(Lena's POV)
I woke up with this strange feeling like something bad was about to happen, I felt nervous. The pack seemed too quiet for a regular Saturday morning. Pushing all those feelings aside, I got ready for the day.
There was a knock on the door and for some reasons, my heart pounded.
It was the Luna, my mother. She had a smile on her face and that surprised me, I was used to the ugly looks she usually reserved for me, so this was new, still I felt hope building up, it was stupid to think that she smiling at me meant anything, but still I felt hopeful.
I found it strange that a mother could hate her own child. Her only child.
"Your father wants to have a word with you darling" she said, I didn't miss the pet name, it had been years since she called me any pet names, it felt all wrong, everything about her visit, for once, she was trying to be nice and secondly my father rarely speaks to me, sometimes it was like he wanted to forget he had a child. My parents had wanted a male child, a child that would take over and become the next Alpha, they wanted a child strong and dominant, but instead they got... me; the weak girl, it was a slap to not only my parents but the pack as a whole. I might be the daughter of the alpha, but I would never deceive myself into believing I was accepted here.
So I had every reason to wonder what had been so important that my mother had to put up a fake smile and my father had to stand my presence, usually those falsities were reserved till when we were in public.
"Did I do anything wrong?" I asked, unable to stop the panic from rising. My mother's smile faltered, showing me how hard it was for her to keep up the act.
"Of course not" she answered with her high pitched voice. "On the contrary, we have some good news for you, you would love it"
I doubted that. Anything that was good news to them was horrible news for me.
Still, I followed her to my father's office; I couldn't help but feel more unsettled when I saw the smile on his face too, he rarely smiled, it wasn't his thing and it looked awkward on his face.
"Here, seat Lena" my father said, standing to his feet to take out a chair for me. I sat slowly, something was definitely up.
"Father, I was told you have some news for me?"
"Yes, Lena, I do have some good news and it's not just good for you but for the whole pack, there is an important question I need to ask you. Are you a virgin?"
That question caught me off guard, my face reddened but my father's keen eyes watched me, waiting for my answer.
"I bet she still is, is not like anyone would want her" my mother says, before putting on her fake smile again, "She should be innocent" she corrected her little slip.
"Are you?" My father asked me directly for the second time and I nodded, unable to speak. "That's good Lena, I know you wouldn't lie to your own Alpha"
I waited patiently for the 'good news', I couldn't help but wonder what it would have to do with me being a virgin and why my father was so interested in finding out, he was never one to care about things so private, especially not about me.
"You know we've been having several attacks in this pack for years now" he said slowly as if to make sure I understood each and every word he said, is not like I didn't know our pack was constantly under attack, it was one of the smallest packs and an easy target. He continued. "And you also know that this pack is in so much debts, big time and soon the debtors wouldn't be as considerate anymore, I am sure you've heard of Alpha Damien of the Blood Moon Pack... he is willing to make alliance with us... he wants to help us"
Of course I knew Alpha Damien, every werewolf knew the Alpha, He was feared by all packs, his pack had the strongest soldiers and the best of everything but Damien was cruel, it was rumoured that he had killed his own mate, It wasn't hard to believe, Damien lusted for blood alone. What I couldn't understand was why the most feared Alpha in the world wanted to help us, we had nothing to give in return and Damien was known for being calculative, he never involved himself in anything that didn't give him back good returns.
"What if he has other plans?, Father, how could you trust a man like Damien?"
"I assure you" My father spoke up, "He would have no reason to attack us... not when he is getting married to my own daughter".
(Lena's POV)
It still didn't register in my mind, what exactly did my father mean?
Married?
"This is all some kind of lie, isn't it?" I asked and my mother shook her head.
"That's why you've been summoned here"
"No, it can't be true... father!", I felt the panic rising, I knew my parents didn't like me, but this was too far, exchanging me for money was cruel, even for them too.
"Remember you are doing this for the pack, for all of us, we would be free of the debts we owe the other packs"
"You have no right to marry me off to settle your debts, I'll find my mate...."
My father stood to his feet, looking furious. "I am your father and your Alpha, I have every right to do so"
"But... but what about my mate?"
"Cut the Crap", my mother said to me, "You didn't find your mate when you turned eighteen, maybe he is out there with someone better or he is dead, sorry to break it to you, but you might never find him"
I didn't know why it always came as a shock to me when I hear the hate in my parent's voice, I should be used to this by now, but I wasn't. When I turned eighteen just like every other girl, I had gone to the mating ball to find my mate, but never found him, I had also visited neighbouring packs but still nothing, my parents weren't shocked, the subject about mates was one touching thing I never wanted to speak about and they knew it.
"My mate will find me, I would not marry Damien"
My father slammed his fist against the metal table separating us, creating a dent on it and I backed away.
"You should count yourself lucky Lena, that an Alpha wants you, you are nothing but a weak wolf, maybe that's why you would never find your mate. I always wanted a male child, a child to take over as the pack, but what did I get?, you and I would no longer be able to have a child, you are cursed, you are the cause of everything, if only you never came to this world, our chances wouldn't have been destroyed. Alpha Damien promised to take over the pack after I am gone if the need be, he would train our soldiers and unite our pack to his, you think this was what I wanted?, you think I want to hand over my pack?, I wanted a son, you have always been nothing but a waste, useless to the pack and in every other aspect and now you have this once chance to redeem yourself, to put yourself into use and still yet you greedily wouldn't do it?"
"This is not greed, it is my life and you know he would kill me, you know what he does to women like me, I would not survive a week with him, you know that too and still yet you want to give me to him like some kind of payment?"
"So what?, you die for the pack, isn't that a honour!" he was screaming now, but so was I.
