4. The Beginning Of Karma.

CHLOE.

Do you remember the karma I first talked about in the beginning? Well, she was about to betray me by showing her true self to me just when I thought I had gotten away with murder… Brace yourselves.

***

"Daddy, what are you talking about?" I pouted my lips as I pretended not to know what he was talking about.

He shook his head, " Don't daddy me Chloe," he replied firmly with narrowed eyes.

I knew I was in trouble when I saw my father's face. He looked furious, his eyes blazing with anger and disappointment.

"Chloe, what have you done?" he growled, his voice low and menacing this time around.

I bantered my eyelashes and tried to act innocent, but I knew he had found out. He always did. He was the Alpha, after all. He knew everything that happened in the pack.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Dad," I lied, hoping he would buy it.

"Don't play dumb with me, young lady. You killed Jess with the help of rogues… Why?" he demanded, his voice rising.

I felt a surge of resentment and defiance. Jess deserved it for stealing my boyfriend, from me. She had humiliated me in front of him and made me look weak and pathetic. She had to pay with her life.

"She was a bitch, dad. She stole Jake from me. She deserved to die," I spat, not caring about the consequences.

My father's face turned even redder with rage. He grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me hard. The bun I had tied my hair up, untied, and my blonde hair fell on my shoulders.

"How dare you? How dare you kill a packmate over a stupid boy? How dare you disrespect the pack laws and the Alpha's authority? Do you have any idea what you've done?" he shouted, his spit flying in my face.

I glared at him, refusing to back down.

"I don't care about the pack laws or the Alpha's authority. you're my father and you're supposed to love me and protect me, not punish me for something that was not my fault," I retorted, trying to twist out of his grip.

He tightened his hold on me, making me wince.

"Daddy,"

"Chloe, you're not a child anymore. You're a grown woman, and you have to face the consequences of your actions. You can't just kill someone and expect me to overlook it. You've committed a grave crime, and you know what that means," he said, his voice cold and stern.

I felt a pang of fear in my chest. I knew what he meant. I knew what the pack laws said. I knew what the punishment was.

"Death," I whispered, hoping he would change his mind.

"Yes, death. That's the only way to restore the balance and the peace in the pack. That's the only way to appease Jess's family and friends. That's the only way to show the other packs that we're not weak or corrupt. That's the only way to maintain my authority as the Alpha," he said, his eyes hard and unforgiving.

I felt tears sting my eyes. I couldn't believe he was serious. He was going to kill me. His own daughter. The only thing he had left of my mother, who died giving birth to me.

"Dad, please. Please don't do this. Please don't kill me. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do it. I was angry, I was hurt, I was jealous. I made a mistake, a terrible mistake. But I can change, I can be better, I can make it up to you. Please, Dad, please. I love you, I love you so much. Don't you love me?" I begged, sobbing and clinging to him.

He looked at me with a mix of sadness and pity. He sighed and stroked my blonde hair out of my face.

"Of course, I love you, Chloe. You're my daughter, my flesh and blood, my pride and joy. You're the only thing that matters to me in this world. But I can't let you go unpunished. I can't let you get away with murder. I can't let you ruin everything I've worked so hard to build. I can't let you destroy the pack. I can't let you destroy yourself," he said, his voice soft and gentle.

He kissed my forehead and hugged me tight. I hugged him back.

"So does this mean I'm forgiven?" I sniffed, hoping he would say yes.

He hummed softly, "Oh Chloe, this situation is different from the other things you have gotten away with. I don't know if the council will overlook it,"

My heart skipped a beat while dread crept into my guts. Did Dad really want to end my life for ending Jess's?

I swallowed nervously as my heartbeat increased, " So will you punish me?" I asked sweetly trying to act innocent.

He sighed heavily and didn't say anything for a few seconds. My knees grew weak.

How do I get out of this fix?

