After Becoming An Alpha, My Family Wants Me To Die

The prison gates creaked open, and the scent of freedom hit me, crisp and unfamiliar. Two years—two long, agonizing years—had passed since I took the fall for my brother.

As I made my way back home, an unexpected detour changed everything. On the border of my town, I stumbled upon an elderly man, his frail form being overpowered by a group of rogue wolves. Without thinking, I shifted, and things changed more when I unleashed a power I never knew I possessed. Within moments, the rogues were scattered, and the man was safe. He looked at me with a mix of awe and gratitude, his eyes gleaming with something more—recognition.

"You have the mark of the Lunaris," he whispered. "I’ve been searching for the next Alpha of my pack, and it seems I’ve found you."

I barely had time to process his words before he handed me a pendant—a symbol of the Alpha lineage in his powerful, prestigious pack. It felt warm in my hand, pulsing with energy. But even with this newfound power and responsibility, the only thought that occupied my mind was home. I needed to see my family, to let them know I was back, that everything could finally go back to normal.

Little did I know, there was no home to welcome me anymore.

***

My fingers trembled as I dialed my father’s number, the first call I'd made in two years.

The line went dead. He’d hung up. I stood there, frozen, the dial tone ringing in my ears. Something was wrong—terribly wrong. Fear gripped me, and I broke into a run, heading straight for home.

As I approached our house inside the Ring Forest Pack, the place that had once been my home, I hesitated. I reached for the doorknob but paused as voices reached me.

"Of all days, she had to get out today, making me skip my prenatal check-up just to talk to the Alpha about the ownership of the house!" Lavender's voice, sharp and irritated, cut through the air.

My mother, Luciana, responded, her tone firm but laced with concern, "It's for your own good. With her prison record, it’ll be hard for her to be accepted by the other pack members. Even finding a mate and getting married will be tougher. She might just end up staying here and fighting you for the house."

"Let her rent a place somewhere in the territory, or better yet, she should just leave the Ring Forest Pack. I’m not living with an ex-con!" Lavender's disdain was palpable, every word a dagger to my heart.

I stood there, rooted to the spot, the weight of their words crashing down on me. My mother, the woman who used to call me her little sweetheart, was now speaking as if I were an outsider. And Lavender—Lavender had once been like a sister to me. Now, she was nothing more than a viper in disguise. How had everything changed so drastically?

Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to knock on the door. It swung open, revealing my mother. Her eyes widened in surprise, and for a fleeting moment, I saw a flicker of the old warmth. But it was quickly replaced by a mask of concern that I now knew was nothing more than an act.

"Amaris, you're back? I was just about to send your dad to pick you up!" She gave me a once-over, her eyes lingering on the shadows under my eyes and the tension in my shoulders. "You've lost weight over these two years. It must have been tough."

If only I hadn't overheard their conversation, I might have believed her concern was genuine. I forced a smile, one that felt more like a grimace. "No worries. I shifted for only half an hour, but I rode a taxi most of the way."

Stepping inside, the familiarity of the house did little to soothe the storm brewing within me. Before I could say anything more, Lavender appeared, her pregnant belly leading the way. Without a word, she pulled out a bottle of alcohol spray and drenched me in it until the bottle was empty.

She finally looked at me, her expression tight. "Don’t take it the wrong way. I’m just cleansing you of bad luck."

Her words were meant to be casual, but the disdain in her eyes told a different story. I bit back the retort on the tip of my tongue. Lavender seemed to have forgotten one crucial detail—I was in prison because of her and Thyrone.

Without a word, I walked to my old room. But when I opened the door, I was met with clutter—piles of things that didn’t belong to me. My heart sank as I realized none of my belongings were in sight.

“Mom,” I called out, my voice shaking slightly. “What happened to my room?”

Luciana hesitated, her discomfort evident. “You’ve been gone for so long, and the house is small with lots of stuff, so we stored everything in your room.”

“And my things?” I pressed, the sinking feeling in my chest growing heavier.

She looked down, unable to meet my eyes. “Sold or thrown away. They’re all gone.”

Gone. Everything I had left behind, every piece of me, was gone. My heart twisted painfully. "Mom, I was in prison, not dead. Was it really necessary to clear out all my things?"

Herbert, my father, spoke up from the sofa, not even bothering to turn his head. "Amaris, Lavender is five months pregnant and needs space for baby stuff. The house is cramped. Your things weren't needed anymore, so we got rid of them."

His words hit me harder than any rogue’s attack ever could. This was the same man who used to treasure my belongings, who once said he was collecting them for a wedding gift to give me when I found my mate. Now, he didn’t care that everything was gone like my past didn’t matter like I didn’t matter.

The reality of my situation was crystal clear. I was no longer welcome here.