Chapter 6: Anxiety

Serena’s POV

 

My eyes were still wide with shock as Susan led me into the ward, I barely even flinched at the sight of Father on the hospital bed. The ward was filled with the quiet beeping of hospital equipment as they worked to keep his condition stable.

 

“Father,” my breath hitched in my throat when I met his gaze, and waves of guilt flooded into me. This was all my fault.

 

Father remained silent, his eyes flashed with steel as he stared at me. Stephanie was seated beside him, I felt jealous as I stared at how she was so comfortable with him, their intimacy more than I'd ever had with him.

 

Perhaps that's why Susan had brought such a suggestion I thought, the shock from her words still causing chaos within me.

 

“He doesn't have long,” Susan whispered in a low tone from behind me. Her cold eyes bore holes into me, “You will do as you're told, Serena. They will pay us well if you can have children for him,” I took a sharp intake of breath at her words. This wasn't a request.

 

I sniffed, fighting back tears that threatened to pour, “ You…” my voice cracked, and I stared at Father as I spoke. “You want me to marry and sleep with a man who is paralyzed and currently in a coma?” A stray tear rolled down my cheek.

 

Alpha Darius was the new Alpha of the Morbidus Pack, a very powerful pack. The region they controlled was twice the size of ours, even Father had to defer to them. It'd been all over the news some weeks ago that Alpha Darius had been involved in a car accident and had become paralyzed, his exact condition was up for debate. And they wanted me to get married to such a man, tears streaked down my face.

 

“Yes!” My stepmother snapped back. “That is exactly what you must do. We've already signed the papers with his family. So from today onwards, you’re his wife!”

 

“What!” My heart stopped and I whirled around to stare into her eyes, disbelief in my eyes. “You couldn't have,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

 

“But I already have,” Susan sneered, producing a sealed letter with a Crest on it, she waved it in my face. “This is going to happen Serena, and you don't have a choice.”

 

 

Oh no! My heart thudded as I stared at her, my mind racing with thoughts. I was finding it very hard to process what she had just told me. What did she mean by they had signed papers to marry me off to a disabled man who was still unconscious? This surely had to be a cruel trick or maybe I was going mad. Or maybe both I thought, turning to stare at Father. He'd closed his eyes, he was still very weak.

 

“I don’t understand. What exactly are you saying? Why would you sign anything for me without telling me?!” I yelled before I covered my mouth. Too late, a nurse rushed in, her face filled with displeasure. She didn't allow us to say much before she excused us from the ward.

 

“Mother,” I whispered in a hushed tone as I followed her. “You can't be…”

 

“Oh shut the hell up!” Susan snapped, cutting me off. “How do you think we were able to afford the hospital bills?” Her face was contorted with rage as she snapped. “No! Every single penny we have was taken by that wretched good-for-nothing man you brought into our lives!” She snapped back.

 

“She's such a Slut mother,” Stephanie spoke up, her venomous gaze snaking through me. “She's the one to blame for all this.”

 

Susan nodded her head slowly, her eyes fixed on me. “Don’t ever forget that this is all your fault.” She jabbed a finger at me, her voice icy cold.

 

“Every single thing that's happened is your fault and you're going to make up for it.” She paused, staring at me dead in the eye, “You will, get married to Alpha Darius Crane, that's final.”

 

“Mot…” I felt a chill crawl up my spine at her cold heartless words. I felt like a lamb being thrown to the wolves, I couldn’t believe that this was even real.  I was going to be offered as little more than a plaything in exchange for benefits.  

 

And it was then that I realized that I was the only one fighting this idea. Everyone else expected me to sacrifice myself to save them since it was my fault that all of this happened.

 

And could I dare say no to them? After destroying their lives? My heart tightened in my chest at the thought, and my shoulders sagged, the weight of betrayal, pain, and guilt weighing me down. Did I even have a say in any of this? I wondered, a feeling of helplessness rising within me.

 

I knew my answer then. I didn’t have any other choice. I was going to marry the disabled comatose man and find a way to have children with him. It was the only way to pay for my mistake and save my family. Right?

 

My mind swirled with thoughts of Darius Crane and all the rumors that floated around about him. My heart lurched in my chest. This wasn’t just sacrificing my life... This was going to destroy me!

 

“No, Mother,” I mustered my courage, taking a step back. No, I couldn’t do it.

 

“Don’t think you have a choice in this?” Susan’s expression became ugly immediately, “We never needed your permission for it. Everything has already been decided.” Even as she spoke two men stepped into the hallway and flanked me on either side.

 

My body tensed as I stared at them, who were they?

 

“You will meet him now whether you like it or not, and you are going to the pack tonight.” Susan's tone dripped with venom. She was very eager to get rid of me.

 

Her words made me suddenly dizzy with confusion. “What? Meet him now? How?” I asked perplexed.

 

The edge of her lips rose for a second, “You'll find out,” she glanced at the two men flanking me. “Take her away,” she waved her hand.

 

“Wait,” I panicked, my heart jumping to my throat but the men didn't stop. They flanked me before leading me away.

 

My heart beat frantically, as thoughts and questions filled my mind. I felt like a passenger as the direction of my life was changed, heading to the unknown.

 

I just hoped I was going to survive this.