In Between The Alphas

CHARLOTTE'S P.O.V.

“Father,” Liana said and he briefly glanced at her. “There was an argument in town today and I was able to calmly resolve it and there were no casualties at all.”

Liana is everyone’s definition of perfect with her high cheekbones and thin lips, perfectly slim body and of average height at 5’4 compared to my towering 5’9. Her slicked jet black hair stopped right above her shoulders and her eyes were a vile shade of green; almost like poison.

“At least you won’t be a totally useless Luna in future,” he said with a glance at Carmen and I saw her face fall.

I felt my heart clench in pity for Liana. She has tried so hard to get my father’s attention but he completely disregards her and as if she read my mind her eyes snapped up to mine and narrowed.

“Father did you know that Charlie is a bit fond of paint?” she asked with a snarl and my eyes widened.

“For the last time you will not call her by that ridiculous boy name,” he growled. “It is Charlotte.”

“Yes, father.”

“Now what were you saying about paint?”

“Liana has taken a little liking to blue paint,” she began and I begged her with my eyes not to spill. “She even has some in her room.”

I am so upset that Liana would even think about telling father about the innocent paint splatter that’s on my wall. Well then, two can play at that game. I saw Dad open his mouth to ask so I spoke before he could.

“How’s Frederick, Lia?” Her mouth tightened into a flat line. “Did you talk to him today?”

Frederick was Liana’s secret boyfriend. Father would flip if he knew she had a boyfriend; much less if he knew that Frederick was human.

“Who the hell is Frederick?” you could practically see the steam coming out of father’s ears as he whirled on Liana but she stayed quiet. “I asked you a question.”

He slammed his hand on the table so hard that his wine spilled all over Carmen making her jump.

“Who is Frederick, Liana?” he asked and I saw her swallow deeply. I went too far; I have to fix this.

“Frederick is just her imaginary boyfriend, father,” I said and I saw him turn to me. “She likes to imagine what her future would be like and she just used the name Frederick.”

He sat back in his chair and Carmen handed him another glass of wine.

“Dreaming about men,” he spat. “That shows how unfit you are to be Alpha.”

Liana shot me a hard look but I rolled my eyes at her. She should be thankful that I just saved her from a week’s worth of whipping.

The rest of dinner went by quietly, no one dared to even breathe too loud. As soon as we finished Liana and I jumped to our feet and started clearing the table.

“After you’re done with the dishes I want everyone in my office,” father said. “I have something important to discuss.”

“Yes, father,” we said in unison and proceeded to clear the dishes.

When we got into the kitchen Liana grabbed my arm. “Never do something like that again.”

“Do what save your ass?” I asked and she rolled her eyes.

“My ass wouldn’t need saving if it wasn’t for you.”

“You were the one who brought up the paint issue,” I scoffed. “Now you’re blaming me? You caused this Lia, not me.”

“You were over there looking so smug while father spoke to me like an imbecile.”

“How was I looking smug?”

“You know all your life that you have been destined to die in the shadows,” she spat. “I was destined for greatness and it’s all being taken away from me and you couldn’t be happier.”

“You know what? Fuck you, Lia,” I spat as I rinsed off the last of the dishes. “I will not sit here and let you blame me for something that was obviously your fault. You started it and all I did was finish it.”

I made to leave but she grabbed my arm. “Even if I started it, couldn’t you be a good sister and just take it?”

“Excuse me?”

“Couldn’t you just take the fall for the paint?” she asked.

“You mean the one that you did deliberately?” I asked and she just huffed.

“Why can’t you ever just act like my sister?”

“You like to remind me that you’re older,” I said jerking my hand out of her grip. “So start acting like it then I’ll start acting like your sister.”

I left her in the kitchen and made my way over to father’s study. I could hear her footsteps behind me but she made no move to bridge the gap or speak so I ignored her. I stopped at the door and knocked on it softly. When I heard father’s gruff voice I made my way inside.

Lia shut the door behind us and we sat on the couch next to Carmen who was keeping a perfectly stoic expression on her face but when she looked at me I saw the anger and hostility. What did I do?

“Now I’m sure you’re all aware that we have a small party that we are hosting for a few Alphas,” he began.

I’m sure we’re all thinking the same thing; we don’t know about any party because he doesn’t tell us about work but no one dared to say it out loud.

“A few Alphas are coming in; Alpha Logan is among them and so is Alpha Hunter.”

I gasped in my head as he said Alpha Logan. It was so hard to get to him because his pack was so far away and he generally kept to himself. He had the largest pack in the world and is rumored to be a psychopath. Some people say that his face is as disfigured as his mind.

“The party will also serve another purpose,” father said bringing my attention back to him. “We managed to secure an alliance with Alpha Hunter. He will give us the piece of his land by the stream for a meager token.”

“That is amazing, love,” Carmen said but he frowned at her.

“I didn’t say you could speak, but since you already started you may as well finish.”

The entire room went quiet.

“Does anyone have anything to say?”

“What did you give him in exchange for the land?” I heard Liana ask in a small voice.

“I’m glad you asked Liana,” he said and I saw that greedy smile take over his face. The same smile I’ve seen a million times over and I have come to associate with bad news.

I muttered a silent prayer for Liana under my breath. She would hate whatever news father had for her.

“At first I wanted to give him you,” he began. “You are my first child and it is my duty to make sure that you become successful and powerful... but he didn’t want you.”

I saw relief flash across her face and if I did then so did father. Before I could blink a huge book hit the side of her head and the metallic scent of blood filled my nose.

“Don’t look relieved,” he spat. “If you don’t mate well then you will remain nothing, just like you are now.”

She gulped but held her hand to the side of her head that was bleeding and said nothing.

