Chapter 5 The Premise

INDY

"Okay, so this is really happening," I muttered, finally coming to accept everything. I realized I hadn't looked at myself just yet, so I went to the bathroom, which once again felt larger than my past apartment, and turned on the lights.

A figure stared back at me, making me flinch instantly.

The girl staring back at me had big, artificially curly hair, dark makeup, and a very ill-fitting gown. Seriously! No wonder I was getting lightheaded. Who wears a corset indoors?

Still, her striking features couldn't be hidden. She had a button nose, big light brown eyes, and plump, pink lips. Her skin was more on the olive side, and her hair appeared to have natural highlights.

Reaching for my back, I quickly unraveled the corset, sighing in relief when I could finally breathe properly. Then, I went to the shower and turned on the heater to its full capacity, making sure to wash everything off. I didn't mind how the water slightly scalded my skin. I felt like I needed to go through a deep cleanse.

A couple of minutes later, I emerged from the shower and wiped off the fog that had accumulated on the mirrors. The girl stared back at me again, and this time, I couldn't help but smile.

"Better," I muttered.

Despite Lucinda having a sharp personality, her face was anything but. She had rounder features and was more on the cute side, so she used dark makeup and loud hair to match her personality. However, she looked much better like this. Or maybe it was because I actually saw my past self in her image.

I wrapped my hair in a towel and went to the closet, once again flinching at the choice of clothing. My eyes scanned for the simplest pair of pajamas and quickly placed them on my body.

Once I was completely dressed, I rummaged through the drawers until I found what I was looking for.

"Aha," I smiled, grabbing a notebook and a pen. I opened it quickly but stopped when I saw the poems that Lucinda had written. I paused for a while and read the contents.

"They're all about Rome," I muttered, shaking my head.

Yeah, this girl was completely obsessed. I quickly ripped out the pages and threw them in the trash. That obsession needs to change from now on.

With that, I wrote something on the top of the blank page-The Wolf Prince and the White Rose.

The idea came to me like a fever dream. I was literally running a fever when I wrote it. Werewolf tropes were still trending, and I decided to try out my luck once more.

On the same evening, Romanov Windsor and Clara Saint were born.

Their story was set in the werewolf country of Algard, where the royal family Windsor ruled. Algard was composed of multiple packs; however, they all bowed to the royal family of Windsor. They were given that title because they were a family of True Alphas. The Windsors were born leaders-the chosen ones by the Moon Goddess. Their strength was instinctive, making their authority unquestioned. Even when they married into other packs, their children were always Alphas. It was written into the world itself.

Below the royals were the packs, divided into Alphas, Betas, and Omegas. I'd written Alphas as powerful and respected, Omegas as cherished and protected. Betas... Betas were ordinary. They were useful but replaceable. It was cruel, looking back, but at the time, I was tired of stories where only Omegas suffered. I made Betas the overlooked ones instead.

Lucindabella Pendragon was a Beta.

She belonged to one of the most important families in the country, second only to the royal house itself. The Court of the Justiciar, the COJ, existed to keep the royal family and the packs in check. They oversaw laws, disputes, and abuses of power.

Lucinda's grandfather, Dragon Pendragon, had been legendary. It was already evident in his name. He was the one who had introduced the Wolf King and Queen in the first place, a match that had turned into genuine love. Because of that, the Windsors owed the Pendragons a debt they never quite repaid.

When Dragon died, Lucinda's father, Gideon Pendragon, took his place. He was just as capable and admired. His children were powerful too-gifted with sharp senses and dominant auras.

Lucinda was the odd one out.

She was born a Beta with ordinary senses and no natural authority. She grew up knowing she wasn't enough, no matter how important her last name was. And when she met Romanov Windsor for the first time, that insecurity latched onto him like a lifeline.

Rome was powerful and destined to rule. In Lucinda's mind, Rome was the perfect man for her. She fell in love at first sight and hadn't turned back since.

Rome never saw her that way. In fact, he hated how obsessive she was and how hard she tried to get his attention.

That resentment only deepened after his mother died. Queen Faith Windsor was killed by Bronson Pendragon-Lucinda's uncle, the family's disgrace. Dragon Pendragon had exiled him himself, but it didn't matter. Blood was blood. Rome was young when it happened but old enough to remember the grief and learn hatred.

From that moment on, the Pendragon name was tainted in his eyes.

Lucinda, desperate and stubborn, only pushed harder.

When she turned twenty-one, she discovered their mate bond. Fate itself had tied her to Rome. Rome was twenty-five then. The bond felt like another trap to him.

However, Lucinda was quickly arranged to marry Rome, spearheaded by her father. The Wolf King agreed, cornered by his debt to the late Pendragon. Although Rome never consented, he endured the mandate of his father.

That was when the story truly turned dark.

Lucinda tried everything to win him over through pressure and manipulation. Eventually, she became even more obsessive. I didn't shy away from it when I wrote it. I made her cruel, obsessive, and impossible to defend. I needed a villain, and I made sure she earned the role.

Then Clara Saint arrived three months into their engagement.

Clara was poor, gentle, and burdened with responsibility far too young. She was the same age as Lucinda but was much wiser. She worked to support her younger brothers and never asked for more than she needed. I wrote her as warmth in a cold world. She didn't fall into Rome's arms immediately. Their love grew slowly, and Lucinda stood in the way of all of it.

The story revolved around Rome and Clara trying to escape her influence, her family, and the power of the Court of the Justiciar. It was painful and full of longing and angst.

No wonder the readers complained constantly. It was truly a frustrating read. Just when they thought everything would finally get resolved, I found a way for the main characters to suffer again.

I closed my eyes and exhaled.

"Yeah," I muttered. "I deserve every curse."

Now that I was here, knowing all of this, one thing was clear-if I followed the original path, I would die a painful death.

However, that didn't have to be the case.

I know the challenges that Rome and Clara would face, and I can help them avoid it. I'll make sure that they have the sweetest love story by staying as far as possible.

I nodded to myself, determined with this resolution.

With that, I need to accomplish the first step.

Breaking off the engagement.