Mated to the Alpha I Killed

"We warned you never to make any more friends, Vanika. Your curse will always make them disappear. Why don't you ever listen," Vanika's father's sharp scolding hit her ears.

But her little heart still continued to shiver and it wasn't even because of the words he had spoken. It was because of the words she believed were yet to come.

From the tone of his voice and the outraged look on his face, she suspected the worst had already happened.

"I'm sorry, dad," Vanika apologized, but she couldn't wait to ask what was bothering her. "Is Maria okay?" she forced the shaky question out of her mouth.

"Maria has disappeared just like the others. This has happened again and it's all your fault. It's because you refused to listen." The answer she dreaded dropped from her father's lips and her heart shattered instantly.

Maria was her new found friend and she truly thought the curse would not affect her since she was a girl, unlike the others who were boys.

"And more of the blame goes to you, Maya," Mr Merrick shifted his attention to Vanika's little sister. "If you had stopped her instead of joining her to create more problems, we wouldn't be in this mess today."

"It's not her fault dad," Vanika jumped to Maya's defense. She was just nine, and even though Vanika was only a year older than her, Maya was still her little sister who she felt the need to protect, but her father would not hear it.

"Of course it's not her fault. It is entirely your fault, Vanika, but she had a duty of keeping you from making such mistakes. For failing to do the right thing, both of you will be punished," he declared.

Vanika shifted her gaze to her mother, hoping she would say or do something, but the woman simply looked away, an action that told her they were on their own this time.

Whatever punishment their father had for them would not be easy, but she deserved it because she broke the rules. She only wished Maya wouldn't have to suffer it with her.

Chapter 1

**Eleven years later**

Vanika clutched the pitifully thin scrap of glittery fabric, staring at it in horror. "What on earth is this you just gave me?"

"It’s a dress, Nika. A dress," Janet sighed. She didn’t even bother looking at Vanika, entirely focused on painting her reflection in their hostel’s full-length mirror.

Tonight was the junior class party, a student-run milestone to celebrate their upcoming transition into senior year.

It wasn't mandatory, which was exactly why Vanika's grand plan for the evening involved locked doors, oversized sweatpants, and deep sleep. She couldn't care less if the rest of the class called her a killjoy later.

But Janet, and her sister, Maya, refused to let her bow out.

Maya was usually her sanctuary, the last person to drag her into social settings. But because this was a milestone class event and not some random frat rager, she had dug her heels in.

"I can't wear this," Vanika said flatly, tossing the flimsy thing onto her unmade bunk. She had never worn anything so revealing in her life, and she wasn't about to start tonight.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Janet stiffen. Her face twisted in a sneer, staring at the bed as if Vanika's touch had just insulted her. This was their entire dynamic in a nutshell. She loathed Vanika because she convinced herself Vanika was playing the saint, acting like she was superior just because she preferred to dress a certain way.

Dropping her makeup brush on the vanity with a sharp clack, Janet whirled around and marched toward Vanika. She snatched the dress off the mattress and shoved it violently against her chest.

"Yes, you can, and you will," she hissed, her expression dripping with disappointment. "Are you seriously backing out now, Nika? I can't believe you."

"I'm not backing out," Vanika shot back, holding the fabric defensively between them. "I'll just wear my regular clothes."

"Absolutely not. There is no way you're walking next to me in those baggy rags you call an outfit." Pure disgust washed over her features.

"Why are you getting so worked up about this anyway?" Vanika snapped, a spark of annoyance finally flaring up. She was used to Janet's snide remarks about her wardrobe, but this sudden obsession with dressing her up was bizarre. "I’m not even going with you. I’m waiting for Maya."

According to the plan Maya and she had agreed on, she was supposed to wait in the room until Maya finished up her errands so they could go together.

Instead of answering, Janet spun on her heel, stormed over to her bunk, and ripped her phone off the charger. She marched right back into Vanika's face, scrolling furiously until she found what she wanted, then slammed the glowing screen inches from her eyes.

"Read," Janet commanded.

Vanika strained her eyes to focus on the text message. 'Please Janet, take Nika with you when you go. I'll meet you both there. Also, make sure she looks—'

Before Vanika could finish the sentence, Janet yanked the phone back.

"Make sure she looks what?" Vanika demanded, her brow furrowing.

"Looks good and presentable," Janet supplied smoothly.

Vanika stared at her, suspicion tightening in her gut. "Maya sent that?"

"Ugh! Now you're doubting your own sister? Gosh, Nika, we are already late. I gave Maya my word, otherwise, I would have left your overanalyzing *ss behind twenty minutes ago. Go. Get. Dressed."

Before Vanika could object, Janet grabbed her shoulders, shoved her into their bathroom, and clicked the door shut behind her.

"Let me know if you need help with the zipper! Hurry up, Nika!" her voice echoed through the wood.

A heavy, defeated breath slipped past Vanika's lips. Standing in the small bathroom, she looked down at the dark, shimmering fabric, then slowly began unbuttoning her oversized grey shirt and stepping out of her loose blue jeans.

She had no idea why Maya would send a text like that to Janet of all people. But Maya was her sister. If she was begging Janet to look after her, she had to trust her.

'It's just for tonight, Nika,' she chanted to herself like a mantra. 'Just get through tonight.'

