Trapped With The Biker Alpha

LAYLA “You’ll also have to bring a gift… to show your support for your sister.” Did I hear that right? I flick my gaze between my dad and Ginny, my stepmom, both of them sitting with no ounce of pity or concern in their expressions. I’ve always known I’m basically the afterthought in this family, that my feelings barely count, but I didn’t think they’d actually treat me like this. My wolf whines in my chest, still trembling from the sting of rejection. “Are you seriously asking me to attend their mating ceremony?” I ask. “What’s wrong with that?” Ginny retorts, tilting her head like I’ve just asked the dumbest question in the world. “Colt cheated on me,” I say, pressing a hand to my chest. “He cheated on me… with Amber. And you expect me to show up for their mating ceremony? Is that fair?” Ginny leans back in her chair, crossing her arms. “What’s not fair is almost losing our only connection to Alpha Lucas family.” She glances at my dad, and he nods. “Amber was smart enough to prevent that from happening. Have you even thought about what would’ve happened if Colt fell for someone in another family?” My lips part, and I freeze. Seriously? Is this really happening? I pinch the fabric of my dress so hard I’m sure I’m leaving dents. Is it because I’m not her daughter? Is that why she can treat me like my feelings don’t exist? Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I force them back. “Colt and I… we were mates for a full year,” I manage, my lips trembling. “And he betrayed me by sleeping with—” “No.” She cuts me off. “Don’t blame this on Amber. Colt already… fell out of love with you and honestly, he was exhausted by the whole thing between you two. He needed some excitement, some passion, and—ummm…” She shrugs. “You weren’t providing that, so he found someone better. It’s just… slightly inconvenient that it’s Amber.” “Slightly inconvenient?” I repeat, my brain refusing to process it. She rolls her eyes. “Don’t you think you should be more ashamed that you couldn’t even keep him for two years?” Her hand lands on Dad’s shoulder. “Your father was over the moon when he heard you two were fated mates. It was the first time he got a special invite to Alpha Lucas Estate, and you—” she snaps her fingers, “almost ruined it. And you’re sitting there acting like the victim?” I look at Dad, hoping or maybe praying that he’ll say something. Literally anything. That maybe, just maybe, he’ll tell Ginny to back off or at least acknowledge that my feelings matter. That this isn’t just some family politics thing, that it hurts, like really hurts, to walk in on your mate screwing your step-sister and then be rejected like you’re the problem. I want him to say something in my defense, even one tiny word that makes me feel like I’m not completely invisible here, like I still belong somewhere in this family even though Mum’s been gone for years. But no. He just sits quietly like he’s been doing for as long as I can remember: letting Ginny run everything, deciding everything, and treating me however she feels like treating me, while I’m supposed to… what? Stay small? Stay grateful that I have a place at all? I swallow, trying and failing to pretend the ache in my chest isn’t spreading, and I grit my teeth at Ginny. “I’m not going. Colt and Amber can have their wonderful little day without me ruining the scenery.” I push myself to my feet, ready to leave when Dad actually speaks. “Sit down,” he commands. “We are not done speaking.” I hate how just looking at him makes me feel like some abandoned kid and maybe that’s exactly what I am. “You must attend the ceremony,” he says as I slump back into the chair. “That day is very important for this family and any rumors, any bad gossip, can tarnish your sister’s image. People will talk. They’ll accuse her of betraying you if you don’t show up. Is that what you want for her?” I dig my fingers into my thigh. “But… she betrayed me.” “Stop being unreasonable!” Dad snaps, and the sound of his voice thunders through the room. Ginny slides her hand down his back, rubbing in a nauseatingly way while her glare bores holes right through me. “How long are you going to keep being stupid? Can’t you see what happened? Colt chose her, not you. He made the decision, and you need to stop whining.” “Dad, I’m not whining!” I snap back, though my voice is shaky and my heart feels like it’s being squeezed. Tears slip down my cheeks before I can stop them, and I wipe them with the back of my hand, but it doesn’t help. “I just… I want you to understand me, as your daughter. I’m in pain. My heart is broken and I… I just want you to know how I feel. Colt rejected me after I confronted him about cheating on me, even though I’m the one who was wronged. I really don’t want to watch them become mates. Is that too much to ask?” I pause, gasping for air, my heart hammering like it’s trying to punch its way out of my ribcage, and for one tiny, stupid second I think that maybe, just maybe, he’ll