The Alpha Family

Serenya My bedroom door slammed open with so much force that the walls rattled. “Still coped up? What the hell is wrong with you serenya? Jace already rejected you, get over it!” my mother barked, not even sparing me a second glance as she strode in. I didn’t lift my face from my knees. I couldn’t….. The tears wouldn’t stop no matter how hard I tried to keep them down. How could she be so casual? So cold? Did she even care that my heart was lying in pieces all over the floor? That the one boy I had loved for eight years, Jace, just threw me aside like I meant nothing? I had just turned twenty-one. I thought this was supposed to be a magical age. The age I would shift. The age I would find my mate, embrace my place in the pack, and start the life I’d dreamed of. Instead, my birthday ended with my boyfriend, no, my ex-boyfriend, looking me in the eye and telling me we weren’t fated. That I wasn’t good enough and will never be. So no, I wasn’t just crying over a pathetic crush. I was mourning a future I had built in my head since I was thirteen. “Why are you even crying?” my mom continued, throwing her hands up. “Honestly, Serenya, this is embarrassing. Your sister’s wedding is in three weeks. Could you not be selfish for once?” I swallowed the scream rising in my throat. Of course, everything was always about Celis. Celis Varyn, the perfect daughter. The golden one, the one who never made mistakes, never spoke out of turn, never shed tears over boys who didn’t want her. And now, she was marrying Kaelith Draven, the Alpha heir of Moonstone park, the most powerful family in our territory. I pushed myself off the floor and wiped my face with the back of my hand. The tears hadn’t even dried when I heard my mom’s heels clicking away, the door slamming shut behind her. I dragged myself down the stairs minutes later, still feeling bare. The smell of roast chicken filled the air. My father sat at the head of the table, reading the news from his tablet, while Celis sat prim and perfect beside him, sipping her chamomile tea like she was born on a porcelain plate. “Good, you’re finally joining us,” my mother said without looking up from her wine glass. I walked straight into the chair furthest from Celis. Her engagement ring sparkled under the chandelier, a cruel reminder that she was getting her happy ending, and I was left with nothing but broken pieces. “Serenya,” my father said, his voice tight. “Don’t forget, you’re driving Celis tonight. She has an appointment with the bridal designer.” I glanced at my sister. She was busy checking her phone, not even pretending to acknowledge me. “She can’t drive herself?” I asked quietly. “She has poor sight at night,” my father replied, sharp. “You know this. Don’t make things difficult.” Of course. As if my grieving wasn’t enough, I’m playing chaffeur tonight. ….. Later that evening, I curled up on my bed, scrolling mindlessly through pictures of Jace and I. Every laugh, every shared moment now felt like all stupid . My phone buzzed…..Elara, my childhood best friend calling. I hesitated, then picked up. “Hey,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “Okay, no offense,” she said without a greeting, “but are you still crying over that pathetic excuse for that d**k?” I blinked. “Elara—” “No. Get your ass up. We’re going out. Right now. I’m not letting you rot in your emo-pity corner.” I sniffed. “I’m not rotting.” “You’re literally rotting. I can hear the depression through the phone.” I let out a weak laugh. “Fine. One drink.” “No. Five drinks. And definitely no talking about Jace.” I wore a black mini dress and let Elara drag me out to a dimly lit lounge where the music was loud and the drinks were stronger than I expected. The music pulsed through the lounge, vibrating through the floor and into our bones. The dim, golden lights flickered like fireflies over the crowd, casting a dreamlike haze over everything. Elara pulled me from the bar stool, a wicked grin on her face. “One drink down, and now we dance. Come on, heartbreaker.” I laughed as she dragged me toward the center of the floor. The bass dropped and the rhythm surged, loud and irresistible. We moved with the music, wild, loose, and completely unbothered. Elara spun with her arms in the air, hair flying, her voice off-key as she belted out the chorus of the pop anthem thundering through the speakers. I joined in, letting the lyrics come out from me like a scream I’d held in too long. “I don’t need your love, I’m better off alone!” We shouted the words together, twirling and stomping and laughing like nothing else in the world mattered. For a moment, I felt like Serenya. I wasn’t the backup daughter or the shadow of my sister. “Okay, bathroom break!” I shouted over the music, already wobbling in my heels. “I’ll be here!” Elara called out, raising her glass. I made my way toward the hallway, pushing open any door marked with a gold plaque. I stumbled into what I thought was the ladies’ restroom, until I froze. Two guys were making out against the mirror, completely unaware of my intrusion. “Oh, s**t, I’m so sorry!” I gasped. They pulled apart with twin shouts, their eyes wide with horror. “I thought this was the ladies’ room!” I exclaimed, backing out with hands raised. “Sorry! My mistake!” They stormed out without a word, and I glanced around in confusion, only to see the blue “MEN” plaque mounted on the door I’d just exited. “Ugh,” I muttered. “I must’ve mistaken it again.” Embarrassed, I turned to walk back to the right door, and crashed straight into someone. “Ow!” I hit the floor hard, my elbow scraping against the tile. The person I’d bumped into didn’t stop to help. Just walked away like I was invisible. Groaning, I reached for my purse, just as my phone rang. Celis….. I sighed, brushing hair out of my face and answering. “Where are you?” she snapped immediately. “I’ve been calling. You were supposed to pick me up. You know I can’t drive at night.” “Yeah, I know,” I said, already staggering to my feet. “Just, just hold on. Let me call a chauffeur. I can’t drive right now. I drank a little.” There was silence. Then, “You drank?” Her voice turned sharp. “Are you serious, Serenya? You had one job.” “I’ll fix it,” I said quickly. “Just stay there. I’ll send someone for you.” She hung up without another word. I stood there in the hallway, the noise of the bar muffled behind me, a dull throb starting in my head. I can’t even heal in peace, what a pathetic life I’m living. I wasn’t the favorite daughter. I wasn’t the one getting married to a powerful Alpha. I wasn’t the one with approval, or grace, or the family’s pride.