Chapter 1 - Bloody Wedding

Linnea POV

In 24 hours, I went from being all dolled up for my wedding to being bought at an auction like some kind of animal. If that’s not a weird twist of fate, I don’t know what is. 

***24 hours earlier***

“Oh sweetie." Wanda, the head Omega, cooed as she handed me a tissue and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes. "We can't have your makeup running. Imagine being called a panda bride, not the best look, right?"

I sighed and forced a chuckle.

"I can't put my finger on it." I said, gripping Wanda's wrinkly, but warm, hands. “But I've had this foreboding feeling. Like, this is a bad idea and something will go wrong."

"I know this isn’t exactly how you imagined your wedding day, but you are going to be fine. And we’ll always be there for you, no matter where you are." Wanda reassured me with a tight hug. 

"Look at you, absolutely stunning. I can't believe how much you've grown," Wanda held my hand and spun me around, making me smile.

I was rocking a dazzling white wedding gown. The top had a chic one-shoulder design, showing off my graceful swan-like neck and collarbone. It hugged my upper body perfectly, and the lower part cascaded in layers of silky satin, adorned with twinkling diamonds and jewels.

"You know, your mom wore this exact dress on her wedding day," Wanda chuckled as she adjusted the crown on my head. "You two look so much alike."

"I just wish Mom could be here." I whispered, trying to stop crying.

I was about to marry Alpha Harald, and despite trying to keep an emotionless composure, I was a nervous wreck inside.

This was all my father’s idea. After my mom died when I was six, he married Antonia and she, along with her son Gabriel, became part of our family when I was eight.

Antonia hated me and tried to exclude me from everything in our family. When my father called her out on it, she acted like he had cheated on her or something. She screamed and cried and accused him of not loving her. Finally, he gave in and I was usually left in the care of the Omegas while the three of them spent time as a family. 

My father was the Alpha of the Moon Stone pack, one of the largest packs in Sweden. After a dispute with a neighboring pack, they decided that I would marry their Alpha to unite the packs and make us the most powerful in the city. If the marriage didn’t happen, the pack could probably go to war. 

As heir to the Alpha title, it was my responsibility to do what I had to to protect the pack, including marrying an Alpha I didn’t even know.

Besides, my father hoped that I would be happy to get out of the packhouse and away from the coldness of my stepmother.

No one asked me what I wanted though. 

I wanted to save myself for my mate. I turned eighteen a month ago and just got my wolf, so I didn’t really get the opportunity to meet my mate yet. And still I was sold off to an Alpha by my own father.

Wanda pulled out a small wooden box, interrupting my thoughts about my disgusting family..

”I kept these safe for you.” She whispered.

I opened the box and found a pair of silver colored earrings with drop shaped sapphires.

“They were your mother’s.” Wanda whispered. “I kept them hidden in the hollow legs of my bed to prevent the witch from burning them along with the rest of your mother’s things.”

Antonia had thrown away or destroyed all of my mother’s things to erase any memory of her. Whenever anyone tried to stop her she cried, made a lot of trouble and threatened to kill herself. This was probably the last thing left of my mother.

I fought back tears and looked up at Wanda.

“Thank you so much.” I replied, wiping a stray tear that fell down my cheek. “It means a lot to me.”

Wanda helped me put them on. My stomach churned when I started to realize what was about to happen. 

I was getting married. 

“You are so beautiful.” Wanda whispered soothingly.

I nodded, too nervous to speak.

Wanda seemed to understand, because she put a hand on my shoulder.

”You’re going to be just fine, sweetie.” She cooed.

I turned around and hugged her tightly. She had been head Omega in the Packhouse since I was a kid and she was practically a mother to me. 

My father walked in the room. He was wearing a black suit and his graying hair was neatly styled. He looked really handsome and his blue eyes twinkled as he grinned.

His gasp made us pull apart. 

”My Goddess, you look absolutely stunning!” He beamed.

I forced a smile and thanked him. 

He took my arm. 

“Are you ready?” He asked. 

