Two

Kira's POV

My eyes stung as I opened them up. I had been staying in the same position, in my room, ever since Eric rejected me.

I looked out of the window to see that the sky had turned dark.

With a groan through my lips, I straightened up and my eyes met the dress I hung on a makeshift mannequin.

In the next second, I let out a mocking laughter. I had prepared that dress for the mating feast but it was of no use now.

I stood up to my feet, with my eyes glued at the dress. I was angry, and pained and immediately I grabbed a pair of scissors from the bedside table.

I stormed toward the dress, ready to destroy it but in the next second, there was a loud knock on the door.

"What?" I shouted, in an angry tone as my head snapped to look at the door.

"Miss Kira, the Prime Minister summons you." A servant said to me, in a nonchalant tone.

"He needs you in your study." She added and immediately everywhere turned silent.

My hands stilled as I was surprised that my father would summon me.

I never had a close relationship with my father but then summoning me to his study was rare.

In the next second, the scissors in my hand fell to the ground with a loud crash.

My head started to spin, thinking about why my father wanted me at his study.

Wiping my eyes, with the back of my hand, I walked out of the door.

However, I did not see the servant that delivered my father's message.

With a sigh through my lips, I walked down the hallway. I had a curious look on my face and as soon as I got to my father's study, the door opened up.

"Hi, Kira." Maya said, to me, with a big smile on her face.

However, I could not summon any strength to smile back at her. Everyone seemed to be happy and pleased while I was drowning in my sorrows.

Maya walked past and the door was left open. I took a step and I halted. I knew I was not ready for whatever was going to happen in the study.

I knew that my father was disappointed that I got rejected but then it was not my fault.

"Maya !" I heard my father's deep voice, calling out to me. He had sensed my presence and I was not surprised.

Without thinking twice, I dashed into the study.

"Yes, father." I answered, walking to stand before his table. From the corner of my eyes, I saw my stepmother sitting leisurely on the sofa.

She had a glass of wine in hand and her thin lips pulled into a smile.

It looked like she was celebrating something.

"This is not going to be good." I said to myself as dread filled my heart.

My father looked at me, his gloomy eyes dead set.

My hands were clenched into fists behind me.

"You're getting married to the Prince." He announced and the whole study turned silent. I could even hear a pin drop.

A few seconds later, I let out a low chuckle. "What do you mean, father?" I asked. I was not sure I had heard him right.

With an angry look in his eyes, he thundered, his fist slamming on the table.

"You're getting married to the Prince." He repeated and I gasped.

"I'm not supposed to get married to the Prince." I clapped back, with a confused look on my face.

"What? You're mateless. You're the perfect fit." He replied and I gasped.

"What about Kira? She was betrothed to the Prince. Why me?" I asked. I could not believe I would be a substitute for my sister.

How could I get married to someone I had never met?

I had heard rumors about the Prince and I could not fathom how my life would be if I got married to him.

"You're mateless." My father said, simply and then stood up to his feet.

He had a stern expression on his face while he looked at me.

"No! I can't get married to him." I declared and my father snorted. In the next moment, he walked out of the study without glancing at me.

He treated me like I was nothing.

If Maya could not get married to the Prince, they could have just canceled the engagement.

It hurt that my opinion did not even matter.

Suddenly, a peal of mocking laughter resounded in the air.

My head snapped to look at my stepmother, who was sitting, still with a glass of wine.

"You should be blessed that you're finally getting married, after your mate rejected you." I heard Genevievesay.

Her red lips pulled into a thin smile and I shut my eyes as tears streamed out.

The stories I had heard of the Prince swarmed in my head.

He was the famous useless Prince. He was one with no wolf or sense of direction.

"I can't…" I said, in a broken tone as my head tilted to the floor.

I was still dealing with my rejection and now, I was dealt another blow.

My hands found the study table and I held onto it.

I could see Genevievestand up to her feet. Her heels clicked against the floor as she walked up to me.

