"Luna Queen!" I blurted out bowing in respect, and my father bowed respectfully too.
"Don't do that, little pup. That's so impersonal. You can call me Queen Mother, and you must be Mr Stademan." She turned towards my father, extending her hand to him.I think he was as shocked as I was. Did we get into the wrong room? I swear I saw my name written on the blue door."Luna Queen. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, but we must be in the wrong room. We are sorry to disturb you." My father bowed again."Don't be silly Mr Stademan. You're where you are supposed to be. I am the one who chose your daughter for my grandson." She said with a smile, and I interrupted without checking myself or who I was talking to.Damn mouth, always blurting things out without my consent."But he is married. I just saw his wife with him in the hall. Unless you have another grandson we don't know about, I don't see how that is possible?" The glare I got from my father was enough to kill a bull, never mind me.Which caused me to apologise immediately. Bowing my head in shame."Sorry, my Queen!.""It's alright. I understand the shock but may I speak to you alone, Sophia?" She gave a forced smile which didn't allow me to decline.She was upset by the disrespectful way I answered her."I will be outside." My father excused himself doubtfully but we both knew she might have asked the question but her tone implied otherwise.It was an order."Sorry, my Queen I didn't mean to disr..'' She cut me off immediately."Shut up. Don't speak unless you're spoken to. Listen to me and listen to me. The next time you interrupt me while I am talking to you or show any kind of disrespect towards me, you will regret the day you were born.Do you hear me? Heck, your whole generation will regret the day you became part of them." The authority in her voice shook me to the core."Yes, ma'am," I answered immediately."Good. Now where were we?" she kept quiet for a moment and I wondered if she was asking me the questions or if it was rhetorical."Yes. Your wedding to my grandson, Bryce. It's going to happen tomorrow, and as your contract states the marriage will expire in one year if you fail to provide an heir to the throne." She said it like it was simple.An instruction you can easily achieve by following the rules.But that wasn't my first problem, the real problem was the fact that the said grandson of the Luna Queen was already married and had his mate, and both were here at the Choosing as the chief guests.Did they know about this? I highly doubt it. No woman would allow such a mishap to happen. Mostly they seemed happy together."He has a mate." That's all that came out even when I was told to keep quiet until I was permitted to do otherwise. I couldn't do it."Correction, dear. He had a mate, and just like you, her contract ended yesterday. It's your turn to do your duty and give me a grandchild, but unlike Laura, I am not going to be stupid enough to give you so much time to waste. I have my plans halted once. I won't let that happen again.You only have one year to give me a grandchild or you're going back to your ratchet pack disgraced, and believe me, I will make sure of it. You can trust me on that." The last part was a threat, I could hear it as she hissed like I was the cause of her problems.I didn't know anything about the royals, but I think this was going too far. What kind of person makes a contract for his grandson's marriage and decides when, and how the marriage should end?What fucked up family did I trap me into?"No disrespect, my queen. But Bryce seems happy with his mate. I saw him in the halls with her. Do they know about this? I can't come between a couple because they have been delayed the joy of having a pup.The goddess is the only one who can grant children, not me nor you." At those words, I got myself a big slap that made my ear ring.For a moment I couldn't understand what had happened in that split second, other than the raging pain on my cheek."You ungrateful little shit. You listen to me and listen to me, very well. My being here is out of courtesy. It's not like you have a choice in this matter. You signed the contract that stipulates you're going to wed Bryce in the next twenty-four hours or being called the cursed girl would seem like a picnic compared to what I will do to you and your family.Your sister is married to the Beta of the Dark pack right?" She asked the question with a sinister smirk.Again, I knew the question was rhetorical, but that didn't stop it from sending cold shivers into my spine."I am sorry?" The confusion was still in my voice, and I didn't mean for the apology to sound like a question."Your father drives an old silver Toyota right? Not that I wish anything bad for my wolves but do tell, Sophia. What would happen if his car suddenly didn't have breaks, his oil leaks, or something more sinister?Rogues are dangerous this time