CHAPTER 1: A marriage without my consent

REINA'S POV

Six years, I counted. Six long agonising years I held this secret from everyone. It was consuming me and now, I had made up my mind to tell. 

As I approached my father's office, I saw Beta Daphne, a chubby looking woman with short blonde hair, storming out of his office, her face red with anger.

“Beta Daphne is my father in?” I asked firmly, she looked back at the door with a stern look and hesitated before responding.

"Yes, he is,” she murmured with her head low, avoiding my gaze before exiting the gloomy hallway.

It probably wasn't a good time to see him, but I couldn't care less. My gaze fell upon the door as my heart raced, contemplating if I should tell him my secret or not. My thoughts were waging a war against me.

“Reina, please don't, they'll hunt us if they know.” My wolf, Minsi, begged as I sluggishly approached the door.

Through the years I had learned to suppress my wolf, allowing me to maintain the charade: the wolf-less Alpha’s daughter. 

“My father is the Alpha, Minsi,” I reminded her, “There's no way he'd let anyone hurt me.” 

She moaned quietly and grew silent. I strongly doubted my own words too. My father, Alfie Grayson of the Moonlight pack would probably be the first in line to hang me.

Six years ago when I first shifted, Minsi had told me to keep her a secret. I couldn't even dare to breathe a word about her to anyone. 

Her silver fur that glistened under the moonlight and deep blue eyes that shined brightly in the dark sent my heart pounding out of my chest the first night I saw her reflection in the lake.

Silver wolves were a rare breed bound by an ancient prophecy. I read once in the worn out pages of a book, that they were cursed and brought damnation to their pack. This led to their execution.

How was I to tell my pack that I was a silver wolf? But today, I wagered my life in the name of love, just so I could be with Arthur. 

I confidently pushed the creaky door open and the pungent smell of old books and furniture hit me.

My father was sitting quietly, going through his cellphone. He didn't even bother to look at me, just like he never bothered to renovate his office.

“I do not accept giving me away just for truce,” I confronted him, disrupting his quiet. “This isn't the old days. The old ways have been forgotten.”

“Reina, you had been forgotten,” he raised his head slightly, staring blankly into my eyes, he continued, “Until the truce was formed, you had been forgotten.”

I felt a sudden bone-crushing realisation hit me; my father didn't love me. 

“And this marriage is the only way to unite our packs?” My voice inquired, almost giving way to violent sobs.

“What better way than marriage?” I heard my father whisper beneath his breath. Suddenly, he dropped his phone and with his head high, he walked towards me. “You should be grateful you're my daughter, my flesh and blood. Gina would have been a better choice.”

Gina. My step sister, Gina. She was every wolf's dream mate, she wasn't my father's blood, but he sure as hell did treat her like one more than he ever treated me.

Most times, I didn't hold him responsible for this preference. Gina was everything I could only ever dreamed of being.

My head full of unremarkable long grey curls could never compare to her long dark mane that fell down to her waist like waterfalls.

Her piercing green eyes captured the hearts of everyone who gazed upon her.

At just sixteen, her red wolf, Ria, already emerged while everyone believed I was wolf-less.

“I have something to tell you,” I sighed, with tears threatening to pour from my eyes. “I have…I also have a…,” I stuttered.

Why couldn't I say it?

I looked up at my father who was now pacing the office agitatedly, waiting to hear what I had to say.

“Don't say it, Reina. It wouldn't change a thing,” Minsi panted and the wrong words spewed from my mouth.

“I am running away with Arthur.”

Coward! Threatening my father with that wouldn't make him call off the wedding, but telling him about my wolf just might do the trick.

Arthur was my first love, my chosen mate and I was willing to risk it all for him. I had given up searching for my fated mate. I believed Arthur was perfect for me.

I heard my father's laughter echo through the room, making my stomach churn and turn. And then he asked, “Arthur?”

 I nodded and he frowned instantly.

“Reina, I know you're weak and blind for love, but I didn't know you were foolish as well.”

I stood my ground, not wanting to know what he meant by that. If I had revealed my secret wolf, he wouldn't dare call me weak.

I watched as he walked back to his table and opened a drawer. My eyes followed the movements of his hand, trying to read the contents of the papers and the pictures he pulled out.

“There!” He sent the papers flying towards my direction, scattering as they touched the floor. My eyes scanning the pictures and words, I crouched to get a better view.

“No, it can't be right,” I muttered and scanned through the rest. 

“Arthur wouldn't,” I proclaimed and turned to my father angrily. “You're only showing me this because you want me to marry Alpha Van of the Woodwick pack”

You see, my pack and the Woodwick's have been sworn enemies for decades, with a deep seated hatred that had been passed down through our generations like an inherited curse.

Growing up, I was constantly reminded of the rivalry between our packs. The very mention of Woodwick would send shivers down the spines of every member of my pack.

I was only seven when my mother died. Rumours had it, it was a rogue. Not just any rogue but a stinking rogue from the Woodwick's that had split my mother open.

Recently, our pack was facing a serious threat. The scouts reported that rogues from Woodwick were attacking our members at the border.

That's when Alpha Van Killian, the ruthless, offered a truce. A marriage for peace and unity of both packs. And my father chose me.

Tears streamed down my face. My father wouldn't lie to me about this. Actually, Minsi already suspected Arthur’s infidelity, and these papers served as crucial evidence.

“If you're going to think about running away with a man like Arthur, and abandoning your duty to your pack as future Luna, you better think twice,” He said bluntly, his voice void of emotion.

I picked myself up and wiped the tears from my eyes, halting the rest as they threatened to pour. My father's gaze fixated on me, he smirked, shaking his head. I knew he was disappointed, the look on his face wasn't pity.

“If Arthur confirms this to be true. Then I'll accept Alpha Van’s proposal and end the feud,” I offered with a calm tone.

“You say that like you have a choice. Well, Knock yourself out.” 

I quickly left the office, driven with

anger and a deep feeling of betrayal. I needed to see Arthur, he had some explaining to do.