"He killed his own mate!, what do you think he would do to me?" I cried out
"Those are only rumours, it might be false Lena"
"We both know this has nothing to do with the pack, you are the greedy one, greedy for power and money, that's all this is all about and I refuse to marry a monster"
In the next second, I was against the wall, my father hands on my throat, choking me, somehow he had covered the distance and gotten to me before I could flee. My mother watched me with that ugly look on her face, she wouldn't care if my father kills me here, I had learnt to stop calling out for her, hoping for her pity, I had learnt that if I would escape, I would have to do it all on my own, so I struggled with all the strength I had but of course that doesn't even move him one bit, he watched me, a sick smile on his face.
"Weak and worthless", he muttered before letting me go, I grasped at my throat, inhaling deeply, my father had hit me before, I remembered the first time he did lay hands on me, he had been surprised at his own act, but then a smile pulled on his lips- he had liked it and so he hit me again and again, behind closed doors and mother never came to my rescue. I knew why he wouldn't hit me now, he didn't want any mark on my face, not when I was finally going to be of use to him.
"This is what would happen. Marry him, become his Luna and have the honour of your pack and also our honour or refuse and you would be banished from this pack. And trust me, out there is dangerous for a weakling like you, if you choose to disgrace me this one more time, I would make sure you regret it for the rest of your life"
"You can't do that to me, I am your daughter" I cried, he didn't need me mentioning that to him over and over, he regretted having me, so being his daughter changes nothing.
"And that's why you should marry him, that is your only choice, Lena"
(Lena's POV)
True Mates didn't need wedding ceremonies to make things official, but Alpha Damien was not my mate. Our wedding came only three days after my father had shared the news to me, unknowingly to me, my father had gone behind my back and accepted the marriage proposal without even asking me, he knew one way or the other, this would end up going his way as they always did.
My mother made sure my face was caked up with layers of makeup, in an attempt to make me look a bit older. Alpha Damien was thirteen years older than me, I was only nineteen.
I couldn't believe my own parents could do this to me, I couldn't even bring myself to think about our wedding night.
I couldn't. I couldn't marry Damien.
I had a plan, I would not go through with this wedding, I had to escape. I had already gathered up my savings, it was all in my purse, It wasn't much but enough to start up a new life, of course my father would have my card blocked if he discovers that I took it along. I knew out there was scary, but nothing was as scary as living with Alpha Damien as his wife, of course I knew he wouldn't see me as his wife, but a whore he could use anytime he pleases, he would see me as something to break into submission. My father had given me a choice, it was either I marry Damien or I'll be banished from the pack, but knowing my father, I knew he would make sure I pay for disappointing him, so I had to make a choice on my own.
"You look beautiful Lena" my mother said with an almost- genuine smile on her face, I knew they were both happy that I would no longer be their responsibility and they would gain an alliance and good cash from this marriage. I couldn't help but wonder what Alpha Damien saw so special in me that he was willing to go through all those terms just to get me, I was sure that I had never seen the man face- to – face. Why couldn't he have chosen another girl, out of the thousands, but of course, I doubted he had been the one to come up with the bargain, I wouldn't put it pass my father to go running to the Black Moon Pack, offering his virgin daughter for alliance.
"Mother, please..."
"Shut up Lena. Don't you dare go behaving like a bitch to Alpha Damien, you have to be submissive, never fight him, let him have whatever he wants from you, if he brings you back due to your bitchy attitudes then I would make you regret your own existence. Understand?" she asked, her smile gone from her face.
I didn't give her a response and that irritated her, she glared down at me. "Understand?" she asked again and I gave a curt nod. "The sooner you see that this is the best thing that could ever happen to you, the better" she said before walking away.
My parents were sending me to my own grave and they knew it, still yet they didn't care.
"The Omega's added the finishing touches to my dress, casting me pitiful looks, they knew that I was being sent to my grave, everyone knew that.
Next a brunette woman with a stern look on her face came in to check on me, I was sure I hadn't seen her before, but she reminded me so much of my own mother, they had the same stern looks and I hated it.
"I am Claudia, the wedding organiser and also a distant relative. Your mother asked me to give you this few tips." She paused as if waiting for my input, I was sure she knew that this wedding was only arranged by my father and forced on me, my input in this didn't matter.
She continued, "As she has already told you, you need to be submissive, it would be painful as it is your first time, but it would get better as the years go on. Hold those tears in, don't spoil your immaculate makeup and worst of all, he doesn't have to see it, you are not allowed to go close to any other man, even if he is not willing to fulfil your desires or he chooses to be with other women except he commands you to do so" she said and I snorted at that, rolling my eyes, she ignored that and continued. "No matter the injuries you sustain, cover it up and walk with your heads high, after-all you would be the Luna of the Blood Moon Pack. Your father would be here soon to lead you to down the aisle, be a good girl"
I turned away from her, staring outside the window, she released a frustrated sign before leaving me alone in the dress-up room.
The window was too far from the ground, I wouldn't get away easily. I stared at the door, my father would be here soon, I only had minutes, no one would think I would escape, not on my own wedding day and not when I was getting married to Alpha Damien. I dashed for the door, my dress trailing behind me, the wedding ceremony had already started, meaning they were fewer people down the hallways, making my escape a little more easier. I headed towards the second entrance, the moment the breeze hit my skin, I couldn't help but smile. My father would have discovered I was missing by now, I had to move faster.
Then I heard the deep rumble of engines as it neared me. I was sure the black Mercedes Benz was following me, I ran with all I had but it met up with me easily, cornering me before the car stopped.
My heart pounded, threatening to escape my ribcage as 'he' walked out of the car. The man I was to marry. Alpha Damien, I saw him for the first time.