Chapter 2

”We all want to be seen as a hero, even though the things we do to help others escape their dilemma sometimes come back to haunt us”

Nova’s pov

Every parent's wish was to see the day they would be walking their children down the aisle, with smiles on their faces. Neither my parents would be walking me down the aisle, nor did they have that smile on their faces as they walked me out of my room.

Mom mumbled a curse word as we spotted the Lycan king's men in our compound, waiting by their parked car with their cold gazes everywhere but on us.

“Dad,” I suddenly called out to Dad making him abruptly stop on his track.

“Yes, Princess?” he gulped down the guilty lump and I felt his nervous gaze on me.

“Is there a thing you could do to stop me from going?” I knew there was nothing anyone could do to change the Lycan King’s will, but I couldn't help but ask that question.

“Um,” he sighed and moved his hands to my shoulders. “I understand how you're feeling and I'm worrying about you, but I don't know what to do, or how to go against him.”

“Go against him?” Mom scuffed from the back and I wondered what was on her mind.

“You can't possibly go against him and you know that. I won't allow you to endanger the thousands of lives that reside in this pack just so you could save the life of our daughter.” Mom spat with all seriousness and that reminded me of whom my parents were.

“The pack safety comes first.” I nodded my head, I had always known my parents to be the most plausible leader that had ever ruled the pack. They would put their lives on the line to protect our species. But never have I thought they would someday pick the pack over me.

“What’s the point of being a leader if you can't take responsibility for your species' actions?” Mom sighed and that made me angry.

“Sorry?” I shrugged my shoulders, letting Dad's hands slip off my shoulders. “Do you think that would make you a wise leader if you make your daughter serve a punishment in your stead?” I glared at her and I watched her face fell instantly.

“Guess you don't know what it means to take ‘responsibility’ after all.” I rolled my eyes and walked out on her.

“Novalie!” Dad yelled out my name but I was too angry to acknowledge his caution. I walked up to the two men and they had their gazes fixed on me as soon as I got to them.

“Take me out of this place,” I muttered to the guy who stood by the passenger side.

I grabbed the handle of the car, ready to open the door when I felt a strong hold on my hand preventing me from opening the door.

“Sorry?” I glared at the guy and of course, he didn't react. “What?” I sighed before retrieving my hand from the handle to have a proper look at him.

“You shouldn't go in until Alpha Randale sign…” the guy was still saying when we both saw Dad walking towards us.

“Princess,”

“You have to sign this paper, Alpha Randale.” the guy didn't waste a second before handing over the paper to Dad and he signed it without checking the content.

I was worried as I saw Dad gave back the paper to the guy without going through it. I opened my mouth to speak but I couldn't say anything. What's there to worry about when the worst was already happening?

“Can I go in now?” I asked the same guy, totally ignoring my Dad.

He nodded his head, “Sure, you may enter.”

I grabbed the handle and twisted the door open. Dad moved to say something but I got inside the car and shut the door on his face.

“Please go.” I wiped off the tears that were threatening to fall before resting my head on the seat headrest.

I couldn't bring myself to watch the stranger drive me out of the place I'd known to be my home. I couldn't help but let my tears stream down my cheeks as memories flooded my brain.

The drive was going smoothly until the driver suddenly stepped on the break, pulling the car to an unexpected halt.

I flapped my eyes open to see the shock of my life. Shayna, my maid was in the middle of the road with her arms stretched open. Seeing the car has came to a halt, she ran up to us and forced the door open.

‘Please tell me you came to rescue me’ I silently prayed to the moon goddess.

Shayna propped her head in and flashed out a toothy smile. “I can't let you go on your own. Please take me with you.”

“Shayna!” I burst into tears as she entered into the backseat and pulled me in for a hug.

••• 3 DAYS EARLIER •••

I thought we were having a bad day until the dispatcher arrived. I was in my room, gazing out of my window when I saw the dispatcher entering into our building with a box in his hands. I moved away from the window to see Tamsyn nodding off on my bed with her face up.

I never knew I'd zoomed out for that long because I could remember Tamsyn was saying something to me earlier.

I walked up to her and placed her head gently on the buffer. I removed the book she was reading from her lap and placed it on the nightstand table.

Taking a last look at her, I stepped out of my room to ask what the dispatcher delivered to us.

I had merely taken a few steps away from my room when I began to hear voices that I knew to belong to my parents, arguing in the downstairs living room.

“What’s the problem this time?” Tamsyn mumbled beside me, startling me.

“You were sleeping before I…”

“Do I need to remind you how nasty you can be when shutting the door? Of course, you woke me up when you were closing the door.” she grinned and I chuckled slightly.

