Bound by the Alpha: Hybrid Villainess Obsession

Chapter 2: A Human Amongst Wolves

The grand birthday celebration for Ashara resumed like nothing had happened. Shezafera and Luiz mingled among their guests with effortless ease, their demeanor betraying none of the tumult that had just unfolded within the walls of their estate. They laughed and conversed, the perfect hosts as if the fabric of their family had not just been torn apart.

Ashara, now composed and dressed in her finest, moved through the crowd with a grace that belied the deceit she harbored. Guests surrounded her, lavishing praise on her beauty and refinement.

"It is true, Ashara embodies the grace of the Frostborne lineage," one noble commented, a glass of champagne in hand, her words echoed by nods and murmurs of agreement from those nearby.

In a corner, a group of guests whispered among themselves, voices tinged with mockery. "And to think, the Frostbornes took in a human girl. Aetheria, was it? Such a charity case," one sneered, eliciting chuckles from her companions.

"She's nothing more than a blemish on their prestigious bloodline. Did you see how she served us tonight? A servant in all but name."

Another added, with a malicious gleam in her eye, "I heard a rumor that she fancied herself equal to Ashara, even betrothed to a Brancacci. As if a human could ever truly belong among us." Their mocking laughter resounded throughout the room, enticing a nasty undercurrent to the Frostbornes' spectacle of togetherness and festivity.

Meanwhile, Aetheria sat alone in her room, her tears had dried, but the pain lingered, reminding her of her place in a world where she would never truly belong. Despite the laughter and light that filled the Frostborne estate, Aetheria felt isolated, enveloped by a darkness that threatened to consume her. The voices of the guests, their disdain for her humanity, echoed in her mind, a cruel reminder of her isolation.Daughters of illustrious families and heirs from other packs surrounded Ashara when she was alone in a peaceful area of the majestic hall.

"Really, Ashara, you've been nothing short of a saint to Aetheria," cooed Marcella, an omega from a neighboring pack, who feigned admiration. Her eyes widened as she looks at Ashara. "Taking in a human and treating her almost as one of your own. It's quite... noble of you."

With her charming smile and graceful, innocent demeanor, Ashara relished the attention she received. "Oh, it's the least I could do," she replied, her voice dripping with false modesty. "We must show compassion, even to those less fortunate than us. Despite her being human, I've always tried to include Aetheria."

Another friend, Elara, chimed in, her tone laced with barely concealed envy. "And yet, despite your kindness, she somehow managed to ensnare Quinlan, the most adored Alpha among all females. The next heir to the Alpha of the De Laurentiis, no less. How scandalous."

The group erupted into a chorus of agreement, their expressions a mix of scorn and disbelief.

"It's scandalous, indeed," declared Bianca, her nose wrinkled in disdain. "Aetheria, bewitching an Alpha of Quinlan's standing. It's as if she's cast some spell on him. A human, captivating the heart of a wolf, destined to be the Alpha of all packs."

"Do you think she used some human trickery? That's the only explanation. How else could a mere human attract the attention of someone like Quinlan?" Ashara smiled in secret. Her strategy to make other she-wolves despise Aetheria had been successful.

Ashara nodded solemnly, playing her part to perfection. "It's troubling, indeed. Quinlan was caught in her web, blinded to her manipulations. I've only ever wanted what's best for him and for our packs."

The conversation spiraled into a session of speculation, painting Aetheria as the villainess in a tale of forbidden romance, one-sided love, and deceit. To the onlookers, it appeared as if Ashara was the wronged party, a paragon of virtue struggling against the machinations of a cunning human.

A knock interrupted Aetheria as she was alone in her room. A maid stood there with an apologetic expression. "Miss Aetheria, your parents request your presence downstairs," she conveyed in a gentle tone.

Reluctantly, Aetheria wiped her tears and composed herself as best she could. She could not refuse a summons from her adoptive parents, despite the confusion raging within her.

Descending the staircase, Aetheria was met with the cold stares of the gathered guests. Their eyes bore into her, filled with contempt and mockery, penetrating her deepest self, too different from the warmth and acceptance she once hoped to find among them.

She stood before her parents and Quinlan, and guests started to whisper. Quinlan stepped forward, his posture commanding and decisive. "I have come to a decision," he announced, his voice resonant in the silent room. "I will break off my engagement to Aetheria and, instead, ask for Ashara's hand in marriage."

The room erupted into a mixture of murmurs and gasps, the guests exchanging glances, their expressions a blend of shock and, for some, vindictive satisfaction. The finality of Quinlan's words hit Aetheria like a punch, and she stood still. She reluctantly started a new chapter in her life after the betrayal, which was now public and irreversible.

Aetheria felt her profound loneliness intensify after Quinlan's revelation descended upon the assembly. After absorbing the sting of the guests' words, Aetheria gathered her remaining strength and faced the assembly. Her voice, clear and devoid of any trembling, broke the tense silence. "I, Aetheria, with no blood of a Frostborne, accept Quinlan Brancacci's decision. I shall abide by the laws of the pack and never appear in the Alpha's presence again."

The crowd gasped, taken aback by her composed declaration. Ashara's face registered surprise, a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. She had anticipated a breakdown, a moment of weakness from Aetheria that would cement her victory. Instead, she found herself facing a woman, unbroken by the plot laid before her.

Quinlan's reaction was more complex, a turmoil of emotions playing across his features. Surprise etched deep lines into his brow, his expectations of Aetheria's despair utterly shattered. There was a momentary glimpse of pain, perhaps a reflection of guilt for the role he had played in her public humiliation. Disappointment followed, not in Aetheria but in himself for underestimating her. And there, beneath the layers of shock and discomfort, lay a hint of embarrassment. He had expected her to plead, to show weakness, but Aetheria stood before them all, leaving him exposed to his misjudgment.

As soon as she left, the guests started talking again, this time about how strong and graceful Aetheria was when things went wrong. Some of the people who had made fun of her ended up praising her bravery in standing up for herself and refusing to be the victim.

"Look at her, the villain in our midst," one whispered, barely concealing a smirk, "finally showing her true colors."

"The audacity of a human trying to entangle herself with our kind. She got what she deserved," sneered a third, their words carrying a mix of disdain and satisfaction. The others nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with a dark amusement.

These whispers, intended to wound, followed Aetheria like shadows, a chorus of disdain that sought to undermine her. Yet, with every step she took, the voices became fainter, their power to hurt her diminishing as the distance between her and the source of her pain grew.

Though they called her a villain, Aetheria knew the truth of her heart. She was no villain but a victim of cruel circumstances and even crueler intentions.