A Bride of Sorrow

The grand ballroom of the Grand Regent Hotel buzzed with the high-society elite of the capital. Crystal chandeliers cast an oppressive golden light over polished marble floors, reflecting the masks worn by politicians, CEOs, and socialites alike.

In the shaded corner near the velvet curtains stood Emmet Williams.

At twenty years old, Emmet moved like a ghost through his father’s world. He wore an immaculate black suit, his dark brunette hair neatly styled, framing a delicate face with striking green eyes. Despite his beautiful, slender frame, he was just a Beta—an invisible, unwanted anomaly in the powerful Williams political lineage.

“Stop standing around like an ornament, Emmet," a low, dark voice purred near his ear.

Emmet flinched slightly, stepping back as his stepbrother, Rayan Williams, slunk into his space. Rayan was twenty-five, a tall, broad-shouldered Alpha with striking blonde hair and sharp golden eyes. The way Rayan looked at him—the intense, lingering possessiveness in his gaze—always made Emmet’s skin prickle, though he never quite understood why.

“I’m just keeping out of the way, Rayan," Emmet said softly, keeping his eyes lowered in his usual meek manner. “Father said I shouldn’t linger near the main stage."

Rayan chuckled, taking a step closer, his golden eyes sweeping over Emmet’s porcelain neck. “Hardy is an idiot. He hides you away as if you’re a shame, when you’re the most captivating thing in this room. If you were an Omega, Emmet, I’d have marked you years ago."

Emmet’s cheeks flushed with uncomfortable heat. “Don’t say things like that..."

Before Rayan could respond, a sudden hush fell over the room. At the top of the grand staircase stood Hardy Williams, his chest puffed out with political pride. Beside him stood Quinn Williams—Emmet’s younger twin brother by thirty minutes.

Unlike Emmet, Quinn was an Omega, blessed with bright blonde hair and the exact same green eyes as Emmet. Dressed in a tailored white suit, Quinn looked like an angel, but Emmet knew the sharp, rebellious fire that burned beneath his brother’s stoic facade.

“Distinguished guests, family, and esteemed colleagues," Hardy’s voice boomed through the microphone. “Tonight, I am honored to announce a union that will solidify the future of our city. My son, Quinn Williams, is hereby betrothed to Mr. Neil Adams!"

The room erupted into applause.

At the base of the stairs stood Neil Adams. At twenty-nine, the dominant Alpha business tycoon radiated absolute power. With jet-black hair, piercing golden eyes, and a imposing, dark presence, Neil stepped forward. His eyes locked onto Quinn with an unyielding, possessive intensity.

Neil took Quinn’s pale hand, lifting it to his lips. “You look breathtaking tonight, Quinn," Neil murmured, his voice low and commanding. “From the moment I saw you, I knew you belonged at my side."

Quinn forced a tight, polite smile, though his green eyes flashed with cold hatred. “You honor me, Mr. Adams."

“Call me Neil," the tycoon corrected, his grip on Quinn’s fingers tightening just enough to signal absolute dominance. “Soon, you will bear my name."

From across the room, Emmet watched with a heavy heart. He knew how much Quinn loathed Neil. Quinn had dated the tycoon for a few weeks under their father’s immense pressure, but Neil’s suffocating, possessive nature had terrified Quinn.

As the crowd moved toward the champagne fountain, Quinn managed to slip away from Neil and caught Emmet’s eye, gesturing toward the quiet balcony outside. Emmet quickly slipped past Rayan and followed his twin into the crisp night air.

The balcony doors shut, muffling the classical music inside. Quinn immediately threw off his composure, pacing back and forth while running his fingers through his blonde hair.

“I can’t do this, Emmet. I can’t marry him," Quinn whispered, his voice trembling with a mix of fury and fear. “Neil is a monster. He doesn’t want a husband; he wants a trophy to lock in a cage!"

Emmet stepped forward, catching his brother’s hands gently. “Quinn, calm down. Father won’t listen if you just throw a fit. Is there no way to reason with Neil?"

“Reason with him?" Quinn laughed bitterly, green eyes shimmering with tears. “Neil Adams doesn’t reason, Emmet. He takes! He told me tonight that after the wedding, I won’t be allowed to leave his estate without an escort. He wants to strip away everything I am!"

Emmet’s heart broke for his twin. While Hardy had hidden Emmet away for being a Beta, he had raised Quinn like livestock to be sold to the highest bidder.

“Then what are you going to do?" Emmet asked softly.

Quinn gripped Emmet’s hands tightly, his gaze burning with sudden determination. “I’m running away. Tonight."

Emmet gasped. “Tonight?! Quinn, Father will destroy the city looking for you! Neil will send his men!"

“They won’t find me," Quinn said firmly. “I’m leaving the country. I’m going to Paris."

“Paris?" Emmet’s mind raced. “How? You can’t do this alone!"

“I’m not alone," Quinn confessed, his voice softening. “Samuel is taking me."

