CHAPTER THREE.

ANDREA

I woke up with a groan, my eyes fluttering open as my feeble eyelids opened.

"Ugh!" I groaned, feeling a bit sore as I weakly got up from the bed. The harsh artificial light of the room had me squinting as my hurt eyes got filled with tears. My head was throbbing and the feverish feeling was still there, only only it had reduced significantly. The last thing I remembered was the guard asking.

"Who did this to you?" I was surprised he had asked me that despite the fact that I had proven to be a bane back then. Then I remembered their words, and it made me wonder if my step sister had been found. I groaned softly, leaning back on the pillow. I wasn't supposed to be here, I had to make sure that my father was OK. The three guards seemed to have a very bad intent and I knew they might have carried out their evil intentions if their plan to find Karen proved futile. I clearly didn't want that.

"Princess Andrea, you're awake!" A feminine voice squealed beside me. I turned to see a petite blonde grinning beside me. She was in an immaculate white garb and looked as cheerful as she sounded.

I nodded, forcing my legs out of the sheets and pushing them down so that I was in a sitting position.

"You've been unconscious for a while." She added, gently making her way towards me. I said nothing as her words sank in, I was still trying to piece every puzzle together, puzzles of how horrible yesterday was. My hand instinctively moved to the side when I felt a dull ache on my chest.

That's when I saw the needle attached to my hands. I ripped it off before getting up, ignoring the bead of blood that was starting to bloat.

"Can't Can't hear." I muttered, forcing myself up. Her brows came together in worry.

"I'm sorry, but you need to rest and recover. That was the Pack doctor's instruction. You might not be in the right condition to leave. Your Grace-'' She stopped speaking the moment I turned back to look at her. The fearsome look on my face was enough to tell her I didn't want to hear her babbling.

I walked hastily towards the door and swung it open before hurrying out of the hospital. As I walked out of the room, I immediately ventured down the main hallway in the Packhousе, an arched path with a few sculptures scattered here and there.

I could feel my chest tighten as I approached the Main Hall of the Packhouse, the place where Pack members consulted my father.

Something about the atmosphere felt quite strange, much as I expected, but now I had no idea what to expect after what had happened yesterday. Walking into the Pack's Main Hall, I froze in my tracks, staring at my father who was seated in his throne.

He was speaking to a group of people who stood at the foot of the stairs that led to the throne. He paused the moment I walked in, and said a few words to the people before asking them to leave. He was flanked by his guards but the sight was heartbreaking.

He had a fresh injury that ran down his face, like a knife had been used on it. His eyes lit up when he saw me but I knew deep down that he was broken.

"Everybody, leave!" He commanded, as soon as he was done talking to the people that had gathered in front of him. A few seconds later, they all started to walk out through the door. When the Hall was silent again, it was only the two of us.

He stood up from his throne and walked down. I rushed into his arms before I began to shed big, fat tears again.

"I'm glad you're OK. I was sick and worried." He said as we pulled out of the hug.

"What happened? Who.. did this to you?" I croaked, noting how the scar was still healing. It must have been a very deep scar considering how fast we werewolves could heal.

"My dear, I'm so glad you're back to your feet. And about this... it's nothing. It's just a minor altercation with the Crescent Moon Warriors." He called it a minor altercation, but I knew it was more than that. A very vile fight must have broken out between them, and it had led to this. I just knew it, but I was so sad and sorry that this had happened to him.

"I'm so sorry, I never meant for any of this to happen." I apologized, holding back the tears that were threatening to fall. A weak smile crossed his face.

"It's not your fault. You are my priority, and I would do anything to keep you safe." I nodded as he walked back to the throne, motioning me to come along. I followed suit, and sat on the large seat that was placed there on the raised platform. He started.

"I guess you know your sister was supposed to marry Adrian, and the wedding is in two days. But she has escaped, and till this moment she hasn't been found. Our sources tell us she was long gone before dawn, so you can tell how far she had gone when we found out in the evening. And you know, Aria, we can't afford to break the alliance with the Crescent Moon Pack."

I felt a lump in my throat as I knew where he was heading with this conversation. My dream of being with my one, true mate, as given to me by the Moon Goddess was on the brink of being wiped out.

"I'm sorry father, b-but I can't marry someone who isn't my mate. This is a giant leap, and choosing to spend the rest of my life with someone I don't love, someone I haven't even seen is something I can't do." I hope you understand. He nodded, but his lips were set in a thin line as if telling me how doomed we were with the situation that was looming.

"I'm sorry, Andrea but... it's been decided already. You have no choice, and... if you try to fight them, you'll only worsen things for us. I feel so terrible telling you this, but there is nothing we can't do, Andrea. I would let you escape just like your sister did, but if that happens, the Pack will be in danger."

"I can't... do it. I'm sorry." I said, standing and heading towards the door while tightening my cheeks to stop me from wailing. The tears were already streaming down my face and my heart was completely torn apart.

"Andrea, please listen to me." He said, standing and walking after me immediately. But I had already gotten to the door before he caught up. I pushed the door open and began to run towards my chambers.

"Andrea... Please!" He called out, pleadingly, but I was already beginning to shed tears like a child. I ran into my room, slamming the door close before crashing down on the bed, burying my face in the pillow while crying heavily. Some minutes later, the door opened noiselessly. I didn't look up to see who it was as I was caught up in a horrible situation to have time for that. My father walked towards me and sat on the bedside, then he began to stroke my head. He leaned in, and whispered.

"I'm sorry. I wouldn't do anything to hurt you but..." The words caught in his throat, he couldn't say any more words. He got up from the bed and walked out immediately. I cried myself to sleep and felt much better when I woke up at noon.

I sat up on my bed and began to think about the life I had desired, the life I had wanted and how it was gradually being taken away from me, slowly and painfully.

My heart twisted painfully when I remembered Jackson, funny how everything could come crashing in a matter of seconds. It was clear it was all a lie, the plans we made, the beautiful moments we shared. None of that mattered to him and I was stupid enough to believe he really loved me when his intentions were to use me and have me dumped like an old rag.

Well, there was no way I could change the hands of time now. At least I had nothing else to lose now, my life was a mess, and I didn't mind going with the flow to wherever life might lead me.

That evening, I walked into my father's chambers without knocking. He was seated on his desk, drinking. He was ashamed the moment I saw him and bowed his head when I took a seat in front of him. Indulging in a habit he'd quit long ago told me how much of a toll this was taking on him.

And what broke my heart even further was how red his eyes were. It was clear he had been crying.

"You said you'd stop drinking." I asked. His head was still bowed as he nodded.

"It's Okay, father." I said, reaching for his hand across the table. "I came to tell you not to worry. I came to let you know that I will do my duty, father, if that will be enough to tell you that I appreciate all you've done for me. I will marry Alpha Ronin."