I could be nasty at times, but I never knew it was that loud, hence I would have left the door open. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“Hmm,” I mumbled, “I think there was a message from the Lycan King,” I muttered, even though I wasn't sure if the box was sent by the Lycan King. But the richly designed box made it makes sense that it was from him.

“Really?” Tamsyn rolled her eyes nonchalantly. “Tell me about it.” she yawned very loudly and propped her elbows on the rails, staring at our parents who were arguing over what was best known to them.

“I do not know,” I uttered, Tamsyn shrugged and rubbed her stomach through her thick dress.

“What does he take himself for? How dare he proceed with the wedding without letting us know?” Mom made an unearthly yell and I bent over to have a look at what was going on down there.

“Watch what you say, Mackenzie! You have to watch what you say when talking about the Lycan King!” Dad toned down.

“That is it! What is he? Is he a god?” Mom flared, “he might govern over us but he does not own us. How dare he ordered us to send our daughter over in the next three days? Is that how marriage works?”

“What?” Tamsyn gasped in shock, she moved away from the rail and began running back to my room.

‘This is bad’ I mumbled, slamming my fist on the rail.

“Wait up, Tamsyn!” I ran after my sister but she has already bolted the door from the inside before I got there.

“Tam?” I knocked on the door but I didn't get any response from the inside.

“Tamsyn?” I called out to her again, but she didn't open the door.

“Just stay in there, I'm going to get the keycard.” I turned around to leave but then, I heard the door crept open.

“Nova!” Tamsyn burst into tears the moment I entered my room. She was on the floor, crying her eyes out in front of me. “I can't show my face to the Lycan king. Not in this state, he will kill me if he find out that I am carrying a pup in my womb.”

Somehow, I felt sorry for her, she never signed up for any of these and I didn't know how to help my sister escape her dilemma.

Standing there with my hand gripping tight onto the doorknob, I shook my head as the ugly idea flashed through my mind, I didn't want to suggest it but I couldn't help seeing my sister that way.

“Tamsyn!” I shut tight my lid as I was about to say something that was going to put thousands of lives in danger. “Run. Run far away with your lover. Leave this pack this instance. Go and never return until everything is over.” I went pale as those words left my mouth without blinking.

“Nova…”

“Go before mom and dad get here!” I yelled, Tamsyn got up from the floor, she stood in front of me, tears swelled up her eyes and her body trembled in fear.

“What will happen if Dad finds out about this?” she whispered and I forced out a sad smile.

“Worry about yourself.” I gulped hard like never before. “Now, leave!” I pushed her out of my room and she staggered backwards.

“Nova? Please let's think this through.” she pleaded with her eyes. I could see the fear in her eyes and I was scared too. The thought of the Lycan king finding out about this scared me to the bone but I couldn't show it to her, I needed to be brave for her.

“There’s nothing to think. Worry about your little pup.” tears streamed down my eyes as I watched her rub her stomach. She smiled at me and I nodded for her to go.

“I’m sorry, Nova!” that was the last thing Tamsyn said to me before dashing out of my sight.

My legs gave way and I fell on my knees when realisation of what I just did dawned on me.

“I’m doomed!” I mentally hit my head on the floor. Just then, I heard approaching footsteps that I sensed belonged to my parents.

••• Present •••

“We are here,” Shayna whispered into my ear, jolting me out of my thoughts.

“Already?” I raised my brows in disbelief.

I zoomed out throughout the drive here and I was surprised as to how she would be saying we were already at the Lycan pack when it seemed like we left our pack only a minute ago.

“Yes, we are,” Shayna whispered yet again and I wondered what was with her.

“What’s wrong? Why are you whispering?” I moved my gaze from the backseat to the driver's seat to see that we were the only ones in the car. “Where are they?” I inquired, unable to believe that they would leave us in the car all by ourselves.

“He…” Shayna looked around before moving closer to me. “He went to dispose her body.” She said and I wondered if what she just said made any sense to her.

“Dispose whose body?” I tried looking behind me but Shayna was fast enough to cover my face with her palm.

“There’s blood everywhere, don't look,” she whispered yet again, and I tensed at the mention of blood.

“Whose blood?” I asked the most stupid question ever. Neither I nor Shayna have been here before, yet I was asking about things she had no idea of.

“Your supposed maid. Apparently, a maid was assigned to you, but unfortunately, she wasn't here on time to fetch you, she got called and was slaughtered for toying with her job.” Shayna threw her head on the headrest.

“What? Gracious goodness!” I gasped, my heart was beating like crazy and I felt like I should open the car door and run for my life, but that was not the wise thing to do.

“What if we end up like her?” Shayna mumbled and I felt my heart tighten in fear.