4

Bailey P.O.V

I had lost count of the days. It was always dark here, the sun didn't rise so I didn't know what mornings felt like again but I wasn't going to succumb and be weak. I was stronger than they thought and no matter what, I wouldn't  break. I had known cowards all my life and I knew how to deal with them, that's how I got tough, by facing my bullies, one on one.

My stomach grumbled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten for days. I crawled up beside the wall I could find with my hands waiting patiently for death and if not death, I just wish I could sleep and go to the lands where all my dreams came from.

I didn't bother opening my eyes because the sounds of the iron gate creaking broke the silence around me. When it grew louder, I opened my eyes trying to see the shadow who was opening my cell and when he succeeded, he shined  a dazzling torch on my face, blinding my eyes while my hands darted up to cover the light from my eyes

“seize her!” The shadow commanded and immediately I felt two strong arms on my shoulder grabbing my hands to drag me out of the cell.

So this was how I was going to die, tears threatened to  fall from my eyes, but I forced them back.

I wasn't going to be weak or scared and if I was going to die I would die brave and maybe my death would slap the pack awake from their slumbers.

They finally reached their destination and me on the ground and I sat there, waiting for my fate but nothing happened.

I looked around and it didn't look like a slaughterhouse, rather it looked elegant and…..royal, I kept scanning the room until I saw at one corner.

My parents, no….my family on their knees .

This was getting very confusing, they had tears in their eyes and my heart ached as they stared at me with pity. I immediately raised my face up to see the despicable coward in front of me sitting on his throne with his useless beta standing beside him.

“Aren't you tired of feeding his ego!” I wanted to scream but I was too weak  for that  my whisper was loud enough to get their attention.

“Bailey,  why are you embarrassing your family haven't you done enough,” mom said yelling.

“No, you’re the ones embarrassing me!” I yelled back

They was silence for a moment before mom burst into more tears

“What is wrong with you?” Mom cried.  “I always told you that your deeds will catch up with you. Why don't you ever learn your lesson my daughter,  why are you a pain to this family. Even in the face of death you're still stubborn,  Are you okay?”

“I said I am fine and I don't need any help from anybody, SO LEAVE ME ALONE. The only thing he can do is to kill me because he's a coward, EVERY ROYAL BLOOD HERE IS!”

I knew what I just said had stung everybody like a bee and I was expecting the worst, waiting for the worst. I had spent days in that cell with no food or light. I had basically seen the face of death and smiled back, why should I be afraid now?

Alpha Noah finally rose from his seat and started making his way towards me.

The guards and everyone in the palace began to bow, I rose too from the ground and with every step he took I stared harder at him. He was now in front of me covering any space we had between us but I didn't move back,  I wasn't going to back out even though my heart was beating so fast that I feared he could hear it.

“I could have your head right now and yet you are not afraid, ” he said in a strange tone.

“But you don't.  I don't see anything to be afraid of,” I said, looking at him from head to toe and finally, resting back at his eyes.”

“Are you done feeding your ego?” I asked

He didn't reply, he just stood staring at me with his cold hazel eyes

“Putting me in the dungeon and making my parents beg you for my release, all these so you could make yourself feel better, you're pathetic.”

I smirked “ and let me make myself clear. You can have my head any day you want, I don't care and the dreams of me begging for my life get it out of your head cause it would never happen. Remember you can kill me but you would never be able to wipe out the truth that I know about you and that is you’re a COWARD  and very soon others will see it .”

“What are you waiting to seize her?” Eric screamed. The guards grabbed me waiting for the command to end my life. I wasn't going down without a fight, I thought as I braced myself to use my last energy.

 “My lord, She had disrespected you countless times in your own palace, in your own kingdom.” He kept barking, “ this shouldn't be taken lightly, just give the word and I will personally end it.”  he kept fuming

“Please!!!”  The pleas of my parents and my little sister increased and I wondered what he was waiting for before he decided to kill me. Seeing my parents beg was painful enough. I knew that even if I begged the king I would never leave, I had insulted him in front of the entire kingdom that wasn't forgiven and considering he was a coward he would never let me live, so what was he waiting for?

“Let her go,” he finally said.

“what?!” I said at the same time as the beta. I couldn't believe it, it sounded unreal but the guards left me. Eric's face looked like he had seen a ghost and I was even in shock.

“Are you okay? “ Eric asked the alpha. “What do you mean she should be set free? Have you forgotten how she disgraced you during the ceremony? How she disgraced the ceremony itself and the sacredness of deciding on a mate?”

“Are you questioning my judgement” the Alpha asked Eric in a low growl

“Of course not.” Eric seemed rather confused,       “but she can't go scott  free with this attitude, she deserves to die”

“ Who said she was going to be free” he continued “ Death is too peaceful for her. She obviously craves it and I cannot give her that. I have a better punishment.” he said, smiling deviously at me.

I couldn't help but wonder what was going on in his evil mind. I turned to see my family so horrified that my dad was holding my mother in his arms but she was shivering and my sister, Lisa,  who was crying.  They looked like they were about to die. Everyone was waiting for what he could say that could be worse than death.

“Your execution would be in the next 90 days—” The cries got louder “—and in those 90 days, Bailey Gayle will be married to me.”