"The Alpha Prince married the slave, and they lived happily ever after."

Bullshit.

If someone had said that fairy tale to me when I was young, I would have believed it without batting an eye. But I couldn't say the same thing now, watching my husband forget I existed because he found his mate.

We built our life together for five years – hell, was it already six? But it took one second to destroy it all because of one woman. The same one who replaced me when I disappeared—more to say kidnapped by rogues—taking my father, my life, and now, my husband.

I despise her with a fierce intensity. How can I not despise someone like her? She's blessed by the Gods, exquisitely beautiful, even a flower would be ashamed to bloom in her presence. While I, each time I glance in the mirror, am reminded of the ugly scar that marks me as an outsider in a world that values only beauty.

My fingers itched to wrap them around her lovely neck and twist it like a rope but that would be the death of me. I have to live even if it's more painful than death itself. It's not like I'm a masochist, I just have no choice but to breathe and suffer.

"By the power vested in me, I now declare Alpha Damien and Lady Elena as husband and wife. May the Goddess Phoebe bestow her blessings upon your union."

I flinched. It almost slipped my mind that I was still inside a sacred place, witnessing my husband's wedding. If this act is not a death sentence itself, then I don't know what I could call this. Good thing I wore a veil or else every soul present would have guessed that I wanted to set fire on everything, along the couple at the altar.

My husband and Elena's lips touched. I looked away, not wanting to see more. I shouldn't have attended the ceremony in the first place, but doing so would only prove that the rumors are true; I harbor grudges against his wife. Of course, it's true, but it's something I don't wish everyone to know. In this world where polygamy is as simple as breathing, there's nothing I can do but let him have a concubine.

"Prepare yourself for the sacred union tonight. Be on time. Don't make the married couple wait."

My mother-in-law's voice broke through my bubble of thoughts. Her face is devoid of emotion. Her tone sounded the same when she talked to the servants. We live in the same house and yet, even five years later, she still hadn't embraced me as a family member.

"I am ready, mother," I responded with a composed tone, though inside my thoughts were in turmoil and I wanted to lash out at her.

"Don't do anything harsh tonight, Celine. Don't make Damien hate you more."

"I heed you, mother."

—

The crimson moon was at its peak. It glared back at me from the gigantic window as though mocking me for having to put up with this mess.

I lost track of how long my knees have been touching the floor, but it was clear it had been a long time since I could no longer feel the part where my thighs and legs are joined.

The servants lit the incense and I forced back the cough wanting to burst out of my lips. My head spun but I steeled myself. Keep kneeling. I repeated the words like a mantra until the cramps assaulting my legs became one with the numbness.

The door opened. Instead of relief, another emotion took over, this time it's a vile feeling, acting like a poison eating me inside.

I didn't look up because I wasn't supposed to. But I could hear everything; tearing of clothes, loud, labored breathing, carefree moans, and the bed springs creaking beneath some weight. I could hear them all with deafening clarity.

I had no idea how long I was supposed to endured the torture. Each moan, each word, each movement pierce a hole in my heart. I bled but there wasn't any blood. I cried but there wasn't any sound.

My vision should have been pale gold, like the candles lit around the bed, or perhaps black, like the corners where the light couldn't reach. It wasn't supposed to be a fiery glow — a tinge of orange and red — that slowly burns the incense to ash. But my vision remained unchanged, no matter how hard I blinked.

"Hmmm… h-harder…"

"F-faster…"

"That felt good."

Fuck this tradition called 'Sacred Union.' I thought to myself, clenching and unclenching my fists. Fucked my ancestors who Invented this tradition. Fucked them all. Isn't punishment enough for a wife to see her husband marry another? Why did she have to endure seeing him have sex with the woman he replaced her with?

I felt like breaking down but I must endure. After this they'd better erect a statue of me, or else I'll burn everything on my path, including everyone in the pack.

Drip. Drip. The sound was faint, barely audible against all the background noise, yet it sounded crystal clear as it hit the ground. I wouldn't have believed I was crying until my palm felt the telltale dampness on my cheeks.

"I'm not crying. This is nothing." Those were the words I repeated in my head like a broken record before I heard a different sound. Thump. The sound was heavy, like a big chunk of wood falling to the floor. Only when I closed my eyes did I realize it was the sound of me passing out.

—

"How shameful! I can't believe she fainted during the Sacred Union! What a weakling!"

I could hear the voices beneath my closed eyelids, moocking, taunting. They could laugh all they want until their lungs heats up and bursts, until the corner of their lips tears into a joker smile. I was so tired, I couldn't care less. A woman's display of weakness isn't something another of her kind should be made fun of.

"Hush! lower your voice. The mistress might awaken and hear us!"

"What can discarded trash like her do to the servants of Grand Madam? Don't you think she's far below us now. She should have killed herself."

I was ready to get up and retaliate but the words caught in my throat.

"How dare you, a mere servant, insult The Alpha's first wife! You have no right to speak ill of her!" The voice belonged to my faithful servant, Lyn.

"She will be disposed of soon, that is if she doesn't kill herself first. Sara, let's get out of here before we become afflicted with the slaves' incurable ugliness."

"You—"

The door rattled and slammed shut.

"Mistress, you don't deserve any of this." Lyn sobbed. She collapsed on the floor, head curled on my side. The warmth of her hand pressed against mine felt like a balm, soothing my weary soul. "I'm sorry…"

It wasn't her fault so she shouldn't apologize but even if I tell her that, she'll do the same thing at every opportunity. She's a kind and pure soul, and I fear that the confines of this golden cage may taint and corrupt her true nature one day.

"Lyn?"

"Y-you're awake, My Lady!"

"Are you crying?"

Lyn shook her head, "A d-dust, yes a dust entered my eyes ."

I would have caressed her cheeks, wiped those ugly tears on her eyes, and felt the tenderness of her skin against my palm had I known that I would not get the chance to do it again. But in that moment, blissfully aware of my upcoming doom, I simply gave her a smile.

"Lyn, I know how faithful you've been to me and I want to give you a reward. Freedom. Leave this place before it's too late."

Tears started forming at the corners of her eyes. Lyn was soft and too kind. She wouldn't last in this hellhole filled with scheming bitches. I have to protect her.

"I-I can't, My Lady!"

"But you must!" I told her.

"Please don't send me away… I'm the only one you have… "

Words left me. Lyn was right. She was the only one I had. Even my husband had turned against me. No one was left except her.

"My lady, you just woke up, that's why you're not in your right mind. I'll call the physician to check on you."

The door gently closed, leaving silence in its wake. I closed my eyes, wishing everything was just a dream.

Perhaps I dozed off to sleep, because when my eyes fluttered open, the physician was there, pressing his long, thin hands into my wrists, looking for a vein and pressing some points.

Lyn was there too, standing stiffly in a corner with hands clasped on her chest. I wanna tell her I'm just sick. Not Dying. But I'm too tired to move, much more speak.

The physician cleared his throat. I turned to him, wondering why he had that deep frown carved in his forehead. I was prepared to hear the worst. The word dying, wouldn't even move my eyebrows an inch.

"My Lady….you're carrying the Alpha's baby."