2. ARIEL— "I'm not asking you to marry him, I'm ordering you"

I stared at both my parents in disbelief.

I looked at my father who stood there with an expression as strong as liquor. With eyes as blue as the sky and hair as blond as his skin. To my mother who had skin as brown as creamed coffee and eyes as gray as dark clouds. 

They seemed to be in their right senses or at least my mother seemed alright with her well-matched clothes which had been pressed to perfection. No crazy person would look that posh.

“Did they threaten you? Are they blackmailing you?” I demanded. 

“Ariel, I made an alliance with the King of the North and I have to keep it,” my father responded. This conversation wasn't supposed to have dragged out this long but disbelief held me by my hair.

My frown must have deepened in a way my mother said made me look like a withered prune.

“At my own expense?” I demanded and I felt my voice breaking.

“I cannot marry a total stranger. I cannot marry a man I do not love. I cannot even see myself doing it,” I protested. Pitifully might I add?

I'd never protested before. I was classified as a "demure" girl for goddess sake but believe me, even a "docile" sheep would not accept this.

“Ariel, you do not have a choice here. I’m not asking you to marry him. I’m ordering you to! For Selena's sake, Ariel, do not be stubborn!” My father exclaimed.

After getting my father to reach this tone, I knew it was time to back down. Hadn't an old rhyme said something about a docile sheep being a secret lion? Or was it my misdirected motivation?

“What if it’s a trap? The King of the North isn't above trickery and you know it," I pointed. A small scoff emerged from my mother's lips. She would chide me later on my sudden feisty spirit in that "How could you Ariel?" tone.

My father narrowed his eyes at me but I saw the tiredness behind the mask of impatience.

"Now you speak like a child," he muttered. I begged to differ.

"It has been finalized, dear." My mother said.

"I see no issue with the union. He's a young man and will make lovely children." She flippantly added. Of course, she would see "no issue". How would she ever see the issue if the issue wasn't mismatched clothes or gaudy jewelry?

I felt my eyes moisten and my breathing became heavier. The nervousness that I felt was killing me and I thought I would truly die if I did not get a seat. For my legs had gone weak from standing as well as the news. I still found it very hard to understand.

But I knew that I could not get married; not like this at least. My issue was that I was already in love with someone else. We'd been seeing each other in secret and we were planning to reveal it to my parents soon. I'd been hoping they would not be too shocked but I guess I was the one who'd been in for a surprise.

How could I spend the rest of my life with Asher now that my father had gone and mated me to the Northern prince?

“Alpha Klaus. . .” I began and paused as his attention was back on my face. He did not even flinch at the fact that I was using his title. I cleared my throat before speaking again. “You can order me to do whatever but marriage is not something you can force me into!” I unintentionally screamed the last part and felt the tension thicken.

My father let out a menacing low growl and I quickly backed away subconsciously. “What did you just say?” He demanded lowly.

With that tone, my roaring lion was back to the docile sheep it was. I did not dare to repeat myself. “What did you just say!” He yelled and I flinched at his tone.

My entire body started trembling and I felt myself close to tears. My breathing became shaky and I could hardly stand. 

“Do you know what is at stake? Did I raise a selfish daughter?” My father threw this question at my mother but his words tore across my heart.

“Allison, make your daughter understand because I cannot put up with her childishness any longer!” He finished and stormed out of the room.

My mother slowly walked up to me and stared at me in disappointment. 

“People have been dying for years. Blood had been spilling for centuries and now that we have found a way to end it, you’re refusing to do it. You have decided to take the selfish path. You have decided to do only what you want for yourself! Don’t you care?” My mother scolded me.

Why were they making it look like I was a bad person? Was it too much to ask for? Wanting to be with your love? 

“I thought you said I should always follow my dreams. I thought you once said that I should always aim for my happiness. Now that I’m doing it, why are you objecting?” I demanded in a broken voice.

