Chapter 0002

Valeria’s POV

My heart drops. I look at everyone and I see that their horrified expressions are slowly turning into outrage.

“What did you do?” Naomi’s voice is nothing but a low growl. “What did you do!”

With that, she lunges at me and delivers the hardest slap on my face. Black spots start to dance in my eyes as I blink rapidly to shake off the daze.

I try to get up but she drags me by the hair and pulls me to the living room, where she continues to slap me over and over until I can no longer feel my face.

I don’t even have the tears to shed, even as I watch Matthew walking past me with a smile. Margot is pulling him towards the drawing room so he won’t have to see, but I hold his gaze until he disappears.

I don’t know what I did to deserve this. I don’t know why he did that to me. Isn’t it bad enough that he left me hanging and chose my stepsister? Isn’t it enough that he broke my heart when he was the only thing that kept me going?

Naomi finally steps back. My lips are bleeding. My vision is blurred. Dad steps in, but he only motions her to sit down. He doesn’t even help me get up.

“Do something about her, daddy,” Naomi sobs, acting like the perfect victim. “I can’t believe she would do that--”

“He’s the one who entered the kitchen when I did,” I tell her, wiping my mouth. “He cornered me and kissed me. He told me he missed me and even though we can’t be married, we can still be together--”

“SHUT UP!” Naomi screams.

“That’s enough,” Dad says, but he doesn’t seem to have any conviction in his tone. He looks down at me. “What the hell are you thinking, Valeria? Do you wish to mess up your sister’s marriage before it even begins?”

I get up, struggling. “I said, I was not the one who followed him into the kitchen. Matthew kissed me, told me that he missed me and we could still be together even though he’s going to be married!”

He sighs. “Stop with the lies.”

“Lies?” I echo, letting out a bitter laugh. “What makes you think I’m lying? What makes it so hard for you to believe your own daughter?”

He doesn’t say anything, and I just… broke into pieces.

All the hatred and resentment I felt for every single one of them is rising up my throat like bile now. I want to scream. I just can’t believe the hell that I’m in, what torture this is.

“Just kick me out of this pack,” I say at last, looking at my father. “Banish me. Leave me with nothing. Just so none of you will see my face ever again.”

Dad looks at me, and for a second I thought he would say no. A part of me wants him to say no, the part that still hopes he loves me even though he showed no inclination for the past eighteen years.

But a bigger part of me wants him to agree.

And at last, he says, “Very well. You may leave tomorrow, first thing in the morning.”

* * *

A giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I never thought this day would come. The day where I can finally be free.

I’m actually smiling for the first time since my rejection. I actually had a peaceful sleep. As I pack the very few possessions I have, I feel like a different woman already. I’m excited to live my life as… me.

Not for my mother. Not for Matthew. For me.

It’s morning now, and I’m set to leave. I heave the single trunk down the stairs into the foyer, setting it against the wall. I look around and see that my so-called family is in the living room with Matthew.

I might as well say goodbye for them for formality, so I decide to head to the living room. But then, one of the butlers in the house cut ahead of me, clutching a letter with a red seal.

I recognize that seal. The Royal Lycan Family.

Curious, I follow the butler, but I stay at the sides to avoid getting seen.

The butler bows and hands the letter to my father. “From the Royal Lycan Family, Beta.”

Instantly, the confidence in my father’s face slides off. “Th-thank you. You may go.”

He clutches the letter and opens it with shaking hands. Matthew gets up from his seat and sidles up next to him. “What’s that? Why is the Royal Lycan Family sending you letters?”

My dad doesn’t answer him. His eyes just sweep the paper fitfully like he’s trying to catch something. However, when he finishes, he lets go of the paper and collapses on the nearest chair.

“Hector!” Margot yells, rushing up to him. “What’s that? What happened?”

Dad opens his mouth to speak, but it seems that he can’t find his voice.

“Daddy!” Naomi sits next to him and holds his hand. “Daddy, what’s wrong?”

Before he can answer, Matthew himself picks up the paper and reads it. Then he crumples it into a ball and looks at everyone. “It’s… Choosing Night for the Lycan King, and Naomi is invited.”

“No,” Dad whimpers. “She’s demanded to come.”

Silence spreads in the living room.

I can’t say I blame them. Even I get a shiver running down my spine.

Choosing Night is a Lycan ceremony, a party where the Lycan King gathers all the eligible brides in the land and chooses a bride. This doesn’t seem to be a bad tradition in itself.

The problem is, the identity of the Lycan King is unknown. All we know is that he’s an immortal  being who’s a hundred years old. He’s also known to be cruel and merciless. That’s why he hasn’t found his fated mate in all those decades. No one can stand him and his ruthlessness.

It’s a known fact that every day with the Lycan King is a day full of danger.

Naomi starts to cry silently. “I can’t… I can’t join. I’m betrothed! I’m supposed to marry Matthew.”

“No.” Dad gets up from his seat and starts to pace the floor. “Anyone who refuses to give up their eligible bride will be punished.”

“But Daddy!” she protests, then she turns to Matthew, who has been silent all this time. “You’re the Alpha heir. The Lycan King will listen to you. Tell him that I’m your bride. Marry me as soon as possible--”

“I can’t.” Matthew looks away from her. “I’m set for the coronation next month, much farther than the Choosing Night.”

“We can still get married,” she insists, trying to hug him. “I will marry you today. No need for a grand ceremony--”

“Naomi.” He pushes her off him gently. “I can’t. You heard the Beta. My family will be punished if I did that. I can’t help you out of this, it just has to be done. I’m so sorry.”

Naomi falls to the floor in despair. She starts to weep loudly, repeating that she doesn’t want to go.

A smile appears on my lips.

I can’t say that her despair doesn’t bring me joy, but most of all, I’m just happy that I’m no longer part of that. As soon as I walk out these doors, I’m a free woman.

Relieved and happy, I sneak back into the foyer and lift my trunk. I’m about to ask the butlers to open the door for me, but then I feel a hand on my shoulder.

I turn around and see Dad.

“Don’t go,” Dad breathes out. “Please.”

I frown. “What? We had an agreement, Dad. I’m banished and I’m leaving--”

“No, I take it back.” Dad pulls me back, taking my trunk and pushing it aside. “You will be going to Choosing Night, replacing your sister Naomi.”