Shock and despair

The following days had us getting ready for Lustrows and Harol's wedding. The house was repainted, new furniture was bought, the lawn was cleared and decorated, and the whole house was looking spiff and spam. The union between The Silver Pack and The Arrowhead Pack was all over the news, it was going to be the biggest wedding in all the land.

I was happy during this period because I was sure I would see Leoric again, my instincts told me he would be at the wedding and if he was there, I'll get to hang out with him,

This excitement lifted me above all the sadness and stress I was going through at this time; I surprisingly found myself smiling as I did the heinous tasks assigned to me in preparation for the wedding—the thoughts of Leoric consoled me. I imagined what it would be like if he accepted me despite my status, Haleth said he was rich so he would pay off the rest of my debt, then we would get married and start a pack of our own. We would live happily ever after, how sweet my dreams were

The wedding day came closer and the preparations intensified until it was the big day, the highly anticipated wedding day! 

The sky was clear and beautiful and the air smelt fresh I hopped off my bed excitedly and proceeded to the kitchen to assist the chef they hired to make the food for the buffet they planned for the occasion. 

"You seem very happy this morning," Haleth said to me 

"Isn't everyone?"

"You're glad you'll be free of Harol aren't you?"

I gazed at her incredulously for some seconds and laughed "you're right Hally, I'll be free of Hally but I'm also glad I'll be able to watch the events live and direct. I won't have to eavesdrop"

"Of course, you won't" Hally laughed "what time is it now ladies" Ma'am Fregio, the chef asked

"It's 4 AM" Haleth answered "no, it isn't" I countered "it should almost be dawn now" Ma'am Fregio scrunched her face in confusion "can someone go down the hall or to where there is a clock, I need to know the actual time"

"Okay," I said getting up and washing my hand in the sink "I'm going to check the living room" but as I approached the door a deafening and shrill scream reverberated around the house "what in the world was that," Haleth asked with a startled expression but then there was another scream "it's the Lunar" my eyes widened in shock, why was she screaming, what happened to her "let's go check on her" Haleth suggested and we all rushed out the door but when we got to her chambers the door was locked, Holden stood in front of it, warding people off and preventing them from entering 

"There is nothing wrong with the Lunar," he said spreading his arms to stop people to hold people back "it's just an anxiety attack, she's perfectly fine" "yes she is," the Alpha said coming out of the room "you can all go back to your positions, we should be in the party mood" he attempted to laugh but I sensed distraught: like there was something he was hiding beneath his happy look my instincts felt like something had gone awry but I ignored it, maybe the Lunar's dress wasn't made well and she wouldn't like to look casual and she wouldn't like to look casual. I shrugged and walked back to the kitchen, one hour later, there was a knock on the door

"Come on in" Haleth bellowed and it turned out to be Holden, "young master" Haleth greeted "what do you want, do you need anything, don't you like what was served for breakfast don't you., do you..." He raised his hand, cutting Haleth off "there's nothing to worry about, the food is okay" he turned to face me "The Alpha and Lunar have sent for you "

My heart jolted instantly, what have I done, am I going to do something, seeing the look on my face, Holden walked to the door and opened it "let's go I don't know what you're needed for let's just go" he held his out for me to take

"What?" I asked as this gesture surprised me but he only grabbed my wrist and began to pull me along

"What are you doing, what have I done now" I squealed trying to free my hand but he only tightened his grip and walked faster "what have I done now, please Holden, don't let me get locked in the basement. I really want to see the wedding please"

He kept mute and I saw that he was leading me to the Alpha and Lunar's room. Had Harol accused me of something again, oh no, I prayed she didn't order me to vanish from the wedding scene, tears began to gather in my eyes. If I didn't attend the wedding, I wouldn't be able to see Leoric and today was my only chance, if I didn't see him today, I wouldn't be able to find him on my own, my heart began to palpitate even as he opened the door and pushed me inside, then he locked the door behind us but Harol wasn't in the room, The Alpha sat on the bed beside Lunar who was sobbing quietly 

"Here she is" Holden announced walking past me to sit on the couch. I looked at the gathering and a million thoughts ran through my head. The Alpha gestured for me to sit in the chair in front of him, but I remained still, my heart beating in my chest, "sit down Silene" he took a deep breath "sit down Silene... please"

"What!"

