The Lost Alpha’s Daughter

Avery's POV

I shoved open the heavy oak doors of the packhouse, stepping into the grand foyer. The familiar scent of pine and earth filled my lungs, yet it no longer felt like home. My fingers brushed against my swollen eyes, willing away the redness before anyone could notice.

His scent was still here—strong, commanding, impossible to ignore. Even before I saw him, I heard his footsteps. And then, there he was.

Harland’s sharp gaze locked onto mine the moment he rounded the corner.

“Avery,” he said, his tone cool and clipped. “What’s wrong with your eyes?”

A part of me wanted to believe he asked because he cared. That maybe, just maybe, I still mattered. But there was no softness in his face, no concern—only impatience.

“It’s nothing,” I murmured, lowering my gaze. “Just... got something in them.”

He studied me for a brief moment, then shrugged. “We’re late. Let’s go.”

I hesitated. “I need to change first. I—”

“No,” he cut me off, his voice firm. “You don’t need to change. We don’t have time for that.”

I glanced down at my worn jeans and plain shirt, my stomach sinking. “But—”

“Enough, Avery.” His fingers wrapped around my wrist—not rough, but unyielding. “You look fine. We’re leaving.”

Fine. That’s all I ever was to him now. Just... fine.

The car ride to the gathering was silent. I sat stiffly in the passenger seat, staring out at the darkened landscape, hands clasped tightly in my lap. With each mile, my heart grew heavier. I was heading into a room full of people who barely saw me anymore—who wished I’d never existed in the first place.

By the time we arrived, the grand hall was already alive with laughter and excitement. Conversations hummed, glasses clinked, and admiration rippled through the crowd—all for her.

Maureen.

She stood at the center of it all, dressed in a shimmering diamond-studded gown that caught every light. Her long, perfect waves cascaded down her back, her radiant smile lighting up the room. A swan among sparrows.

I glanced down at myself again. My jeans suddenly felt too tight, my shirt too plain. I was an intruder here. A misplaced puzzle piece.

Then, Alpha Garry—her father—stepped onto the dais.

“Tonight, we celebrate the return of my daughter, Maureen,” he announced, his voice brimming with pride. “She has suffered greatly, but now she’s home—where she belongs. From this moment on, she will be cherished as she deserves.”

Thunderous applause filled the hall. I stood at the edge of the crowd, feeling like a ghost.

“She’s gorgeous,” someone whispered behind me.

“Poor Maureen,” another murmured. “Imagine everything she went through... while that girl took her place.”

Heat crept up my cheeks.

“She’s a fraud.”

“What a joke.”

The words dug into me like thorns. I swallowed hard, willing myself not to react.

Then, a voice—calm, sweet, yet laced with something sharper—cut through the air.

“Avery.”

I turned. Maureen stood before me, a glass of red wine in her delicate hand. Her lips curved into a smile, but her eyes gleamed with something darker.

“Enjoying the party?” she asked lightly.

I hesitated. “I—”

Her expression didn’t waver. “You must be thrilled to see everything back where it should be.”

I stiffened. “Maureen, I—”

“You stole my life,” she said softly, stepping closer. “You took my family. My home.”

“It wasn’t my choice,” I whispered.

She tilted her head, feigning curiosity. “Wasn’t it?” Her gaze flicked past me, landing on Harland Her lips curled. “Even my mate?”

“I never—”

“You did,” she murmured, her voice smooth as silk. “But don’t worry. I have everything back now.” She leaned in, lowering her voice to a whisper. “How does it feel to lose everything, Avery?”

Before I could respond, she turned.

And then, with a small, deliberate motion, she tipped her wineglass.

Deep red liquid splashed down the front of her gown. The glass slipped from her fingers, shattering against the marble floor.

Gasps filled the room as Maureen stumbled backward, her voice breaking into a perfect, practiced sob.

“Oh my goddess, please don’t!” she whimpered, her eyes wide with feigned terror. “Why would you do this to me?”

Silence.

Then all eyes turned to me.

“I—” My voice caught in my throat, panic surging.

“Avery!”

Harland’s voice cut through the noise, sharp and accusing. He was by Maureen’s side in an instant, his face contorted with fury.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I didn’t—” I started, my heart hammering.

“How could you?” Alpha Garry’s voice thundered. “You took a life that was never yours, and now you can’t even let your sister have her moment?”

“She’s not my sister!” The words tore from my throat before I could stop them.

A sharp crack rang through the air.

Harland’s hand met my cheek before I even saw it coming.

A sharp sting spread across my skin, the force of the slap making me stumble. I reached up, pressing trembling fingers to my burning cheek, my vision blurring with tears.

And as the room spun around me, as whispers filled the space like a suffocating fog, my hand drifted to my stomach—where no one knew yet.

Where our child—my child—was growing.