoyed expression quickly changed into one of confident joy. "Once the alphas see how beautiful I am at the mating ceremony tonight, I'm certain to get a mate!"

Her words made my mother smile even wider, gesturing for her to move to the dining table.

It already had dinner set out. Three plates with food on them.

Three. In a family of four.

The bitterness sat heavy on my tongue, but I was used to this by now.

With a sigh, I walked into the kitchen, picking up a plate and serving myself a small portion of rice and stew.

By the time I had returned to the dining room, father had already sat at the end of the table with Chloe and mother sitting on either side of him.

They froze when my plate settled on the table.

Chloe couldn't hold in her laugh as I sat. I prepared myself for whatever comment she was about to make now. "Don't tell me you're going to eat. On a day like this you should be trying to make yourself look as skinny and beautiful as possible, maybe some butcher will pick you up as a mate."

Her words caused our parents to burst out laughing. Even father, who usually pretended to defend me, had his own words to cut into my skin. "Take your sister's advice, or don't bother coming to the ceremony. You have brought enough shame to this family just by being alive."

I felt my appetite leave, and suddenly the food in front of me might as well have been poison.

My gaze fell from his judgmental stare to my body.

Despite my best efforts, my stomach still bulged out, pressing against the material of my simple dress.

Even my fingers felt wide around the fork.

Tears stung against my eyes as my mother joined the conversation as well. "Maybe it would be for the best if you stayed behind."

My head snapped up to face her. "What? But the mating ceremony only happens once a year!"

Father immediately slammed his palm on the table, pointing his voice at me. "Don't you ever raise your voice at my mate, you oversized pig!"

I shrunk back immediately, whimpering silently while Chloe snickered next to me.

Unable to endure the shame anymore, I shoved the plate away, standing up and storming to my room.

No one followed.

They resumed their conversation right after, fussing over how Chloe would look beautiful in her new dress.

It didn't matter what she wore. With her delicate features and slender body, she would always be beautiful.

The door of my room snapped shut gently. I turned to come face to face with my reflection in the mirror Chloe had brought in here.

Just so I could see my ugly self every day.

The woman staring back at me had red, puffy eyes, large hips and arms.

Nothing like what any alpha would want as a mate.

I felt myself losing hope as my body crumbled to the floor.

Only those above eighteen were allowed into the mating ceremony. This would be my third and Chloe's first.

She would almost certainly find a mate tonight, but me?

Just like last year and the year before, I didn't know which was worse: not finding my mate, or finding him only to get rejected.

I sobbed at the foot of my bed for what felt like hours, too afraid to lift my gaze to the mirror across from me ever again.

A soft knock forced me to raise my head though. "Who's there?"

Chloe's high pitched, mocking voice echoed into the room. "Are you still in there? Don't tell me you're crying instead of getting dressed and making yourself look beautiful. Your face is already naturally swollen, your crying will only make it worse."

My hands scrubbed at my face to remove the tears. "What do you want?"

Her voice grew cruel. "You're ugly. We all know that, and it's no secret. Tonight, I plan to get mated to one of the elite alphas of our pack, and even though I'm absolutely gorgeous, if they figure out you're my sister, it could make things messy."

Unable to hide the sarcastic tone, I replied, "You don't need to worry, I won't get in your way."

When she spoke again, her voice sounded almost deranged, psychotic even. "I have no guarantee of that."

A second later, the sound of the lock on the door snapping into place filled my ears.

My body froze, a shiver running down my spine as I stood, rushing to the door.

Sure enough, it was locked shut. "Chloe? Chloe! You crazy bitch, you can't leave me in here!"

"I'm sorry, I can't let you ruin this for me. Once I become a rich mate, maybe you can work in my estate. Just stay in here for tonight. It's not like your mate will be here anyway, this will just be another night where you fail to find someone."

Her words cut deep into my skin, but the pain felt numb in the face of the anger I felt burning into my skin.

Her footsteps pierced through the door, fading off until no longer audible.

She had left.

I rushed to the window, looking out to see her and my parents already heading down the road without me.

My heart raced in my chest, panic gripping me, and I felt my confidence shatter.

'Don't give up.' My wolf, Lexa, whispered. 'Something big is going to happen today, I can feel it. But you're going to miss out if you don't find a way to get out of this room.'

My body refused to move for a few seconds, already giving up. But then the image of Chloe's smug smile at the mating ceremony kept clogging my mind, and I stood, heading to the door.

I might not find my mate tonight, but I'd rather die than let Chloe be the reason for it.