Chapter 3 The Forced Marriage

Chapter 3: The Forced Marriage

Melissa's POV

Except for the steady clopping of hooves on the dirt road, the trip to the Silverhowl Pack was lengthy and quiet. Selene smirked smugly next to my father, who sat stiffly in his chair, staring straight ahead. I had the impression that I was being led to my death like a prisoner.

"Please, Father," I said, my voice breaking. "This is not required of you. I'm free to remain here. I'll put in more effort for the pack.

"Enough, Melissa! My father's tone was cold as he snapped. "This cannot be discussed. For us to survive, our alliance with Alpha Damon is essential.

My eyes filled with tears. But why me? Selene, why not? Isn't she your pride and joy?"

Selene laughed, her tone full of derision. "Because I am more valuable than being used as a negotiating chip."

With desperation gnawing at me, I turned back to my father and said, "I am your daughter. How can you treat me like this?"

Without even looking at me, he remarked icily, "You're a burden, Melissa." "The Ambersy Pack will only ever be able to use you in this manner."

The words struck me more forcefully than any punch. I bit my lip to contain my tears as I slid back into my chair. I had tried to build a relationship with him for years, but it had only ever been a fantasy.

The imposing gates loomed like a beast's teeth, ready to suck me whole as we neared the Silverhowl area.

With the accuracy of a predator assessing its prey, Alpha Damon's sharp grey eyes peered at me from the door of his packhouse. I felt my skin crawl because he was tall, had sharp features, and exuded a sense of deliberate threat.

This is the girl, then? He inquired in a chilly, disinterested tone.

My father stepped forward and replied, "Yes." "Your wife will be Melissa." Both of us will gain from this partnership.

After staring at me for a while, Damon looked at my father. "We'll check to see if she's worth the hassle."

Knowing better than to upset him, I kept my head down despite the burning anger and shame inside of me.

Damon eventually turned to face me as they went over the details of the agreement: "Melissa, you will abide by my regulations. Here, disobedience is not tolerated.

I looked him in the eye and spoke in a firm but tremulous tone. "Alpha Damon, I'm not a pawn in your schemes."

He laughed, but the sound was empty of warmth. "You'll quickly discover where you fit in."

I got chills from what he said. That's when I understood it would be much harder than I thought to get out of this nightmare.

I spotted my opportunity to escape that evening as the Silverhowl Pack became accustomed to their routines. Although the packhouse was large, I had committed the routes to memory when we first arrived.

I moved stealthily along the hallways, my heart thumping with every step, staying in the shadows. I was only a few yards from freedom when I was stopped in my tracks by a deep growl.

Out of the shadows came two warriors, their amused eyes shining. "Are you going somewhere? One of them made fun of it.

They grabbed me by the arms before I could go and pulled me back to the main hall, where Damon was waiting with a puzzled and amused look on his face.

"Did you truly believe you could get away? His tone was dangerously calm as he questioned.

I gave him a fierce look as I said, "You can't keep me here against my will."

Damon took a step toward me and stared at me coldly. "I want to clarify something, Melissa. Disobedience has repercussions.

He pointed to one of the fighters, who took hold of my wrist and gave it a slight twist, causing me to scream.

"Cease! With tears running down my cheeks, I yelled.

Damon grinned. It served as a warning. It will get worse the next time.

My heart heaving with dread, I clutched my hurting wrist as the warriors let go of me. For the first time, I felt completely helpless as the walls of this jail appeared to close in around me.

The next morning, I sat by my designated room's window and gazed out into the desolate Silverhowl region. It was all too much-the betrayal, the rejection, and now this forced marriage.

I was surprised by a knock on the door, and Selene came in with her smug smirk still on her face.

"You look terrible," she replied in a joyful tone. Being Damon's little puppet isn't as glamorous as you had imagined, I suppose.

"What brings you here? My voice was flat as I asked.

"Just checking in," she responded in a derisive tone. "I wanted to make sure you weren't causing any trouble, per Father."

Her eyes gleamed with venom as she leaned closer. "Melissa, you should be aware that nobody is coming to your aid. No one, not even Kane. You're all by yourself.

I didn't want her to realize how hurt I was by what she said.

I experienced an odd, nearly undetectable fluttering sensation in my stomach as she was leaving. I initially assumed it was anxiety, but as the sensation intensified, a warmth crept into my very being.

When the knowledge dawned on me, panic struck. Is it possible...?

"No," I muttered, resting a quivering hand on my stomach.

I felt the blood drain from my face as the recollection of that night with Kane rushed forward. This cannot be taking place. Not right now. Not in this place.

My eyes became blurry with tears as I struggled to accept the reality. Everything would change if I became pregnant, and not always in a positive way.

Melissa glanced at her shaking hands, her breath catching. The reality hung over her like a storm cloud, and the feeling in her stomach was not deceiving.

Expecting a child.

Her thoughts were full of worries and questions. If Kane learned, what would he do? Was Damon going to turn this against her? And in this harsh, brutal environment, how would she defend herself and her child?

Damon's keen ears heard the smallest hint of her cries, which were hidden outside her door. As he turned away, his lips formed a cunning smile, his mind already formulating his next course of action.

Melissa had only just begun her struggle for independence, even though she was unaware of it at the time.