"I've never had anyone to protect me…"
Eira, stole glances at the red-haired woman perched by her mirror, sobbing miserably into her palms. Her shoulders jerked uncontrollably with each sob, as though she hadn't had her full of crying over the past seven days.
She averted her eyes to the gloomy gray skies, sensing that a heavy downpour was imminent. If they were to make the trip to Lykonia, they had best make haste.
"Miss—" Before Eira could finish, the chamber door widely flung open, revealing the burly figure of Alpha Arin. His wooden prosthetic clunking against the floor as he paraded inside, a stark contrast to his intimidating presence.
"You're still crying? You ungrateful brat!" he bellowed, charging at Adrianna, fists clenched in rage. He aimed a blow at the back of her neck, but Eira stepped in, crouching protectively in front of Adrianna and taking the hit.
"You—"
She coughed out blood. Despite having lost his leg in the great slaughter, Alpha Arin was still powerful, far more so than a weak Omega.
"Alpha… Miss Adrianna is to become a bride. It might anger the Lycans if their queen is sent tainted," she explained weakly, her hand clutching her stomach, head bowed.
"Father! Please!" Adrianna's tears stopped as she faced the older man, his unshaven scowl deepening. "I do not wish to marry that man!" She stood, her eyes swollen from crying.
Alpha Arin's glare hardened. "That man is the Lycan King! The ruler of all four continents!"
Adrianna shook her head, whispering fiercely, "He is a monster. He killed our kind in multitudes, stole our lands, and reduced us to slaves and breeders. If I marry that devil incarnate…" She covered her mouth, too disgusted to finish.
Eira, however, was of a different sentiment.
The Lycan King was awful without a dobut, but her father, Alpha Arin was no saint. She glimpsed at the burn mark peeking out of her inner elbow and scoffed inwardly.
Alpha Arin pounded his prosthetic onto the ground. "If you marry him, we become the pack with the most power. All of moonstone would fear me! The spoils of life would be mine—wealth, women, wine, everything!"
The grand illusion in his head caused his grin to broaden. "We would be secured, from the Lycan's wrath, from the Rebel's claw and from our people's fear."
"The carriage to fetch you has already arrived," he announced in calmer spirits.
"Father!" Adrianna protested.
Turning sharply to Eira, he gripped her by the hair hair tightly, and forced their eyes to meet. "Make haste and get her ready." His eyes trailed to her left hand, a wide smirk played on his lips.
"Lest you're seeking another mark to color your arm?"
Eira gritted her teeth, "Forgive me…Alpha."
He grunted and shoved her to the ground, like a rag doll.
She might as well have been one, draped in dull, patched-up clothes. Her skin was fair, but unlike Adrianna's natural beauty, hers was a result of malnutrition. She was all skin and bones, barely weighing more than a stone.
Once he was gone, Eira got up and began to gather the clothes strewn across the floor, packing them once more for the trip. Flailing, she sauntered to Adrianna, to touch up her hair and appearance.
Adrianna balled her fists, "Eira! This is madness! How can I marry such a beast?! I detest this! I would be betraying my people!"
What have these people ever done for you? Eira wanted to ask but reserved her commentary. In her eyes, the wolves were just as ruthless as the Lycans. After all, it was wolves who raided her home and forced her into a life of servitude.
They called it service; the Lycans called it slavery.
It was all the same.
While brushing Adrianna's copper hair, Eira chimed, "Miss Adrianna, you are a fortunate woman. The Lycan King is wealthy and strong. You shall be looked after all your life—"
Adrianna hissed, "He beds our kind for sport! Mating is a sacred act, but he doesn't even leave his seed; he indulges in it for the thrill. What a brute!"
Eira inwardly laughed at the sheltered young woman.
Had Adrianna only known what went on within the pack grounds! Little did she realize her brother's conquests, could do nothing but bend over and gather their skirts over their thighs, taking whatever he gave them.
"He is a warrior; you and he have very different values, different outlooks on life. You shouldn't judge a person before getting to know the whole story," Eira said, tying a silver ribbon into Adrianna's hair.
Adrianna met Eira's gaze through the mirror, noting the weariness in her eyes. "What about you?" she asked, tracing her fingers across the golden pendant resting on her chest. "What do you think of the Lycans?"
Eira gave no thought to her answer. "I am but a humble maid; I have no business having thoughts."
But really, she wanted to say, I despise them. I despise our kind as well. I despise everything and everyone. The great slaughter, the Lycan king, the rebels, I couldn't give a damn about any of that, not when there is no longer a future for someone like me.
However, as she stared at the extravagant dress Adrianna wore, adorned with jewels in her hair and on her face, her thoughts shifted.
But I envy you, Miss Adrianna. To have your future so tightly secured, to never worry about the next meal, to never fear for your chastity, to never have to lose someone you care for...
The clap of thunder followed by a sudden downpour interrupted her thoughts. "Miss Adrianna, I'll quickly load these into the carriage!" she announced, hurrying toward the door, with a bag in each hand.
As her feet pounded through the tightly guarded hallway, Eira felt an unsettling premonition: this trip to Lykonia wouldn't go as smoothly as Alpha Arin wanted.
Setting aside her worries, Eira cast her gaze out the broken window of the once raided palace. Settling her sights on the pouring rain and darkened sky, wondering how this sham of a marriage would unfold…
Lykonia.
The expectant faces on the awaiting retainers swiftly shifted to disappointment, when a towering burly figure marched furiously out of a bedroom chamber, his darkened eyes narrowed in a glower.
He muttered something in Lykonian native tongue, before clearing a path through the witnesses who were clearly expecting favorable news, but were once again met with disappointment.
The two men in front dashed into the chamber, where a blonde haired woman, sat by the edge of the bed, crying into the arms of an older woman. The older woman had long curly streaks of silver hair, that cascaded down her back, down to her knees.
Once their gazes fell to the patch of red on the sheets, they instantly knew the situation and stormed outside to harshly dismiss the entourage.
Before long, the news of yet another miscarriage reached the ears of the entire castle.
And with it, came the news of the King's engagement.
"What? Mated to a wolf? That's impossible!" Lyra spat out, staring incredulously at her mate.
"The Alpha made the decision about a month ago." Beta Riven huffed, his tired gaze fixed on Lyra's pink nipples. He would've gained pleasure watching her undress, but his thoughts were plagued with much bigger problems.
"Is it because of the miscarriage?" She asked, tossing a blue gown over her head.
"That was the deciding factor. But I think he accepted the offer in a fit of rage." Riven shook his head.
"But-" before she could say another word, their bedroom door was pushed open and in came Gamma Cormac, panic drawn across his face.
"Cormac you bastard-"
"The bloody fucks have set fire to our store house!" Cormac yelled, drowning out the Beta's voice.
Consequently, the scent of smoke and flames wafted through the air.
Beta Riven and his mate, Lyra exchanged quick glances with each other, passing all knowing looks.
"The rebels." Lyra gasped.