Chapter 2

 

“You know what kind of werewolf Evander Edgerton is!”

That cursed voice again. But at that moment, he sounded desperate.

I hated that I was starting to grow a habit of hiding myself while eavesdropping on the people of this house. But it was my only way to know if they were planning something against me, or if Dad said something concerning about me staying in his household. Dad was not happy about my stay here.

He used to yell at me that being wolfless was worse than losing all my limbs and because of it, I was nothing but a mere insect in his eyes and that horrid gaze every time he saw my face made me want to run away and never look back to this place, ever.

But Dad was getting older and he never wanted anyone to serve his tea but me. I thought maybe Dad still had a soft heart for me. And that was enough reason for me to stay and take care of him despite the treatment I received from him and Irina.

Inside the receiving area was my Dad sitting across from Irina and Alec who were side by side together, Irina already leaning against Alec.

I couldn't believe the level of her desperation to get Alec from me but I shouldn’t bother myself anymore and just accept that Alec would never love someone weak and wolfless who was nearly a slave in my Dad’s house.

Alec despised me for being his mate. And still hated my presence because it was obvious that he never wanted to see me in my father’s house, which was harder for me because lived in the same house with my sister.

From behind the curtains, I saw Dad’s worried face as he clasped his hands on top of the table, his expression was restless, “I don’t think I have any other choice but to abide on the Alpha of the Blackwood Pack. You know how dangerous it is to not agree with that man, Alpha Alec.”

“Dad! I don’t know him! Didn’t you hear what Alec said and the people who met that man? Alpha Evander is a beast! A savage, bloodthirsty beast and you want me to marry him?!” Irina whined at Dad, her eyes wide with fear and despair, “He will kill me, Dad! I’m scared of him!”

Irina was hysterical. Was that man really scary?

I wanted to think that maybe Irina was just being herself. Being an overreacting, drama queen who thinks that she is the center of the universe.

Dad was getting more perplexed seeing Irina’s red, angry face, “I had already told Edgerton—”

The determination on Alec’s face pricked my heart, “We can tell him that Irina is in love with someone else! I…I can step in and claim her instead. He couldn’t force Irina to come with him once she told him that she was in love with someone else!”

Dad stared at Alec as if studying him. It made Alec a little uncomfortable but it never shook his confidence, “I know Holly and I are bound as mates but…I am willing to reject her for your youngest daughter. For Irina.”

His words were like hot knives stabbing me in the chest over and over.

Alec continued, “I love Irina and that’s the reason why I am willing to sever my bond with Holly, Alpha Randalf! You know I can take good care of your daughter! You can’t trust her to a man like Evander Edgerton! You know he has a reputation!”

“If we won’t abide by this agreement, Edgerton will destroy the pack!” Dad uttered in exhaustion and I saw the terror on his face, “You had met the man, Alpha Alec! You know you can’t say no to him! I had already lost so many men in the war and I couldn’t risk the pack’s safety if I ever break the treaty!”

Alec scowled and pounded his fist on the table angrily. Irina wrapped her arm around Alec’s arm to calm him down and Dad dropped his face into the palm of his hand, so confused about what to do to save his favorite daughter from the incoming disaster that came into his house.

The atmosphere was so heavy that I decided to come in and hope that the tea would ease the tension they felt. Even though Dad couldn’t love me as much as he loved Irina, I still didn’t wish any misfortune to him. He was my father and the problem of his household was my problem as well.

“Tea,” I uttered softly as I placed the cups on the table and poured them the hot drink. I saw Irina scowl at me and then as if possessed by something unusual, she sat straight with her cunning eyes staring at me.

“What if instead of me, we just tell the Alpha of the Blackwood Pack to marry Holly on my behalf?”

It was as if I was struck by lightning after I heard Irina’s words and Dad and Alec looked at my sister’s grinning face and then at me, like what she had just blurted was some kind of a bright idea.

I stared at Dad with panic in my eyes and my heart dropped when I saw that familiar, cold look on his face. He stared back at me as if he never minded throwing me into a monster’s lair if that would make Irina happy.

“But Dad—”

“It could work.” Dad uttered with an austere tone and it felt like he just killed something inside me—the small faith in me that he could still be a good father to me, “Yes. Yes. I can arrange it.”

Those words shatter the remaining hope in my chest.

They discussed more but I couldn’t hear any more of what they said because I felt like I was tossed in a void and I couldn’t hear anything but my own heart rioting inside my ribcage. My heart was too empty to feel any hurt or disappointment anymore. It was as if the world had abandoned me and there was nothing left but my desire to get out of this place.

If it meant I could get out of this place…

If it meant I could finally have my freedom away from these heartless people…

“Do you agree with this, Holly? I know this is a huge sacrifice but the pack will make sure you and Edgerton—”

“Yes…” Did I say that? I couldn’t hear myself.

Irina frowned, her eyes were glaring when she looked at me, “What did you say, Holly?!”

“YES!” I glared back at her disdainfully as tears rolled down my cheeks, “I will marry the Alpha of the Blackwood Pack!”

There was a satisfied look on my Dad’s face and he and Irina looked at each other, smiling as if a thorn was finally plucked out of their throats.

I was about to run away from them when I saw that dark, angry look on Alec’s face.