THE BROKEN ALPHA PAWN

CHAPTER ONE.

Aveline’s POV.

I stood near the small wooden table while the physician checked my mother again. The curtains were half drawn, and only a thin line of light entered the room, falling over my mother's pale face.

The physician pressed two fingers against her neck, slowly nodding his head.

After a while he picked up his small satchel and went through it.

I clasped my hands together. “How is she today?” I asked softly.

He did not answer right away.

He poured a dark liquid into a cup and lifted my mother’s head carefully. I helped him. Her skin felt cold against my fingers. When he made her drink, most of it slipped from the side of her mouth.

My throat tightened, seeing my mother in this poor condition.

“She is getting weaker,” he finally said.

The words felt like stones dropping into my chest.

“But… the herbs you gave her yesterday,” I said quickly. “You said they would help.”

“They would,” he replied. “If we had enough.”

I stared at him. “What do you mean?”

He stood straight and looked at me fully now. “Aveline,” he called. “I told you before. The rare herbs she needs are not easy to find. The sellers will not release them without full payment.”

“I gave you everything I had,” I whispered.

“Yes,” he nodded. “And it was not enough.”

My heart started beating fast. “Then… then I will find more. Just give her the herbs now. I promise I will pay you.”

He shook his head. “No one will find the herbs if I do not give them the full money first. They will not search for something so rare without payment. They do not trust promises.”

I stepped closer to him. “Please,” I said, my voice shaking. “There must be something you can do. You are the best physician in this town. Everyone says so.”

He looked away from me. “I have done everything I can with the herbs you brought. I am out of options.”

Out of options? He can't be out of options.

“You cannot be,” I said quickly. “There must be another treatment. Another plant. Another medicine.”

He shook his head again, slower this time. “Not for this sickness.”

I felt tears burn my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “If I lose her…” My voice broke. I swallowed hard. “If I lose my mother, I will have no one.”

He sighed. “You need to get the money, Aveline. That is the only way.”

“How much?” I asked, even though I already knew.

He told me the amount again.

“That is too much,” I whispered. “I could work for years and not gather that.”

“You do not have years,” he said gently. “If she does not receive the full treatment, she may only have a couple of days left.”

My eyes widened instantly.

“No,” I said quickly. “No, that cannot be true. She was speaking yesterday.”

“Barely,” he replied.

I grabbed his sleeve. “Please. I beg you. Start the search for the herbs. I will find the money. I swear it.”

He slowly removed my hand from his sleeve. “I cannot risk my name or my trade on a promise,” he said. “The herb collectors demand coin first.”

“Then lend me the money,” I said desperately. “I will repay you. I will work for you. I will clean your house, grind your herbs, anything.”

His face softened for a moment, but then it hardened again. “I do not have that kind of coin to spare,” he said. “And even if I did, I cannot give it away. My own family depends on me.”

Silence fell between us.

My mother coughed weakly.

I rushed to her side and held her hand. It felt light in mine, like holding dried leaves.

The physician cleared his throat. “There is one way,” he said.

Hope rose inside me so fast it hurt. “What?” I asked quickly. “Tell me.”

“Your father is having a big party today,” he revealed. “You should meet him. He's one of the richest wolves we have in the pack.”

The hope died instantly.

My father? I had almost forgotten I had a father.

My father was one of the richest and most powerful wolves in the pack. He was feared, loved and respected by everyone. And my mother fell for that charm — bad idea.

He wanted a male child so badly that he didn't hesitate to kill all the female kids before me. My mother always blamed herself for always having a stillbirth, not knowing my father was the one playing gods behind the scene. My birth exposed him.

When my mother found out, he accused her of adultery and threw her out of the house with a baby — me— in her arms.

And that was the last time my father saw my mother. Except for the time, he tried to forcefully give me out for marriage to a dickhead to strengthen his business partnership with the man.

Despite being sick, my mother fought to the last, selling everything she had to buy me back.

Now, we have nothing left to afford even bread.

“I'm not going back to my father,” I hissed. “You know what happened the last time I engaged with him. That asshole sold me to a pig.”

“Aveline—”

“I said no.”

He sighed. “He has the money. And you know that.”

“I will not go back to him,” I said firmly.

“He is still your father.”

“He stopped being that long ago.”

The physician rubbed his forehead. “Pride will not save her.”

“This is not pride,” I snapped, then lowered my voice. “That man is not my father.”

The man sighed and stood up. “Well, I hope you finally come to your senses. Call me back when you get the money,” he said and walked out.

For hours, I stayed beside my mother, crying my balls out. I was out of options. I had sold everything, including my body to some rogue Alpha but it still wasn't enough to get the required medicine.

My mother was the last hope I had left in the world. I don't know how I'll ever survive if I let her die.

Reluctantly, I swallowed my pride and went to my father's house. I didn't actually plan to see him, I just wanted to snoop around and steal some valuables — if I had the heart to do it.

When I got to his house, the place was filled with people. He was having a big party, while my mother was fighting for her life.

I hope the moon goddess curses him.

I moved forward and noticed the decorations. His daughter was having a wedding.

I rolled my eyes and turned to go when I saw her supposed mate walking out of the crowd.

I froze.

I felt my soul leaving my body.

“Jackson!” I screamed at him.

The person she was going to get married to was my mate.