*Kiara*
My heart races as the last lock of hair is pinned in place. I can hardly recognize myself. It's been a fortnight since the announcement. Since I was picked. Today, I leave to finally meet him. My Alpha. My Prince. I must look every bit like the Luna and Queen that I am about to become. My fingers rise to right the crown of jewels that my father received from the prince a week ago. A kind gesture that left my stomach in knots. Even now, butterflies are scattered in my belly and I have no way of getting them out. I am anxious, nervous...I feel so many things right now, it feels like my chest is going to explode. I have heard so much about him, even if I have never gotten to see him in person. They say his eyes are like sapphire jewels and you get lost in them the moment you look into them. They say his blonde hair has the rarest hue and looks dark most of the time. They say he is well built and his arms are so big, you could be hidden in their embrace. I believe I will find out today. I stand impatiently, having sat for hours. I do not believe all of this is necessary. If I am to be married to him, he will see me without all of these jewelry and dresses. But it is court protocol, so I must adhere to it. "Come with me, Ashly," I plead for the umpteenth time. She has been moodier than usual lately. I can tell it's because she will miss me. I will too. She's all I have had in a long time since my mother passed away. "No. I have to stay with my father. You know this, Kiara. I would love to come with you, but I cannot." Downcast, I let out a sigh. She doesn't like to tell me much if what is going on in her life because she doesn't want to burden me, but I can only take a wild guess. There are days I feel guilty for being unable to help her, but I console my self with the fact that as soon as I become Luna, I will make a request for her father's pardon for his crimes and do what I can to reinstate him. I start to speak again, but the door suddenly bangs open and my father rushes in, holding my veil. "We must leave now." Anxiety and excitement make my stomach feel queasy and I rush to Ashly, hugging her tightly as I murmur my goodbyes. "I will see you soon, Kiara," she says with a bright smile." And as my father take my hand, leading me out of my rooms and to the carriage outside our home, I take one last look at what has been my home for the past eighteen years of my life. I'll miss it, I think as I take the first steps towards my wedding and my new life. ********* I grip my father's fingers tightly and step out of the carriage. My eyes widen and I gasp as I see the most magnificent building ever. I turn around in a circle, taking it all in, from the ancient bricks to the spike and the colours that stand out incredibly. I giggle. This is my home now. I am suddenly swarmed by servants and my father and I are led inside as they take our luggage. "Do you like it?" My father asks and I smile, nodding quickly. We are led through several hallways quickly and soon, we stand before huge double doors with guards on either sides of them. "The King and his family are in there, Kiara. Remember everything I have taught you. You must be courteous and graceful in your words and actions," father says, adjusting my braid and checking if everything else is in place. Having lost my mother at a very young age, he has filled in the space for me in every way he could, being both my mother and father at the same time. I know he will have to return to the pack after my wedding but I already miss him. The castle suddenly seems too big a place with too many people I do not even know. I straighten my spine and raise my head like my father has taught me to. A poise of dignity, even if inside, I'm full of nervous knots. The double doors are open and my father leads me forward, holding my hand tightly. "Your majesties," my father greets and I do not raise my eyes from the ground. My heartbeat keeps thudding painfully in my chest as I feel the tangible weight of their stares on me. Is he here? I ask myself. The prince. I squeeze my father's hand imperceptibly and he squeezes back. "Alpha Axel, it is good to see you again. I trust you have been well," a powerful voice booms across the hall and I marvel at the strength in it. I do not need to raise my gaze to know it is the King. The sheer power in his voice says everything. "Yes, sire. Honouring your command, I have brought to you my only daughter, Kiara." Spiked heartbeats... "She is lovely," a warm feminine voice that makes me feel instantly comfortable coos. "Let me see your face, child." So, I raise my gaze to the daiz. The Alpha King and Queen are seated on the daiz on matching thrones, and there are a couple of regally dressed people around them. There is an empty seat of to the side of the throne and it dawns on me that it belongs to the prince. He isn't present. I had dressed up so prettily for this, fantasized of our meeting every day, and he isn't here. I hide my disappointment swiftly as the queen's grey eyes flick over my form. She smiles, seemingly pleased with me and I would rejoice if the Prince's absence hasn't already placed a damper on my excitement. Perhaps, he is still getting ready to see me. Considering the fact that I had spent so much time preparing myself as well, he must be busy preparing for our wedding as well. The thought