Chapter 1 GETTING MARRIED TO MY GRANDFATHER'S AGE MATE

My father died while I was just a pup.

From the little I remembered of him, he was an alpha who loved war so much that he rarely spent a day with his pack members. I also remembered that he detested the sight of me and wouldn't even speak to my mother. I didn't miss him when he passed away. How can I miss the father I never knew?

After my father's death, his half-brother took control of the pack and of course, my wealth. According to what I was told, my grandmother had a stillborn and then died after. It was her second pregnancy, and my father was the result of the first. So my grandfather got married to a She-wolf from a neighboring pack. She was of great affluence and well-sought by powerful he-wolves of her time. The union produced a pub. His name was Damon.

My growing up under Damon can only be described with one word. Horrible!

He locked me and my mother up in our side of the fortress, forbade us from leaving our little prison, and we only survived on the remnants from his table.

I met my mate when I was fifteen. He came along with some workers to attend to some malfunctioning gadgets on my side of the fortress.

He was a tall and good-looking he-wolf, and he spoke kindly and looked at me affectionately.

His appearance changed everything in me. A new kind of dream for freedom. At last, I will be escaping my horrible home. Not even the thought of my mother's loneliness will make me stay.

But my half-uncle rejected my mate. He was a he-wolf of lowly birth and had neither wealth nor land to his name.

I was all angry and wouldn't take no for an answer. I cried. Begged that he should change his mind, but his response was the same, no. So we started making plans. We are going to elope. It was a stupid decision made in the rush of emotions. We were caught and my mate was killed while I returned to my little cell.

A day before my eighteen-year-old birthday, my half-uncle called me into his chamber and muttered, "I have good news, my dearest Bella. I have finally found someone good enough for you."

I look at my uncle. Stunned and repelled, but not surprised. He was a man known for his selfishness and shrewdness. "Who is that lucky werewolf, my Lord?"

Damon roared with laughter as he said, "There is still some defiance in you. Well, if you must know, you are getting married to Alpha Gwen."

Alpha Gwen! My eyes almost fell out of their sockets. It would be foolhardy to expect something good from someone as horrible as Damon but this was unexpected. Alpha Gwen was as old as my grandfather and possessed the worst of all reputations.

Damon's face was filled with enthusiasm as he said, "As you are aware, Alpha Gwen is old and has no heir. I was able to convince him that you are filled with male wolves and will give birth by the next ten new moons."

"You are lying. Thousands of she-wolves from his pack will give him what he wants if the goddess deems him worthy of an heir. You must have promised him something more, didn't you?"

"Even though I dislike your impertinent tongue, I shall tell you what you want to hear, " Damon mumbled, grinned, and said after, "I promised to give him half of your wealth as dowry. The alpha is at the point of bankruptcy and only your wealth can save him. And if you must know, I planned to kill him as soon as you became pregnant. You won't have to suffer his presence for very long."

A knowing grin escaped my mouth. "And you think I will help you to achieve all this?"

"You will do exactly what I asked of you."

"And what will you get in return? You are giving away too much."

He laughed dryly now. "All his strong and able pack members. It's time I destroyed the Greenwood pack and brought that proud Baron to his knees."

War again!

Greenwood Pack was the neighbor on the right side of our territory. And we have been rivals for ages. The rivalry started when a high volume of silver was found to be deposited under the mountains of some section of land between the two packs. The land that once belonged to my father before his death.

"I don't want to get involved with your disgusting war."

"Baron had taken over your land. Do you still think it's none of your business?"

"Yes, Damon. You will never give me back the land, will you? Why should I be bothered about who owns it since it can never be mine?"

"Yet still, you will do what I want."

"I won't. I would rather die than spend a night with that disgusting old man."

"Alpha Gwen is not too old, Bella. He is just eighty-eight."

"And I'm just eighteen. He is old enough to be my grandfather."

My half-uncle shrugged and said, "You can die if you like. Your death will give me access to all your wealth. Dead or alive, I will still be making fortunes out of you, but I will make sure your mother suffered enough for thwarting my plan."

"You are an evil man. People like you will die a miserable death and they -."

My voice trailed off when his face darkened and his eyes became red. For a moment, I thought he would strike me, but he didn't. He'd never struck me. All he ever did was burn with rage whenever I annoyed him and then took the anger out on my poor mother.

"Go away, Bella," he said at last. "Your mother will prepare you for your trip to Moonshine Pack, and you will be allowed to leave with a truck filled with your clothes, jewelry, and household items. If you behave yourself, I may even allow you to go with your family maid ."

"Really! Oh, thank Damon. You are the kindest werewolf alive," I said with a voice filled with criticism and a sneering face.

He ignored me, "You are the Greenwich heiress, so I have been more than generous with you. Besides, I don't want to make a niggardly impression or leave any person in doubt of my affection for you. You will leave tonight, and I will be there tomorrow evening to attend your wedding. But your mother will remain here until I'm back. Take note, her head will leave her neck if I find out that you are up to any mischief."

I forced a smile and stared at his emotionless face.

"Well, why don't you say something? No shout or abuse!"

I inhaled heavily. Why should I abuse or shout at you?"

"Oh! That impertinent tone again. Go away then. We will meet at Moonshine Chapel for your wedding."

Back in my section of the villa, my mother held and petted me while I cried, and then she told me that any marriage- even to any man was better than remaining here. She advised me to face it and behave as a lady ought to. With dignity and acceptance. With a smooth, serene countenance.