of the year." She threatened with a sweet smile.Her words were full of malice, but her face portrayed that of a very adoring mother as the words spat out of her mouth. That seemed to confuse my emotions."I am very sorry Luna Queen. I didn't mean to disrespect you, and I promise it will never happen again. I will do as you say and marry Bryce." My voice was shaky, I didn't even know how much her words got to me until I started speaking."His an Alpha to you. Next in line for the throne. Address him as one.""Sorry, my Queen," I repeated."You sound like your marriage was ever a question. Now, you listen little pup. Anytime you start you have brilliant ideas about not following through, just remember one thing.I will never touch a hair on your head, you owe me a grandchild after all, and I would ever do anything to jeopardise that, but your family won't be so lucky. Their fair game, and always will be." She again threatened me.How many threats am I going to hear tonight?Just when I thought my luck had changed, this happens?. What the hell did I do to the moon Goddess for her to punish me like this?"I submit!" I said bowing even when my heart was boiling in rage.Bowing was a sign of respect, but submitting was the ultimate sign that you had lost. You gave up, and whatever this was, was only the beginning.How am I going to face Laura now? How am I going to explain to my family that I am marrying someone else, mate? How do you explain that?"Good. Now tell your father everything is okay, and Igrid will be here in ten minutes to prepare you to look like a decent she-wolf fit to become a Luna." Then she watched me expectantly for a response."Yes, Luna Queen," I answered with my head bowed down in shame."It's Queen Mother to you. Now wipe that despair on your face, and cheer up. It's your wedding day, it's not like you're going to get a second chance at it." This time I nodded and fought the tears in my eyes.I would do this for my family, for their protection, but one thing was clear. Once I had given the queen mother the heir, I was going to leave the Royal Pack.That woman was a tyrant."Use your words. You're such a dumb girl. Here I am doing you a huge favor but you are still sulking like I am one in the wrong. I have saved you from being called a cursed girl, the plague. No one wanted to mate you here. I saved you, and this is the thanks I get? a nod.Children these days are so disrespectful." She ended her insults while leaving the room, using another door that I didn't even realise was there.She didn't even wait for my response.I tried to compose myself, wipe my face, and calm my breathing before I did my best acting out the best, and happiest bride-to-be ever maybe I would be lucky and Bryce would decline but that also meant going back home.At that moment I didn't know which one was worse, but first I needed to convince my father I was okay with being the second wife of Alpha Bryce.I looked totally different, beautiful but still different. The hair, the expensive clothes and heavy make-up was not who I was. Yes, I was a girly girl who liked to doll herself up when I have time, but I didn't go to this extend. They call the look natural but I have more makeup on my face than anything else. How is that a natural look? Do they even know what natural mean?My hair that was black, now looked brunette with highlights. My lips were painted nude, so were my nails. I was wearing a champagne off shoulder lace gown with sleeves that reached under my elbows. The dress was decorated with lace but had a silk skirt which didn't look bad if I say so myself. I loved heels, heck I had bunch loads at my house even though I didn't pack any when I came to the Choosing but these silver pumps I was wearing now, were to die for, an inheritance I was going to keep for myself after this shitshow ended. "Are you ready?" Ingrid asked from behind me. I was admiring yet hating on myself i
"He started it." I complained like a pup after being scolded. "Queen mother, you know me. I don't behave like a lunatic. I am a respected Alpha not some mutt who can't control their tongue." My so-called husband responded even though I wasn't talking to him but his grandmother. "Calling me a cursed girl in front of my father is holding your tongue? Is that Alpha like?" I shouted at him. "Permit me to kill her, your majesty!" He growled at me. "Both of you, shut up!" Luna Queen growled at us. "No one is dying today. Do you hear me? Bryce doesn't even think of touching a hair on her head. If you ever touch her, I will kill you myself." She warned "...and you!" She turned to look at me, and I immediately bowed down. "Bryce is not only your husband but your Alpha, addresses him as one. Instead of you two fighting you should be figuring out how you are going to give me a heir tonight, which is not negotiable" she said the last part the minute our mouths were about to open. "Tonight?
