Chapter 2 Spoken for

"Aurora!?" A voice boomed and I ran into my mother's room immediately, she did not like waiting for anything.

However, she was not alone, King Medus and his two sons were there with him. Lucian glared at me while Marcus bowed his head slightly. He was such a gentleman. Lucian on the other hand could go to hell. He probably belonged there anyway.

"Sorry. Did I disturb?" I asked, trying to catch my breath.

"No you did not. Uhm we have a great news to share with you and the princes here. Please sit beside them." My mother signalled towards the princes. They seemed equally confused about what was going on.

"There has been a proposition to unite the kingdoms. A fantastic proposition that will accomplish what our ancestors could not. Terra and Persus will be one." My mother said with a gleam in her eyes that I could simply not read. What was she upto?

"You are to marry Prince Marcus and unite the kingdom!" She exclaimed, taking the breath away from my chest. I had to blink a few times to make sure my eyes were not escaping my head.

"I... I..."

"You are honored I presume?" She asked with a raised brow that was a subtle threat.

" I... of course. It... It is an honor." I said and looked hesitantly towards prince Marcus who did not seem very pleased but said nothing nonetheless. I don't think he wanted to marry me...

Why? What was wrong with me? Did he have an issue with me?

Frowning to myself I almost did not notice Lucian snickering in the corner. Something was up.

"It is my honor as well." Marcus agreed through grit teeth.

"We will have the engagement tomorrow." King Medus beamed.

"Tomorrow?! That is...." I realised my mother was glaring at me and calmed myself down, "That is rather short notice. How will the preparations be made?"

"Don't worry yourself about that. You are about to be the queen of the city. Concern yourself with your duties. You and Prince Marcus shall began training for the royal duties after the engagement. You are not to meet before." My mother warned and I nodded, needing time to digest all of this.

I didn't care what the brothers thought, for now I needed one person. My best friend- Bella.

She wasn't a royal werewolf but a commoner, we had met on one of the walks I took which my mother rarely allowed. I was a person who was mostly locked up at home. My mother was rather strict in that matter. She was not a bad mother but... she cared too much. That's all.

Bella was a seamstress and stitched my gown for many parties. She was there for me when my father passed away and when I would feel too lonely. The only way to get to her was to sneak out of the palace. The only plus point to living on your own in a large palace? You get to explore it and find things that no body even knows exists!

I had found a tunnel, hiding amongst the wine cellars in the basement. It led out to the city and was close enough to Bella's house that I could sneak around without getting caught.

Nothing and no one could help me understand how to prepare for this like she could!

"YOU'RE GETTING ENGAGED!?"

"Stop shouting!?"

"You're getting engaged!?" She whispered excitedly and held my hand, "Can I stich your engagement dress?" The redhead bounced on her bed. Her usually messy hair even messier than ever.

"unless you can do it in a few hours then no. Its tomorrow." I sighed and slumped back onto the pillows of which she had way too many.

"Oh I can. I made it a year ago." She grinned deviously and ran to her closet

"Wh... what?" I sat up, my face turning cold.

"I made it when you turned eighteen. I knew your crazy mother would make you get married before you touched 21." She laughed.

"Hey..." I said seriously and she apologised for calling my mother crazy.

Pulling out a large bundle of what seemed to be blue velvet she laid the bundle on my bed gleefully. I gingerly unwrapped the velvet and gasped. The pink tinged gold flowing skirt and the jewel encrusted corset top with its flowy sleeves and the gold white cape.

" how did you... How did you even make this? It must have cost a fortune. Thank you so much! You must let me pay for it!" I asked, tears brimming my eyes.

"Oh shush, can't I even do that for my best friend? But I would need time to stitch the wedding dress if your mother would allow it."

"I don't think she cares what I wear as long as I show up and marry Marcus. I don't think he wants to marry me."

"Why? He's getting the strongest and most beautiful princess in the province" She frowned.

"I don't know. I don't think I have a choice. Will you come to the engagement?" I asked hopefully. It would be good to see a supportive face there. Not that my mother wasn't supportive she just... had other priorities.

"Of course! I'll disguise myself as one of your maids." She grinned and hugged me, "Don't worry. Everything will be fine. He will marry you and realize you're the best thing that he could have gotten."

"Thank you."I smiled, burying my face in her oversized shirt that somehow always smelled of flowers.

And she wasn't wrong. Because when I woke up the next morning, I was excited for the night. Butterflies ran through me as I thought about the fact that I was getting engaged. As someone locked up in a castle for so long this was the most exciting thing to happen for me! I had always been told that this was my destiny. Marry a prince and become a queen. No studies or skills were needed to be a wife and be bed by a king as per my mother. Although by insistence of Bella I had learned a few skills and picked up a few things from the scholars of mother's court.

As I pranced around the room getting ready, I was taken care of by my maids who I had for years but wasn't allowed to talk to. They got me ready for the engagement, taking their time and braiding my white- silver hair elaborately. Although we were not allowed to talk to one another, there was a look of solidarity and worry in their eyes that put me on edge. Why were they worried? Why weren't they happy for me?