Emmet blinked, surprised. “Samuel? Samuel Lee? The photographer?"

“Yes," Quinn said quickly. “He has everything prepared. A private jet, fake identification, a safe house in France. We leave in two hours."

Emmet felt a strange, bittersweet ache in his chest. Samuel Lee was a polite, quiet photographer who had been around Quinn for months. Emmet remembered meeting him once or twice—Samuel had always been exceptionally gentle and soft-spoken toward Emmet, even encouraging his quiet nature. Emmet genuinely believed Samuel was a wonderful man who deeply loved his brother. He had no idea that Samuel was actually a ruthless, feared mafia lord—nor did he know that Samuel was only dating Quinn because Emmet was the boy who had saved Samuel’s life years ago, a memory Emmet had long forgotten.

“Quinn..." Emmet hesitated. “Are you sure Samuel can protect you from Father and Neil?"

“He can. He loves me, Emmet," Quinn lied, a subtle glint of selfishness in his eyes. Quinn knew in his heart that Samuel’s gaze always lingered on Emmet, but Quinn wanted freedom, and he wanted Samuel’s protection. “Please, Emmet. You have to help me slip past Father’s guards at the rear entrance."

Emmet looked at his twin’s desperate face. If Quinn stayed, Neil Adams would break his spirit forever. Emmet had spent his whole life being useless to his family—if he could do one good thing, it was saving his brother.

“Okay," Emmet whispered, tears pricking his green eyes. “I’ll help you."

“Thank you, Emmet! Thank you!" Quinn pulled him into a tight embrace. “I’ll make sure you get out of that house too, eventually. I promise."

An hour later, in the dark, rainy alleyway behind the hotel, a sleek black SUV sat idling.

Emmet had successfully distracted his father’s security team, allowing Quinn to change into plain clothes and slip out the back door.

The SUV door opened, and a tall, strikingly handsome Alpha stepped out into the drizzle. Samuel Lee wore an elegant dark coat, his dark eyes sharp and calculating. Yet, the moment his eyes landed on Emmet standing in the rain, his expression softened into something profound and intense.

“Emmet," Samuel said softly, ignoring Quinn for a split second as he took a step toward the brunette twin. “You shouldn’t be out in the cold without a jacket."

“I’m okay, Samuel," Emmet said nervously, shivering slightly. “Please... take care of Quinn. Don’t let my father or Mr. Adams find him."

Samuel’s eyes lingered on Emmet’s delicate face, a deep, hidden longing swirling in his dark gaze. He wanted nothing more than to wrap Emmet in his coat and pull him into the car, but he knew the timing wasn’t right.

“I will keep him safe," Samuel promised, his voice thick with unsaid meaning. “I won’t let anyone hurt what belongs to you."

Quinn quickly grabbed Samuel’s arm, pulling the Alpha’s attention back to him. “We need to go, Sam. The guards will realize I’m missing soon!"

Samuel looked back at Emmet one last time. “We will meet again soon, Emmet. Stay safe."

“Goodbye, Quinn. Goodbye, Samuel," Emmet whispered.

Emmet watched as the SUV sped away into the stormy night, carrying his twin toward a new life in Paris. A heavy sigh escaped Emmet’s lips. He believed that with Quinn gone, the political marriage would simply be canceled. Neil Adams would be furious, but without an Omega bride, there was nothing his father could do.

Emmet turned around and walked back into the hotel, completely unaware that he had just stepped into a living nightmare.

The aftermath was catastrophic.

When Hardy Williams discovered that Quinn was gone, the political clout he had built vanished in an instant. But the real terror began at dawn, when Neil Adams arrived at the Williams estate.

The grand living room was thick with oppressive Alpha pheromones. Hardy Williams was pale, trembling as he stood before Neil Adams, who sat casually on the leather couch, though his eyes were lethal.

“Where is my bride, Hardy?" Neil asked, his voice deathly quiet.

“N-Neil, please," Hardy stuttered, sweat dripping down his forehead. “Quinn... Quinn was foolish! He was kidnapped or deceived! I have my men searching every corner of the city—”

“I don’t care about your excuses!" Neil slammed his hand on the marble coffee table, shattering the glass top. Hardy flinched violently. Neil stood up, his towering frame casting a dark shadow over the politician. “We signed an agreement, Williams. My capital for your political backing. The wedding is in four weeks. If Quinn is not in that church, I will pull every cent of my investment, ruin your campaign, and leak your illegal offshore accounts to the federal bureau by noon."

Hardy turned ghostly white. “Neil! You can’t destroy me! I... I will find him!"

“You have until the end of the month," Neil sneered, adjusting his tailored suit jacket. “If Quinn isn’t found, you had better find me a substitute Omega who looks and acts just like him. Otherwise, your life as a politician is over."

Neil swept out of the manor, leaving behind a suffocating silence.

Hardy collapsed into his chair, breathing heavily. Suddenly, footsteps sounded near the doorway. Emmet had been listening from the hall, holding a tray of tea.

