The Brutal Alpha's Mate

Jaque POV

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"Jaque!" my stepmother's voice echoed in the whole house like thunder, jolting me from my spot. I was in my room and had just finished cleaning the second floor of this house. As much as possible, I would like to rest for a bit, but it looked like the word resting for me would only happen when I was already dead.

"What does she want this time?" I muttered under my breath as I got up and dragged myself to the door. "Coming, Lauren!" I answered before she would yell again. Upon coming downstairs, a black ball gown with a sweetheart neckline covered my petite body.

"Here!" I knew that was Lauren even if I couldn't see her face. The sound of her demanding voice was no longer new to me. "Take care of this with your life. Jasmine will wear this for the ball tonight!"

"The ball?" I asked, surprised. No one told me about the ball. Oh, well! What's new in this pack? No one told me about special events like this. Except for preparing the pack's food and doing their laundry, the whole members, including my so-called family, kept me blind for grand occasions.

"Yeah! The ball, I'd!ot!" Jasmine chimed in. I held the heavy gown tight while tilting my head to the side. Contouring a vexing look, Jasmine scowled at me. "What? Don't tell me you're planning to go!" she burst out laughing while she covered her mouth dramatically.

"No! I'm not!" I defensively uttered. Who was I to attend such extraordinary events? I was just a nobody first daughter of Louis Davis, beta of Blood Moon Pack. "I just want to know why the pack is having a ball tonight?"

Before Lauren could answer, Jasmine already butted in. Waving her hand back and forth on my face as she ambled to my side, "Adam, the future Alpha of this pack, and my future husband!" she tittered. "Is having a masquerade ball. And he's now going to declare to the pack his mate and Luna, who, by the way, ME!"

Everything that Jasmine bubbled didn't register in my mind. However, there was only one sentence that caught my attention. "Adam is back?!" again, that significant news and the reason why I was still in the Blood Moon Pack was hidden from me. "He's back from the Alpha training?" I couldn't hide the excitement in my eyes as they glistened. My voice also gave me away, making the mother and daughter duo raise their well-trimmed brows at me.

"Be respectful, Jaque!" Lauren roared. "Alpha Adam for you. Don't you dare drag this family down with your ill-mannered attitude!"

Ill-mannered?! I was curious: Did they even know the meaning of that word?

"Huh?! Mommy, where do you think she got that disgusting behavior? From her mistress human mother, of course!"

Now, that's out of the line. I promised myself before. They could throw stones at me, but they should never speak ill about my mother, who passed away with a broken heart because of them, including my father.

"Don't talk about my mom that way, Jasmine!" my voice was calm but stern. Something they had never heard from me before, even Jasmine stepped back. A hint of fear and shock flickered in her eyes.

"Mommy!" scared now, huh?!

"How insolent!" before I could react, her palm already collided with my cheek, leaving some stinging pain. I wanted to touch my cheek that was slapped, but I couldn't afford to drop this heavy gown in my hand. Even a single inch of its hem on the floor could cost me my one-day meal.

"Hmp! That serves you, b!tch!" Jasmine crossed her arm over her chest. "Put my gown in my room. Spread it on my bed, id!ot!"

I turned around before they could see my tears. I never shed tears in front of them since my dad brought me here when I was ten. After putting the gown on her bed, I went to my room at the far corner and plopped myself on my single wooden bed. I would like to burst out, but upon thinking of Adam coming home, my heart fluttered. I had never seen him for three years now. He was my crush since my childhood days.

My dampened mood brightened as I got up and walked excitedly to my small closet. I opened it wide and took out a big brown box. I carried it on my bed and dropped the cover to the floor. My eyes sparkled as I pulled out a beautiful dark velvet off-shouldered bridesmaid's dress. Its design was simple yet striking. It's my mom's and she wore this in her best friend's wedding. I remembered pretty well her story about this dress. That's how she met my father. According to him, he was blown away when he saw her walking down the aisle.

I already made my decision. I was going to attend the ball no matter what. Besides, it's a masquerade ball. I would just get some materials from the stock room and make myself a mask. Inside the box was also a pair of red-strapped sandals, hoping they also fit.

I locked the door to my room before stripping off. I looked at myself in the rectangular mirror attached to the wall. I smiled at the woman staring back at me. I couldn't imagine how time flew this fast. I didn't want to brag, but I would give the merit to my mom. I looked exactly like her, except for my eyes. While she had hazel brown almond eyes, I had moss-green thin almond orbs. I got that from my dad. The only similarity I got from him, I guessed.

As I wore her dress, I felt her presence. The scent she still had mixed with the smell of fabric being stucked in a box for too long wasn't bad at all. It was actually hypnotizing.

"Mom!" I mumbled in the air when I saw my reflection. I felt like she was speaking to me, remembering everything she taught me when she was still alive.

Flashbacks of her memories transitioned into slideshows in my mind while tears rolled down my face.

"Sweetheart, be strong and always remember, I'm here for you no matter what?"

"My sweet pea, you're half she-wolf and half-human. It doesn't matter if you're wolfless someday. You have your own strength. Don't compare yourself to them!"

"When the right time comes, you will also meet your mate. Do not reject him no matter who or what he is. He's the only one who can protect you from this cruel world!"

I wiped the tears from my cheek. Lauren's fingerprints were still there, but it wasn't that painful anymore. The pain I felt now was for my mom, who was blinded by my father's sweet talks and gestures.

"Mom, I promise, I won't let you down!" I told myself as a thin smile formed on my face.

Tonight, I would change my fate in this pack and this world.