Chapter 2

I staggered my way back to the pack house.

Whilst Skylar howled in anguish as she tried to contain the clutches of her pain, I suffered a more excruciating pain.

My heart was in so much pain that I lost my way. When I came to, I realized that I was in the pack house and I was standing in front of my parents apartment.

I wasn't supposed to be here, I was supposed to be back in my room, I lectured myself and wheeled my way back to my place.

My body was stiff and I couldn't take a step. I wanted to leave but I was angry and embittered. I felt cheated and I wanted to break even.

Instead of turning away like a coward, I marched into the corridor and pressed my way back into my parents' apartment.

Just as I lifted my hand to turn the door knob, I heard yellings and I decided to eavesdrop.

"How could you dad!? How could you do this to me!? And mum? I am ashamed of you… how could you agree to give me out in marriage to that lame prince!? Prince Regan!? No way." Becca yelled.

"Listen, Becca, we know what is best for you. Moreover, we have no choice, our family was chosen to produce a bride for the prince," my father responded.

"Oh, I see… you pushed me into hell to save your heads, right.?" Becca yelled.

"Common ginger, it's not hell. Prince Regan is a prince… useless or not, he is one of the royals. it's not as bad as you think.. we are paving the way to making you the queen," Becca's mother spoke up smoothly.

"Oh that is it. I wondered why Ashely wasn't chosen. I thought it was all about the eldest daughter's thing but it's all your doing. Mum! I can't be with that useless, lame and wicked prince. Never! It's evident that he will never rise to the throne. If you want to be related to the royals so badly...you can go marry him for all I cared!" Becca fired.

"How dare you!?" My father roared

"Fuck!" Becca yelled and marched out.

I tilted out of the way before she got to the door. She was blinded by rage and she couldn't see me as she stormed out of the apartment.

"At this rate, your daughter will get us killed. It's the royal's request for an arranged marriage. We can't refuse it!" My father yelled.

"I am sorry. I will speak to her." It was the last statement I heard before I walked away.

I returned to my one- room apartment and flung myself into the bed.

I crawled into a corner of the bed and sat up with my hands wrapped around my knees. I tried to communicate with Skylar but she was not talking.

I couldn't believe Becca was arranged as Prince Regan's bride. Prince Regan is one of the Princes in the royal palace.

The current king, King Muna, isn't his father. King Muna assumed the throne by tyranny. He plotted against his half brother; King Carter, who was Regan's father.

To seize the throne, Muna annihilated all his brothers and their families but he spared only Regan.

Regan was lame. He broke his legs ten years ago during the uproar that resulted from the tyranny.

It was rumored that Muna almost slashed him with his sword but he changed his mind at the final moment.

However, it was soon obvious that Muna spared Regan to make him an object of ridicule.

Everyone knew that Regan could never assume the throne. He was lame and confined within his palace. Other princes who were King Muna's sons treated him like a piece of trash.

Wouldn't it be fun to see Becca end up with such a nameless Prince? I told myself and smiled faintly.

My smile turned sour when I remembered my predicament.

I just lost my mate. Again my anger towards Becca burned. I was also angry at Stanley, he should have trusted me and listened to my side of the story.

Gradually, sleep took over me and I dozed off.

*********

When I woke up it was the next day. I remained on my bed and again, I remembered that I was rejected by Stanley who I waited for for three years.

Unexpectedly, the sound of a horn penetrated my ears. It was a sign in the pack that was used to call for attention.

"Everyone should assemble in the hall, now!" The message came forth.

I rolled off my bed and changed into a gown as I hurriedly made it out of my room.

My eyes widened as I noticed the royal carriage within the pack house.

"We must have had a visitor from the palace," I said and I squeezed into the waiting crowd.

"Irish Oscar's family should fall out!" The one standing in the front said harshly. At a closer look, I realized that he was a message from the palace.

"Irish Oscar? That's my family," I muttered and stood rigidly as I watched my father, my step mother and Becca walk out from the crowd. They fell on their knees.

I bumped out of the crowd and knelt beside my father.

"Irish Oscar of the Moonlight Pack, receive the royal edict! By this time tomorrow, you and your family members will be annihilated if your daughter isn't sent to the palace to fulfill her role as Prince Regan's bride. Heed the warning!" The announcer proclaimed and dropped the scroll on the floor.

"Yes my Lord," my father fidgeted and crawled forward to pick up the scroll. I stopped him with my hands and rose to my feet.

I walked towards the announcer to pick up the scroll, I couldn't watch him humiliate my father in front of everyone.

As I bent over to pick up the scroll, I heard a quick sound and I turned my head up immediately.

A sword was pointing at my neck. I fell on my knees and looked straight into the eyes of the one holding the sword.

Without giving a damn, I picked up the scroll and said, "your servant receives the royal edict."

The crowd roared as I rose to my feet and joined my father. The one who relayed the message returned his sword into its quiver and turned to leave.

"That was an unnecessary act of bravery. You almost got yourself killed!" My father reprimanded as soon as the announcer was out of sight.