Ari
My eyes widened in disbelief as the air seemed to get sucked out of the whole surround. I rushed to my father's side, my heart pounding as I held him close, feeling warm liquid dripping onto my hands. Dad was coughing in shock and confusion, completely unaware of why this betrayal was happening.
Tears streamed down my face, and I couldn't help but scream in frustration, confronting the people responsible. "Why? Why on my wedding day?" I couldn't fathom the cruelty of their timing.
I saw the Ironwolf raise his hand, and his men moved to separate me from my father.
“No! Let me go! Dad!! Dad!!” I protested, but the men holding my arms were deaf to my pleas.
“Let my mate go!” Kristoff demanded, but his men refused to listen. Fueled by anger, he rushed to his father's side, demanding answers.
"What's the meaning of this, father? It's our wedding! Why did you allow this to happen?"
But the Ironwolf didn't offer any explanations. He simply nodded to his men, providing an unspoken command that they understood. Rolf, one of his loyal subjects, along with the others, forcibly removed Kristoff, who struggled and yelled.
"Rolf, no! Let me go! That's an order! Ari! Ari!!!!"
I watched in anguish as they dragged Kristoff away, torn between wanting to chase after him and staying with my wounded father. I pleaded with Kristoff to help us, but we both felt utterly helpless. Turning my attention back to my father, I saw the Ironwolf glaring down at him. My father's confusion was apparent, unable to comprehend why his closest friend had orchestrated this betrayal.
“Ragnar, why?” he asked, pain and betrayal in every word. The Ironwolf smirked.
“You should have anticipated this when you did what you did.”
"What do you mean? I didn’t know what you—"
The Ironwolf responded with violence, hitting my father in the face. "Don't make me a fool! Just admit what you did! Perhaps if you would, I could forgive you."
Confusion and fear gripped my father as he cried out, "What did I do to deserve this?"
The Ironwolf pulled my father's collar and continued to berate him. "Stop pretending you know nothing, Eirik! You've been exposed for your treacherous deeds! You were secretly conspiring against me to overthrow my throne! How could you betray your own friend? We fought battles together! I treated you as my brother!"
My heart ached for my father as he was subjected to this relentless assault. I couldn’t bear seeing my loving Dad like this, so using the last ounce of strength that I had, I managed to escape their grasp. I ran toward my father as I begged for mercy with my hands outstretched.
"Please, your eminence. Have a little mercy on my father. If you really believe that he has committed a crime, at least give him a proper trial so he can have a chance to defend himself. Please don't hurt him anymore. I am begging you."
The Ironwolf momentarily halted and then callously pushed me to the ground, disregarding my pleas. “No need for that because I have solid proof that he is guilty.”
"Ari, no! Don’t hurt my daughter. Not her, please!"
I was dragged away by Rolf, unable to escape his powerful grip. I could only call out for Kristoff to help us, but he too, might have been detained. I felt completely helpless, and my father's life hung in the balance.
Then, Dad turned to the Ironwolf. “I deserve to know who was behind this frame-up. Tell me, Ragnar. What solid proof do you have that made you believe that I really betrayed you?”
“Oh, that’s easy.”
The Ironwolf clapped his hands. From behind, Seraphina and the trembling Maddie walked forward. My eyes widened in shock, as did my father's.
“Seraphina? Maddie? What is the meaning of this?” he asked, confusion etched on his face. Seraphina and Maddie remained quiet, bowing their heads in front of the Ironwolf.
“Your wife here told me everything. Your beloved wife and daughter recounted how you scheduled secret meetings with my enemy. They also brought me a spy, who, under extreme pressure, confessed how he worked for you in trading military secrets with them. Now, do you still dare to deny everything?”
“That's a lie! My father would never do that!” I shouted. Hearing that, Seraphina turned in my direction and smirked.
“My mighty Ironwolf,” she began to address Alpha Ragnar. “If you are after a confession from my husband, you should hurt him to the deepest extent.”
“How?” the Ironwolf queried.
“Through her,” Seraphina exclaimed, jerking her head in my direction. The Ironwolf swallowed and, with a signal to his men, they began to approach me.
“What are you doing? No! No! Get off of me!”
