The Alpha's Broken Daughter

CHAPTER 4

I’m still half asleep when my mother is shaking me and my brain is struggling to catch up with what she’s saying.

Her voice is frantic. Sharp and panicked. I don’t understand at first. Something about a wedding. Something about today.

And then Alpha James. That name snaps everything into place. I bolt upright.

My heart slams violently against my ribs and adrenaline hits so fast it makes me dizzy. I don’t even think I just move. I don’t even get dressed.

I run out the door down the hallway and down three flights of stairs as fast as my legs will carry me. By the time I reach the living room I’m breathless and shaking. And there he is.

Sitting like this is normal. Like this is casual. My father. And beside him was Alpha James.

“Oh.” Dad says, leaning back with a smirk. “Here she is.”

James stands the second he sees me and that smile spreads across his face, wide and sickening. It makes my stomach twist.

“What the hell is going on?” I demand, my voice sharp and breathless.

Dad stands slowly rubbing his hands together like he’s been waiting for this moment.

“Well.” He says, almost cheerfully. “Today is your lucky day.”

I already hate where this is going.

“You said your mate rejected you.” He continues, stepping closer. “And since you don’t leave the pack and no one else is coming for you Alpha James has generously offered to take you as his Luna.”

“I don’t want to be his Luna.” I snap immediately. “I’m not marrying that creep. What the f**k made you think I’d agree to this?”

The anger burns through me, hot and sharp, and it pushes past the fear for once. I’m furious. I’m done and that’s when he hits me.

The slap cracks across my face and my head snaps to the side. The sting is instant and brutal.

But this time something is different. When I turn back slowly, my vision is darker and sharper.

My eyes aren’t green anymore. They’re black. Nova surges forward, furious and wild and I feel her rage like it’s my own.

“He hit us again.” She snarls. “I’m done. Let me handle this.”

“Nova.” I force out internally. “I’ve got this. Stand down.”

“No.” She snaps. “He needs to be taught a lesson.”

“And he will be.” I push back harder. “But not like this. Get back.”

She resists and fights me. And then finally she retreated. My vision clears and my eyes return to normal. I look at my father again and he looks relieved.

Just for a second and then it’s gone.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t find out about last night?” He asks, his voice cold. “About Alpha Ethan Embry?”

“You can’t come between mates.” I fire back. “The council will destroy you. Ethan will rip you apart.”

“What makes you think he even wants you?” He snaps. “I’m doing you a favor.”

“He wants me.” I say firmly. “He’s coming for me.”

That gets a reaction. His head snaps toward James and then back to me. Something calculating settles in his expression.

“Well.” He says calmly. “That makes this even better.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The wedding is this afternoon.” He says. “And tonight you’ll be marked by Alpha James. And there’s nothing Ethan can do about it.”

I stagger toward the window and my hands press against the glass as I look outside. My breath leaves me. They’re setting it up. Dozens of people. Tables and decorations.

A wedding. All in one day. This is real.

“Summer.” My mother gasps behind me, her voice breaking.

She knows. She knows there’s nothing she can do.

“Stay where you are.” Dad snaps at her.

And then he turns back to me and he starts hitting me. Again and again and again. I can’t even react.

The blows come too fast, too hard and my head snaps side to side like I’m not even in control of my own body anymore.

Pain explodes through my face and blood fills my mouth. I taste it. Warm and metallic.

But I don’t fall. I don’t submit. Not this time.I won’t.

I would rather take every hit he has than marry that man. My body starts shaking uncontrollably and I feel my canines pushing down and Nova is coming back.

Forcing her way forward. She’s done waiting.

And honestly so am I. But before I lose control Ryker bursts into the room.

“What the f**k are you doing?” He roars, grabbing Dad and yanking him away from me.

I drop to the ground, coughing up blood, my head was spinning.

“What the f**k is wrong with you?” Ryker demands dropping to his knees beside me.

“I’m fine.” I try to say but it comes out broken.

“Well, son.” Dad says casually, like nothing just happened. “Your sister is getting married today. To Alpha James.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Ryker stands slowly and his entire body went rigid.

“Stay out of it.” Dad growls. “This doesn’t concern you.”

“Like hell it doesn’t.” Ryker fires back. “She’s my sister. I’m not letting you hand her over to that piece of shit.”

Dad’s claws extend and his canines drop. And for the first time I’m scared for Ryker. But Ryker doesn’t back down.

He shifts too. Ready and willing. Prepared to fight. I push myself up, grabbing onto the furniture for support, but before I can even fully stand Dad lunges.

Everything explodes. They crash into each other, tearing through the living room, throwing each other into furniture, into walls, into anything that gets in their way.

Neither of them holds back. They’re both Alphas. Both strong and both deadly. And neither of them is stopping. My mother screams. The command on her breaks, and she runs toward them.

“Stop!” She cries. “Please, stop!”

“No!” I shout but she doesn’t hear me.

She gets too close. And then a sound. A tear and a scream. And everything stops.

Mom falls and I freeze. No. No. No.

I run to her and dropping to my knees. The second I see the damage I already know. Her chest her stomach are ripped open with blood everywhere.

I press my hands against her trying to stop it. Trying to fix it, but it’s useless and I know it. They know it too.

Dad did this. I can see it in the wounds. He killed her. My chest tightens so hard I can’t breathe and it feels like something inside me just shatters completely.

“Mom.” I choke, leaning closer.

Her hand lifts weakly and she gestures for me to come closer soI lean in.

“Nicole Everstone.” She whispers.

The name means nothing so I don’t understand.

“Mom.” I said but she’s already gone. Just like that.

Her head falls to the side. And she’s gone. Something inside me breaks completely.

I don’t hear anything behind me. Not the movement. Not the footsteps.

Not until pain. Sharp and sudden in my neck.

I turn and Dad has a syringe in his hand. My vision blurs instantly. Everything echoes and feels distant.

I try to move but I can’t.

Ryker is getting up, bleeding, struggling and then I fall. Right beside my mother. And everything goes dark.