"Mom, why does Nyx get to marry him?"

Nyx was rudely awakened by the sound of whining from outside the door. Instantly, she sat up, horrified, just in time to see her mother, Lisa, and her younger sister, Risa, marching into her room without so much as a knock.

"It wasn't our choice, sweetie. That's what he wanted." Lisa's eyes fell upon Nyx and immediately, the sweet smile turned into a sneer.

"Good, you're awake," Lisa snapped the second she entered.

She threw a dress over, and Nyx barely caught it. Nyx stared at it, an unsettling feeling coiling in her stomach. Her mother had never given her a new dress— not without hidden intentions, at least. The best was always reserved for Risa, and seeing the expensive clothing in her hand, Nyx knew that something bad was no doubt about to happen.

"Go get changed. A very important person is visiting us today, and you better be on your best behavior."

"What's this about getting married?" Nyx asked, looking at Risa. "Who am I marrying?"

"This isn't fair," Risa continued to whine, totally ignoring her older sister. She pouted and folded her arms.

"I know, cupcake," Lisa said, caressing her younger daughter's hair. "But after we've sold her, we will be rich."

"You're selling me?" Nyx asked with wide eyes as she hopped off the bed. "Why? To whom?"

She had only just woken up and all of a sudden, she was being sold to an unknown man for marriage. Thousands of questions swirled in Nyx's head, demanding to be answered, but all she was given was Lisa's scowl.

"Quit asking so many questions!" Lisa barked, and before Nyx could react, a slap echoed across the room, her cheek burning from the impact.

Stunned, Nyx didn't move, and Lisa took advantage of that to drag her to the washroom. Nyx screamed and kicked the second she recovered, but it was useless— she was held down by Lisa and a very reluctant Risa. Soon enough, she was forced into a dress and marched downstairs, her mother and sister flanking her on each side.

They led her to the living room where the mysterious guests Lisa spoke of were waiting for them. The living room was packed for once, and judging by their clothing, they were all prominent folk who their family could not afford to offend.

Her father, Andrew, was already present with the guests. When he noticed them coming downstairs, he cleared his throat and was a face full of smiles. Nyx had never seen him smile this brightly towards her, and immediately, goosebumps rose across her skin.

"Ah, there they are." He held out his hands wide and welcoming before gesturing to their guests. "Nyx!"

Instantly, Lisa and Risa bowed, tugging Nyx down with them.

Andrew continued, "Meet your husband-to-be, Alpha Oberon."

Nyx's jaw dropped. She was getting married to the Alpha?!

She raised her head and studied the man seated in front of her. He looked familiar, and Nyx wondered where she might've seen him before. Oberon's lips curled up into a smile when he noticed her surprise.

"She's perfect!" the woman beside him exclaimed in delight. "You are beautiful, my dear."

Nyx turned to look at her. She was a little older, but even with her age, her beauty was well-maintained. She quickly figured out who this woman was, and dipped her head into a curtsy. If that was Alpha Oberon, then this woman would have to be his mother, Elena.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Nyx said with a slight blush. While she was still confused, the sudden affection caused heat to rise to her cheeks. It had been so long since she had been so openly praised.

Risa, on the other hand, merely rolled her eyes and looked away. Her heart twisted in raw jealousy. She was supposed to marry an Alpha, not her useless sister!

"Come sit with me," Elena beckoned, patting the empty spot next to her, and Nyx dutifully complied.

At the same time, one of the men who came along cleared his throat. The aide said, "You already know why we're here. We will get straight to the point."

Andrew nodded, his hands eagerly clasped together. "Please proceed, Sir Demetrius."

"We want your daughter to get married to our king as soon as possible," Demetrius said, his tone filled with a note of finality. "Therefore, the marriage rites will commence tomorrow evening."

With his words, Nyx's heart clenched. Tomorrow? She hadn't even realized she had a fiancé until minutes ago. Anger bubbled within her, but those weren't emotions she could show at the moment if she wished to keep her life.

"We will be wed in the palace courtyard," Oberon added. Andrew merely nodded eagerly with no argument at all. "Thus, she will be coming with us."

Finally, Nyx could no longer hold it in. "What?" She asked, perplexed, "Now?"

Lisa's eye twitched in irritation. This brat had better not mess up this deal for them. Her marriage was going to give them a ton of money in return, and that was all she was good for.

"Yes," Demetrius calmly stated. "You will need time to prepare. We cannot afford to have any mistakes."

Overwhelmed, Nyx shook her head. Her head was pounding and the room felt as though it was closing in on her. Before anyone could say a thing, she got up and moved away from Elena, making sure to avoid her venomous family's reach as well.

"I… Please excuse me," she said with a sigh and quickly fled the living room.

The second Nyx returned to her room, she collapsed on her bed. Tears began to uncontrollably fall from her eyes, and she haphazardly reached up to wipe them away but to no avail.

Why couldn't Alpha Oberon marry Risa? Nyx clearly saw the look of jealousy in her younger sister's eyes.

A knock on the door disturbed her train of thought, and she jolted and looked up just in time to see Elena coming in.

"Your Majesty!" Nyx greeted, hurriedly getting off the bed. She then remembered the way she had left the living room, and her hand went to touch her neck in panic. "I… I'm sorry, Your Majesty, I—"

"What's wrong, my dear?" Elena asked, causing Nyx to widen her eyes in shock due to her soft tone. "You don't seem to be happy."

Nyx shook her head. "I don't know why I'm marrying someone I don't know," Nyx said, and her voice turned even softer. "Even if this person is our Alpha, I have never met him."

"You will make a fine Luna for the pack, Nyx," Elena said.

She walked over and gently held Nyx's hands, causing shivers to run down Nyx's spine. It wasn't of fear or disgust, but rather, shock. It had been so long since Nyx had felt a warm, gentle touch.

"But I don't even know the first thing about being Luna."

"I will teach you everything you need to know if you accept the proposal," Elena said, her eyes pleading.

Nyx bit her lip. "With all due respect, why are you asking me this, Your Majesty? You can just order me to marry him."

Elena softly laughed. "I don't wish to force this marriage upon you. Will you marry Oberon? The pack needs a Luna— it needs you."

Nyx looked at her hands that were tucked in Elena's grasp and a soft sigh escaped her lips. Was there anything she could say to refuse? Even if she succeeded in pushing this marriage off, she would receive hell from Andrew and Lisa for what she had done.

This was her fate and there was no way she could change it.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Nyx quietly replied. "I will marry him."