has me in high spirits again. "Beautiful," the Queen breathes. "I am sure our son will be taken in by her. The wedding is by moonlight. The maids will show you to your chambers where you will prepare for it. If you need anything, do send a message, dear." "Thank you, Your Majesty," I say and lower myself in an appropriate courtesy. Maids are called and I am led away from the hall, away from my father. I try not to let my awe show as we walk past so many rooms. On the way, I am greeted and bowed to. Unused to this sort of treatment, I find myself bowing too in greeting, earning odd looks from the maids who lead me away. They barely say a word to me, and when I ask questions, they do not answer either. Perhaps, it is protocol. I have only been here for a few minutes. It is too soon to assume that they do not like me. However, the feeling only intensifies when I am showed to my chambers and they begin quick work on my clothes. There is nothing respectful in the way they pull off my gowns and take out my jewelry. It hurts as their nails dig into my skin and the fabrics are pulled so tightly, I stifle a groan. I have never been one to complain or order people around. Ashly usually helps out in that. She says I should learn how to stand up for myself most of the time and avoid letting people step all over me. I have tried to learn that, but I am too kindhearted to actually do it. It is why even if these maids are nearly pulling my hair out, I sit still, bearing the pain. They usher me to the bathroom quite roughly and I nearly fall over on the smooth floor. "Could you--" "Get into the tub, my lady," the head maid says with a sweet smile but I have never heard anyone speak so rudely to me before. I have nearly a thousand things to say but I reel it in. It is too early to complain. I only just got here. I do as they tell me to and get into the tub. The water is scalding hot and I all but yelp when my foot touches it. "Too hot!" I exclaim. "This is tradition, my lady. You must endure this." Never have I heard of anything so absurd or utterly ridiculous, and the hostility in the woman's voice has me having second thoughts on this so called 'tradition'. The maid arranging the scented oils for my bath looks in my direction and approaches the tub. She sticks her hand in and grimaces. "It is indeed to hot for her tender skin. Perhaps we should add more cool water." The maids glare at her and I wonder if it was a planned scheme to have me burn my skin. Why though, would they want to put me through that? I wonder, and I can't seem to come up with any reason. More water is added and though it's still so hot, it is manageable. My skin is yanked and pulled and brushed and I can't wait for this horrible bath to be over. I console myself with the fact that all of this is to make me look presentable to the prince. I have to smell and look good, all to his liking. This is necessary.*Kiara* Surrounded by the court and dressed in an attire that feels too tight for my skin, I wait by the daiz for the prince, fidgeting nervously. A thousand thoughts cross my mind on what he must look like, but I do not have to wait long to find out. The double doors open and he walks in. He is as handsome as they say he is. Blue jewel toned eyes, dark hair pulled back in a sleek bun and angular sharp features that captures the attention of every woman in court. My heart skips several unhealthy beats as he crosses the hall in a short distance, making a beeline for me. He stops before me and I look down shyly, biting on my lower lip nervously. As customs suggest, I extend my hand to him, holding out for him to wrap his warm fingers around them and take me to the foot of the daiz where the ceremony is to be held. But he doesn't. Instead, he jerks suddenly, taking a couple of steps away from me, rather than toward me. My face crumples in confusion a
*Dorian* "What you did was unacceptable! Take your men and scour the forests for Kiara. She didn't deserve--" "I found my mate," I cut in smoothly, silencing my father. He falls quiet, lips drawn in a grim line as he observes me. "It doesn't change the fact that you walked out on a good woman, embarrassing her and insulting her family name--" I place the box he had given me on the table. "You said to me that what was important was to give you an heir. You never said it mattered who the heir came from." "You speak nonsense--" "I will marry my mate. I have already made preparations." I see the shimmering anger in my father's eyes. I see his rage, but I do not care. Why bind myself to a stranger when I have found my mate? "You do not have my blessings, Dorian." My lips tilt into an adder's smile. "I will wed her in an hour, with or without your blessings. You may attend, if it so pleases you." I incline my head in a bow and leave his stu
*Kiara* My eyes slant open and I take in my surroundings with bleary eyes. I don't recognize any of it. The upholstery, the furniture, the large windows and everything. Even the bed I lie in feels softer than anything I have been on. It is almost like lying on the cloud. How did I get here? I ask myself as I sit up. My head hurts and when I look down at myself, I'm in fresh clothes. A gown of white and lilac. This isn't what I put on this morning. Images of hazel eyes and dead wolves flash in the back of my mind and a name resounds in my head, causing fear to seize me. *Damien Grey.* Oh no. I shoot up from the bed, running across the room to where the door stands, tall and imposing. My fingers go around the door knob and I twist it, hoping this isn't what I am thinking. But it is, because the door is blissfully locked. Damien Grey is the Lycan King, sworn enemy of the black wolves pack. He must have kidnapped me to have leverage over the pr