Dad broke the hug and looked at me with a glint of hope, "Maybe there's a way to save you. Maybe there's a way to give you a second chance and make everyone happy. I can save you, my dear daughter," he said, his voice hopeful and mysterious.

I looked at him with confusion and curiosity. What was he talking about? What other way? What second chance? What did he have in mind?

"Dad, what are you saying? What are you going to do?" I asked, feeling a flicker of hope.

He smiled and winked at me.

"You'll see, my darling. You'll see. Trust me, it's for the best. It's for your own good. It's for our future," he said, his voice cheerful and confident.

He let go of me and walked to the door. He opened it and called out to someone.

"Bring it in," he said.

I heard footsteps and saw two men enter my room. They were holding a tray with a glass of water and a pill.

"What's that?" I asked, feeling suspicious and nervous.

My father took the tray from them and thanked them. He turned to me with and sly grin.

"It's a little something to help you relax. It's a long journey ahead of us, and I don't want you to be stressed or scared. Just take this pill and drink this water, and you'll feel much better. Trust me, it's for the best. It's for your own good. It's for our future," he repeated, his voice soothing and persuasive.

He handed me the pill and the water. I looked at them with doubt and fear. I didn't trust him. I didn't trust his words. I didn't trust his smile. I didn't trust his plan.

"Dad, what are you doing? Where are we going? What's going on?" I asked, feeling panicked and desperate.

He shook his head and clasped my trembling hand.

"Chloe, Chloe, Chloe. Don't ask so many questions. Just do as I say. Just take the pill and drink the water. Trust me, it's for the best. It's for your own good. It's for our future," he insisted, his voice firm and commanding.

He pushed the pill and the water closer to me. I pushed them away.

"No, Dad. No. I'm not taking anything. I'm not going anywhere. I'm not doing anything. Tell me the truth. Tell me what's going on. Tell me what you're planning. Tell me what you're hiding," I demanded, my voice loud and angry.

He sighed and frowned.

"Fine. Do you want to know the truth? You want to know what's going on? Do you want to know what I'm planning? Do you want to know what I'm hiding? Fine. I'll tell you. But don't say I didn't warn you. Don't say I didn't try to spare you. Don't say I didn't love you," he said, his voice serious and grave.

He took a deep breath and looked me in the eye.

"Chloe, I've arranged a marriage for you. Marriage to another Alpha… This marriage will save your life, and mine, it will end the civil unrest, and the chaos you have caused," he said, his voice calm and clear.

An arranged marriage?! When did he plan all this?

I felt a shock of disbelief and horror. I felt a wave of anger and betrayal. I felt a surge of fear and despair.

I stared at him, speechless and stunned.

"But what about Jake?" I said my voice barely a whisper.

He scoffed and smiled.

"You will forget about him, my dear," he said, his voice cruel and mocking.

" I can't do that Dad, I won't accept your suggestion, "I resorted.

He laughed and clapped his hands.

"Yes, you will because you have no other options… Now isn't that exciting, Chloe? Isn't that the best news ever? " he said, his voice sarcastic and taunting.

He forced the pill and the water at me.

"Here, take this. You'll need it for the long trip," he said, his voice harsh and bitter.

I gulped down the unknown pill with water and he grabbed me by the arm and dragged me to the door.

"Now come on, Chloe. Let's go. We don't have much time. We have to leave before sunrise. We have to leave before anyone notices. We have to leave before anyone stops us," he said, his voice urgent and impatient.

"But-but, Jake?" I stuttered confused with everything Dad was doing in haste.

Dad always overlooked my wrongdoings until today.

"No buts my darling, just get in the car,"

He threw me into his car and slammed the door. He got in the driver's seat and started the engine. He drove away, leaving behind everything I knew and loved. He drove away to a place I knew nothing about nor whom I was to wed.

Oh goddess, please forgive my sin and let me wake up from this horrible dream...

My eyes felt heavy, I knew that the pill Dad had forced me to take had begun taking its effect.