His men began to tear my wedding gown until all that was left was my laced underwear. The guards whistled provocatively, enjoying the view as my almost naked body was paraded in front of them.
“This is your last chance, Eirik. Confess to your sin if you don’t want your daughter to become my men's whore.”
I saw one of the guards about to tear my bra off when the shout of my father echoed around.
“Alright, alright! I confess to everything! Just leave my daughter alone, please. Don’t dishonor her purity, I am begging you!”
My Dad’s fate seemed sealed after he uttered those words. The next thing I knew, the Ironwolf half-morphed into his wolf form, and using his razor-sharp nails, he beheaded my father without hesitation. I almost lost consciousness as I saw his head rolling on the ground, dying in front of his beloved people in the most humiliating way possible.
And just like that, my father was gone. But that was not the end of our nightmare.
The Ironwolf declared that the Moonshadow pack would now be under his rule, stripping everyone of their ranks and enslaving us all. Meanwhile, he spared Seraphina and Maddie as a reward for reporting my Dad’s supposed treachery.
Before they could drag me away, I ran to my Dad’s headless body and took his favorite handkerchief. He said that it was a gift from my dead mother, a memory he carried until his last breath.
My heart ached as I clung to my father's red scarf, my only memento of our memories together. The trauma of witnessing my father's execution and the suffering of my people would haunt me for the rest of my days, and the betrayal of our own family members festered within me as they all took us as prisoners, leaving us to live out the rest of our lives as omegas in the Ironflame Pack.
And that day marked the beginning of my journey toward revenge.
Kristoff "Let me go!! DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH!!!" I shouted at the men who were detaining me. They remained silent, completely ignoring my demands. This only fueled my fury, as they intentionally ignored my authority as a Jarl. "Are you out of your mind!? I am a Jarl—the future Alpha of the great Iron Flame pack! How dare you ignore my commands!" I raged on, desperately trying to make them see reason. One of the men finally responded with a calm voice, "We are well aware of who you are, Jarl Kristoff. Nobody here disagrees with everything you have said. However, our loyalty still lies with the Ironwolf and our pack. It is our duty to bring you back to the Ironflame safe and sound, just as your father wants." I screamed out of frustration, "BUT HAVE YOU REALIZED IT IS MY WEDDING DAY!!? You have ruined the most precious day of my life!!" Their silence continued as they dragged me away, leaving me feeling devastated and helpless. It was supposed to be a joyful day, a fai
Kristoff"Why, father," I stammered, my heart heavy with a mix of anger and confusion. "Why did you do it? Why on the day of my union with my mate?"There, I had finally said it. I was now confronting the Ironwolf, demanding an explanation for the events that had unfolded. My fists were clenched, and my breaths came out in labored bursts as I tried to control the overwhelming surge of emotions rising up inside me.But instead of responding, he took a deep breath and implored, "Can you calm yourself first, son?""Calm myself?! After everything you've done?!” I had never raised my voice to my father, but I had reached the limits of my patience. “I want to see my bride, and NOTHING CAN STOP ME!"I strode past my father, my determination unyielding. In that moment, I had shown a level of disrespect I had never displayed before. As I approached the door, my heart raced, each beat echoing the urgency of my desire to see my bride. However, before I could reach the door, a deep, visceral roar
Ari"Can you still walk, Lady Ari?"Igor's concerned voice cut through the weariness that clung to me like a heavy cloak. The silver shackles on my hands weighed me down, making every step a struggle."Yes, Igor. Please, focus on your mate. I'll manage," I replied, my voice carrying the fatigue of a long journey. I tried to pose an “okay” smile, but Igor was not convinced.“Are you sure, my lady?”“Yes, Igor. I am fine. This is nothing compared to what they did to my father.”Jackie and Igor exchanged glances, sympathy etched on their faces. My supposed dream had twisted into a nightmare, and the endless walk drained the last ounce of hope from my soul. The forest, once full of life, now seemed like a place full of sad memories. Every tree cast shadows that told stories of our freedom that we lost.Barefoot and broken, we moved along the captive path. The cold ground sent shivers down my spine. The shackles on my hands made a clinking sound with every painful step, cruelly reminding u