“Father...?" Emmet called out hesitantly, stepping into the room.

Hardy’s head snapped toward Emmet. His eyes fell upon his eldest son—the brunette Beta with the delicate body, the exact facial features, and the green eyes of his vanished twin.

Hardy stood up slowly, a twisted, desperate rage taking over his face. He marched across the room and dealt a brutal, echoing slap across Emmet’s face.

PAFH!

The force sent Emmet crashing to the floor, the tea tray shattering beside him. Hot liquid splashed against his arms, but the sharp sting on his cheek was far worse.

“You!" Hardy roared, grabbing Emmet by his collar and hauling him up. “You helped him, didn’t you?! You useless, pathetic Beta!"

“F-Father, I..." Emmet gasped, tears overflowing his green eyes. “I didn’t..."

“Shut up!" Hardy backhanded him again, sending Emmet sprawling onto the glass-littered floor. “You ruined this family! You protected that ungrateful brat!"

Just then, Rayan rushed into the room, seeing Emmet bleeding on the floor. “Father! Stop!" Rayan intervened, pulling Hardy back, though his golden eyes burned as he looked at Emmet’s torn clothes and trembling frame. “Killing him won’t bring Quinn back!"

“No," Hardy panted, a dark, sickening realization dawning in his eyes as he stared at Emmet’s face. “It won’t bring Quinn back. But he is Quinn’s twin."

Emmet looked up through his tears, terrified by the manic look in his father’s eyes. “Father... what are you talking about?"

Hardy spat on the floor. “Lock him in the basement cellars. No food. No water. Let him reflect on what he’s done."

“Father, you can’t lock him away!" Rayan protested, though his grip on Hardy loosened as his mind began processing his father’s terrifying thought.

“Drag him down!" Hardy commanded the guards.

Two heavy-set Alpha guards grabbed Emmet by his arms, dragging him out of the room.

“Father! Please! I’m sorry! Father!" Emmet sobbed, his bare feet dragging against the cold tile, but his cries fell on deaf ears.

The underground basement was pitch black, cold, and damp.

Emmet was thrown onto the concrete floor, the heavy iron door slamming shut with a deafening CLANG. The lock turned, sealing him in absolute darkness.

For three days, Emmet remained locked in the dark cellar.

Without food or water, his body weakened rapidly. The cold seeped into his bones, and his throat burned like fire. He curled into a tight ball in the corner, clutching his frail arms, weeping quietly until he had no tears left to shed.

Quinn... I hope you’re safe in Paris... * Emmet thought weakly, his vision blurring as delirium set in. * At least... you are free... *

On the fourth night, the heavy iron door finally creaked open.

Blinding light flooded the cell. Emmet shielded his eyes, coughing weakly as two men stepped inside, followed by Hardy Williams and a man wearing a white medical coat.

Hardy looked down at his dying son with cold, unfeeling eyes.

“Is he still conscious?" Hardy asked the doctor coldly.

The doctor knelt down, checking Emmet’s weak pulse. “Barely. His body is severely dehydrated and weak. It’s the optimal state for the procedure, Mr. Williams. His natural Beta resistance is at its lowest."

Emmet struggled to focus his eyes, his voice a dry, rasping whisper. “F-Father... please... water..."

Hardy stepped closer, staring down at Emmet’s delicate face.

“You wanted to save your brother, Emmet?" Hardy said, his voice laced with venomous satisfaction. “Then you will take his place. There is an experimental, illegal black-market procedure—a force-trait alteration. It will rewrite your biology, turn your body into a synthetic Omega, and allow you to take Quinn’s place as Neil Adams’ bride."

Emmet’s eyes widened in sheer horror. “N-No... Father, no! Please! I’m a Beta! It will kill me!"

“You will survive it, or you will die trying," Hardy sneered coldly. “In four weeks, your hair will be dyed blonde, your body will carry a synthetic Omega scent, and you will walk down that aisle as Quinn Williams."

“No! Please! Rayan! Help me!" Emmet cried out, looking toward the doorway where Rayan stood watching.

Rayan’s golden eyes darkened with a mix of twisted desire and pity. He didn’t move a muscle to stop it. “It’s for the family, Emmet," Rayan murmured softly. “Besides... once you become an Omega... you’ll finally be mine to touch."

Emmet’s heart shattered into a million pieces.

The doctor gestured to the two guards, who pinned Emmet’s weak body to the floor. The doctor pulled out a heavy syringe filled with a glowing, murky chemical liquid.

“This will be extremely painful, Mr. Williams," the doctor muttered. “Your bones, your scent glands, your internal biology... everything will burn and rewrite itself over the next thirty days."

“NO! SPARE ME! QUINN! SAMUEL!" Emmet screamed with the last bit of strength in his lungs as the heavy needle plunged directly into the back of his neck.

A agonizing, fiery torture erupted through Emmet’s veins. His screams echoed through the cold basement walls as darkness consumed his mind, marking the beginning of his descent into hell.