Mated to my Rival

Chapter 1 Vanya “I don’t want to marry, Father. I have Alpha blood—I deserve to be the next Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack! If only you—” Slap. The sharp sting lit up my cheek, but it wasn’t the pain that brought tears to my eyes. It was the hand that had delivered it. My father. The Great Alpha Marcolos DiVinci of the Blood Moon Pack. “You can’t force me, Father!” I shouted, voice trembling with fury. His eyes flared with rage. In two strides, he closed the distance between us. His hand tangled in my hair and yanked me up until I was kneeling before him, tears streaming down my face faster than I could blink them away. He usually ignored me—treated me like nothing more than an unfortunate duty. But today, when I finally spoke up about my future, about what I wanted, after he told me I was to be married off to a man twenty-five years older for a political alliance… I couldn’t stay silent. “I let you live, Vanya. Be grateful for that,” he hissed. “The only value you have is in sealing an alliance for this pack. That’s your role. That’s what you were born for. So shut your mouth, be a good girl, and do what you're told.” With that, he released me. I collapsed onto the cold stone floor, my knees hitting hard. But I didn’t feel the impact—I was too full of rage. Burning, bitter rage. I looked up at him, and for the first time in my life, I didn’t care that he was my father. I looked at him the way I would an enemy. The kind of hatred in his eyes mirrored mine. He had always blamed me for my mother’s death. Said I stole his mate the moment I was born. Said the Goddess had cursed me, cursed him, by not giving him a proper heir. In his mind, a daughter could never be an Alpha. A woman could never lead the pack. “I’ve arranged your marriage to Alpha Danish. The ceremony is next week,” he said coldly, then turned to leave. “No—Father, please! Please!” I cried, scrambling after him. But the door slammed shut in my face. A second later, I heard the key turn in the lock. Through the thick wood, his voice carried out one final order. “She gets food once a day. Nothing else. Do not open that door.” I slammed my fists against the door. I could break it if I wanted to, but what good would that do? My father would just hit me again. Maybe even lock me in the cells this time. So I stopped and walked back to my bed. My hands were shaking, and my chest hurt. I sat down and cried harder than I ever had before. I knew he would never understand me—but I didn’t think he’d go this far. To him, I’m nothing. Just a puppet he can use when it suits him. Right now, marrying me off to Alpha Danish is the best deal he can make for himself and the pack. It hurts. I have everything it takes to be an Alpha. I trained for it. I worked hard for it. I was born with Alpha blood. But none of that matters to him. Just because I’m his daughter and not a son, he thinks I can’t lead. Who decided that? Who made that rule? I deserve to be Alpha. But he doesn’t care. His plan is to marry me off, merge the packs, and keep the power in his hands. Then, one day, the children I have with Alpha Danish will take over. The thought makes me sick. He’s using me like I’m just some deal to trade. Like I’m not even a person. But I won’t let him. I’m not some helpless girl. I won’t let him control my life. I don’t deserve this just because I’m a woman—or because he thinks I’m not strong enough. I’ll show him. But first, I have to find a way out.