CHAPTER 3

I looked but not seeing, listened but not hearing, even the loud music that brutalized my ears leaving them sore and red as if a rash would appear.

I had cried myself to sleep only to wake up like the robot I was raised to be, taking my shower. I had sat through the fix up only to sit on the bed, waiting for the clock to strike seven. Maggie stood by the door where she always was, her shift starting at half past six to watch them fix me up and make me look like the good princess I was.

Today was the day, today was the day I would leave the castle never to look back and somehow some part of me was relieved, some part of me was happy. I would finally leave this wicked place, leaving everything behind. I knew that whatever waited for me was not good, not even in the slightest, but I would face it head on. I was twenty-one years old and it was time for me to get out from my shell and fight for my life. I did not care what they would bring on me but whatever it was, I was going to meet it running. I was done keeping my head down and acting stupid. I was smart and sly; fighting was how I would go down.

The music on my phone stopped as the alarm went off, sending my body shooting up from where I sat, not even looking back at the room I had occupied for fifteen years, the room where I had hid myself in, crying my heart out. The room where I would take off my mask, the room where I read my first romance novel, the room where I would day dream about my mate.

It had been my safe haven for so long and now it was ripped away leaving me bare, drowning in the deep sea, trying to find my way to the shore. The door closed behind me, one foot in front of the other, bags already packed in my convoy waiting to take me to hell, sending me off to my death.

I wondered if they ever cared, wondered if my parents ever wondered about us, ever even thought about us beyond alliances. I wondered if they even knew our names really, because it seemed like, to them we were nothing, as if they had not brought us to this world. I wondered if Queen Anna and Lady Bree felt the same way when they were sent off, wondered if they felt that broken and alone, felt that hopeless and at loss. I shook my head, doubting it though, my older sisters were loyal, their only purpose was to serve and please our parents, accepting their fate with open arms, happy to finally serve their purpose.

I blinked back the tears, having sworn to not shed another tear, having sworn to stay strong. Tears would not change anything and it was time to grow up. The elevator doors opened, my two guards walking out first to analyse if there was a threat as I followed behind them, head held high, hands straight on my sides. I was barely seeing all the people bowing as I passed. They were already dressed to kill at seven in the morning, ready to make strides to gain power in the Furthrone palace. The buzz and excitement filled the air, contrast to my mood.

"Good luck my princess,"

"We love you princess."

"All the luck princess,"

"A long-life princess,"

More and more people gathered as I neared, the front door opened wide. I walked on; their voices wasted on my buzzing ears. My head throbbed, my eyes blurry, my heart drumming from my throat. Shit fuck I was scared. I was scared to leave, scared to walk out because I knew that as soon as I stepped out the door then it was done, I was never to return back unless for a few days visits if it calls. I knew they were already ripping my bedroom apart, fixing it for someone else because to them I was no longer a Furthrone. I would never be accepted back, and that was not my home anymore. I could hear my harsh breath, the sounds from the people—my people, suddenly getting louder and louder.

The whole staff and some guests of the court all stood outside. A red carpet was  rolled from the first step to the door of the black tinted car where a door was held open for me to usher in. My eyes quickly scanned through the crowd, hoping that maybe just maybe I would see my brothers and sisters, anyone for that matter but all I saw were unfamiliar faces, the royal family too busy to care really.

I sighed, shaking the pain away as a wide smile spread across my face. My hand went up, a royal wave to my people, because, to them it was a fairytale. To them, the rich, beautiful princess was to wed a powerful, fearful and very rich king. To them it was all they could wish for, if only they knew, if only they knew the truth of wearing the crown that weighed heavy on my head. Heavy was an understatement; the crown was made of real gold and diamonds passed on from princess to princess.

The whole crowd went down, bowing in unison as I took my first step as if it had been practised too many times but of course it had. It had been so long with the people sending off one princess after the other, the same story with different names. I took a deep breath, finding it harder and harder to hold that smile yet my eyes glazing with unshed tears.

Flowers were suddenly thrown at me as they all ushered up from the bow, cheers and well wishes filling the air, everyone excited except for the bride that was being carried to slaughter. Some were even shedding tears for the princess they had barely met, the idea of the person enough to create such a bond with them, happy for me. They would cry, but if only I was happy, if only as I walked past them, I was going to my mate's arms then it would truly be a blessed day but alas.

