My Dad has been acting weird all day. Whenever he's around me, all he talks about is his marriage and how he can't wait till I find 'The one'. Even Eric has been teasing me about how he wants nieces and nephews soon. What made them think I was getting married all of a sudden? Jason has been distant lately, He always goes hunting alone and doesn't participate in patrols anymore. Jason was out hunting when I went dress shopping with Kylie, so Eric had to take us. But Eric refused to go into the store so He went down the street to get frozen yogurt, and of course he didn't share. It was only two days until the Ball and I was terrified. I've never mingled with anyone outside of my pack other than the other heirs once. Eric's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Do you know where Jason is?" Eric asked nervously. "I don't know, He probably went hunting again" I mumbled bitterly. Jason is my twin, so He automatically tells me everything. Something is clearly bothering him and He hasn't told me. "Dad said He saw him leave this morning and hasn't seen him since" Eric said with worry. I frowned "Should we go look for him?" I asked. Eric nodded and led me out the entrance of the camp. Once we were a few feet away from the entrance, the pine smell of Jason filled my nostrils. "We're on his trail" I told Eric. Eric's eyes narrowed as He smelled it too. We followed his scent trail a couple miles from camp to the Southern border, the border we share with the Sirens. The smell of the wind blowing off the water told me that we were dangerously close to the lake's edge. "Jason!?" I shouted with my hands cupped around my mouth. Me and Eric waited silently for the slightest noise. My ears pricked when I heard a muffled "I'm down here." "Jason!" I exclaimed and ran to where I heard his voice. Eric quickly followed behind me and I spotted Jason sprawled out on the ground beside the waters edge. "Jason!" I almost screamed. I ran over to him and leaned down and grabbed his face. "What happened?" Eric demanded. There was claw marks on his legs but other than that he had no other injuries. "I was hunting and I wasn't paying attention and next thing I know, I'm in Siren territory and I was almost dragged underwater by a couple of Sirens" Jason rasped. Anger coursed through me at Jason's stupidity that almost got him killed. "You IDIOT! You could've gotten yourself killed" I yelled. Jason cringed and tried to sit himself up. "I got you" Eric said while picking Jason up. "I'm fine" Jason croaked. Eric ignored him and grunted while placing Jason on his back. "Dad's gonna kill you" I muttered. Jason smirked weakly "Nah, you're probably gonna get there first." I smiled softly "Yeah." "What were you even doing this close to the border?" Eric asked. Jason became very interested in the grass. "I was thinking and I wasn't watching where I was going" Jason said. "What were you thinking about?" I asked curiously. Eric changed the subject "We're almost there" He said. There something going on. We walked through the entrance of the camp and we swarmed with werewolves. "What happened" Kylie asked with horror. "This moron was attacked by a Siren" I grumbled. Jason laughed and let Eric carry him to the medicine hut. Dad came running out of his hut, concern written on his face. "Is Jason hurt?" He asked. I glared at the hut, still mad at Jason for almost getting himself killed. I wonder what He was thinking about. "He was 'thinking' and wandered onto Siren territory and was attacked by a Siren" I muttered "His injuries are a few deep scratches on his legs." Dad growled softly "What was he thinking?" He grumbled more to himself than me. "What was he thinking?" I asked "He's been so distant lately." Dad stiffened and changed the subject just like Eric did. "We should check on him." I stared after Dad before following him into the medicine hut. Kylie and another pack doctor was cleaning out his scratches and wrapping his legs up tightly. "Will he be ok?" I asked Kylie. "Of course, he is lucky to have gotten away from a Siren. But the scratches are minor" Kylie assured me. I watched intently as Kylie continued to patch him up. "You're getting pretty good at this" I observed. Kylie smiled widely and her mentor, Sara lit up at my praise. "Kylie will soon be able to become a full pack doctor" Sara said. I gasped and hugged Kylie tightly "That's awesome!" I said. Kylie smiled "Yeah, I'm so excited!" She exclaimed. After Sara and Kylie was done fixing Jason up, they assured us that he just needs rest and he'll be fine in the morning. Me, Dad and Eric let out a sigh of relief before walking out of the hut. I put a hand on both of their shoulders before they could walk away. "You better tell me what's going on" I growled. Dad and Eric tensed. "We should tell her" Eric said softly to Dad. "Tell me what?" I demanded. Dad turned to me with a pained expression. "We found a way to ensure a strong alliance with the other clans" Dad admitted. I smiled "Why did you keep that from me? That's great!" I said. But Dad wasn't smiling. My smile disappeared. "How exactly?" I asked nervously. "It was King Jared's idea. We decided that you, Nesrin, and Amara will marry one of the three Kings" Dad finally admitted. The world around me stopped. Marriage? Do I even have a say in this?! I tried to keep myself calm before asking "Who will I marry?" Dad stared at the ground and took a deep breath before answering. "King Gabriel of the Demons." I let out a strangled cry "What?! You're making me marry that monster just so we can have peace?!" I spat in disgust. Gabriel was known to be cruel and selfish. There is no way I'm marrying him! "It's the only way" Eric said quietly. My eyes widened when I realized that Eric and Jason knew this whole time. This was why Jason was so upset for the past two days. "You knew?!" I shrieked. Eric cowered back and lowered his gaze, unable to look at me. Dad placed a comforting hand on my shoulder that I shrugged off with a growl. Hurt flashed through Dad's gaze. "Please Asena, you have to do this, for the pack" Dad begged "Please say you'll do this willingly so I won't have to force you." My gaze turned cold and my lips curled back into a snarl. "No."