~KiaraAlthough I was still confused about what to do, I was convinced about a certain thing. Not to go to dinner with him. Instead, I walked back to the bed with a wobble, trying to figure out what to do.No sooner had I sat on my bed, still trying to get an answer to the unending questions that clouded my mind when I got lost in thoughts but a solid knock on the door was able to get me out of my fantasy world.I shiver as I had not expected to hear the knock. For a second time, I heard the knock again.“My lady” A husky voice followed the knock and I simply roll my eyes and embrace the pillow instead.“Your presence is required downstairs. It is just a few minutes to dinner time and as such, you have to be present downstairs this minute” He informs but I stay mute as I believed he would leave immediately but he seemed adamant as he stays and began to place incessant knocks on the door like he would bring it down.“What is it?” I hear a distant voice question the guard who was at the
~KiaraMy eyes suddenly became teary as the table had indeed been cleaned up and there was nothing left for me. Sadness filled my heart immediately. The pain worsened and I felt so disappointed in myself. Maybe I should not have been rude to him? I shove the thoughts aside and tried to locate the kitchen instead. After a few minutes of wandering and hiding, I was finally able to locate it and to my satisfaction, it was not locked. I had to sustain myself no matter what the consequences would be so like a thief, I sneaked into the kitchen and thankfully, there was no one in there. A warm smile formed on my face as a result of the new discovery but it evaporated into thin air just as fast as it came as everywhere was clean as well. The cupboards had been shut. Contemplating on what to do, I finally came up with the idea of breaking through although I was quite worried. What if they found out the next day? Again, I discarded the thought. What was more important was getting myself fe
~KiaraI let out a gasp as a shocking terrific feeling rushed through my body. A gasp escaped my already opened mouth. That was the last thing I had expected him to say. My heart began to thump and my legs began to shiver out of fear. He looked satisfied by the effect his words had on me as he grinned and stood up immediately, pushing the food to my direction. “Have it” He muttered before turning to leave. I still could not do anything as my whole body had not healed from the crippling and paralyzing effects his words had caused on me. He walked out of the kitchen immediately, making me so worried. I grabbed the food immediately as I struggled to get up. His words continuously rang in my ear. Looking around to be sure no one was nearby, I ran as fast as I could, returning to my room before anyone would see me there. I let out a sigh of relief as soon as I got into my room… Well... the room that had been given to me.I settled immediately and began to devour it, of course, after I
KiaraI was dumbfounded as I stared at him leave. I was disappointed in the fact that my life was a mess. Why was all this happening to me? I wanted to cuss at him and yell and be dramatic but I knew it would earn me nothing and even though I was so upset with him, I continued my meal and ensured to eat it all although I complained frequently. I could not help but wonder who the lady that had walked past us few minutes was but I shrugged. There was no one I could ask from help from as the maids simply looked at me and passed me by. Now, I wasn’t bothered by their action anymore as I watched them leave. A warm smile formed on my face in satisfaction as soon as I was done with the meal.I was relieved as I knew I could begin to think of the best way to escape. I headed to my room immediately, several thoughts running through my mind when I suddenly bumped into a man. Of course, I had expected him to be just like everyone else but he smiled at me. Even at that minute, I could not help
~KiaraI was shocked to say the least as I had not expected what he had said. Before I could say another word, he gripped me and continued to walk away, pulling me alongside him.“No, I am not a spy. I am not a spy, please forgive me” I pleaded as he pulled me away. Although I had no idea where he was taking me. I knew it was not somewhere nice. “Please, forgive me” I pleaded. “I am not a criminal. I am not a spy” I pleaded with him again.“What brought about the sudden change? You weren't under any form of duress when you declared yourself a spy, were you?” He questioned as he abruptly halted. My heart had begun to race.“You had abducted me and you asked me if I am a spy. How is that possible?” I questioned him and he crossed his arms looking at me suspiciously. “Why then were you in the garden? Why have you come there to listen to what I was saying?” He probed further. I mouthed some words and crossed my arms.“That isn’t audible” He answered, I was already fed up of all the dram