"You know, darling. The Prince and you are a perfect fit." She said, as she held onto my face.

In the next second, she dragged my head to look directly at her.

My head was held tightly and my jaw clenched. I could see the wicked and mocking look in her eyes.

"You're just as useless and worthless as him." She said and burst into a loud laughter. Her eyes shone as she let go of me, violently.

My head whipped to the side as she walked out of the study. Her heels clicking, loudly.

As soon as she walked out of the door, the door slammed shut with a loud bang.

I could feel the noise ringing in my head.

I straightened up and looked out of the window. I did not know what to do at this point. My life was slipping out of my hands at a very fast rate.

I had no grip on it.

It was incredibly surprising how my life had changed from a happy girl looking forward to her mate. To being betrayed, rejected and substituted.

Tears streamed down my face as my heart clenched in pain, again and again. Eric's face flashed in my eyes and that was another pain on another level.

How could I be so gullible? Eric never told me that he was going to reject me. And now I was going to marry the prince without being told.

Suddenly, I let out a low and mocking chuckle.

My laughter stopped and my hands clenched into fists.

A fierce and determined look appeared in my eyes.

"No! I can't accept this." I said out loud and immediately I turned around.

As soon as I walked out of the door.

I smelled the air to know where my father and step-mother were.

I followed the scents in the air and I ended up in the living hall.

They had a surprised look in their eyes as they watched me, marching toward them.

"What's wrong, Kira? Excited about marrying the Prince?" Genevieve asked me, with a sneer on her face.

I wondered if my father noticed how she treated me and why he never cared to caution her.

However, I was not here for that.

"I cannot get married to the Prince." I said, with so much resoluteness.

My father looked at me, with a fierce glare. I shivered at the intensity of his glare and for a moment, I wanted to take back my words.

However, I knew it was now or never.

Suddenly, Genevievelet let out a low chuckle while she looked at me.

"You have no say in this, darling." She said, in a sultry tone.

For a moment, I wondered if she was not aware of where she was.

This was not the pleasure room.

But then I did not want to dwell on that.

"Of course, I have a say." I fired back, with a fierce glare on my face.

"It's my life and I get to decide what I want to do with it." I added and I could see the conflicting look on my father's face.

I thought he was considering my words. My hope started to rise and I could see my freedom on the way.

However, he dashed my hope in the next second.

"You're meeting the Prince, tomorrow." He said and my face turned dark.

My eyes roamed around the area and I spotted a glass vase.

Immediately, I rushed toward it with a determined look in my eyes.

I took up the vase and broke it into pieces. Taking a sharp piece, I placed it on my left wrist.

"It's either you agree to my decision or I die." I threatened.

However, my heart was in turmoil. I was scared of dying but then I just wanted to get out of this mess by all means.

In the next second, Genevieve stood up to her feet.

She had a serious look on her face while my father had a blank look on.

He was probably surprised that I would pull off such a stunt.

"You know we want the best for you." Genevievesaid and my head snapped to look at her.

She had an amicable look on her face. Her eyes filled with sympathy for me.

However, I was not about to be fooled or so I thought.

"You do not want the best for me." I said, with an angry look. The sharp piece of vase pressed against my wrist and I hissed in pain. Blood gushed out due to the cut on my wrist.

Genevieve's eyes zeroed in on my cut and she had a look of pity.

"Come, let me treat that." She said and I snorted.

However, she did not back down. She continued to walk up to me.

"I understand how you feel." She said, in a motherly tone and I melted.

"You do." I asked, my eyes turning hazy.

"You do not have to marry the Prince."

"Really?"

"Yes."

My heart leapt in joy at her answer and immediately the piece in my hand dropped to the ground.

However, in the next second, I felt Genevievegrab my hand.

Her grip was tight and painful and swiftly, her fist flew toward the back of my head.

As soon as her fist collided with my head, I was pulled in the darkness as my body felt limp.