2

“I’m sorry, what did you say?”

I looked around for the source of the voice and when I saw Carmen and Liana staring at me in shock and disbelief I knew it came from me.

“Are you suddenly hard of hearing now Charlotte?” father asked, “I said that you will marry Alpha Hunter, it has been arranged and decided. The party will be used to announce your engagement.”

     “But father why didn’t Alpha Hunter want me?” Liana asked.

“Because you’re a useless, ugly fool who talks way too much,” he spat and she whimpered slightly, “How am I supposed to know why he wants Charlotte? I don’t care why he wants her but he can have her as long as I get what I want in return.”

  

     “He won’t have me.” I said shocking myself and everyone else. “He won’t have me because I am not going to marry him.”

“What did you just say to me Charlotte?” father asked and the room went deathly quiet, “For a second there it sounded like you refused me and said no but that can’t be possible.”

  

        “I did say no,” I said and he raised his brows, “He is older than you; he is fifty four years old and I will not marry an old man.”

“He is my friend and partner and you will do as I say,” he said, “I’m surprised you know his age; you don’t seem to know much else.” He continued and I saw him stand, “Let me make something very clear to you for the very last time Charlotte.”

He moved over to stand in front of me. While standing he is a bit taller than me at exactly 6 feet but while sitting he completely towers over me.

“I used to think you were a lot smarter than this,” he began, “Liana has a bit of worth as my oldest daughter; she is the heir and everyone wants her. You are just the spare” He said but I was done listening, “I have arranged this marriage and it will go through.”

     “No.” I said, “I won’t do it.” I said, “I can’t marry someone who is almost three times my age.” I begged, “I’m nineteen.”

I barely had five seconds to enjoy the fact that I had spoken back to my father when I felt his hand whip across my cheek and I tasted blood inside my mouth.

“You will stop this childish nonsense and do as I say,” he began, “Or I will make you.”

     “I won’t marry him,” I said, “That is my final decision.”

“That’s where you’re mistaken Charlotte,” he said, “MY word is final and this is the last time we will speak of this.” He continued, “I have tolerated your disrespect long enough.”

     “I won’t do it, no matter how many times you tell me to.”

He smiled and turned around. I thought he was about to leave but I should have known better; he will never let me have the final word. I didn’t see it in time or I would have braced myself.

He grabbed the book he threw at Liana and smacked the side of my head with it. Black spots danced across my vision and my ears started ringing. I cradled my head in my hands and sank to the ground.

“Get her out of my sight,” he spat and I felt someone grab my arm, “Lock her in her room; maybe tomorrow she will be more complaint with the offer she was so graciously given.”

I felt myself getting dragged out but I couldn’t focus on who was taking me because my head was still ringing.

I saw the familiar doors that led to my room and after I was led inside I expected the person to leave but my door was shut and Liana turned me to face her.

“Are you this stupid?” she asked and I narrowed my brows as much as possible, “Why didn’t you just agree to it? You were given the offer of a lifetime.”

     “I won’t marry a man three times my age Liana; I’m barely legal.”

“You are so self-righteous,” she spat, “You are getting mated to an Alpha.”

     “I don’t care if he is a stupid Alpha,” I forced out, “I don’t care if he’s the king of the world or the leader of the werewolf council; I will not marry him and nothing you say is going to change that.”

“You are such a selfish and entitled bitch did you know that?”

      “Look if you are so interested in the plan and since it seems like you want him more than I do then why don’t you just take him?” I asked

“I would have because he was supposed to be mine!” She yelled and I went quiet, “Didn’t you hear what father said? He was supposed to be mine but then he requested you. You took him from me.”

     “I don’t want him any more than you want me to have him.” I said, “You would have to be blind to miss that.”

“But that’s the problem isn’t it,” she said with a harsh laugh, “You never want anything but you always seem to take everything from everyone.”

     “What are you even talking about?” I asked, “I didn’t take him; I don’t want him. How many times do I need to say it?”

“You took my mother,” she said and I froze at the unfiltered hate in her eyes.

    “She was my mother too.”

“No she was mine and you killed her.” she said in a low voice, 

     “I didn’t ask to be born Liana,” I said, “That was her and father’s decision. Her death is not on me.”

“Yes it is!” she growled, “How I wish it was you who died instead of her.”

      “If wishes were horses.” I said in a bland tone and I rose from the ground and made my way to my bed but she wasn’t done talking.

“As if that wasn’t enough for you, now you took my one chance to claim my birthright.”

     “Are you naturally this stupid or is this a special effort?” I asked and she opened her mouth to retort but I cut her off, “Do you really think that if you mated with him then you would get to rule this pack? Don’t be delusional.”

“Of course I would rule; that was father’s condition.”

    “You dumb bimbo,” I said as I rubbed my forehead in frustration, “Alpha Hunter would have taken you to his pack and this pack would have gone to James.”

She stayed quiet for a minute before speaking, “I don’t believe you.” She said and I scoffed, “Father wouldn’t lie to me.”

This girl is really grating on my nerves right now, “Just get out of my room.”

“You’re a liar Charlie,” she said, “And if you thought I hated you before then watch how I make your life a living hell for stealing my only ticket to being Alpha.”

    “I didn’t steal anything and you would have been Luna not Alpha,” I spat, “Now get out.”

She gave me one last scathing look before leaving the room and I just crawled to my bed and buried my head into my pillow.

“Please moon goddess” I muttered, “Just fix everything.”