KristoffI heaved a sigh, tightened my tie, and fixed my hair. That day had been my wedding day, a day I had never wished for. To me, it had felt more like attending a funeral because it marked the death of a part of me, a thing I would grieve over for the rest of my life. Overwhelming frustration and hopelessness filled me as I faced the unavoidable, something I had to do no matter what.I tried to settle down my feelings as the time for the ceremony drew near. To keep Ari safe, I needed to be in favor of the Ironwolf. I had to obey and please my father to earn his trust and hand over the throne. As long as I remained in my position, as long as my future was to be the most powerful wolf on the continent, Ari would remain safe from possible danger.Without knocking, Rolf entered the room and said, "It’s time." Then, he left, leaving me alone with my thoughts. It was time to face my nightmare. I took a deep breath and left the room. Bjorn, my spirit wolf, howled in pain, understanding

AriThere was a heavy silence between us, the tension palpable in the air. The constant glare exchanged by the brothers built a wall of discomfort. The challenging stares pierced through me, making my muscles tense. I hadn't anticipated Ulric standing up for me, and, more painfully, I never fathomed that the man who had once been deeply in love with me now regarded me with such disdain. Accepting this harsh truth was a bitter pill to swallow.Ulric and Kristoff continued their locked stares, seemingly oblivious to the weight of the moment. Eventually, unable to bear the suffocating atmosphere any longer, I reached out and softly touched Ulric’s arms, redirecting his attention towards me.“It is okay, Lord Ulric. After all, I’m just a mere omega who dedicated my life to serving the Ironwolf’s family. The honest thought of the Jarl shouldn’t bother me. Compared to you, him, and the rest of the people inside this room, I am nothing.”Kristoff turned to me as I uttered those words yet did

AriThe next day, I woke up with the gentle warmth of the light touching my cheeks. Slowly getting up from my bed, I opened the windows to feel the breeze of the morning wind. The trees outside danced in harmony along with the good weather to start the day. But despite the pleasant surroundings, I wasn't feeling motivated to begin my day.As I stared outside, memories of the horrors Kristoff inflicted on my heart flooded back. It was a night I wished had never come. The flashbacks of Kristoff forcing himself onto me kept visiting my mind. A tear flowed from my eyes, which I quickly wiped away. I couldn't believe what had happened. It felt like a horrible nightmare that I never saw coming. But the worst part was the fact that everything was real.Walking away from the window, I fixed my hair in front of the mirror. My reflection revealed puffy eyes, probably caused by relentless crying the night before. My eyes looked dead enough to see my own miseries. In my mind, the sweet and loving

AriI sat there, enduring Aslaug's never-ending opening rites, but nothing registered in my mind. All I wanted was for the ceremony to be over and the embarrassment to end. Aslaug droned on in front of us, but I couldn't focus. My only desire was to return to my chores and put this exam behind me. Defeat had already settled in, and I just wanted to spare myself any further humiliation. The lengthy opening rites only intensified my eagerness to escape the exam hall. I silently hoped Aslaug would announce the winners soon so I could make a swift exit.After Aslaug finished the opening rites, she began inspecting the plants. Pride beamed from the other participants as their plants stood tall and healthy. Meanwhile, I kept my head down, trying to avoid attention. Aslaug meticulously examined each plant until she reached the 20th – mine. Taking a deep breath, I tried to summon courage to face the examiner. Aslaug stared at my plant and questioned, "What happened to your plant?"Before I co

SeraphinaAs I recounted the details of the recent council meeting to Maddie, her reaction unfolded like a storm within the confines of my room. Disbelief widened her eyes, mirroring the shock that had initially rippled through me upon realizing Ari's unexpected advantage."How can that be? It’s impossible that Ari even has a slight chance of winning," Maddie's voice quivered with desperation and fear. Her pacing back and forth, along with nail-biting, physically manifested the turmoil gripping her, and it was driving me crazy."Would you please stop acting like a distressed child and calm yourself? You are the future Luna of the pack. Start to act like one," I scolded her, disappointment evident in my tone.Reluctantly, Maddie finally took a seat, but my growing headache betrayed the increasing tension in the room. Trying to maintain composure, I continued updating her on the council meeting. "Those bastards were easily persuaded. Clearly, the perfect candidate should be Randall for