“As I was saying,” he continued as if nothing happened. “I wanted to give him you but he refused and opted for something different.”

Father turned to me and I knew what he was going to say before he even said it but I couldn’t help myself. I prayed I was imagining it.

“He wants to marry Charlotte instead.”

“I’m sorry, what did you say?”

I looked around for the source of the voice and when I saw Carmen and Liana staring at me in shock and disbelief I knew it came from me.

“Are you suddenly hard of hearing now, Charlotte?” father asked. “I said that you will marry Alpha Hunter, it has been arranged and decided. The party will be used to announce your engagement.”

“But father why didn’t Alpha Hunter want me?” Liana asked.

“Because you’re a useless, ugly fool who talks way too much,” he spat and she whimpered slightly. “How am I supposed to know why he wants Charlotte? I don’t care why he wants her but he can have her as long as I get what I want in return.”

“He won’t have me,” I said shocking myself and everyone else. “He won’t have me because I am not going to marry him.”

“What did you just say to me Charlotte?” father asked and the room went deathly quiet. “For a second there it sounded like you refused me and said no but that can’t be possible.”

“I did say no,” I said and he raised his brows. “He is older than you; he is fifty four years old and I will not marry an old man.”

“He is my friend and partner and you will do as I say,” he said. “I’m surprised you know his age; you don’t seem to know much else. Let me make something very clear to you for the very last time Charlotte.”

He moved over to stand in front of me. While standing he is a bit taller than me at exactly 6 feet but while sitting he completely towers over me.

“I used to think you were a lot smarter than this,” he began. “Liana has a bit of worth as my oldest daughter; she is the heir and everyone wants her. You are just the spare. I have arranged this marriage and it will go through or there will be terrible consequences.”

“No, I won’t do it and you can’t make me do it. I can’t marry someone who is almost three times my age. I am just nineteen years old. Please, father.”

I barely had five seconds to enjoy the fact that I had spoken back to my father when I felt his hand whip across my cheek and I tasted blood inside my mouth. My entire face stung and it felt like I had been hit by a truck.

“You will stop this childish nonsense and do as I say,” he began, “or I will make you.”

“I won’t marry him,” I said. “That is my final decision.”

“That’s where you’re mistaken, Charlotte,” he said. “MY word is final and this is the last time we will speak of this. I have tolerated your disrespect long enough and that is why you think you can speak out against me.”

“I won’t do it, no matter how many times you tell me to. I don’t care what you do or say to me but I will not be changing my mind.”

He smiled and turned around. I thought he was about to leave but I should have known better; he will never let me have the final word. I didn’t see it in time or I would have braced myself.

He grabbed the book he threw at Liana and smacked the side of my head with it. Black spots danced across my vision and my ears started ringing. I cradled my head in my hands and sank to the ground.

“Get her out of my sight,” he spat and I felt someone grab my arm. “Lock her in her room; maybe tomorrow she will be more complaint with the offer she was so graciously given.”

I felt myself getting dragged out but I couldn’t focus on who was taking me because my head was still ringing.

I saw the familiar doors that led to my room and after I was led inside I expected the person to leave but my door was shut and Liana turned me to face her.

“Are you this stupid?” she asked and I narrowed my brows as much as possible. “Why didn’t you just agree to it? You were given the offer of a lifetime.”

“I won’t marry a man three times my age Liana; I’m barely legal.”

“You are so self-righteous,” she spat. “You should be grateful that you are getting mated to an Alpha.”

“I don’t care if he is a stupid Alpha,” I forced out. “I don’t care if he’s the king of the world or the leader of the werewolf council; I will not marry him and nothing you say is going to change that.”

“You are such a selfish and entitled bitch did you know that?”

“Look if you are so interested in the plan and since it seems like you want him more than I do then why don’t you just take him?” I asked.

“I would have because he was supposed to be mine!” she yelled and I went quiet. “Didn’t you hear what father said? He was supposed to be mine but then he requested you. You took him from me.”

“I don’t want him any more than you want me to have him,” I said. “You would have to be blind to miss that.”

“But that’s the problem isn’t it,” she said with a harsh laugh. “You never want anything but you always seem to take everything from everyone.”

“What are you even talking about?” I asked. “I didn’t take him; I don’t want him. How many times do I need to say it?”

“You took my mother,” she said and I froze at the unfiltered hate in her eyes.

“She was my mother too.”

“No she was mine and you killed her. You came into the world and you took my mother out of it.”

“I didn’t ask to be born Liana,” I said. “That was her and father’s decision. Her death is not on me.”

“Yes it is!” she growled. “How I wish it was you who died instead of her.”

“If wishes were horses beggars would ride,” I said in a bland tone and I rose from the ground and made my way to my bed but she wasn’t done talking.

“As if that wasn’t enough for you, now you took my one chance to claim my birthright.”

“Are you naturally this stupid or is this a special effort?” I asked and she opened her mouth to retort but I cut her off. “Do you really think that if you mated with him then you would get to rule this pack? Don’t be delusional.”

“Of course I would rule; that was father’s condition.”

“You dumb bimbo,” I said as I rubbed my forehead in frustration. “Alpha Hunter would have taken you to his pack and this pack would have gone to James.”

She stayed quiet for a minute before speaking, “I don’t believe you, father would never lie to me.”

This girl is really grating on my nerves right now. “Just get out of my room.”

“You’re a liar, Charlie,” she said, “and if you thought I hated you before then watch how I make your life a living hell for stealing my only ticket to being Alpha.”

“I didn’t steal anything and you would have been Luna not Alpha,” I spat. “Now get out.”

She gave me one last scathing look before leaving the room and I just crawled to my bed and buried my head into my pillow.

“Please, moon goddess,” I muttered, “just fix everything.”