Reborn To Defy The Alpha-Chapter 68: Useless As Her Mother

When Ellie finally stopped, they stood before the door of her former shelter – the small, weather-beaten space Rhea had woken up in the first time she arrived in this world.

Rhea blinked. "Why are you bringing me back here?"

Ellie pushed the door open. The hinges groaned in protest. "Because nobody comes here anymore. It is like everyone deliberately avoids this part of the house."

Rhea stepped inside and drew a slow breath as her eyes traveled over the cramped room. The walls were peeling, the wood beneath warped from damp and neglect. Dust clung to every surface, catching the faint light like it had been untouched for seasons.

Her throat tightened. I cannot believe someone lived in a place like this. Her fingers curled slowly at her sides. I will make them pay for what they put you through.

"Rhea." Ellie’s voice cut through her thoughts. His tone was steady, deeper than usual. "What I am about to say is very important. And it must not leave this place."

The seriousness in his voice made her turn fully toward him. His eyes held none of their usual warmth or carefree ease. Only concern.

Rhea swallowed and straightened, giving him her full attention.

"I am listening."

*******

Eberhard sat on the edge of the bed, his legs spread, his back perfectly straight, his hands clamped down on his thighs. His expression was carved from stone, his glare sharp enough to cut.

Nikki knelt before him, her knees pressed painfully into the wooden floor. Her thighs trembled, her back curved with exhaustion. In her hands she held a towering stack of thick books raised toward him. Her arms shook so violently the bottom book scraped against her wrist. Her fingers had gone numb long ago. Her knees felt like they were bruising with every second that passed. She had been kneeling for hours, and every breath she took came out in short, panicked bursts.

Seraphine and her daughters, Lena and Lyra, stood stiffly by the wall. They exchanged worried glances but did not dare move. The room felt cold around them, the air heavy with fear.

Nikki wobbled. One of the books slipped and fell to the ground with a dull thud.

Eberhard did not even blink. "Seraphine. Pick it up."

Seraphine startled slightly, then moved quickly. She retrieved the fallen book and placed it neatly on top of the pile Nikki was holding. The added weight made Nikki’s arms drop an inch before she forced them back up, her breath hitching. Sweat slid down her temples. Tears streaked through the powder on her cheeks.

"Sir Eberhard," Seraphine whispered carefully. "Is it not enough kneeling? She has been kneeling for hours now."

Eberhard exhaled through his nose, slow and hard. "I do not think it is enough," he said. "I want her to remember today’s punishment. I want her to never forget what happens when she slips up the way she did before the Alpha."

Nikki sniffed loudly, her voice cracking. "Father, I am sorry. I promise I will not do it again. I did not know the Alpha would react that way. I thought... I thought..."

"Stop thoughting," Eberhard snapped. His voice slammed into the room, making Seraphine flinch. "Start thinking. You always thought. You never think. Will you fall and die if you start using your brain for once before you open your mouth."

Nikki sobbed harder, the books shaking in her hands.

"I had almost gotten the Alpha where I want him," Eberhard continued, leaning forward slightly, his glare sharpening. "But because of your stupid slip up he has moved back. Now I must restart the entire process of making him see you as a suitable mate."

"I thought he already saw me as a suitable mate," Nikki cried.

Eberhard’s jaw flexed. "There it is again. Thought. Always thought. Never think." His voice rose sharply. "Has the Alpha ever shown you affection? Has he ever given you one single sign that he sees you as anything other than a nuisance?"

Nikki blinked rapidly, her tears falling faster. "The Alpha always does whatever will make me happy."

"Like what," Eberhard asked coldly.

Nikki stared at the floor as if searching for something to say. Finally she swallowed and lifted her chin slightly. "He used to let me use that bitch Rhea however I wanted. He never punished me. He never took her side. He always allowed me to do what I wanted with her. He was never angry with me no matter what I did to her."

Eberhard looked at her as if she had just announced the sky was green. "That was because of me," he said sharply. "I was the one who made him ignore those things."

Nikki froze.

"I was the one who asked the Alpha to let Rhea serve you as punishment for what her parents did," he continued. "I told him to make that little wretch pay. I told him you needed to be seen. I told him to let you command her."

Nikki’s mouth fell open slightly.

"And I was the one who told you to go to the Alpha and request her as your servant," Eberhard added. "You really think he would have agreed to that if I had not prepared him first."

Nikki’s lips trembled, her eyes widening as the truth settled like a stone in her stomach.

"Every favor you got from the Alpha was because of me," Eberhard said. His voice dropped low and hard, carrying the bite of cold metal. "The only thing you are good at is disrupting my well organized plan."

His eyes darkened, as if something rotten stirred behind them.

"Useless," he said. "Just like your mother."

The books in Nkki’s hands trembled. Her fingers shook so violently the edges of the covers pressed into her skin. Tears welled without her permission, blurring the floor. She did not know why her father hated her mother so much. He always spoke about her like she was some terrible mistake, even though she had been his fated mate. Who hates their fated mate, she wondered. Only a mate who felt betrayed. Which meant her mother must have done something awful. It was the only explanation she could think of for the way he spat her name like poison.

"Stop shaking," Eberhard snapped. "And stop crying. Kneel straight."

Nikki swallowed her tears and cursed herself for being weak. Her body lowered again, knees pressing into the cold floor. Her breath hitched, but she forced herself upright.

Eberhard stared down at her . "I should never have had you. A disappointment from the moment you were born. I regret the day you came into this world as my daughter."

Seraphine flinched. Lena stiffened, her lips parting in shock. Lyra swallowed hard, her gaze darting between Nikki and their father. None of them dared speak, but the tension in their shoulders betrayed their horror.

Nikki’s composure shattered. A sob tore from her chest. She tried to swallow it, tried to keep the books steady, but her hands shook harder and harder until the volumes slipped and crashed to the floor.

The thud echoed. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Eberhard’s eyes narrowed. "Pick them up. Open them."

Nikki wiped her tears with the back of her hand, smearing them across her cheeks. She forced her legs to straighten even though they wobbled beneath her. She bent to grab the books, fingers clumsy and damp.

"Kneel back down," Eberhard ordered.

Nikki hesitated for a heartbeat. Then she lifted her chin. Her voice came out small but steady. "I will prove to you that I am not useless. I will make the Alpha fall for me. I will make him mate me. And you will eat your words."

She clutched the books to her chest and walked toward the door. Her steps staggered, but she did not stop.

"Come back here," Eberhard barked.

"No," she said, without turning. She pulled the door open and stepped through. The moment she crossed the threshold, she slammed it shut with a force none of them had ever seen from her.

Seraphine covered her mouth. Lena stared wide eyed. Lyra hugged her own arms tightly as if to steady herself. All three looked from the door to Eberhard as if unsure which one would explode next.

Eberhard slowly unclenched his fists. His lips twisted before a low, humorless laugh broke free. "This is the first time she has disobeyed me. The first time she has stood up for herself. Good. Very good. I will give her another chance."

He waved his hand. "Go after her."

Seraphine took a step forward with her daughters, but Eberhard raised a hand again. "Not you, Seraphine. Stay."

Lena and Lyra paused, glancing back at their mother. Seraphine nodded, keeping her face calm even though worry flickered in her eyes.

The girls turned and left quickly, closing the door behind them.

Eberhard leaned back on the bed, his eyes narrowing at the closed door Nikki had stormed through. Whatever amusement he had felt evaporated, replaced by a simmering irritation.

"My mood is down," he said, voice low. "Thanks to Nikki and her theatrics." His gaze slid to Seraphine. "And you know exactly what to do to lift it."