“Yes, I said that. But people like you and I are not meant to have the happiness we want." Her tone went distant as if she'd fallen into the clutch of her memories before she shook it off.

Was it a crime to be born into royalty? Did this mean people like me could never find love? Did I even ask to be born a princess?

“But Mom, I don’t think I can do this,” I cried as tears finally exited my eyes.

“You have to. There is no other way. Alpha Axel already sent us a message. His son will be here tonight. Prepare to welcome him,” she announced, giving me a sympathetic glance before brushing past me as she left.

I sank to my bed and began to cry. Everything had been perfect. My life had been going just fine. I found my Asher and we were in love with each other; now we had to fall apart. My life would be incomplete without Asher.

There was a short knock on my door.

“Come in,” I croaked miserably. 

A young lady popped her jet-black head in. The moment she noticed my mood, her blue eyes mirrored that of sympathy and she walked into the room. 

Roseline was a very tall woman. Next to her, I looked every bit of a wispy child. She was six feet tall with the features of a fairy princess. 

The only identical thing we shared was our blue eyes. Every other thing was different. From her light skin color to her small shaped nose and lips. No one could guess we were cousins at first glance. But I was grateful to have her. She was the only friend I could trust. My only best friend.

“Girl, why are you crying? Are you okay? I heard your parents’ voices. I figured something intense was probably going on in here. Do you perhaps need me? I could go give them a piece of what Roseline is made of!” She blabbed away in a wave of anger sprung from love.

If I had not been so sad, then I would have laughed at the inner chihuahua in her. By now, she had only sunk beside me on my bed and found her fingers on my back as she patted me.

“I wish you could but it won't solve the problem. It's way bigger than that,” I told her in a sad tone.

She cocked her brows at me in confusion. “What's wrong, Ariel? Are we dying?” She demanded in shock.

I scoffed and waved her question away. “I wish. My parents have found a way to end the war,” I announced.

“No way! How? Should you be crying? Shouldn't you be excited?” she exclaimed already getting hit with excitement.

“For the war to stop, I have to marry the Prince of the North!” I yelled.

Roseline froze. Her hands went to her mouth and she suddenly went quiet. My misery finally dawned on her.

After some time, she spoke.

“But you love Asher. What are you going to do?”

Tears started streaming down my cheeks again. 

“I don't know. What am I supposed to do? What will I tell Asher? How will he take the news? What is going to happen to our future?” I blurted out some of the questions that were running through my head.

“We'll find a way through. When is he coming?” Roseline asked.

I widened my eyes in shock. I had forgotten that I had to be the one to welcome him tonight and that was not so far away. I was in no state to see him. If I faced him now, I could ruin everything. My emotions were all over the place.

“He's coming tonight. Roseline, I need a favor. Will you help me?” I requested.

She tilted her head at me before finally speaking. “What do you want?” She asked.

“I don't think I can see him today. I'm not strong enough. Will you welcome him for me? Please?” I begged.

Roseline squeezed her face at me and tried to fight some emotions before she finally exhaled and turned to me. “Cousins for life, right?” she finally said.

I smiled in relief at her.

“Thank you, thank you so much. What would I ever do without you?”

“Well,” Roseline began and got off the bed. She started to leave the room. When she got to the door, she paused and turned to me. “You owe me two bottles of strong liquor,” she stated before leaving the room.

I exhaled sharply. I still felt bad. My mood was not getting any better. Maybe if I went to Asher, he could cheer me up.

I smiled at the thought and got off my bed. I hurried out the room and went down the corridors. I kept navigating my way through the grand palace until I entered the north wing. 

It was quite dark and eerie which was strange. There were usually burning torches and light from the little electricity we could get. 

A cold chill ran down my spine as I walked in the darkness. I kept jumping at every sound I heard. Until a hand wrapped itself around my mouth and another pulled me into the darkness.

That was when I knew my doom had finally come. . .