When The Alpha Demanded My Silence

When my mother passed away, I was brought to the Alpha Queen's main residence.

The Alpha Queen wasn’t as cruel as the stories often portrayed stepmothers to be. She wasn’t unkind, just stern and rarely smiled.

When she saw me, she asked, “Which chosen mate’s child is this?”

“The one the Alpha brought back from the countryside,” Old Nanny said, casting a sympathetic glance at me. “The woman passed away recently, and this child is young and quiet. She won’t be any trouble.”

The Alpha Queen raised an eyebrow. “Is she mute?”

I trembled behind Old Nanny, my face streaked with dried tears, my whole body shaking.

The Alpha Queen sighed, shaking her head. “What a shame.”

“My Queen, she’s a well-behaved child, young and obedient. Her silence might make her a good companion for the Alpha’s daughter,” Old Nanny suggested.

The Alpha Queen looked tired but waved her hand after a moment of thought. “Fine, let her stay.”

Just then, a servant came to report, “The new chosen mate has requested the finest lavender oil. We’ve already sent her some from the storeroom, but she says it’s not enough. She wants to use it for her scent.”

“That lowborn woman really thinks she’s something, doesn’t she? Using lavender oil for her scent? Even our Queen doesn’t indulge in such luxury. Who does she think she is?” Old Nanny fumed.

The Alpha Queen rubbed her temples and glanced at me, still standing cluelessly to the side.

“Let her have her little schemes. The Alpha is infatuated with her right now. If we deny her over something so trivial, she’ll only cause more trouble. It’s better to keep things peaceful for now.”

“You’re right, my Queen,” Old Nanny said, lowering her voice as she massaged the Alpha Queen’s temples. “But the Alpha—he’s gone too far this time. At least before, he only brought in women from respectable families. Even the one from the countryside had a decent background. But now, he’s bringing in a woman from the rogues? Isn’t he worried about the pack’s reputation?”

The Alpha Queen’s lips curved into a cold smile, her expression unreadable.

“Men are always chasing after the new and shiny. He’s returned from his travels, thinking his position in the pack is unshakable, so he’s becoming more reckless. Deep down, men are all the same—selfish and fickle.”

“My Queen—” Old Nanny cut her off, glancing at me.

The Alpha Queen stopped herself and called for a maid to take me to my new quarters.

As I left, I heard Old Nanny whisper, “She’s just a passing fancy. The Alpha won’t stay interested for long. For now, let’s keep her content. She might prove useful later.”

The Alpha Queen responded with a cold laugh.

---

When I was cleaned up and brought before the Alpha’s daughter, Aviana, she was in the courtyard with her sisters, playing a game of fetch with a ball.

The ball flew high and struck one of the sisters, Aleena, square in the face.

She cried out in pain, clutching her face as she crouched down.

None of the other sisters dared to go to her aid.

Aviana laughed loudly and ran over to me, her eyes bright with mischief.

She looked me up and down, grinning.

“So, you’re the mute one? Perfect! Mute means you won’t go around gossiping or causing trouble. From now on, you’ll stay by my side. If you’re obedient, I’ll treat you well. If not, I’ll have you cast out.”

But I was a Foster, a member of the pack, even if I was just an Omega. I wasn’t a servant to be discarded at will.

I didn’t dare argue.

I just nodded in agreement.

Old Nanny had warned me before I came here. Aviana had had several companions before me. They’d all been either cast out or sent away.

She told me to stay quiet, to be the perfect little mute, if I wanted to survive.

Aviana seemed pleased with my obedience and pulled me into the game.

I saw Aleena, her nose swollen and bleeding, her face pale with pain.

Her maid frantically pressed a cloth to her face, careful not to make a sound.

Aleena herself, despite the pain, didn’t dare cry out.

Only when she left did I catch a flash of hatred in her eyes.

“Send some treats to Aleena’s room later. I don’t want the Alpha Queen scolding me again,” Aviana said carelessly before turning back to her game.

But later that evening, she was still reprimanded.

I silently took the two swats of the cane meant for her.

Aviana looked at the red marks on my thin palms and shoved a few pastries into my hands.

She patted my head and said, “You’re the best, Ainara!”

Then she pouted and muttered, “Why can’t Aleena be a mute too?”

The nanny beside her quickly hushed her, whispering, “Don’t say such things, young mistress. The Alpha Queen will punish you again.”

But Aviana just laughed it off.

I understood. Whenever the Alpha Queen punished her, it was always a light reprimand, just for show.

And even when she was truly punished, it was always me who bore the pain.

I couldn’t complain, couldn’t cry out. In Aviana’s eyes, her mute little shadow was the perfect companion.

When Aviana was happy, she treated me even better.

In just a short time, aside from taking her punishments, I lived quite comfortably. I even gained a little weight.

The other Omega sisters, led by Aleena and another sister, looked at me with envy and disdain.

They called me “the silent lapdog,” destined to follow Aviana around for the rest of my life.

But I thought they were the ones to be pitied.

A month later, a distant branch of the Fosters came and took Aleena away.

They said their pack had no heirs and wanted to raise Aleena as their own.

Aleena’s chosen mate wept and pleaded, fainting several times before the Alpha and the Alpha Queen, but it was no use.

Aleena had a younger brother, also an Omega, who had been raised by the Alpha Queen.

The Alpha Queen decided to return him to his chosen mate.

It was said Aleena’s chosen mate was overjoyed and didn’t even see her off when she left.

After that, I never heard of Aleena again.

And my life by Aviana’s side only grew easier.