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Tomorrow is when the Ball will take place. After I told my Dad I wouldn't marry Gabriel ever, I ran out of the camp and haven't been back since. Dad's men have been searching for me constantly, so I simply climbed a tall pine tree and hid up there. The wind whipped past and caused the tree to creak slowly. I was right on the border between Werewolf territory and Demon territory. I know it's pretty weird that I'm hiding so close to Demon territory, but I figured that if my Dad knew that I didn't want to marry him, then going anywhere near his territory would be the last place I'd be. I was right, since Dad's men haven't come anywhere near here. I just had to watch out for patrols from both sides. The werewolves patrol as humans during the day, and wolves at night. The Demons patrolled midnight every night. I hunted for a little bit last night before climbing up here so I'd have food. I ended up catching a couple squirrels and I even found a blueberry bush. I knew I wouldn't starve, but I'd probably die from the cold. It was freezing with the wind blowing constantly and the sun hasn't been out lately. My teeth chattered loudly and I'm pretty sure the whole branch was shaking with me. My heart jumped when I heard a Demon patrol creeping through the trees. I pressed my back up against the base of the tree and slowly looked down to get a good look of the patrol. About five demons in total were on patrol. "It's so cold" Someone complained. Then I heard "Deal with it." I suppressed a scream when I realized who the voice belonged to. Gabriel. He never comes on patrols! "Remember to keep a lookout for Princess Asena" Gabriel ordered. My heart clenched in fear. My Dad was telling people from other clans to look for me! He really won't give up. Suddenly one of the Demons gasped "I smell a werewolf." Gabriel stopped short and frantically looked around. Then, slowly, He looked up. His bright yellow eyes met mine and I couldn't seem to pull my gaze away. "Go back to camp" Gabriel ordered without breaking his stare. "But-" "Now." Gabriel said firmly. The Demons shrugged, they had no idea I was in a tree above them. The left and walked back towards their camp. Without warning, Gabriel started climbing the tree. My breathing quickened and I tried to find a way out of this. But there was no way out. I was trapped. Gabriel reached my branch and pulled himself up easily. His black hair was messy and He looked so cute. Crap, focus Asena! He was wearing black jeans, a white t-shirt and a wool grey coat. His eyes widened when I really looked at me. "Your my Mat-" Then he noticed me shivering "You're cold" He said. I was shivering even harder and my feet and legs were numb. Gabriel shrugged off his wool coat and set it on my shoulders silently. He isn't going to hurt me? I stiffened when he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his warm embrace. "Don't worry, body heat will help" He said softly. "M-my Dad said I have to marry you" I stammered dumbly. Gabriel set his head down on my shoulder and breathed me in. "Yes" He said. Then he slowly picked me up and carried me down the tree. "Where are you taking me?" I asked weakly. "Home" He replied. I struggled against his grip when he said home. Home meant that Dad would force me to marry Gabriel. "Stop struggling" Gabriel growled while tightening his grip on me. I froze and let him carry me towards home and rested my eyes a bit.
I didn't know I fell asleep until I heard Dad's frantic voice. "King Gabriel? What are you- Asena!" He said with relief. Jason and Eric ran over right behind Dad. "I'll take her" Jason said. A low growl came from Gabriel before he slowly handed me to Jason. I found myself missing Gabriel's warmth. "Where did you find her?" Eric asked. "In a tree right on the border" Gabriel said. Jason gently brushed my hair out of my face. "I'm sorry for any inconvenience King Gabriel" Dad said politely. "That's alright Alpha James, Asena is always welcome on Demon territory, she is the future Queen afterall" Gabriel said. Jason stiffened and Eric snarled softly. "I apologize for my son's behavior, they aren't quite ready to let their little sister go" Dad said. Eric and Jason stared at Dad as if they've been betrayed. "I understand" Gabriel murmured, his yellow gaze never left mine. "I'd better get going seeing as Asena is safe. I'll see you at the Ball" Gabriel said before looking at me one last time and leaving the camp. "Thank you" Dad called out. Gabriel didn't show any sign that he heard, he just kept walking. "Don't you ever do that again!" Dad scolded angrily. I didn't respond so Jason carried me to my sleeping hut silently. Dad and Eric followed stiffly. Jason set me down on the bed and Eric and Dad surrounded the bed. "I hope you know that this doesn't change anything, you're still marrying him whether you like it or not" Dad snapped. Jason clenched his fists while Eric stared at the floor. I stared at Dad and I knew he meant what he said. "I hate you" I whispered. Dad growled "Go to bed." Dad then left without another word. Eric sadly looked at me before following Dad. "Asena-" Jason started. "Stop. You knew" I spat. Guilt crossed Jason's face and he stared at the ground. "Leave" I said. Jason opened his mouth to say something, but then left without another word. Tears poured out of my eyes after he left and I cried until I fell asleep.