A Bride

[Denali’s POV]

I wait as the man standing with my stepmother looks from me to my father.

“Since the bride has been determined, I will be outside waiting.” The man who came to fetch me announces this before leaving.

Only once he is out of earshot does my father reach out and painfully grab me.

“Don’t you dare ruin this for me.” He hisses, beginning to drag me upstairs toward my room. “There is a lot riding on this engagement.”

A lot riding on it. So he was using me as a business transaction for his greed. Honestly, I shouldn’t be surprised by any of this. I didn’t know why I kept expecting anything from someone who would never change.

“Now pack your things.” He announces, shoving me into my room. “And don’t you dare try to escape.”

“Not like I could.” I mutter, causing my father to storm into the room and slap me.

“Watch that tone.” He growls, kneeling so that his gaze locks with mine. “The man that you’re marrying is the future alpha of Crystal Fang. Do you know what will happen to you if you try to run away from this wedding?”

Shivering, I feel my blood turn to ice as I finally get the chance to process who my future husband will be.

The future alpha of Crystal Fang, Rosco Torres. He was a ruthless man who didn’t show mercy to anyone, not even his own family. From what I heard about him, if anyone were to even step out of line around him, he would kill them in cold blood.

Along with being ruthless, he was also a powerful alpha, the most powerful to exist in hundreds of years. People say that is the reason that he is so dangerous because he is always working to keep his true power in check. It would only take one slip-up for it to get loose, and anyone within range would be brutally slaughtered.

No wonder my father didn’t want Anastasia to marry him, even though he was prime husband material. He was making it clear that she was the only daughter he truly ever gave a damn about.

“Don’t just sit there.” My father snaps now, pulling me out of my head and back to the present. “Get off your ass and get packing.”

Nodding, I slowly get up while trying to ignore the giggles that are coming from Anastasia’s room. I was certain that she was in an exceptional mood now that I was essentially being sent to my death.

“Now!” My father growls when I don’t move. “Don’t tell me you’re actually going to be defiant after we’ve come this far.”

Be defiant. Maybe that was something that I wanted to do. Hell, what difference did it make if I tried to run away right this moment? It would be as easy as throwing myself out the window and plummeting to the ground below. If the fall didn’t severely hurt me, the beating I would receive afterward would.

Maybe if Rosco saw his bride in such a state, he would be disgusted and...

“Don’t you dare think about it.” My father warns, causing me to flinch.

“I’m not doing anything.” I say slowly. “I was just wondering what I should take.”

“You’re thinking of trying to escape. I can see the need to run in those damned eyes.” He continues. “But know this, if you so much as try to run away from this marriage, then I’ll get rid of this.”

As he speaks, he moves toward my dresser and yanks the top drawer open.

“No!” I gasp, rushing forward and trying to stop him. “Don’t touch that!”

“Listen to me.” My father growls, shoving me backwards and grabbing the urn I hid so carefully out of its hiding place. “You’re going to go through with this marriage, do you hear me? And if you try anything before you are legally married, I will destroy this!”

Destroy this… He was calling my mother’s urn and ashes this. He wasn’t even acknowledging that the woman he loved was there. To him, she was nothing more than a thing to use against me.

“I’ve got it.” I say slowly, understanding that he has me trapped. “I will obediently go to Crystal Fang and marry Rosco, so please just...”

“I’ll be keeping this for the time being.” My father counters. “Once you are married, I’ll consider giving it back.”

Finished speaking, my father turns on his heel and makes his way out of the room while I watch his retreating form numbly.

How was it possible that a day that began so perfectly would end with such misery? Did I do something in my past life to deserve all of this, or was this planned for a long while and that was why everything was happening so perfectly in sync?

“I need to get up.” I whisper, knowing that my father would come for me if I took so long.

Slowly, I rise to my feet and move to the dresser. Only after peeking out into the hall behind me do I pull at a loose piece of wood at the back of the drawer my father was just in until I see what I’m looking for.

“I’m sorry, mom.” I whisper, grabbing the small sack and holding it against my heart. “I couldn’t protect you, but I’ve at least protected this.”

Looking down, I gently open the sack and then dump its contents into my palm to make sure that everything is still in place.

This pocket watch was the only thing I was able to keep after my mother’s death, and because I didn’t trust anyone to not do something with it, I kept it hidden. Now, it was all I had left of the woman who gave birth to me.

Placing it back in its sack, I pack, only grabbing the things that I would need. Once I’m done, I make my way out of my room, but stop as a hand reaches out and grabs me.

Eyes widening, I try to ignore the familiar energy that radiates behind me while everything in me screams to beg him to hold me.

“Did you need something?” I ask quietly, not wanting to be found like this. “Or are you going to stab that knife deeper into my heart?”

“Denali,” Alexander says slowly. “I’m sorry, I just...”

Just what? Was too enticed by the thought of being with Anastasia? Was blackmailed? Or… Was he using me this whole time to get close to Anastasia?

“She’s my mate.” He continues miserably. “And I just…”

“Don’t.” I hiss, feeling my last shreds of composure chipping away. “Just say nothing else.”

His mate. Anastasia was his mate, and I was just someone to pass the time with. All those pretty things he said to me were lies, so he could use me to pass the time until he found his fated one.

“Don’t worry.” I say, shaking his hand off of me. “We knew that something like this could happen, anyway.”

As I speak, I turn, being sure to keep my expression gentle.

“I guess congratulations are in order for both of us.” I continue, meeting his gaze. “You’ve found your mate, and I’m going to get married. It looks like, in the end, fate made sure that we were both happy.”

By this point, tears are streaming down my face, and even though I know I should try to stop them, I can’t.

“I’m sorry.” Alexander repeats, looking at me miserably.

“Yeah, me too.”

With that, I turn and make my way downstairs, where I’m sure my father is waiting, and when I find him, he only spares a glance at me.

“Are you ready?” He asks, shifting his gaze to my bag. “Is that everything?”

“Yes.” I respond numbly. “I’m ready; please lead the way.”