They must have something else on their mind, I convinced myself and kept with it. The gown was beautiful, the jewelled corset ended at my navel and the skirt began at my hips, ending at my ankles. My olive skin was prepared by the finest of the lotions and creams and I was glowing by the time the maids were done with me.

I watched as they all filed out, smiling and yet their eyes still had that same... worry.

Feeling a bit more on edge I played with the tip of my nail, almost peeling it. Was something wrong? Wasn't this a historical day for the cities? I was marrying the prince of Terra and uniting the kingdoms! Then why did I feel this sense of dread?

The light of the moon shone down through my window and I stared up at the beautiful white moon, " I am scared, please show me that this is what is destined for me."

"Princess Aurora you are summoned." The guard outside my door called and I stood up, muttering a prayer to the moon before I stepped outside. The cape was drawn over my head and I could not see. This was custom as I wasn't to see the face of my betrothed till the moon had blessed this union. I shuffled along till we reached the courtyard. I couldn't see anything besides my feet but I hoped it was well decorated. I felt the guard leave and stopped in my steps. A softer yet firmer hand held mine. My mother's.

"Don't react." She whispered and I frowned as I couldn't understand what she was saying.

However I dared not react. She was not the most patient.

I was led up the stairs to the helm that would lead into the palace and my hand was given to a mans hand. It was Marcus of course. His face was covered as well and he was led the same way that I was. His hand was sleek and he held my hand as if he would let go of it in any second. But I could not focus on that. My stomach began to churn and I felt as if something was wrong.

The priest began to chant and the crowd howled along with him. I could not tell how long he spoke for but I could feel my head sway as cold sweat covered my face. I held on a little tighter to the hands that held mine, trying not to fall. Thankfully Marcus held on to me tight as well. He probably understood that I wasn't very well.

"Moon Goddess, do you bless this union?" The priest thundered and I was shook out of my state as a jolt of electricity ran through me and him as well. We both clutched on to each other as intense moonlight flooded everything around us. The moon was pleased with this!

The worry left my stomach as I knew the moon would never do anything to harm me. I smiled as I was asked to let go of Marcus.

"You may behold your mate."

I took off my cape and the world under me felt like it was made of water.

There stood Lucian, his dark hair and green eyes staring straight back at me. The smile fell off of my face and I could do nothing but gape at him, the crowd gasped and began to mutter amongst themselves. Lucian bent his head slightly, pained at the reaction.

Slowly willing myself I turned to see my mother who was staring at me and telling me to smile. Smiling was the last thing on my mind.

"I present to you, citizens of Persus and Terra- the princess Aurora, our future Luna and Prince Lucian- Our Alpha King."

The crowd reluctantly cheered us but I stood staring at the man who couldn't even look me in the eye again.

He held my hand and turned me towards the crowd where I saw Bella with tears in her eyes standing at the edge of the small crowd of the cities elites. They had tricked me. This is why she had asked me not to react.

Fighting tears, I smiled softly and bowed as did he. As soon as we walked past the crowd, I flung his hand off of mine and ran to my room, tears streaming down my face. He did not run behind me but I knew one person did.

I had almost made it to my room when my hair was pulled back and pain seared through my head.

"Ah!" I cried out but the hand of my mother clasped my mouth.

"Not a word." She growled, "Go back down."

I shook my head, wincing as her nails dug into my skin.

"I said. Go back. Down. You will suck it up and play the part of the queen do you understand?" Her usually vivid blue eyes almost seemed white and on fire. Fear coursed through my veins and I truly believed that If I did not do it, she would hurt me.

Digging her metal tipped nails of the other hand into my stomach she warned, "I am fed up of you. Become their queen and conceive a child with Lucian and make him the heir. Do you understand?"

I nodded, writhing in pain as her nail pierced the skin, "Please..." I managed to mutter and she finally let me go.

"Get yourself gathered and join us." She huffed, adjusting her dress as she walked away.

Kneeling down to a slump on the corridor, I looked up at the moon, "Why did you do this to me? I thought you were supposed to do what was best for us? Lucian? He... He's a freak!"

Of course, the moon did not reply and I had to get up, adjusting my hair and dress. The hem of it barely covered the cuts on my stomach and I tried adjusting it so it did. My face was hurting from how hard my mother held it but I didn't care. Nothing much mattered in this moment.

I trudged my way down to the engagement where everyone was talking and dancing on cheerily in spite of my life crashing down around me.

Lucian stood there with his smug stupid face, looking as me as I walked towards him, he held out his hand and I knew if I didn't take it, my mother would hurt me.

I took it.

"Hello love." He smirked and tugged me as close to him as possible, "I was just admiring the decorations."

"Did you do this on purpose?" I asked in a whisper so no one could hear us.

"Marcus didn't want you so..." he shrugged.

"As if you do." I stared up at him while the man began to sway with me to the music. I did NOT want to dance but... what choice did I have?

"You don't know what I want." Was his cryptic answer which confused me even more. Lucian hugged me and began to sway with me as the crowd cheered for us.

"I hate you." I whispered.

Lucian chuckled and raised my chin up to look at him, "I'll live."