Wriggling into the dress was surprisingly easy. It was a black sequin piece that instantly clung to her skin like a second layer of paint, mapping out every curve she usually spent her life hiding under heavy denim.

To her immense relief, it had long sleeves, but the neckline plunged dangerously low, leaving her chest entirely too exposed. The hemline cut off a few inches above her knees, another detail that made her skin crawl with discomfort.

There was no mirror in the bathroom to see what she looked like. Taking a deep, stabilizing breath, she summoned every ounce of courage she had and stepped out into the bedroom.

The moment Janet looked up, her jaw literally dropped.

Even with her tense, awkward posture and the scowl distorting Vanika's face, the transformation was undeniable. Beneath the baggy clothes was a body to die for, and Janet looked utterly stunned to see it.

"You look gorgeous, Nika," Janet purred, gliding over to stand right beside her as she finally faced the mirror, her face twisted in a deep frown. "Why hide all this perfection from the rest of us, huh?"

"I'm not comfortable," Vanika muttered defensively, her fingers immediately flying to the neckline to pinch the fabric together, trying desperately to cover her skin. "I'm just not used to this."

"Nonsense!" Janet snapped, slapping Vanika's hands away from her chest. "Stop ruining the line of my dress." She frowned, grabbing a large powder brush from the counter. "You look flawless. You just need a quick touch of makeup and we are out the door. Sit down."

Reluctantly, Vanika dropped into the chair, flinching slightly as Janet swept the powder across her skin.

***

Minutes later, the cab sped away, leaving Janet and her standing beneath the harsh, bleeding glare of a neon sign. The glowing letters mounted on the two-story building read: CASS DREAM.

Two massive, imposing bouncers stood guard at the single entrance, their thick arms crossed over broad chests, their stony expressions staring blankly into the night. The street was dead silent.

"Is this the venue?" Vanika asked, turning to Janet as a cold wave of unease crept up her spine. "I thought the class party was—"

"This isn't the venue," Janet cut her off smoothly, her thumbs flying across her phone screen as she typed a rapid message. "I just need to pick something up from someone inside. Come on."

She grabbed Vanika's wrist, pulling her toward the doors before abruptly veering into a shadowed, recessed corner right next to the entrance.

"Wait for me right here. I'll be out in a second," she instructed, then walked straight up to the guards. She exchanged a few hushed words with the bouncer on the left, and they silently stepped aside to let her slip through the doors.

The entrance clicked shut, leaving Vanika completely alone in the dark.

Turning away from the building, she stared out into the empty, unlit street, her mind drifting anxiously back to Maya. What could possibly be keeping her so occupied that she had to coordinate this bizarre hand-off with Janet?

"Hey beautiful. Are you waiting for someone?" A deep, smooth voice suddenly brushed against her ear, making her gasp.

She whirled around to find a strange man approaching her. He had a harmless, polite smile plastered on his face, but his eyes were too sharp.

"Uhm... yes," Vanika stammered, keeping her response as short as possible. She shrank back against the concrete wall, deeply uncomfortable with the slow, predatory way his gaze swept over her tight dress.

"Is your friend inside?" he asked, tilting his head toward the door.

She gave a tight nod, praying he would take the hint and walk away.

"You should wait inside then," he suggested, gesturing with his chin.

"No, thank you. I'll just wait out here," she insisted, her voice hardening as she shook her head.

The man’s smile didn't waver, but his tone took on a chillingly urgent edge. "I wouldn't press the issue if this area wasn't so dangerous, sweetheart. It would be a tragedy if a beauty like you got snatched up and sold into the trafficking rings down by the docks. It’s much safer inside. You can just stand right by the inner door so you don't miss your friend."

Vanika bit the inside of her lip, his words echoing the dark warnings that constantly flooded the local news about defenseless women disappearing from isolated streets.She glanced one last time at the pitch-black, deserted road, a sudden wave of panic dictating her choice. It was better to be safe than sorry.

"Okay," she whispered, stepping away from the wall. "Thank you."

She followed him toward the entrance, reminding herself that as long as Janet was somewhere inside, she would be fine. As they approached, the stone-faced bouncers silently stepped back, opening the doors without a single question.

But the exact moment she crossed the threshold her eyes widened in sheer shock as the layout of the interior hit her. It was different from anything she could have ever imagined.

Yet, she wasn't the only one who was hit by shock.

High above the chaotic floor, draped in the shadows of the exclusive VIP lounge, a pair of piercing silver eyes snapped wide open the moment she stepped in.

Derion sat motionless, his head thrown back against the plush velvet of the sofa, a fat, unlit cigar clamped between his teeth.

Two beautiful, half-dressed women flanked him, their fingers tracing seductive lines across the sturdy contours of his chest beneath his white shirt.

On his right sat Ross, his best friend, right-hand man, and Beta. Ross held a lit cigar in one hand and a glass of wine in the other, a superficial smile plastered on his face as his sharp eyes swept the crowded club.

This was supposed to be a final reprieve. A few hours of mindless indulgence before they embarked on a journey they both loathed, but had no choice but to endure.

Derion let the thumping bass of the music wash over him, drowning out his resentment. If there were any way to skip the upcoming ceremony, he would have taken it. But attendance was compulsory.

He took a slow, deep breath, pulling the unlit flavor of tobacco into his mouth before releasing it. Bu