Ari As I saw Seraphina emerging from the shadows, my heart raced. Anger filled me, and my breathing became rough. My eyes were locked on my evil stepmother, and my body moved as if it had a life of its own. Seraphina smirked at me, intensifying my stirred-up feelings. My body shook from too much anger, and I had never felt this angry before. I stepped forward, about to say something—something I should have done a long time ago, but at the last minute, Jackie grabbed my arm to stop me. Jackie knew I couldn't hold my anger any longer, so she quickly leaned in and whispered something in my ear. "Stop, Lady Ari. I understand your feelings, but it's not the best time for it. We are in a very bad position right now. Lashing out at Seraphina will only make it worse." I turned my face to Jackie's worried expression. "Please, Lady Ari, listen to me just this time." I took a deep breath and stepped backward. Jackie held me, protecting me from a possible assault. Seraphina approached the s
AriI stood up, trembling, in front of the mirror. My gaze fixed on the stranger staring back at me, and I forced a bitter smile onto my lips. My fingers traced the shortened strands of my once-long hair, and I hated the way it looked. It served as a stark reminder of the humiliation and loss I had endured because of my stepmother. I couldn’t help but wonder when this series of misfortune would come to an end, silently pleading with the moon goddess.Tears welled up and streamed down my cheeks, distorting the reflection I could no longer bear to confront. My hair, once a source of pride and dignity, had become just another casualty of my stepmother's cruelty. She had taken everything from me—my family, my happily ever after, the dream of a fairytale wedding, the loyal people who had faithfully served us, and even my deceased father's honor. The Ironwolf and my malevolent stepmother had left me with nothing. I felt utterly depleted, my will to live extinguished.Sinking to the floor, I
KristoffMy room felt like a prison, suffocating me with its confinement. The house arrest imposed upon me was driving me mad. An intense desire to break free and see Ari was gnawing at my every thought.I needed to find a way to get out of this room. And fast."Your mate is waiting, Kristoff. How can you afford not to find a way to get out of here?!" Ivar, my wolf, complained within the depths of my mind. I tweaked my hair in frustration as his words added to my distress."Ivar, trust me, if there was a way out, I would've taken it already. Guards are stationed all over, and this window might as well be sealed shut."Frustration welled up within me, eventually finding release in the forceful slam of my hand against the table. "I hold the title of Jarl and the crown alpha to this pack, yet here I am, confined like a prisoner in my own room!"Ivar acknowledged my exasperation, recognizing the severity of the predicament.The strong wish to be with Ari filled me with sorrow. Since the b
AriI kept my gaze fixed on the ground, avoiding any semblance of eye contact with the imposing omega leader. Jackie stood beside me, equally guilty for allowing me to skip my duties without reporting it. The omega leader's piercing stare made it clear that we were in trouble, and in this place, we couldn't afford even the slightest misstep."May I remind you that your privileged life is over? So why are you still acting like one? Don't you think it is unfair for the other omegas here that you skip work?"Jackie and I exchanged uneasy glances."I apologize, madam. But it was a decision I made. Jackie asked me to work that day, but I was the one who refused because I was not feeling well. I will take responsibility for my mistake. Just spare Jackie because she is not at fault here," I spoke, humbly.But the omega leader responded with a sly smirk. “So you think your little apology can change everything? You’re wrong, half-rank! This isn’t your father’s house! You need to work here just
Ari"Where have you been, half-rank?"I struggled to keep my arms steady, fear coursing through my veins. The threat of the whip loomed large, and I couldn't help but glance nervously at it, wondering if it would be used against me."I did what you told me, madam. I went straight to that stream to fetch water," I replied, my voice trembling but attempting to hold a semblance of composure. The whip in the omega leader's hand cast a shadow over the conversation, making it hard for me to concentrate."You useless slave! Do not think of me as a fool!" she spat out. Fueled by anger, she lashed the whip across my arm, and the pain shot through me. I winced in pain as the omega leader continued to lash her whip. The other slaves paused their work, their eyes widening with alarm as they gathered around me.Another slave, Jenna, stepped forward, her face full of contempt. “How dare you lie!” she exclaimed while pointing her finger at me. She addressed the crowd of omegas around us. “I saw her