The Alpha's Betrayed Mate

Gracie's POV

I drained the last drop of wine and set the glass down on the table, my fingers trembling.

"She's still your daughter, Alpha Derick," Marcus said, standing up for me. If I hadn’t seen the truth with my own eyes, I might’ve been foolish enough to believe he actually cared. "She’s thin, she needs to eat. The council admitted there were discrepancies in the evidence. There’s a chance she didn’t abduct or kill Lily."

My father’s rage flared. "Money can make anything look like the truth!" he spat. "No matter how much Gracie tries to hide it, the truth always finds a way out! And it did! I am ashamed to have a daughter who murdered her own blood!"

His glare cut through me like a blade.

"I don’t want to see you when I’m here!" he barked, pointing at the doorway. "Get out of my sight, murderer!"

A lump formed in my throat, but I refused to let the tears fall. I lifted my chin, forcing myself to look him in the eye.

"Alpha—"

I cut Marcus off. "You don’t need to fight my battles, Marcus. I’ll do as he says."

I turned and walked out.

Marcus didn’t follow.

When I entered my room, I froze. My mother sat on the edge of my bed, her posture stiff, her eyes cold.

She stood as soon as I stepped in.

"You shouldn’t be staying in this room," she said flatly. "It doesn’t suit you anymore. A servant will move your things to a new room."

I opened my mouth to respond—to call her Mom—but the memory of her words stopped me. She didn’t want me to call her that anymore.

"Okay," I murmured instead.

She walked to the door but paused before leaving.

"Lily’s birthday is in three days," she said, her voice devoid of warmth. "You’ll kneel at her empty grave and tell us where you hid her body. If you confess, maybe we can start to heal from the pain you caused." She took a breath, her eyes flickering with something unreadable. "If Kian were still alive, he would’ve killed you himself. And he would never have forgiven you—just like we never will."

The door shut behind her.

My tears fall as my knees gave out, and I crumpled onto the cold floor. Silent sobs wracked my body as grief and betrayal ripped through me, clawing at my soul.

I had no more family.

No more love.

Nothing.

But my wolf refused to give in. She wanted to fight. She wanted the truth.

I didn’t know how much longer I could hold on.

The damage was already done.

Soon, I’d lose my sight completely. The trauma of that day—the acid thrown at my face, the way my skull cracked against the stone floor—had left wounds my wolf couldn't heal.

And Marcus… If he had truly been loyal to me, maybe I wouldn't be this broken.

They put me in a small room near the servants’ quarters. I almost laughed. This was how much they despised me. They never saw me as their daughter.

At least it had a bed.

Unlike the freezing prison cell where I had to sleep on the floor, waiting for death. Not even my parents had sent me a blanket during those brutal winters.

The only warmth I ever received came from an unknown person. A thick coat. A heavy blanket.

"A murderer doesn’t deserve comfort," the guards had sneered.

A murderer.

Was I?

There were nights I almost believed it—almost wished it was true, just so the pain could end.

But it wouldn’t.

I barely slept. This new room was just another prison.

What was the point of staying here?

No one wanted me.

I stared at my reflection in the small, cracked mirror. My lips twisted into a bitter smile.

Tomorrow was Lily’s birthday.

I missed her.

That sweet, bubbly little girl.

Who did this to you, Lily?

Who?

The question had haunted me since the day she disappeared. Since the day we saw the pictur of her lifeless, bloodied body—though no one had ever found it who had sent it and then I was accused of it.

Who could do something so cruel to an innocent child?

I needed to get out of that suffocating room.

The whispers of the servants followed me as I walked through the halls. The murderer. The monster.

I kept my head down, my vision blurring as I accidentally knocked over a vase. It shattered against the floor. I bent down, reaching for the pieces when my head spun. My left eye couldn't see clearly anymore. I blinked hard, trying to focus.

"You!"

The furious voice made my blood run cold.

My father.

"How dare you!" he roared. "You murderer!"

Pain shot up my arm as he grabbed me, his grip so tight it felt like he was trying to break me. He shoved me away with disgust.

"I didn’t mean—" My voice faltered.

My stomach dropped.

The shattered vase wasn’t just any vase.

It was Kian’s urn.

My brother’s ashes.

"I—I didn’t—"

The slap came fast and hard.

My ears rang.

"You did it!" my father bellowed. "Just like you did to Lily!"

I touched my cheek, feeling the warmth of my own blood from where his ring had cut me. My fingers were shaking.

I looked at him—at the man who was supposed to love me.

And for the first time, I realized…

I would never be his daughter again.