NO!

“Yes.” I whispered. 

“I know it’s scary to get married.” My dad said. “But I think this would be the best for you.” 

I nodded and hummed, afraid that if I opened my mouth I would throw up. 

We walked out of the small house and made our way to the pack chapel where the ceremony would take place. 

The garden outside was beautifully decorated with birch leaves and light pink ribbons. Since it was in the middle of summer, the flowers were blooming and the garden was lush and absolutely perfect.

Under normal circumstances, I would have appreciated it, but as we neared the chapel, I could barely register anything that went on around me.

Before I knew it, we stood by the aisle, ready to walk down it to meet my future husband. 

I had only met Alpha Harald once. He had a bit of a sleazy look, but I tried to tell myself it was only for the rumors that I had heard of him. He was a ruthless Alpha that killed his victims for fun and displayed their bodies along the borders of the pack territory. Everyone feared him. 

The music started playing and we strolled down the aisle. 

I spotted Alpha Harald by the altar. He was wearing a light gray suit that almost looked a little too big for him. His thinned, dark hair was gelled back and he smiled at me with yellow teeth. 

I gulped and forced myself to take a deep breath to keep my face as emotionless as possible even if I actually just wanted to scream. 

When I positioned myself beside Alpha Harald, I noticed that he barely reached my shoulder. 

Please, let it be the heels. He’s probably taller if I took them off. 

I didn’t really believe the words that I chanted to myself. 

What have I gotten myself into?

The priest started to read the vows. 

“Do you, Linnea Cecilia Nielsen, take Harald Kenneth Borgman, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together after the Moon Goddess’ ordinance, in the holy state of matrimony. Will you love, honor, comfort, and cherish him from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto him for as long as you both shall live?

NO!

“I do.” I blurted through gritted teeth before I could change my mind. 

The priest turned to Alpha Harald, repeating the same vows and he curtly said “I do”. 

“Alpha Harald, please place your mark on the bride’s neck.”

I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach and I desperately fought the urge to run out of there.

Alpha Harald took hold of my shoulders and I felt like squirming out of his grip.

I forced myself to stand still and gasped as his canines pierced my skin.

My knees went weak and I panted heavily as my neck stung from the bite wound.

“Linnea, please place your mark on your husband’s neck.”

I leaned forward and let my wolf come forward. I bit down on Alpha Harald’s neck and he groaned. 

When the mark was set, I quickly drew back and looked back at the priest, trying to ignore the taste of his skin on my tongue.

“By the power vested in me by the Moon Goddess, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss…”

“That won’t be necessary.” Alpha Harald interrupted. “We’ve got more pressing matters at hand.”

He stood up next to the priest and harshly pushed him off the platform where he had been standing. The priest fell to the ground with a grunt and I bent down to check that he was alright. 

“What did you do that for?” I shouted. “He could have gotten hurt!”

Alpha Harald glared at me. 

“I’ll enjoy that mouth later on.” He growled. 

I nearly gagged when I realized what he meant.

Before I could answer, he turned to my dad. 

He had gotten up from his seat so fast that the chair had flipped over. 

“What is the meaning of this?” He snarled.

Alpha Harald smirked. 

“I now officially announce that I, as the Alpha of the Red Rock pack and the legal Alpha son-in-law of the Moon Stone pack, formally overthrow the current Alpha. 

“What are you talking about?!”

My father was seething. He glared at Alpha Harald, baring his teeth and balling his fists by his sides. 

“Soldiers, show your weapons.” Alpha Harald roared. 

I watched in disbelief as about half of the people attending the ceremony got up and took off their suits, revealing silver armors and guns.

“No, please, you can’t do this!” I called out. 

Gabriel, my stepbrother, got up too.

“Yes we can.” He smirked. 

His eyes glowed red and amusement danced in them, making him look like a bloodthirsty lunatic. 

“Soldiers, light them up!” He yelled. 

Out of the half of the unarmed people in the church, another half revealed guns in their jackets or dresses.

Now, it was three against one.