The Alpha's Forgotten Bride

The fire crackled in the fireplace, but the bedroom remained cold.

Nora stood before the mirror as her husband, Ethan, adjusted the back of her dress. The white silk gown was beautiful, but it felt borrowed on her.

"Don't embarrass me tonight, Nora," Ethan's voice was low and devoid of warmth.

Nora watched him in the mirror. His handsome face was blank. "I… I won't," she stammered.

A sarcastic smile touched Ethan's lips. "Then watch your mouth, and watch your feet. Don't wander off, and don't talk to people you shouldn't." He pulled his hands back as if he had touched something unclean.

"I understand," Nora said, lowering her head.

"Let's go." Without another glance at her, Ethan turned and walked toward the door.

***

The ballroom was buzzing with noise. The moment he stepped inside, Ethan immediately let go of Nora's arm and walked toward a group of powerful Alphas. Nora was left alone, like a superfluous ornament.

Holding a glass of champagne, she hid in a corner, wishing she could turn invisible.

But trouble always found her.

Three women in garish dresses approached with their glasses, surrounding her.

"Look, isn't it the abandoned bride?" the leader, Lillian, said with a smile.

"Bride? Is she worthy?" another woman said. "Ethan just needed a wife to secure his position."

"I heard her sister Chloe's disappearance has something to do with her," the third woman said, her voice low but loud enough for those nearby to hear.

Nora gripped her glass, her knuckles turning white. "Please move."

"What? Did I strike a nerve?" Lillian shoved her.

Nora lost her balance and stumbled backward.

"Oh, sorry," Lillian said, but she deliberately tilted her glass, and the dark red wine spilled all over Nora's pristine white dress.

The wine spread quickly across the white fabric, like an ugly flower of blood.

Suppressed laughter rippled through the onlookers.

Nora stared at the stain on her dress, her lips pressed tightly together, saying nothing.

Just then, with a loud "BANG," the heavy doors of the ballroom were thrown open.

Everyone was startled by the sudden noise and turned to look.

A figure stumbled in.

The person wore a white dress, just like Nora's, but it was covered in blood. Her hair was a mess, her face as pale as paper. It was Chloe, who had been missing for a month.

"Chloe!" Ethan was the first to react. He cried out, pushed people aside, and rushed forward.

He reached her side and caught her swaying body in his arms. "Chloe, are you okay? What happened?"

Chloe leaned weakly against Ethan. Her gaze went over his shoulder and found Nora in the corner.

Her lips moved slightly, and with her last bit of strength, she uttered a sound only a few could hear: "Sister… How could you…"

With that, her head lolled to the side, and she passed out.

The hall fell silent. Everyone's gaze shifted from the pitiful Chloe to Nora.

Their eyes were filled with suspicion, horror, and condemnation.

Suddenly, a middle-aged woman rushed into the party, screaming. It was their mother.

She ran to Ethan's side and saw the unconscious, blood-soaked Chloe. Her eyes instantly turned red. She spun around, like a furious lioness, and strode to Nora.

SLAP!

A crisp, loud slap landed hard across Nora's face.

Nora's head snapped to the side, a ringing in her ears.

"You witch! It was you! You kidnapped your own sister!" her mother screamed, pointing a finger at her nose. "You vicious monster!"