Silence. Nope awkward silence, that's what we were left with. We finally made the decision that even if we were forced to be intimate, having an audience was much worse. Now, the question remains, how the fuck do we do this without guilt or feeling dirty?"I'm going to take a shower, and you can also do it after." Bryce told me. How dare he? I was not one of his subjects. I will take a shower when I feel like taking a shower. "Why you first?" "Do you want to do it, first?" He raised an eyebrow at me, like I was a stubborn pup. The truth is, I didn't. I am not sure I want him to see me naked yet. Heck, I didn't even know how we were going to be intimate without touching. This was my first time, and I never thought my first time was going to be this awkward. If I had known, I would have taken Paul on his offer in tenth grade to have Netflix and chill. That way, at least I knew I was going to enjoy it. "No, I was just asking. I should have known that even a single question would t
Lights off but I could still see him. My enhanced eyesight didn't help, which meant he could see all of me too. "Are you listening to me?" He growled from the feet of the bed. "I am listening. I'm just mhmm.." okay, I was listening and frankly this felt a little weird to me. "Stop being stiff. I won't hurt you, not only for your safety but mine as well. My grandma would kill me if I did." He tried to joke which actually loosened me up a bit."Then walk me through it. You might be an expert but I am not, okay? Make fun of me all you want." I didn't care if he knew anymore. He didn't laugh, smirk or chuckle like I expected him to. "Firstly, stop clutching the towel like I am going to rape you." He instructed, and I obliged even though it was not fully. Relaxing was harder to do. Even after I left the towel to only rest on my body, now my bottom lip took the brunt. "Now, take a deep breath and try to relax. I am not going to bite, unless you want me to." He joked, and that made me
I heard the knock again, which caused me to finally open my eyes. The curtains were closed and I couldn't see what time it was, but what I wondered was who was at the door. Bryce wouldn't have knocked. He had his own key. Bryce, where the hell was he? I checked beside the bed where his clothes were kept but they were gone. Any trace that he had been in this room with me was gone. I felt a pang of disappointment in my heart but chose to ignore it. I didn't know what I was expecting but it served me right for expecting anything in the first place. I knew very well he was not mine. Another knock, this time urgent, got me off the bed, and I threw on the throw over my body covering very well, and went to the door to see what was going on. I opened the door and an older man, probably in his fifties, sipgeru blonde hair, brown dull eyes, wearing a royal suit, stood by the door bowing slightly. "Morning, how can I help you?" I greeted politely which caused me to wince at my morning breat
The room was way nicer and bigger than the room I had back home. Servant quarters my ass. If this is what Royal servants had, heck I want more of it. I had my own ensuite. The closet was big enough to fit the little clothes I brought with me, and I didn't mind the lavender colour on the walls even though they didn't match the duvet, and pillows. The colour was calming, and the room smelled clean. I spend most of the time there packing, and arranging things to my liking. I knew when we got to the palace it was pretty late in the evening and with the things that already happened here, I didn't realise I didn't eat the whole day. The moment I finished packing the closet, and I was about to take a shower and sleep, someone knocked on the door. I groaned internally because I was not ready to meet anyone yet. "Who is it?" I asked without opening the door. "It's Grace ma'am. Time for dinner." She announced, and my stomach took that as an invitation to growl with hunger. "Thank you, but
All I heard was 'tonight'. This man has disrespected me, belittled me and I am expected to open my legs for him again tonight? How does that make sense?"No, Bryce. I am not just going to take this disrespect from the queen mother. If she wants you to spend time with this gold digger every night, how am I going to spend time with you? How am I going to try and have a pup as well? Fucken fix this now!" Laura shouted which gained attention from the other pack members. I swear, I was not going to interfere in their business but she called me a golddigger. How dare she? I didn't even know I was chosen by the next Alpha King until afterwards. Even after that I was going to refuse but the contract binds me to them. "I am not a golddigger, and I do appreciate you calling me one. I didn't choose this." I said calmly. I did understand she was upset, which she had every right to be, but that didn't give her the right to disrespect me. "Are you talking to me?" She raised her voice again at
I got under the blanket, towel still wrapped around me, and waited for his majesty, the next Alpha King. I didn't even have time to relax in my room when I was summoned to the fourth floor. For the umpteenth time that day, I had to prepare myself and change my clothes, therefore taking another quick shower. The second floor was extravagant, everything was mostly decorated gold even though the walls were black. which should be expected in this family, they oozed money. It seemed like the whole floor was reserved for Bryce, Laura and the Beta whose name I can't seem to remember, no matter how hard I tried.I heard footsteps and I knew Bryce was coming. I tried to act cool, act nonchalant but no matter how hard, I tried to use my brain, I couldn't figure out where to put my hands. How to pose or maybe I should sit. Should I cross my legs to not seem more inviting? Or should I just lie there like a corpse? This was too confusing. Who could tell what to do in this situation, and for fuc