Chapter Fourteen: Endure

Aurora

               I was surprised when I made it down to the entry to see my father, my friends, and Mrs. Drake standing next to one of two limos. All but my father looked pale and sick. He smiled brightly at me.

               “My beautiful daughter. It is time. Tonight you will prove your worth and honor your family. You will honor your people.” He began to place the crystal keys over our necks. They guaranteed safe passage. The elite were the few that wore their keys en route to the Wonderland anymore since most didn’t fear for their safety as we did. We would leave them there before we departed the palace. All other guests would receive theirs upon entry.

               “Oh, please don’t do whatever it is. I’ve been a good daughter. Please don’t,” I whimpered out the last words like a coward.

               “Hush now. I am making you the greatest of all our kind. You will be the first Luna who unites the North and South. Illyria will be whole, and it will be your duty to usher in a new era. You will be the most highly regarded woman and wolf. You will be a true queen to your Alpha. Linus and I have put our issues aside so that you and Archer will be joined tonight.”

               “No. No. No. Please. I’ve heard what he does.”

               “Silence,” he growled in a low and lethal tone. My mouth shut at his command. My friends all had their heads down. “Ladies, no more crying. It is a celebration. Now, Aurora, you have lived a sheltered life. I have always protected you against men. But certain duties come as a woman and wife. I have asked Mrs. Drake to speak to you during the ride. I felt you would be more comfortable asking her questions than me.” He laughed to himself. “It should have been your mother here for this day, but you saw what happened to her.”

               Oh goddess, bringing up my mother’s murder before my wedding. He was a hateful man to remind me that my very breath and existence belonged to him.  

               I nodded. “Aurora dear, you and your friends may speak again. It will be a surprise for your guests, so none of you are allowed to communicate in any way to a soul outside of the five of you what is going on. Aurora will marry Archer tonight. You will not run away, and no one will stop this wedding from happening. You will all be lovely young ladies this evening. You will mingle with those of the North and follow your parents’ example. There might be matches for all of you, too,” he winked. My friends froze with terror. “Mrs. Drake and your parents have been instructed on what to do.”

Selene bowed her head in acknowledgment, “Alpha, I appreciate the honor you have bestowed on me by allowing me to ready Aurora for tonight.”

“Yes,” he waved her off. “Now, you all will ride together, and I will lead. Remember you all will arrive and behave beautifully as if this is the happiest occasion there could be. Do I make myself clear?”

In unison, we all answered, “Yes, Alpha.” He was not my father. He was not anything to me but a ruler. He wasn’t oblivious to my pleas. He just didn’t care. I was another player in his game for power.  

               “Quickly, girls into the car. Alpha, as we discuss such delicate things, can you assure us that nobody will be listening. I don’t want to think about the driver overhearing what will take place between a man and his virtuous wife.”

               “Certainly. I will not cheapen my daughter’s purity with an eavesdropping wolf. Tonight your driver is human. Raise the divider, and he will hear a thing.”

               “That was very generous of you. Thank you.”

               “Aurora, listen to Mrs. Drake. She is a fine respectable woman. You should really model yourself after her. I am sure that would please your new husband. All of your belongings have been sent to your new home. I hope you enjoyed your last night under my roof. I know you are sensitive in nature and didn’t want you to worry, so I thought it was best to surprise you.” He really meant to say that he didn’t want me scheming on how to get out of it. From what Betty told me about Archer, I might as well throw myself into the river to prevent him from getting his hands on me.  

               “Yes, father. You will never know how much I enjoyed my last night. It was as if the goddess knew the peace and rest I needed for what was to come.” If he had any idea what went on under his roof last night, he would kill me on the spot for defying him. I should be thankful he never commanded that I remain a virgin. That thought did make me smile. The Great Alpha misinterpreted my smile, which falsely put him at ease.

               “Yes. May our goddess Diana bless you tonight, and you ladies may talk freely during your journey, but once the door opens, you know what is expected and commanded,” he said quickly and rolled his eyes. My father hated the fact that our great diety was a female. I’d often heard him remark that the wolves would have been stronger if created by a male. There would be no whispers of Mate nonsense or heat cycle mess. But as the figurehead of the pack, he must seem benevolent and pious. I hope the goddess decided to smite him good. He more than deserved it.    

