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The sun was setting as two guards escorted me to my carriage. I had to concentrate on my balance while I descended the veranda steps. With the damn poison in my blood, every step was a struggle, but I ground my teeth and lifted my chin, refusing to show my weakness.
“My dear niece!” The fake sweetness in my uncle’s voice made my insides twist. I turned around and saw him. walking toward me, followed by his mate, Aunt Nedra, and my two cousins, Astrid and Sereia. My aunt barely spared me a glance, as if I weren’t worth her attention. My cousins, however, clearly enjoyed my misery. Their cruel grins proved it.
I stretched my lips into a dry smile before giving them all an elegant bow. I hated lowering my head before my father’s killer, but lives were at stake, and my uncle would use any opportunity to show his newly given authority.
“Look at you! You look nearly as stunning as your mother.” Uncle clasped his hands together. A sly smirk tugged at his lips as he examined my shoes, dress, and fur–trimmed cloak. “You’ll make a marvelous bride, Orelia.”
I didn’t miss the mockery in his tone. Alpha Varian Bretomosa was known for his cruelty toward women. His three dead wives were a fine example of it. I was certain he hoped I would share their fate. It would have been another fixed problem for him.
My hands curled into tight balls, my nails cutting the skin of my palms. I barely contained my rage as I raised my head and locked my eyes on his. “I hope to see you soon… Alpha.”
His smirk faded, and he cautiously looked around the courtyard, as if to check how many guards might have heard me. Then he inched closer and hissed, “Careful, niece. One might think your words were a threat.”
I kept my eyes on his as I gritted out, “I wouldn’t dare.”
He jerked his chin at his Beta, and Vad walked over to us. “You will go with her, make sure the mating ceremony goes smoothly, and remind her of the consequences if necessary.”
“As you wish, Alpha.” Vad bowed his head.
My fists clenched harder. I looked at the guards surrounding us. Most of them had once sworn their loyalty to my father. How could they not see what was happening? How could they believe that my father and others had been killed by some mere group of rebels?!
“Let’s go.” Vad grabbed my arm and pushed me into the carriage.
I sat on the cushioned bench, and the door slammed shut. I heard my cousins snicker. “Goodbye, Orelia!” Astrid sang, pure mockery in her tone.
Grinding my teeth, I turned to the small window. I knew it might have been the last time I looked at the Solamen Castle. To think I had dreamed of leaving this place. Guess the gods ridiculed my childish wish…
“One day, I will make them pay,” I quietly swore as the carriage began to move through the sandy road. “I will avenge my father… even if I have to side with the worst demon in all three hells.”
7:59 Mon, Sep 22
Chapter 5
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My uncle had done everything he could to limit my chances of escape. As if the damn poison in my body hadn’t crushed my strength enough to even think of running away. Two warriors on horses rode at the front and two at the back. Vad, on his dark gray stallion, rode beside the carriage and kept tossing me cold glares every few seconds.
It had taken us three days of riding to reach the Dark Shades Pack’s territory. We had barely stopped on the way, and on those rare occasions, Vad had followed me even when I’d needed to relieve myself.
The sun was setting when we crossed the border, and as soon as that happened, my ribcage shrank. I could almost taste the ominousness saturating the air; even the sky here seemed gloomier.
We followed a stone road leading uphill, and I heard several wolves howl. “They know we’re coming.” Vad twisted in the saddle and dipped his head, looking at me through the window. “Your betrothed anticipates your arrival.” A dark grin curved his lips.
I held his stare, refusing to show any signs of weakness, but truthfully, I was terrified. I’d heard stories about Alpha Varian, about his bloodthirst and savagery. My stomach churned each time I thought of what would happen after our vows. I would be forced to spend a night with him. I would have to bear his mark. He would force me to bear his child…
I turned away and clamped my hand over my mouth, fearing I might vomit. My wolf was still silent. I couldn’t summon an ounce of my strength or even my shifter healing. I closed my eyes and drew a deep breath. I had to calm down and focus. Perhaps not all stories were true. Perhaps Alpha Varian wasn’t as sick and cruel as the stories told. That was possible… right?
The howling became louder the further we went. My insides twisted even more as the carriage stopped in front of a castle’s main entrance. A dozen wolves prowled toward us, surrounding us. Vad opened the carriage door and grabbed my hand, pulling me out. “Time to go, princess. Don’t let me drag you to your wedding.”
I wished I could wipe the smug smirk off his face. Punching him, unfortunately, was not an option. I raised my chin and slowly walked toward the entrance. I began to ascend the stairs when two bulky guards in black mantles appeared on the threshold. One of them, a man with closely cropped ash–blond hair, nodded at Vad and smirked. “We’ll take her from here.”
I turned around and glanced at Vad and two warriors flanking him. For the first time, I hoped he would insist on supervising me personally, but he only chuckled and said, “She’s all yours.”
A heartbeat passed, and he and others hurriedly descended the stairs, heading to their horses. Fucking cowards. They couldn’t wait to get the hell out of the Dark Shades Pack’s territory. I was merely a package they delivered.
The rage bubbled inside me, but I kept my expression blank as I turned to Bretomosa’s warriors and slowly walked toward them. The one with the ash–blond hair scanned me from head to toe before giving me at mocking bow. “Welcome to Bretomosa’s Castle, princess.”
I gave him a curt nod and passed the threshold, entering the raw ascetic interior with bloody red carpets as the only element of decoration. I took another step into a gray stone hall, and all my fears began to surface. The massive doors on the opposite side creaked, and a tall, bulky man entered the room. He locked his golden, snake–like eyes on me, and one side of his thin lips curled up. A dark chuckle escaped him as he walked toward me, smoothing his brown–gray beard with his hand.
7:59 Mon, Sep 22
Chapter 5
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“Well, well, well… You surely are a stunning little creature.” He licked his lips as his eyes drifted to my cleavage.
I struggled to control the nausea coiling within me. I slowly bowed my head, painting my face as neutral as I could as he walked around me. He hummed and nodded, appraising me like a newly bought mare. Finally, he straightened up and turned to the blond–haired warrior. “Tell the maids to prepare her, then bring her to my chamber.”
My stomach dropped to my knees. I couldn’t go to his chamber. I had to stall for time, hoping for the poison. to leave my body, hoping for a chance to escape. I was still too weak, too defenseless…
I couldn’t stop my voice from trembling as I asked, “Alpha… b–but what about our vows?”
The men in the room burst into cold laughter. Then Alpha Varian inched closer and forcefully grabbed my chin. “I’m an old–fashioned man.” A menacing grin stretched across his lips. “I don’t believe in vows. Shifters don’t need them…” He lifted his hand and let the nail on his forefinger turn into a claw. Then he pressed the pointed tip against the crook of my neck. “They only need to mark what is theirs.” He leaned over my ear and whispered, “And you’ve just become my favorite possession.”
7:59 Mon, Sep 22
Chapter 6
