Chapter 5 The Engagement

Aella

Still at the river side, I decided to wait for my mate, he promised to come back. All I had to do was wait, right?

Cutting off some leaves and gathering branches from the trees, I decided to make a bed.

The bed took me roughly one hour to complete, I grinned at my work, good thing the river side was clear of bugs and the like.

I lay on the bed, watching the bright shining light of stars. I wondered if my mum was watching me from the bosom of the moon goddess.

My face felt hot, something was biting into my skin, opening my eyes I winced as my eyes blinked open. The sun had already risen, its orange rays were hot on my face.

Grimacing I stood, my face fell as I realized a painful truth, my second chance mate had abandoned me, just like my mother and every other person in my life.

Bracing myself for Andrea and Lilith's scorn, I returned to my father's house, even though they made it painfully obvious that I was an unwanted person in the mansion, they haven't abandoned me.

I knocked two quiet raps on the door. The door croaked open, Abuela's eyes widened as she saw me.

"Oh child. Where have you been, I was so worried." She hugged me as she spoke.

Warmth enveloped my heart, "I slept off by the river Abuela" I said, not wanting her to worry.

She stepped aside and I entered, "Aella" she called quietly.

I turned, "they're waiting for you" she said, her eyes filled with pity.

I nodded with a smile, "I'll be fine." I reassured her.

Walking into the living room with a small steps, Lilith seated on her usual chair, scrolling on her phone sneered as she saw me

"Guess who decided to come back?" she mocked.

Andrea and Beta Andrew turned immediately, their attention drawn to me by her words.

"Good morning." I said quietly

"And where are you coming from," Beta Andrew said coldly.

"I told you she whores herself around, this should be enough confirmation right" Andrea chirped.

Beta Andrew's eyes darkened as he approached me, he raised his hands, I shut my eyes waiting for the impact, this wasn't the first time he took his anger out on me. He'd done it a year after I got here and I ended up bed ridden the first time.

The impact never came, opening my eyes I saw Antares, 'my supposed fiance' stopping him.

"It's bad luck to hit a bride on her wedding day," he said.

"Bride? What wedding?" I uttered, confused.

"Since you've decided to whore yourself around to the pack, we decided to shift your wedding, before you'll bring shame to dad." Lilith snickered.

"What?" I shouted.

Antares looked at me calmly, without saying a word, something flickered in his eyes, too fast before I could see what it was.

"Your wedding is today." Beta Andrew said.

Tears streamed down my face, at the absurdity of my father's words. "Papa" I cried out.

"How could you?" I whispered.

He closed his eyes "I'm doing this for your own good, one day you'll understand." He said.

"No" I shouted out, "I won't marry a man old enough to be my father" I said, wiping off the tears from my face with the back of my house.

"As you told me last night. You don't have a say in this" he said.

"What are you going to do? Drag me down the altar?" I bit back, I won't let them take away the only thing I had left.

"How dare you rebel against your parents" Andrea charged at me, Antares stepped in front of me, shielding me from her fury.

"No one hits my bride," he said again. I looked at him gratefully, no one had ever protected me from them but I refused to marry my father's dog.

He reached out his hand towards me, I took a step back, his hands stopped halfway. "Please" I was pleased looking into his eyes.

"I'm sorry, one day you'll understand." He removed his eyes, stepping back.

"Take her," he said.

Two rough hands grabbed me, I thrashed around, when did they come behind me.

"No,no,no, please. Father no" I screamed as they dragged me away, I dug my heels into the floor, but they pulled me, my human-like strength couldn't rival a wolf's.

They dragged me to a part of the house I had never seen. Chains rattled as we entered, the chains bit into my skin as they caged me tightly, sat me on a chair and left.

I snarled at the makeup artist who entered, tears filled my eyes, but she ignored me, her nose wrinkled and scrunched in disgust as though the very air offended her.

I was primed and dragged out of the house by male omegas, my heart hammered in my chest with each step I was forced to take towards the pack grounds. They were really forcing me to do this.

Getting to the pack grounds, Crux sat at the head table in the open space, other pack members surrounded him in a big circle, they were here and probably excited to doom me.

I locked eyes with Crux, his face lacked expression, he turned away, ignoring me, Lilith sat by his right hand.

Antares stood at the center of the crowd, waiting. I dug my heels into the grounds, thrashing harder as they pulled me.

"I have a mate, I have a mate" I screamed as I sighted the pack elders, Crux shot me a warning look but I ignored him, they stopped and looked at the elders for their verdict.

"Continue, she'll say anything to get out of this" Crux ordered.

They resumed pulling, towards Antares who only watched, waiting for his bride.

Looking at their cruel faces, all looking expectant and eager to force the union, I closed my eyes in resignation, biting my tongue. I would rather die than accept this.

As my vision began to blur, the air around me thickened, the scent of sweet honey dew mixed with musk clouded my senses.

Then I heard a deep loud voice growl loudly,

"How dare you touch my mate."