Chapter 2 Two Weeks Before The Wedding

DAPHNE

It has been a slow morning here at the office. Most days as a data analyst are quiet, full of spreadsheets and patterns. But today, my thoughts can't settle, not when Natalie is still missing.

I stare at the open journal on my desk, reading the same words over and over again, but they make no sense. I let out a sigh, heavy and tired, wondering what Natalie is trying to tell me.

7 may 2025

Ezekiel Hawthorne

That's all she left behind before she disappeared. No calls, no messages, just this written on one page of the journal. I flip through it again, hoping I missed something. A hidden clue, perhaps, a secret message. But there's nothing, just blank pages.

Natalie has never gone missing like this before. She always tells me when she's leaving, especially when she goes off exploring different corners of the universe. But this time, it's different, and it scares me that I don't know what it means.

I glance at the picture frame on my desk. It's a photo of me and Natalie, taken the day I was finally released as collateral to the humans. I remember that day so clearly. I was just five years old when I was handed over, offered as a peace token between witches and humans. They called it a symbol of harmony.

Natalie was the daughter of the human caregiver assigned to me. She became my first and only friend. I can still picture the first time we met, how she smiled at me, grabbed my hand and snuck us out of that cold, quiet house. We laughed like we had known each other for a long time.

Where on earth are you, Natalie?

"Daphne." A husky voice cuts through my thoughts, I recognize the voice. It's Peter, my coworker. I turn around to face him. "Your aunt is here."

Aunt? I almost say I don't have an aunt until I see who he's talking about.

Drusilla. She's not my aunt, she's my Father's aide, a full-blooded witch. Why is she here?

She waves at me like we're close. My jaw tightens. I hate it when witch business crosses into my human life. Here, I'm not Daphne Viremont. I'm just Daphne. Just human.

Peter gives me a polite smile before walking off, leaving me to deal with Drusilla on my own.

"What are you doing here?" I gnaw.

"Your father requests your presence." She replies, leaning against my desk. She lowers her head, trying to peek at the journal I've left open.

I snap it shut before she can read a single word.

"Why does he want to see me?" I ask, folding my arms. "I thought he forgot he even had a daughter."

Ever since she chose to stay with the humans, her father never reached out to her.

"Ask him yourself." Drusilla says, clearly bored. She's not interested in small talk and I'm not interested in speaking to her either.

Peter walks over just then, holding a tray with two steaming cups. "Coffee for you and your aunt." He annouces cheerfully.

Before I can correct him, something happens.

Drusilla, oh fuck her, lifts her eyes toward one of the cups. It slides off the tray and floats smoothly into her hand.

Peter gasps. The tray slips from his hands and crashes to the floor. "What the hell did your Aunt just do?"

I glare at her. "Look at what you've done. Erase his memory now." I snap.

She sighs and rolls her eyes like I'm the one being difficult. God, I hate her.

"Peter, is it?" She says lazily, locking eyes with him. Her voice drops into a slow, smooth rhythm. "You didn't see anything."

"Yes." Peter answers, already under her spell. Then he blinks, confused. "I bought coffee, huh?" He looks down at the mess on the floor. "When did it fall from my hand?"

"Let's go." I say, slipping the journal into my bag. I don't trust Drusilla not to cause more trouble. One more mistake, and my carefully built life as a normal human might fall apart.

She stands up from my desk, still sipping her coffee. "Goodbye, Peter." She huns sweetly, handing the cup to him. "I enjoyed the coffee." And with that, we leave my office.

***

We arrive Velwyn Heights, the witch kingdom. It's been a decade since I last stepped foot here. I take a moment to look around, the familiar coldness of this place settling into my bones.

We enter my Father's chamber and he's in a deep conversation with few of his subjects. He gives me a small nod when he sees me, then continue talking like I'm not even there.

Without waiting for an invitation, I take a seat. He finally dismisses his subjects. Good. I have no intentions of staying here any longer than I have to. This place holds nothing but bad memories.

My Father clears his throat as he walks over. Looking at him up close, I notice that wrinkles on his face. He's aging.

"How have you been, Daphne?" He asks, lowering himself into the seat across from me.

"As I've always been." I reply, crossing my legs in a crude manner. "Why did you call me?" I ask, skipping the fake pleasantries.

Father lets out a long sigh before he finally speaks. "You've probably heard about the alliance between the witches and the werewolves." His voice is dry and tired. "The Alpha and I have agreed to make peace."

I tilt my head, a little surprised. "Max agreed to peace?" I ask, my voice full of disbelief. Max, the Alpha I know of, hates witches. He's our number one enemy, he is brutal, violent, and ruthless. He never misses a chance to spill witch blood.

"No." Father answers, shaking his head. "The new Alpha." He says it like it's something I should have known, but unfortunately, I don't. I've been too busy with my life among humans to keep track of werewolf politics.

"There's a new Alpha? What happened to Max?"

"He's dead. The new Alpha killed him. You know their tradition, kill the Alpha, become the Alpha."

I mouth a silent oh and lean back in my chair, still wondering how this information relates to why I'm here.

"The new Alpha is of true royal blood." Father continues. He is stronger, smarter, and far more dangerous than Max ever was. And with the human dignitaries supporting him, he has the power to wipe us out completely. I had to sign the peace summit for the sake of our people."

"Okay." I say slowly, already losing interest in the political drama. "So why am I...."

"There's going to be a wedding." He cut me off.

"And what does that have to do with me?"

"It has everything to do with you, because you're the bride." He says calmly.

I sit up straight, staring at him. "You've got to be kidding me."

"I'm not." Father firmly say. "You're the princess, it's your duty to protect our people. If you don't do this, there will be war."

I scoff. "Do I look like I care?"

"Daphne Viremont!" He snaps.

I shoot up from my seat, anger burning in my chest. "You're doing it again, throwing me away, just like you did when I was five. You gave me up then, and now you're doing it all over again." My hands are shaking. "I won't let you use me."

He says nothing, but I can see it in his eyes. He will always choose the kingdom over me. He always has.

"And for the record, it's Daphne Jackson." That's the name I took after I was adopted by Natalie's mother. That's who I am in the human world. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have more important things to do." Like finding Natalie.

But just as I turn to reach for the door, Father speaks again.

"Ezekiel Hawthorne." He calls. "He's really dangerous."

I freeze.

Slowly, I turn back to face him. "Ezekiel Hawthorne?" I repeat. It's the same name written on Natalie's journal.

"Yes." Father replies. "He's the new Alpha."

Suddenly, everything clicks into place. The date in Natalie's journal, the name... It wasn't random, it was a warning.

"If I don't give him a bride before the day ends." Father continues. "He'll take it as a sign that we're not serious about peace. The lives of our people depend on this."

I don't even think twice.

"I'll marry him."

Father looks stunned.

"I'll be the Alpha's bride."