A Sacrificial Bride

"The prince is......" Percy shut the announcer up at the entrance of the castle as he made his way inside with Kamil.

He ignored all the servants that bowed to him as he made his way into the royal Dinning hall. His family was already seated on the dining chairs made of gold. The long dining table was made of glass and all the utensils on the table were all silver. His grandmother, Queen dowager Elizabeth sat at the end of the table and on her right-hand side was the king while the Queen sat on the left-hand side. His other two siblings sat beside each parent leaving twelve more chairs empty.

His mother Queen Venus was a woman of pride. Her midnight black hair flowed over her shoulder with her Tiara carefully placed on top of her head. Queen Venus carried herself with pride much greater than that of the Queen dowager. Just like Percy, the queen had piercing deep ocean blue eyes while the Queen dowager was a woman of high authority. Even though she was still the Queen dowager, her power superseded the Queen's.

"You are here crown prince," The queen dowager smiled at Percy as he took his seat beside his brother, Prince Harry who sat beside their mother queen venus. "You must have heard the news," the queen dowager inquired.

"Yes. Grandmother," Percy called.

"Yes, my prince."

"Why didn't I get to hear about the wedding but only found out on the news."

"I told your father to announce the wedding. Is there a problem with that?" Queen dowager Elizabeth asked.

"Grandmother, it's my wedding, and I...."

"Erm, erm," Queen Venus coughs interrupted Percy and he turned to face his mother. "The food has arrived." She announced with a smile on her face.

Ten maids bought different plates with different varieties of food. It was as if they were having a feast. The food on the table includes Two plates of roasted turkey, Two plates of salad, Two plates of stir-fried spaghetti, two plates of Grilled Tuna fish, and two plates of lasagna.

"Donli(My prince)" Queen dowager Elizabeth called Percy in their native language.

"Yes, Grandmother."

"I know you are surprised by the wedding but you are not a kid anymore. You are no longer a child." She pointed out and when she tried to go say another thing, Queen venus interrupted

"Queen Elizabeth," Venus bowed in respect. "Can we eat in peace please?" She requested with a smile on her face.

Queen Elizabeth smiled back and they beckoned for everyone to start anything. She glared at Venus who glared back at her and they both shared a glaring contest that didn't go unnoticed by the rest of the royal family.

"I thought we are here to eat not fight." The king finally spoke up.

Both queens stopped staring at each other and began to eat their dinner. The dinner was going on peacefully until Percy bought up the marriage announcement yet again. "Why the family of Alpha Simon's?" He demanded.

"I choose it. Is there a problem with that?" The king retorted.

Queen Venus shifted on her chair and scoffed. "Why won't he choose the family of his mistress. Is that a ploy to the throne?"

"Excuse me," the king dropped the cutlery in his hand. "How dare you accuse me of such?"

"Isn't that the truth Lucas?" Queen Venus chuckled. "Bringing in your mistress child is a ploy to take the throne. I should be happy about it since she is going to be a sacrificial bride anyways," Venus laughed and picked up her fork again.

No one said anything until Princess Mia, the youngest child and only daughter of the royal family bought up the matter again. "Why are they agreeing to this when she is going to be sacrificed to the curse?" She asked.

"This is none of your business Mia," the king scolded in a stern voice. "What have you been teaching your daughter Venus?"

"How not to be a mistress," Queen Venus replied sarcastically and smirked at the king.

Percy pretended he didn't know that a huge argument was about to start in the royal dining hall but he didn't care. It was not the first time his father and mother fought during the family dinner. It was a tradition and the consequences of marrying without love.

"You better watch your mouth, Venus," the king warned.

"Or what Lucas?" Queen Venus challenged. "You will insult me because of your mistress or threatened me with that illegitimate son of yours!"

"Enough! What imprudence!" Queen Elizabeth shouted. "Look at the way you both are arguing while your children are watching!"

"Why are you surprised grandmother? It happens all the time," Percy scoffed and took a bite of his lasagna.

"Percy!" Queen Elizabeth shouted at him but he pretended he didn't hear anything and continued eating. "You both need to stop fighting over dinner! "

"You are forgetting something, Queen Elizabeth. I didn't plan this dinner because you did!" Queen Venus pointed out and stood up. "Just know that I will never accept the daughter of your mistress for my son. She can be the sacrificial bride if she is desperate to die but I won't allow my son to end up with a whore!"

"Venus," The king growled at her. His wolf desperately tried to scratch Venus on the face for her disobedience.

