3. The wedding

“You are our biological daughter…”

“What?”

I stare back at them with my mouth wide open. My ears keep popping up and suggesting that I must have heard wrong but their faces say otherwise.

“Yes, “ Luna Aria voices out. She stands up and walks towards me, “You are our daughter, Cora. It turns out that you were switched at birth with Liliana. We are still scrutinizing to know who is behind this, that’s why we decided to tell you the truth.”

The door flies open and Lily barges in. The anger on her face is much worse than the one I saw earlier.

“Lily!” Luna Aria exclaims.

“Dad! Mom! Tell me that this is not true,” she barks like a mad dog.

“Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?” Alpha Ezequiel asks instead.

“It doesn’t matter, Dad…” Lily tries to say but is cut off by Luna Aria.

“Liliana, you know that it is wrong to eavesdrop on people when they’re in a conversation!”

“But mom…”

“Apologize, immediately!” the Alpha says grimly.

Lily gulps in fear and keeps her head down, “I’m sorry for eavesdropping and interrupting like that.”

There is a few seconds of silence before the Alpha clears his throat again to speak.

“Lily, we found out that the reason why Cora was able to turn into an Alpha wolf was because she has the Alpha blood running through her veins - my blood.”

“So does that makes us sisters?” Lily sounds desperate with her questions.

“No, Liliana, that makes her our biological daughter.” Luna Aria replies.

“That’s impossible, I have known only you and Dad my entire life,” Lily whimpers.

“That is why we have concluded the matter,” Luna Aria adds. She nods at Alpha Ezequiel and he continues.

“Irrespective of the fact that the truth has been brought to light, it still doesn’t change anything.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“We are rejecting you as our daughter,” Alpha Ezequiel says.

The news dropped like a bombshell in my ears - rejection, the worst word that any werewolf can ever hear.

“But why?” I question, my eyes are steaming with hot tears that are ready to flow.

“Our reasons are quite simple. We have known Liliana for eighteen years, we have cared for and groomed her into the woman that we want our daughter to be but you… we know nothing about you, Cora.” Luna Aria replies.

“But things can be made right, I can try to fit in. All I have ever dreamed about was to feel the love of my parents and now that I have my parents, you deny me of love,” I let out in tears.

“And how do you think that the pack will deal with it?” Alpha Ezequiel rakes.

“You’re more concerned about what people say than someone’s actual feelings?”

“We are the Alpha family of Citadel pack. Of course, what will matter to us is what the people will say. News is traveling, Cora. Our enemy pack is watching and getting ready to strike once our guards are let down. Announcing a scandal of the Alpha blood will be seen as an opportunity to strike us.” Luna Aria snaps at me.

Lily tries to control her laughter, her face screams victory as she watches the drama unfold.

“I seek recognition from the Alpha family. I want to be part of this family,” I affirm.

I will not back down now, knowing fully well that I have a place in this family. My wish to be respected by all and finally belong somewhere is about to be crushed in a few seconds of actualizing it.

“You want to be part of this family? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to be part of the Alpha family?” Luna Aria asks me.

“Yes,” I reply without hesitation.

The Alpha and Luna exchange glance at each other, there seems to be something going on in their mind.

Then Luna Aria speaks up, “Citadel pack is running out of resources and weapons for battles. To ensure the safety of our pack and a steady supply of resources, we made a pact with the Alpha of Dark Howlers pack. “

“What has all of that got to do with me?” I ask.

“In agreement to this pact, we signed up for a marriage contract with him. Since you are the biological daughter of our pack, you’ll have to marry him.”

“Mother, that’s not fair. I thought that I am supposed to marry the Alpha of Dark Howlers pack,” Lily exclaims.

Luna Aria ignores Lily’s whining and continues, “Think about it, Cora. The future of this pack depends on you and all you have to do is to agree to this marriage and save us all.”

I inhale deeply and think about everything. Saving the pack and securing the future is all I have ever wanted. There is no harm in marrying that Alpha, for the sake of Citadel pack and to be accepted by the Alpha family.

“I agree to marry him,” I say finally.

“Let the omegas prepare the bride for her wedding!” Luna Aria announces.

“Wedding?” I look dumbfounded.

“Yes, you're getting married today.” Luna Aria nudges me carefully to follow the omegas out which I do.

They take me to a vast room and begin to undress me. My mind flies to how things have unfolded, I'm getting married to a man whom I have no idea what his name is.

A hot bath is prepared for me and a lot of scrubbing to get rid of the stench of rotten eggs and flour. They apply Ointments and fragrance oil on my skin that makes it glow, then I wear my wedding gown and look at myself in the mirror.

I barely recognize my face now even though I still look skinny and malnourished. As I head out, I see Isla looking back at me with a blank expression.

“Isla…” I try to approach her but she moves back.

“You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into,” Isla says before looking away.

I exit the pack house and head to the hall where the wedding will be taking place, I'm more surprised to see that no one attended the wedding.

Alpha Ezequiel, Luna Aria, and the angry Lily are present and standing at the right-hand side of the altar while a tall and good-looking man stands on the left side.

My attention is caught when I notice the demigod standing at the altar, his eyes are blazing green and I must admit, mesmerizing indeed. His pointed nose stands and matches his pink full lips, his face is stony like he was forced to be here.

I walk towards the altar with my face turning crimson red in shyness. An elder I recognize is standing with a book, he is the elder of the Citadel pack.

I stand opposite him and look at every corner of the room except his face whereas he looks at him coldly.

“Are you two ready to be tied to the knot?” the elder asks.

“Just get on with it,” he snaps.

His voice makes my stomach reverberate, he doesn’t seem to be a sweet person and doesn’t look like he cares. But I am not afraid of him and will brace whatever comes my path.

“I hereby declare Alpha Zane Ksovtik, Alpha of the Dark Howlers pack, and Cora Cruz, daughter of the Alpha of Citadel pack as husband and wife. You may kiss your bride, Alpha.”

The Alpha walks out of the altar instead with the tall man, what the hell is going on?

I rush to the Alpha family, “Is that all? Am I finally accepted into the family?”

Luna Aria looks at me with a disgusted utterance on her face, “You will only be accepted when we are sure that the deal is valid. If the Alpha does not keep to his word, you will forever remain in misery.”

“But that's not what we agreed on earlier, you said you’ll accept me if I marry me and save the future of the pack,” I state.

“We only said that to lure you into accepting to marry him. The pack is quite in need of help and you've done a great deal in doing that but that’s all. You can enjoy your marriage while it lasts but I assure you that your sufferings will continue with him.” Luna Aria says.

I watch helplessly as the Alpha family walks out of the hall without care. I stay in my distraught position for a few minutes before the tall man walks in again.

He bows to me, “Luna Cora, the Alpha is waiting for you.”

“Where are we going to?” I ask in a croaked voice.

“Dark Howlers pack.”

I can see the silhouette of him as we near the car. The moment I enter the back seat, he grabs my hand harshly.

“You’re not the woman I’m supposed to marry.”