Chapter Thirty: Being Alpha?
Sophie's POV
I froze mid-argument, my brain struggling to process Katherine's words. What the hell did she mean about "everything" my father was planning to give me? The fury in her eyes suggested this wasn't just about some family heirlooms.
"Katherine! That's enough." My father's warning tone only seemed to fuel her rage.
"No, Alexander. She needs to hear this."Katherine was beyond caring about his commands. She advanced on me like a cobra about to strike, finger jabbing in my direction. "You waltz in here, insulting our family, acting like some wounded victim, when you're about to take everything from my children!"
"What are you talking about?" I looked between them, confusion temporarily overriding my anger.
"Don't play innocent." Katherine's laugh was sharp enough to cut glass. "He's planning to name you his heir. His precious long-lost daughter gets to inherit the Alpha title, while my children - his true pure-blooded children - get nothing!"
Holy shit. The room spun slightly as her words sank in. Me? Heir to the Alpha title? That was insane. I couldn't even smell properly, for fuck's sake.
Being Alpha wasn't just some fancy title you could slap on a business card. It meant commanding an entire pack, maintaining order through pure dominance. The kind of shit that had pure-blooded warriors fighting tooth and claw just for a chance.
And here I was, a defective, half-human Omega at that - leading one of the most hardcore packs in the city?
Goddess, I could already imagine the pack's reaction. They barely tolerated having me around as it was - the weird half-breed who couldn't even participate in basic scent-marking rituals. Now they're supposed to what, bow down and bare their throats to me? The kind of stuff Elizabeth had been training for since birth, while I'd been busy memorizing psychology textbooks. Yeah, that would go over real well.
"That's not-" my father started, but Katherine was on a roll.
"Fifteen years," she hissed. "I've spent fifteen years preparing our children for their birthright. And now this... this half-breed shows up, and suddenly Elizabeth's future disappears?"
"Mom, please." Elizabeth's voice wavered slightly. When I glanced at her, the hatred in her eyes made me take a step back. Great. Now my teenage half-sister probably wanted to murder me in my sleep.
The bodyguards shifted closer, clearly sensing the growing hostility. One of them touched his earpiece, no doubt reporting everything to Marcus.
"I didn't ask for any of this," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I don't want your precious title or-"
"Liar!" Katherine's composure shattered completely. A heavy silver picture frame flew past my head before I could duck, the metal striking the wall with enough force to crack the plaster. The family photo it held scattered across the floor like confetti - a fitting metaphor for this whole situation.
"Katherine!" My father finally moved, catching his wife's arm before she could grab something else to throw. "Control yourself!"
The bodyguards immediately stepped forward, positioning themselves between me and Katherine.
"Miss Haven," One of them murmured urgently. "We should leave."
He gently but firmly pushed me toward the hallway. Smart move, considering Katherine looked about two seconds away from actually trying to claw my eyes out.
"How can you do this to me?" she screamed at my father, struggling against his hold. "How could you let her steal my children's life? After everything I've sacrificed?"
"Mom!" Elizabeth's voice cracked with desperation. The sound of breaking glass punctuated her plea. When I risked a glance at her again, I saw something beneath the hatred - fear. She'd spent her whole life being groomed for a position that was suddenly slipping away. No wonder she looked ready to murder me. I'd apparently just derailed her entire life plan.
"You can't just run away from this!" she turned to me and snarled as my father physically restrained her, punctuated by the sound of something else breaking. "This isn't over!"
"Sophie-" My father called after me, but I was already moving. My legs carried me toward the foyer, my mind reeling from everything that had just happened.
"Sophie! Wait!"
I turned to see James hurrying down the grand staircase, clutching something to his chest. Unlike his sister, his expression held no malice - just earnest hope that made my chest ache.
"I found this while exploring the old storage rooms," he said, slightly out of breath. "It's... well, look."
He handed me what turned out to be a small leather photo album, worn with age but carefully preserved. "It's got pictures from their wedding day. Mom and... your mom, I mean. And some baby pictures too. I thought maybe..."
"James!" Elizabeth's sharp voice cut through the moment. She stood at the top of the stairs, looking horrified at her brother's betrayal. "What are you doing?"
But James ignored her, his eyes fixed on me. "There's more stuff up there too. Letters and things. Maybe... maybe next time you visit, I could show you?"
The hope in his voice caught me off guard. Here was this kid who'd just met me, who had every reason to hate me like his sister did, offering an olive branch instead.
"I'd like that," I said softly, clutching the album like a lifeline. "Thank you, James."
Another crash from the living room made us all jump. The bodyguard's hand tightened on my arm. "Miss Haven, we need to go. Now."
"Be careful with those pictures," James called after me as the guards hustled me toward the front door. "Some of them are pretty old!"
"I will," I promised, glancing back one last time. He stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking small and hopeful, while Elizabeth glared daggers from above. A perfect snapshot of my complicated new family dynamics.