"I have spoken!" Queen Venus picked her hand fan from the table. It was a black and white leather hand fan. She fanned herself as she walked out of the dining hall.

"Son, you have...." Queen Elizabeth tried to say something but the king stood up and walked away not bothering to listen to what his mother had to say. "Children, I hope you don't end up like your parent," she said.

"I hope so too," Percy Chuckled and continued eating while his siblings stared at him as if he had grown two heads. He wasn't surprised by his parent's actions. It was an arranged marriage out of love and just like his parent, he was about to get married to the person he considered his enemy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`~`

Cara fluttered her eyes open when she heard loud and stern voices ordering them to get out of the truck. She touched her head and winced in pain when she felt a terrible pain in her head. It was as if they were pounding on her head.

"Get down young lady," she was dragged down by a guard.

"Please where I'm I? And do you know where the palace is?" Cara questioned the guard since she had no idea where she was.

The guard burst into laughter and raised his hand to slap Cara on the face. Cara's face whipped to the other side and she fell to the ground. "Do I look like your guardian young lady?" He shouted and raised his hand to slap her again but he was stopped by a man who didn't dress in the black suit like the Guards. He wore a different uniform, a red suit over red trousers. "You are not allowed to touch a servant that had already been taken." The man dropped the guard's hand and pushed him away from Cara. "Follow me, young lady," he said to Cara.

"But sir, I have to look for my brother. He has been taken to the palace," Cara informed the man who had come to her rescue.

"Look around you, young lady. I don't know where you came from but this is the capital of the great Katula kingdom," he explained. "The palace is not for Rankless wolves as yourself."

Cara took her time to look around and the man was right when he said she was in a different place. She wasn't just in a different place but a different world. Skyscrapers were built across the street and Cara couldn't see any short buildings and no tents like in the living community. Everything was different. There was no way she could find her brother in a city as big as the capital. She followed the man who lead her to where a white limousine was parked by the roadside. Cara stared at the long vehicle before she entered. It was something she had never seen before in her entire life.

Five other girls were in the vehicle and when Cara tried to talk to them they ignored her.

Cara gaped outside the limousine and was mesmerized by how tall the buildings were and the cars that drive past them made her wonder if she had been living in middle age. The young lady wondered how she had been living for twenty-four years and had no idea that a lot of things existed in the capital.

After thirty minutes of driving around, the limousine arrived at the front of a gigantic silver gate, the gate opened wide and the limousine drove into a large estate. It stopped at the front of a three-story Mansion. The limousine door opened and all the girls stepped out of the limousine. Cara looked around her and couldn't help but admire the beauty of the mansion. The name 'Buchan castle' was engraved on the walls of the first floor.

Two female servants lead the girls into the building. They were led into a lobby. The lobby was empty except for two long chairs. A chandelier hung above the lobby and Cara couldn't help but stare at it. The girls were asked to sit down on the chairs. Cara took her seat beside a redhead who had dark spots on her face just like he brother. The thought of her brother and father bought tears to her eyes but she quickly wiped them off when she heard the clicking of heels coming her way. The clicking of the heels stopped in front of her and a woman placed her hand on Cara's shoulder causing her to tremble in fear.

"Raise your head child," a soft voice commanded. It was soft but there was a hint of harshness in the tone. Cara slowly raised her head and looked up at where the order was coming from. Maria gasped when she saw Cara's face but she quickly compose herself. She raised Cara's head and dropped it down in haste. "What is your name?" She asked her.

"Cara-Williams.

Maria was surprised, scratched that she was beyond shocked to see a girl who exactly looked like her daughter. Her daughter had been down with a disease that ruined her face but she was slowly healing. Maria never had twins when she delivered her daughter. It was shocking and in fact questioning. To look less suspicious, Maria cleared her throat and walked up to the remaining girls.

She raised their chins to look at them but didn't say anything. After looking at the last girl, she went back to where Cara sat. "You, stand up." She commanded.

"Yeah, "Cara replied.

Maria scoffed and raised her hand. " you shall refer to me as lady," she informed her and scratched Cara's face with her long nails until she drew blood. Cara winced in pain and wondered why the woman was trying to give a scarred skin. "You are a rankless wolf, I must have been mistaken," Maria chuckled. "I want her," she pointed to Cara and the girl beside her. "And her," Maria smiled and turned to leave.

Just when she needed someone who would take the fall for her daughter, a savior appeared. Maria had already planned everything as soon as she saw Cara. She knows about the curse because she had ears inside the castle so, Cara had come to be used as a sacrificial bride in place of her daughter.

A perfect meeting indeed.