Marriage Alliance

Regina

“Where is she?”

My father’s voice boomed out angrily, making me startled. I wished I could be anywhere but here.

“I don’t know, Father; she didn’t tell me where she was going,” I replied, my voice trembling with fear. I hated seeing my father looking so pissed and angry.

My elder sister, Marcy, had suddenly left the pack without telling anyone where she was going.

She was supposed to get married in a few days to Lionel Williams, the renowned cold and heartless Alpha of the Silver Moon pack, but she suddenly disappeared without a word.

Our pack, the Moon Jade Pack, had been rivals with the Silver Moon Pack for over a decade. No one knew how two packs that were once close allies became bitter enemies, but that was how it had been until the Silver Moon Pack suddenly proposed a peace treaty.

Why would they do that now, after so many years of rivalry? We weren’t threatening them, so why the sudden desire for peace?

To make matters worse, they proposed a marriage alliance to seal the deal. Who would want to marry a heartless Alpha like Lionel? Certainly not me.

I was shocked when my father agreed to the proposal, betrothing Marcy to Lionel without hesitation.

“Did she tell you anything about where she was going?” my father asked suspiciously.

“No, Father, she didn’t.” I was just as confused as he was. Marcy was even supposed to go for her dress fitting today, and it wasn’t like her to leave without telling anyone.

My father’s phone screen suddenly lit up with a message notification. He glanced at it, and I watched as his face twisted from anger to rage. Before I could react, he hurled the phone at me.

“You just told me you knew nothing about her whereabouts! How could you lie to me?” he roared angrily.

I flinched, barely missing the phone by a few inches as it landed on the sofa. What was he talking about? And why was he so angry at me?

Hesitantly, I went through the message on the screen. It read, “I am sorry, Father, but I can no longer continue with this arranged marriage. I found my true mate a few weeks ago, and as Regina would say, ‘True love can never be replaced.’ I have found my true love, and I want to be with him. I love you so much. Forgive me for disappointing you. Your daughter, Marcy.”*

I immediately gasped. Marcy had found her mate and eloped with him! But why would she drag me into this?

That quote—“True love can never be replaced”—was something I had said to her after reading a movie script. I never imagined she would take it so seriously!

“Father, I swear I don’t know where she is. I just said that quote randomly. I never thought she would act on it,” I stammered, desperately trying to clear my name.

“How could you girls do this to me? This alliance means everything to me. Nothing must go wrong!” My father’s anger made me feel there was something deeper for him about this alliance that he wasn't saying.

I mean, why was this alliance so crucial to him? Our pack wasn’t as powerful as the Silver Moon Pack, but we weren’t weak either. What made this marriage so important?

“I’m sorry, Father, but I think we should call the Silver Moon Pack and cancel this—”

“No! This alliance must not be broken!” he snapped at me before I could finish. I had never seen him react this strongly before.

I took a deep breath, trying to slowly reason with him. “But, Father, Marcy is gone, and you know how good she is at hiding when she wants to. We don’t have time to find her. Besides, would you really want to deny her the joy of being with her true mate?”

He fell silent, and I felt I was slowly convincing him so I pressed on, “How would you feel if your parents had kept you from being with our late mother, your mate?”

Immediately I said those words, I regretted it. His eyes darkened, and I saw his wolf, Leo, struggling for control. Oh my! I was doomed!

Quickly, I bowed my head, avoiding his gaze, and bared my neck in submission. Leo was a very dominant Alpha wolf who wouldn't hesitate to discipline me despite being his pup.

After a very tense moment, my father regained control and spoke in a low and dangerous voice. “Don’t ever do that again. Your mother is a sensitive topic for me and Leo. Don’t ever try to use her to make your point.”

My wolf whimpered inside me, cowering under the weight of my father’s powerful aura. “I’m sorry, Father. I’ll never do that again,” I said quickly.

My mother’s death had always been a sore spot for him. She had died giving birth to me, and he had mourned her for years, refusing to remarry and forbidding anyone from mentioning her name.

I didn’t know why I thought I could use their bond to convince him that Marcy deserved to be with her mate. How stupid of me!

“But I guess you’re right. Marcy does deserve to be with her true mate,” my father said, his tone softening.

Finally, he was starting to see reason. He was beginning to understand my point.

“So, when will you call the Silver Moon Pack and tell them the news?” I asked, relieved that this arranged marriage drama was finally over. But I spoke too soon.

“I don’t think you understand me, Regina,” he said, his voice firm. “Since Marcy has found her true mate and can’t marry Lionel, you will have to marry him.”

I immediately froze when I heard him declare, “You will be his substitute Luna.”