               As he walked towards his car, Mrs. Drake ushered us into ours. The door closed, the privacy window went up, and the driver took off. As soon as I felt the car moving, I went to speak, but Mrs. Drake held up a finger and pulled a tiny device from her purse. With a few clicks, I heard some static and ringing in my ears. We all winced in pain.

               “Alright girls, lesson one. He is a motherfucking liar.”

               We all stared in shock.

“Mom?” Moana’s mouth hung open. I’m guessing she’d never heard anything like that out of her mother either.

“Yes. We don’t have much time. He gave us the advantage to speak freely, but he could command any of us to talk once out. And yes, he had the car bugged. When his men go to check it, they will find that it hasn’t worked properly all day. I’m so sorry, Aurora. We all found out this morning after you girls left.”

“Mrs. Drake, I’m shocked he chose you to give me the talk since he trusts you the least.”

That made her laugh. “Aurora, I know. But Patrick pulled him aside and said it might be wise for a woman to talk to you since Archer is the way he is. I do love how quickly my husband thinks. But yes, your father’s disdain is well known, I’m from the North and Mated. I might as well be a three-horned monster as far as he’s concerned. I’m also not laughing at you or this situation. I’m holding back tears of rage. He used his words so well. Let’s just say many ideas were thrown around on how to keep a car from getting to the destination or stopping  a wedding.” I was shocked by her honesty. “Rember generalizations, and you can say anything.”

“How exactly is Archer? And how can I get out of this?” I saw a glimmer of hope if I had this woman on my side.

“Archer is a more vial creature than your father. It’s bad. I’ve been instructed to tell you not to fight back and always say yes. He won’t hurt you if there is no challenge. He enjoys breaking someone's will.” She rolled her eyes and slammed her fists into the seat. “But even then, there is no guarantee. They want you pregnant as soon as possible. Are your heats regular yet?”

“He’s going to hurt me during sex?”

She gulped with horror, “Probably. But your cycles?”

I wanted to cry, “No, I’m not regular. I’ve only had two since my first shift. Both times my father locked me in my room and wouldn’t allow a male on our floor until it passed.”

“All commands that have been given are only about tonight. About the wedding, and consummation. The safest route would be for you to endure Archer until you get pregnant and deliver an heir. Either side could procure an elixir for you from the fairies for fertility. If you are the passive, willing wife he supposedly wants, he might put you aside and leave you alone.”

“I don’t like that idea. I don’t want him touching me. I don’t want to have his child or be near him. What is another option?”

“The dangerous option is… endure tonight and escape tomorrow. I’m afraid there is no way around it. We have all been thinking of loopholes.” My friends nodded in agreement. “Between the Alpha commands and fairy rules at Wonderland, the wedding nor or consummation can be stopped unless by divine intervention, and sadly I don’t see that happening. The only good thing about the fairy rules is he can’t be violent with you tonight. Remember, no bloodshed.”

“Only until midnight,” I said grimly.

Mrs. Drake took my hand. “I am so sorry. I wish we could undo this.”

“But we can’t. I’m forced to endure tonight, and…”

“Yes. Don’t finish that sentence. Remember only general statements.”

I silently nodded. “I will continue to play my part.”

“We will work tirelessly. None of the families approve of this.” She didn’t say it, but I knew she meant the Kents, Connors, and hers. Mr. Kent was our Beta, Mr. Connors was his Second, and Mr. Drake was the pack’s unknown Assassin. Though I have no doubt, my father personally ended my mother’s life. Patrick Drake was cold to the outside world, but he was a loving father and husband who always wore a smile in private.

“I don’t think father knows what exactly he’s done.”

I heard a knock on the divider before it lowered. “Ladies, we have arrived. Miss Crane, your guests are eagerly waiting.” The man smiled, raised the divider, and then stopped the limo.

“No, dear, I don’t believe he does. May the Goddess Diana protect and save us all.”

The door opened, and each one of us had a perfectly drawn smile ready to perform.