Bride of the Cursed Alpha (Auren and Lucien)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Auren POV

Being an orphan had always been hard for me. According to our previous Alpha, who was Alpha Bram's father, my parents died in a pack war. He was kind enough to give me shelter in his packhouse and even allowed education in a school for omegas. However, a few years later when he died and Bram became the Alpha, he pulled me out of the school, made me pack's servant and gave me lowly jobs, clearing stating that if I had to stay in the pack, I had to earn my living. His lusty gaze would often linger on me, and I would shy away, afraid of his intentions. But then he would snap his gaze away from me as if he saw vermin.

I was born with a tattoo the size of a squash ball on my back. A golden moon shackled by dark thorn vines curving around it. The Shaman had kindly warned me that it was a mark of a curse and so I had to keep it hidden at all times, afraid that if anyone saw it, they would kill me.

Suddenly, the door opened, snapping me from my thoughts. I hurriedly wiped my tears, but it was too late. Maris stood in the doorway, her arms crossed and a smug smile playing on her lips and her face donned with a wicked expression.

"Well, well," she said, stepping closer. "If it isn't our little orphan, sniveling like a child."

I didn't respond, keeping my head down. My whole body trembled in fear even though Siena wanted to come out and attack Maris.

"I know what happened," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "You think you're special because Bram is your mate? Let me tell you something, Auren." She crouched down, her face close to mine. "We knew it long back. But you're nothing. You'll always be nothing. Bram doesn't want you. He'll reject you soon enough, and when he does, you'll wish you'd never set foot in this pack."

I swallowed hard, trying to fight back the fresh wave of tears.

she

you regret it. Do

scared to speak. Maris straightened, brushing invisible dust off her

you the reason. I swear you'll

brought my knees against my chest and hugged them tightly. Mates were supposed to take care of each other. His betrayal was worse than all my years of enduring servitude. And they knew that I was his mate? The revelation shocked

of the laundry room, the humiliation didn't end. Reya was waiting for me in the kitchen. "You are reassigned to

"What?" Toilets were the worst place to

I fell down. Her lips curled into a sneer. "Did you not listen to

to the toilets, sure that this was

always clever with her schemes, pointed fingers at me for things I hadn't done. A broken vase, a spilled drink, and suddenly, I was everyone's scapegoat. The other pack members whispered and sneered, their remarks cutting me like knives. They would accuse me of everything and anything. And Alpha Bram just turned a blind eye to all the

when I woke up and hurried to the kitchen, I heard Reya shouting at others. When I entered, Reya

just at that time like she was waiting for this moment, as if on cue. "Reya, don't let her get away

to agree. She and Maris cornered me by the pantry, their faces contorted in

Reya sneered immediately. "It's time you learn a lesson." And then came the blows. "No," I cried and screamed and begged them to leave me, but no one

loud growl came. It was Alpha Bram, my mate. Was he coming to save

Bram," Maris immediately changed her facial expression and said in a honeyed voice. "Auren threw broken glass at me. See, I am bleeding." She showed him a little cut on her