actually get it. But Dad's cold gaze meets mine like everything I just said flew past his head. "You can heal after the ceremony." He says. “You will attend, you will bring a gift for your sister. You will smile and be on your best behavior. That is final.” I shake my head, feeling a mix of anger and despair bubbling inside me. “I won’t.” His eyes flare suddenly, and it’s like staring into the sun. “You can forget about your tuition, then.” Dread fills me in the worst way possible. "Dad?" “Yes,” he says. “If you won’t attend, forget about me paying your tuition.” Fresh tears streak down my face before I can stop them. I mean… really? What have I done to the universe? To the moon goddess? To anyone that my life has to be this exact nightmare? My own dad is threatening to cut off my tuition for my last year of college because Amber exists, because his precious little prize of a stepdaughter has to have everything handed to her on a silver platter, and apparently my entire education is nothing compared to that. “Before you do anything, think very carefully about the consequences,” Dad warns as he stands. “Don’t force my hand.” And then he leaves the room, Ginny trailing behind him, her lips curved in a small, satisfied smile like she just won something. With a broken groan, I slump back into the chair, my legs kicking uselessly against the table. I cover my face with my palm, but it doesn’t stop the sob that tears out of me. My shoulders shake, my throat burns, and I can barely breathe through the tight, ugly ache sitting there. I really hate my life. I hate everything that’s happening to me. My heart feels like it’s been sliced open and left to bleed out, and nobody…absolutely nobody gives a damn. Nobody cares how I feel. Nobody cares about me. “Layla… are you crying?” An annoying voice breaks into my thoughts. I freeze, my face still buried in my palms. What the hell is Amber doing here? And seriously, what does she want now? For a second, I consider not lifting my head at all, because if I do, she’ll see my face, and then it’ll be obvious I’ve been crying, and it won’t take a genius to figure out why. But staying like this is just as humiliating and she probably already knows. So, slowly and reluctantly, I lift my head, only to immediately regret every life choice that led me to this moment because she’s with Colt. Both of them are staring at me like I’ve suddenly grown a third eye or maybe I just look wrecked. My wolf stirs instantly, hurt and needy at once as Colt’s scent hits me. Goosebumps mask my skin like my body hasn’t quite gotten the memo that he isn’t mine anymore. I wipe my face, forcing my expression to look cold. “Did something happen?” Amber asks, her voice dripping with fake concern. “Is this because of us?” Us. That word grates on my nerves and I seriously consider slapping her. She smiles, then adds a little pout, like she’s genuinely sorry for me, and it almost makes it worse. “Don’t you two have somewhere better to be?” I tilt my head. “Or are you seriously this obsessed with me?” Amber’s face twists into a scowl, but it’s Colt who answers first. “You’re so delusional.” “We’re just here to formally invite you to our mating ceremony,” Amber adds, rolling her eyes. “After all, you’re still… family.” The way she drags out that last word like she’s reminding me of my place which is beneath her, doesn’t go unnoticed. My jaw tightens. “You’ve always wanted this, haven’t you?” I push myself to my feet and step closer, stopping right in front of her. Her eyes narrow, but I don’t back down. “From the moment Dad brought you home with Ginny, you started taking everything. First my toys, then my clothes, my room. You wanted a life just like mine, and I was stupid enough to think it was just childish jealousy.” I shake my head, a bitter laugh slipping out. “But this?” My gaze drifts to Colt, who looks annoyingly unbothered. “This proves it. You didn’t just want my things, you wanted my life including him.” My eyes snap back to her. “Do you honestly think he’ll stay faithful to you after cheating on his true mate? Or do you think you’re somehow special enough to change who he is?” Amber’s eyes twitch and Colt lets out an irritated huff, his hand lifting like he’s actually about to hit me until she stops him. “Just let her be,” she says, her lips curving into a cold smile as she looks at me. “She’s just bitter because she’s alone and heartbroken. No one wants her.” She threads her fingers through his like she’s claiming a prize. “Come on, baby.” Colt hesitates, then looks at me as if I’m something unpleasant he stepped on by accident. “Do yourself a favor and stop embarrassing yourself,” he says coldly. “No one’s ever going to choose you if you keep acting like this. You should be grateful I even tolerated you for a full year.” Then he turns and they walk off together, looking like the picture of a perfect couple. I stay where I am, staring after them, and it feels like something inside me is being ripped apart.