CHAPTER 2 (ANNA’S POV)

“What did you just say?”

“I said you shall be Prince Xavier’s mate,” my father thundered. “And that is final!”

“The lame prince?” Kira laughed. “You want to marry me off to an imbecile? Really Dad?”

“He is not lame,” my father retorted. “And he is not an imbecile either. All you’ve heard are fables, lies spread by their enemies.”

“I’m not taking that risk Dad,” Kira shook her head. “I’d rather starve to death here.”

“You would leave before the day breaks tomorrow,” my father grunted. “It is a short journey. You would not disgrace this family.”

Kira stood up to her feet. “Watch me.” She dropped her fork on the table and walked out, leaving the two of us alone in the dining.

“Kira!” my father called, but she didn’t even spare him a second look. She banged the door behind her as she left and I watched as my father sunk to the dining chair.

My father, Alpha Faustus was now a shadow of his former self. He was no longer the handsome and jovial Alpha that our pack knew him to be. Ever since the death of my mother, things had changed. He had remarried Celia, an Omega from another pack and she had come along with her own daughter, Kira, who became my stepsister. That was when the famine started. It got so bad that Celia ran away abandoning us to our fates, and even worse now that my father had to start selling us to the Princes of neighboring packs just to get food.

“Father,” I called, walking up to him.

“Don’t get any closer to me you witch,” he replied, not even bothering to look up at me.

“There has to be another way,” I said still approaching him.

“Guards!” My father cried. “Take this evil thing away from my sight. I don’t want to set my eyes on her ever again!”

The two guards standing by the door exchanged glances before staring down at me. I could see the fear in their eyes and the hesitation in their footsteps as they approached me. Everyone in our pack, except for my father, knew that I could take down four male warriors in handicap combat.

“I said take her out of my sight!” My father cried. “Are you deaf? Lock her in the dungeons. She’s an enemy to this pack.”

I turned to face them. “Leave us alone. Both of you.”

Without turning back to have a second glance at us, they dropped their weapons and bolted out of the dining at full speed.

“Cowards!” my father cried as they ran. “I’ll have both your heads on a stake!”

“Father!” I called, drawing his attention back to me.

He stared at me, his empty eyes searching mine. “What do you want Anna? I’ve tried my best, haven’t I…”

“You have, father,” I nodded. “It is not your fault that Mum died. You had to do something, to save our people. The famine has lasted a year now.”

“You see it’s not my fault,” he mumbled. Tears welled up in his eyes and I stood to my feet immediately. I didn’t want to see my father cry.

“You think I like that rich old fool, Kasper?” he continued. “Or Lartes? He’s been stealing from all the packs in the West the whole time. I have no choice, Anna. You two are my best bet.”

My ears had already stopped taking in more information after he made mention of the Lycan King, Lartes stealing from the packs in the West. I shifted closer to him, drew out a chair, and sat down.

“What do you mean Lartes has been stealing from the packs in the West?” I asked.

“The bloody taxes,” he grunted. “Even with the famine, we’re still forced to pay outrageous taxes to him. He’s the Lycan King, the head of the council of Alpha’s in the West.”

“But we didn’t pay taxes to the former head of the council…” I started.

“Lartes enacted that law,” my father replied. “His taxes are part of the reason we’re in this mess.”

My brain started working very fast immediately. Lartes was responsible for our problems and he wanted his nephew mated to Kira. If Kira agreed to be Xavier’s mate, our family would not only have access to Lartes’ riches. We would also have access to his pack, through Kira, and with proper planning and backup from other affected packs, we could end his autocratic reign.

But Kira. We could not trust her for such a job. I knew very well that only a week in Lartes’ pack would be enough to make her betray us. There and then, I decided that I had to do it. I had to be Xavier’s substitute bride. That way, I could easily infiltrate their pack.

I smiled at the perfect plan I had come up with and turned to my father. I was going to offer him what he had always wanted.

“I would be Xavier’s bride,” I announced.

He stared at me for some time and shook his head in the negative. “This is no time for games, Anna. By winter, we would all be dead and it would be because you and your sister refused to do your duties.”

“I’m sorry father. I don’t know what came over me with Christopher,” I muttered. “Allow me to make it up to you. Let me take Kira’s place and mate with the lame prince.”

My father stared at me as though I had run mad. He was obviously confused as to why I had a sudden change of heart.

“Anna if you dare play games with me….”

“I said I’m ready to do it, Father!” I tried to sound as convincing as I could. “I want to save my people and if the only way to do it is by marrying the prince then so be it.”

He stood up immediately. “Guards!” he cried.

Two armed guards ran in at his call. “Alpha Faustus.”

“Ready the carriages,” He cried. “Princess Anna would leave for the Blood Moon Pack by dawn.”