Chapter 3

Amelia's POV

I fell asleep after a long time. Or maybe I passed out after so much pain; I don't know. Either way, I didn't wake up until early this morning.

I woke up with a splitting headache. I had to get it together; the ceremony would soon start. Things were out of control yesterday, and I had just learned that my stepbrother Nicholas was none other than my mate.

My mate.

And he was with another woman. A woman who was not Kimberly, his girlfriend. Who knows who the hell she was, but it was not Kim.

It was early—too early—but I could already hear everyone up and about. It would soon be breakfast time, so I knew Dad had to be up already.

I made my way down and saw my stepmother, Jocelyn, sitting in the living room with Kim and Kim's best friend, making me grunt inwardly. The last thing I needed was to deal with them.

I could smell something else, something... really good. So good it was driving me wild. It was a mixture of earthy scents like mint and... lemongrass. It was his scent, my mate, Nicholas. I hated that scent, but I couldn't help but be attracted to it.

"Dad!"

"Dad!" I called for my dad, knowing he was home because I could scent him.

"Will you keep it down? What do you think you're doing, running in here like some uneducated bumpkin so early in the morning? I swear, Ernesto has yet to teach you proper etiquette!" my stepmother said as she placed her cup of coffee down, giving me a disapproving look.

She sat on the sofa of our Victorian-era decorated living room. Dad loved the Victorian-era look, and he was particularly fond of tidiness, so the house was decorated with only the finest pieces throughout.

Next to Jocelyn sat Kimberly, Nicholas's girlfriend of three years, and beside Kim, her best friend, whom I could never remember the name of, to be honest. The only thing I could remember is that last year, when the three were still in high school before graduating, they were always partying together. People in our high school still talk about Kim and her best friend. They were known as the school's whores. Now they were both Nicholas's whores; just don't tell Kim. She has no idea her best friend is screwing her man. Now to make matters worse, I just found out last night that he was not with his Kim, or with Kylee, but rather he was with another woman.

"What do you expect from a brat with no mother, Jocelyn? She was never taught to be ladylike. She has no clue how to be courteous or poised. I'm surprised she has any manners at all, given the way she was raised," Kim said, her heavy makeup shining so damn much that if the sun was any hotter, it would start melting away, I'm sure.

Her friend chuckled beside her, making Kim smack her teeth triumphantly as if she had just victoriously offended me. Jocelyn sighed, nodding her head silently as if she struggled mentally with herself. She looked annoyed and irritated all at once. I would too if I had to pretend to like them.

Kim was from a wealthy family in our pack, and I'm sure she wanted Nicholas to marry her in hopes of taking part in Kim's dowry for herself.

I rolled my eyes, ignoring her.

"Where's my dad?"

"You walk in here so arrogantly, and all you can ask is where Dad is? Can you be any more country and rude? Where are your manners? Apologize to Kim and Kylee for your impertinence. Your father is busy; everyone is busy with tonight's ceremony while all you've done is sleep in. So don't bother him at this moment. He's had a long night waiting to see if you'd call him to see your first shifting, so why don't you be a good servant and start breakfast? We're starving," Jocelyn said with a raised brow, grabbing her coffee cup and bringing it to her lips.

"Jocelyn, I need to talk to my dad. Where is he?"

"And what for?" she asked, without looking at me.

"Oh, Mom, she's probably wondering about tonight's ceremony. Why don't you just tell her already? She will find out soon enough anyway. Why not let her know the good news?" Kim said, making me look at both suspiciously.

"What are you talking about?"

"Kim, quiet. This is not our doing, nor our concern. This is between this thing... and her father," she said as she threw a disgusted look at me.

"And Nicholas! It's his deal too. I mean, he's taking the alpha position away from this thing, after all. You might as well let her know now. Maybe this way she'll stop feeling like she's actually someone important!" Kim's friend said, making my eyes widen in shock.

"What?" I yelled, making Jocelyn look at Kim's friend with disapproval.

"Shut up, will you?"

"What? It's true. Amelia goes around acting as if she's all high and mighty. It's only fair to let her know that Nicholas will be the new Alpha and not her, like she thought," she said, making Kim chuckle, but Jocelyn looked a bit displeased.

"Will you keep your mouth shut?" Jocelyn said, making her smile at me. I felt as if someone had dropped a cold bucket of water on me suddenly. It can't be... Dad wouldn't allow this, would he? I'm his daughter, his heir, not... Nicholas! This could not get any worse. Last night I found out he's my damn cheating mate, and now this? Does our goddess disapprove so much of me?

"Don't be angry, Jocelyn. Kylee is just telling the truth. Amelia was bound to find out sooner or later. She might as well know that Nickolas will be the next alpha and not... her. Maybe this way she'll learn to respect you and stop acting as if she was so important," Kim added, pouring salt over my wound. "Because she's not," Kim added, giving me a side-eye.

I don't want to believe this. I can't believe this. Dad wouldn't dethrone me, would he?

"You're lying. Dad would never. I'm his real daughter, his only blood, not Nicholas. Dad would not do this to me," I said, feeling enraged.

"Enough with the drama, will you, Amelia? Nicky may not be blood, but he's still Ernesto's son, whether you like it or not. I mean, look at you. You lack authority; you're not a leader. You're just... a free houseworker!" Jocelyn said calmly, though her voice was tinged with irritation. She always stayed calm, even when she was trying to provoke me or deliberately insulting me. Her stoic and phlegmatic tone never changed, unless she was excited about Nicholas or truly angry.

I nodded, tears threatening to fall. "No. No, he wouldn't," I whispered, taking a step back.

"Oh my goddess, is she going to cry? Pathetic houseworker!" Kim's friend sneered as I started to walk toward my dad's study.

"Shut up, will you?" Kim snapped at her friend, but it only made her burst into mocking laughter.

"God, you're so annoying. Behave, will you?"

"Now, now, Kimmy... Kylee was just telling the truth. Amelia is only good for housework. A woman should never lead a home, or she'll probably ruin it for everyone. Why do you think I don't even do my Luna duties? That's what servitude is for. Those meant to lead will, and those meant to serve will be forced to, even if they don't want to. And Amelia must learn to serve," I heard her say as I stood still by the entrance to Dad's study.

I could feel my wolf, Zoey, growing angry. I closed my eyes, fisting my hands as I tried to contain myself. If I let my anger get the best of me, goddess knows what could happen. The last thing I wanted was to expose Zoey. Jocelyn hasn't seen her, and I had no idea how she would react to my silver wolf. But I had a feeling she’d be shocked when she realizes my wolf is stronger than Nicholas’s—and that I’m not the weak girl she thought I was.

Still, what she was saying made no sense. Could Dad really take the Alpha position away from me and give it to Nicholas without telling me?