My heart bled as their happiness truly touched me, I loved my people wholeheartedly. Their loyalty was impeccable even when they followed such cruel rulers yet they still followed blindly. My heart broke at that I would never see them again, never watch as they changed into large wolves, their paws tearing the ground as they tore through the forest at such amazing speed it was fascinating to watch. I would miss those annual hunts where everyone would change into their wolf at the peak of night, running through the woods in their true form till dawn. I would miss hearing the howls at night. My feet came into a halt in front of the door that stood open, more and more flowers pouring on me. My body turned to look at the castle I had grew up in. Stone cold castle so big it was a home to hundreds and hundreds of wolves, my eyes trailed off to the people singing out in happiness. Finally, the war was over and their princess was getting married, it was all peachy.

"I love you all!"

I turned around as the cheers got louder and louder, the door closing behind me as I sat, my eyes going to the people who were now touching the car, some in tears.

"We love you princess!"

"We love you too princess!'

The convoy was of three cars where I rode on the one in the middle. Two wolves stood at the front and two at the back of the convoy. The long howl was heard, tearing through the bright sky, the sun up and shining, it being a beautiful day indeed. It was a cry, a cry letting everyone know in the kingdom that their princess was leaving. The howls tore at me, tears flooding down my eyes, my heart not being able to take it. I watched the people get more and more frantic, it suddenly not a happy but a sad moment for them. The cry from the wolves left everyone in despair, then suddenly, the two wolves at the front took off sprinting and followed by the cars. I turned my eyes, not wanting to tear from all the people that then ran after the cars, especially the children. I watched them run and run, the crowd thinning until there was no one running, making me sigh. I turned around as we had finally reached the opened large gates of the castle.  The cars drove out, trying to keep up with the two wolves eating up the miles, ready to tear anyone in their way, ready to protect their royalty.

We drove past the royal forest, miles and miles of trees on either side of the road, green everywhere, my eyes ogling in excitement really. Was it weird that, that was the first time I had passed that royal gate which was heavily guarded? I watched, my cheeks sticky from all the tears, my head throbbing so bad my eyes began to ache. Never in my life had I imagined so many people crying and running after me, it was weird because I am sure that ninety percent of them had never seen me before yet it was as if they were losing their daughter or friend. I closed my eyes, not wanting to think at all. My hands were sweating and I could not help my heart steady. In a day I would be bonded to the King of Vampires, that not even seeming right, a werewolf bonded to a vampire, those two were sworn enemies and that hate went deep I swear.

A shaky breath escaped me.

The convoy suddenly reached the large city which was buzzing with people yet everything went standstill as we passed, all of them suddenly dropping to the ground, bowing as the cars passed. The wolves tore the miles away, running to deliver me to my fate, the cars barely catching up. I looked around the people, hating the fact that they had to bow like slaves on the dirt with no other choice. The command was so strong even a one-year-old baby bowed without even being told really, it ran in their blood. I sighed, the cars pushing through town, my fate signed and sealed with no take backs. The only comfort came from knowing that the war was over and no more blood would be spilled. Men would be able to go back home to their families, holding their mates in their arms, hugging their children and telling them scary war stories.  For as long as I was bonded to that man then everyone would be safe, except me of course, we could not forget that.

It was thirty minutes later when we drove in the royal private airfield, the jet already running and waiting for its passengers which was me. Everyone else was turning back from then on. Maggie was staying back along with all my guards; we all knew that I was probably walking to my death and no one else had to be sacrificed alongside me, so, I was alone from there onwards. The door was opened, the wind kissing my harsh skin, bruising it as I walked out, my bags all being taken to the jet.

I turned around to Maggie who was just next to me, probably not being able to wait to tear up the diary she carried for me.

"Thank you for everything Maggie, I wish you all the best in your life going onwards." I said, smiling at my little robot.

"It was a pleasure your highness," she said back, not even a smile or whatsoever. She was really like a robot. I shook my head and turned as she did the same as if all was well, I guess it was. I walked towards the flight of steps, taking them one at a time, my chicken legs shaking to no end.

It was scary, it was beyond scary. I was willingly going to a lion's den, well not willingly but same difference. I turned, my eyes falling on the cars and wolves that were then turning back, ready to move on with life, how that hurt. Being a baby would not help me from there. With that, I turned, walking in the jet and accepting my fate.