My ears felt like something banged in them had the Alpha just begged me, what was going on now, I was really scared, I sank into the seat slowly "thank you" he said adjusting his sitting position and clearing his throat "you see we've called you here" he stopped and took a deep breath and the Lunar burst into a loud wail "calm down Edsel" he said pulling her into his embrace "she'll be fine, she'll come back home"

"What" I yelled springing to my feet "what happened to Harol"

"Keep your voice down" the Alpha shushed "no one knows about it yet. Harol has run away from home, she left last night" he handed me a folded piece of paper and my hand trembled as I took it from him, I open it slowly, it was a note from Harol and it read

                       "Sorry Mom sorry Dad.. but I can't          

          Just Let you ruin my life, not like that, not

        because of your financial situation. I

       deserve to be happy and I can't find

     happiness with Alpha Lustrows, I'd be

        sad for the rest of my life, I know

      I sound like I don't care what would 

     Happen to you or what is happening right now as you read this note but maybe I truly don't care, maybe I can't sacrifice my happiness for your comfort and honor. I'm sorry I had to make this decision this abruptly, I just couldn't watch my worst nightmare come true. 

  Don't bother looking for me because you won't find me. Live what will be left of your life happily and wish me luck on whatever you do" 

                 

                                                   Love

                                            Harolden.

This is horrible, very bad, how could Harolden be this selfish, how could she do this at this time, how could she not be there for her parents when they needed her "I'm very sorry" was all I could mutter as I returned the letter to him, what would happen now, it was too late to call off the ceremony

"What would happen now" I managed to ask, swallowing my fear of them 

"It's too late to cancel the wedding" the Alpha answered "even if we do, It'll affect us. You do know we're broke don't you" I nodded slowly "the union is our breakthrough, we need the money, we need the endorsements, we need the properties. Without it we'd be nothing, we've spent all left we have on the ceremony, we're entirely broke now"

I lowered my gaze in sadness, "but we've thought of something, we've thought of a solution"

"What is the solution," I asked eagerly, happy the wedding wouldn't be canceled but the Alpha kept mute "tell me the solution sir and I would help supervise the arrangements, it'll be like nothing happened"

"I've informed Alpha Ailwyn and Lunar Dessa of what happened"

"Really?"

"Yes and they've agreed to the new plan,they have no choice too it'll be a huge disgrace on them as well"

"I understand master, what's the solution?"

"You are going to marry Alpha Lustrows in place of Harol"

"What!"

It felt like a cannon exploded in my head, I went dumb for a second and time stopped

"Yeah", Holden, The Alpha, and Lunar said in unison "we've convinced them that you are our daughter, your name is no longer Silene. You'll answer the name Keyvra from now on. You have no choice but to do as I say but I'll like you to know that this is a chance for you to be free, you'll get to live a life of luxury. Lustrows has agreed to the plan also, he'll be good to you"

Words are not enough to express how felt at that moment. I felt like I was dreaming or that I was suddenly in a movie, the three of them were staring at me, watching my whole life change within just five minutes. It was a better option than slavery but then there was Leoric, what would I do about him, I couldn't just let him go and I didn't think I wanted to be married to that pompous fool either— not after what I witnessed the other day. It was all happening too fast "no" I yelled as loudly as I could "I'm not interested, it is none of my business" they could kill me if they wanted, it wasn't like my life even mattered to them. After all these years of suffering to end up in bondage with some sycophant who wouldn't love me or care for me, I would suffer all my life 

"I'm the one who shouldn't care about you and your pack," I said "it's not like I've ever gained anything from you, I've never benefitted from your riches, I don't have good clothes, I wear your rags, I almost didn't go to school, I didn't live the lavish life your children lived. I didn't enjoy your money when you had it so why should I be the one to suffer for it"

"But you are still owing us" the lunar retorted

"I don't care! That doesn't give you the right to sell me off I'm not a slave, I'm only working to pay my debt"

"And you haven't finished paying it, we're making it easy for you to pay us. We're letting you off, we're not enslaving you anymore, you'll be free from us now"

To my surprise, I burst into a peal of hysterical laughter, then I stood defiantly before them 

"Just look at you," I said mockingly "pained and restless, sad and mad. I bet you know what going broke means now, I bet you know how my mother felt now, turns out what goes around comes around after all"

But a slap landed on my across my face sending me to the floor, I was blind for a moment when I recovered, I held my burning cheek and I looked up, the Alpha was standing there, so fiery-eyed he resembled a monster, my sudden confidence vanished instantly and became replaced with fear 

"You have no right to talk to me like that. I'm still in control of your life, you have no home but here. Your mother was a fool, same with your father. I'm doing you a big favor, changing your miserable life by letting you bear the same with me, by acknowledging you as my daughter and besides you have no choice, you have no choice, you have nowhere to go. You will marry Alpha Lustrows, you will remain obedient and loyal to him. You will serve him as you served us. And if you ever contemplate revealing the secret of your identity to The Silver Pack, they won't spare you for letting them have such relations with a dirty blood like you, you'll be dead before you even say it"

These words sank deep into me, a fresh pang jabbed my heart: There was nothing to be done, I had no choice.