Gabriella.

Gabriella's POV.

Flashback.

"Oh my darling you look so beautiful!.........." Madame Freya gasped as she stared at me from the doorway. She was holding onto a tray containing a hot cup of tea that I had requested for earlier, I hoped it will soothe my nerves and calm me down a bit.

I smiled warmly at her, "Thank you so much Aunt." I called her Aunt fondly, because that was exactly what she was like to me, and not a nanny.

She strolled into the room and set the tray on the small desk by my bedside. Then she came to stand in front of me.

I fought to hold in whatever emotions that was trying to come to the surface, but my strength failed me.

"Gabriella......." Madame Freya took my hands and drew me close for a hug. I surrendered myself completely to her warm embrace and allowed the tears and sobs that threatened to choke me to flow down freely on my cheeks.

Today is my wedding day, a day I had looked forward to all my life.

I was born a half blood. My mom had died shortly after birthing me. She was a human and her frail body couldn't survive carrying a pup, even if it was a half blood pup. My dad was eager for a male pup, according to Madame Freya, but unfortunately he had gotten a girl, a useless girl.

After I turned 13 four years ago my father had eagerly anticipated the moment I would have my first shift, as is expected of all full bloods after they attain a certain age. But that never happened. It was at that point that he realized I was a half blood.

My father became disgusted by my existence. Madame Freya did everything she could to conceal me from the truth that I was an abomination, but it didn't take long before I started to understand it myself. My father openly insulted me. He once told me that he wished he didn't have a child than to have me, he wished I wasn't born to him, and that now I was so useless that I couldn't even be mated to anyone, since no one would want to be with a weak half blood.

I was never allowed to see him afterwards, or to be associated with him. There were times when I considered death as the most suitable option. Surely it was better to be dead than be so utterly rejected and resented by one's own father, one's only family.

Madame Freya had stepped in and taken over my welfare. She was my nanny while growing up, because of my father's indifference towards my care she had taken it upon herself to raise me, and she did so as though I was her own child.

She was a mother figure to me, she insisted I remain hopeful that someday I would find someone that would love me for who I was, and accept me without judgement. I knew that was close to impossible but I clung to her comforting words and they were all that kept me going.

And today those dreams had become a reality, surprisingly. My father got a message few weeks ago that the Alpha of the pack, Marcel wished to marry me. It came as a huge shock to him, and myself as well. I had met Marcel a couple of times, first during a meeting he had with my father in our private court room at home, and on very few occasions at the royal Palace during festivals. He had never shown any serious interest in me during this encounters, not that there was any hope of that since our meetings were always brief and for a short moment, and so when the letter came in everyone was surprised. My father however counted it as a goodwill and luck and instructed Madame Freya to prepare me in earnest. In his words, "Gabby might not be an utterly useless child after all. Imagine what this union would do for me as one of the pack leaders? Imagine being the father of the pack's Luna? My status would be greatly elevated. If I would be able to at least achieve that through Gabby then it's a good thing. Prepare her to become the Alpha's bride."

It had been barely three weeks since Marcel had made his intentions known to my father and my father had accepted on my behalf. The wedding preparations were done in a haste, as if Marcel was eager to be wedded to me. I hadn't met him once since the news of his proposal. This was definitely not a love affair, probably just a mere business engagement between my father and himself, but I didn't mind. Immediately after the wedding I would be required to move into the Royal Palace and live with the Alpha. That meant I would finally be far away from my dad's torture. I would never have to bear the hate and disgust that he has for me, I would probably never need to see him again. And that, was more than enough for me. It was all I could ever wish for, a chance to get away from the miserable life that I lived here.

"Gabriella, please don't cry my love. Are you unhappy about this wedding.......?"

"No Aunt....." I leaned back away from her embrace and used the back of my hand to wipe my teary face. "No I just......I don't know......." I whispered.

"It's what we've always prayed for, for you to find a man that will love and accept you......."

"Aunt you and I know that this isn't about love." I cut her short. I sat down on the bed and picked the cup of hot tea and took a sip.

Madame Freya sat beside me.

"I know. That doesn't mean you don't have a chance at love. Anything could happen once you're married and living with each other. You can't lose hope now."

I took a deep breathe.

"Aunt the only good thing about this marriage is that I'll finally be able to leave this place and get away from my father. That's all I look forward to at the moment and that's enough for me." I dropped the cup of tea back on the tray. Then I turned and took her hand in mine. "Aunt, please tell me you'll come with me, when I move into the Palace. I can't do this on my own, I'll need you......."

"My love......" Madame Freya reached out and cupped my cheeks. ".......of course I'll come with you, I am still responsible for your welfare whether you're married or not my dear. I love you and I will not leave your side, okay?"

I smiled. "Okay Aunt."

"Now hurry and let's finish getting you ready else we'll miss your wedding and have to put up with your father for another season." She said with a light chuckle.

I got up and allowed her smoothen my gown, it was a simple yet gorgeous flawless white strapless gown, with glitter tulle, patterned and fitted to perfection. My hair had been straightened and put in a high bun earlier on by some maids before I dismissed them and asked for some time alone. I wasn't wearing any makeup, I didn't need it according to Madame Freya. She believed I was so beautiful that I didn't have need for such trivial things as makeup.

She turned and walked over to the dressing table to fetch my veil from a pack lying on the table. She fitted it carefully to my high bun and let it fall to my shoulders. I walked over to the huge mirror that was mounted beside the double doors leading into my room and admired my look.

I smiled in satisfaction.

******************

PRESENT DAY.

I ran my hands over the surface of the ground to see if I could locate the head of the chains I had been bind with. The floor was cold, and the cells, poorly lit. I was weak and hungry. I knew there wasn't so much strength left in me and it wouldn't be long before I collapse and finally yield to the welcoming hands of death. After my hands couldn't find anything that I could use to free myself from the heavy chains I fell back to the ground. Thoughts of the last few days flooded my mind, even though my body was frail and in pains my mind was still working perfectly. My pack had been raided and burnt to the ground, in the middle of my wedding to Marcel.

I didn't know what they had done with him, the last memory I had of him was when he was being beaten to a pulp by the men that had raided our pack. He was lying in a pool of his own blood, lifeless.

I sobbed. It was possible he was.......

I couldn't bring myself to think about it. My world had crumbled. My home had been destroyed completely, and I was captured and brought to this strange place, this dark cell.

I laid down on the floor and sobbed harder.