Two
1608 Words
The annual Pack Partner Ball… This is it. The moment Prince Mark realizes I am his perfect match and chooses me as his bride!" Astrid said dreamingly
Wrenna barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes so hard they would fall out of her head. Instead, she kept her mouth shut, silently suffering through the sound of her sister’s infuriating voice.
She didn’t dare say a word, not while Astrid sat there, getting pampered by a group of maids who powdered her face like she was already royalty. Meanwhile, Wrenna was stuck making sure Astrid’s bed was neatly arranged, as if that was somehow part of her grand duties as the lesser sister.
The annual Pack Partner Ball was the biggest event of the year. The night all eligible bachelors, especially the Alpha’s son, chose their future brides from the many hopeful women in the pack. It was basically a high-stakes auction, except instead of bidding, men just picked a woman and that was that.
And if you weren’t picked? Well. That was a nightmare for all women. Public rejection was bad enough, but the real horror is having to spend the rest of your life alone. No mate. No status. Just a sad, invisible existence where everyone knew you were undesirable.
"What color do you think Prince Mark would love?" Astrid asked the maid, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Then, without waiting for an answer, she hummed in satisfaction. "I think green. It matches my eyes perfectly, so I shall go with green!"
Wrenna almost choked on her own laughter.
Oh, if only Astrid knew.
Mark hated green.
And Wrenna knew this. She knew everything about him. His favorite foods, what made him laugh, how he liked to relax after a long day, what got under his skin and, most importantly, what colors he absolutely hated.
And green was at the top of the list of colors he hated.
How did she know all of this? Easy. Because Prince Mark was hers.
Her secret lover, the man she has loved since forever but they haven’t been able to bring their relationship out to public yet. The man who had whispered sweet promises in the dark. The one who had taken her virginity and held her afterward, swearing he would choose her when the time came. And now? That time had arrived.
She knew she wasn’t the most desirable woman in the pack. She didn’t have Astrid’s perfect golden curls or the charm that made people gravitate toward her. But what she did have was Mark’s love. And that was all that mattered.
"Ugh, stop standing there like a pathetic lost little pup, Wrenna. You are throwing off the mood."
Astrid’s voice yanked Wrenna out of her thoughts. She was still in front of the mirror, adjusting her necklace, tilting her head side to side, admiring herself like she was the goddess of beauty herself.
Wrenna fought the urge to roll her eyes.
"Anyway," Astrid continued, flicking her hand dismissively. "Father insisted I give you something to wear, so here."
She snapped her fingers, and one of the maids hurried over, shoving a folded dress into Wrenna’s hands.
Wrenna unfolded it. A simple blue gown. Plain fabric. No shimmer, no embroidery, nothing special.
She held it up. Seriously?
"What?" Astrid smirked. "Did you think you would get something elegant? Please. You should be grateful that father is even letting you step foot in the ballroom as his daughter. Well, let's hope that some nobody chooses you so we can finally be free from you in this family.” She paused “you don’t need fancy clothes because no man with a high class is going to choose you anyway, only the slaves and poor men within the pack. Just know this."
Wrenna clenched her jaw.
"Besides," Astrid went on, "this dress suits you. Boring. Dull. Just like you."
Wrenna exhaled through her nose. Okay. Deep breaths. Don’t punch her. Not yet.
"Take your pathetic little dress and get out of my sight," Astrid snapped, her amusement quickly replaced with irritation. "I don’t want to look at you anymore."
Wrenna held the dress tightly, her nails digging into the fabric. Then, without another word, she turned and walked out.
Fine. Let Astrid laugh now. Let her mock.
Because by the end of the night, she would be the one looking stupid when prince mark chose her.
As soon as she got to her room, she threw the dull excuse of a dress Astrid had given her on the floor like it was diseased. Then, with a grin, she reached for another dress, the one that actually mattered.
A deep wine colored gown, rich and stunning.
Mark had given the dress to her himself, his voice was soft and sweet when he told her to wear it to the ball. He had told her that it was a symbol of their love and he wanted her to wear it when he proposes.
“Oh, Mark,” she whispered, pressing the fabric against her chest, eyes fluttering shut as she let herself imagine it. Tonight is going to be perfect.
She could already see it, the grand ballroom, the candlelight, the envious stares as Mark pulled her into his arms, spinning her across the floor as they danced. And then, just like in a fairytale, he would stop in the middle of the dance, cup her face, and tell the entire pack she was his.
Her father would see it. He would have no choice but to see it. Her mother too and most especially Astrid.
No more side glances. No more pity. No more whispers about how she was unwanted, undesired, or destined for nothing.
Mark would prove them all wrong.
A knock on the door shattered the fantasy.
Wrenna yelped, scrambling to shove the dress under her blankets before whipping around, heart pounding . s**t. Who was it?
Clearing her throat, she smoothed down her clothes, straightened her back, and called out, “Who is it?”
She twisted the doorknob and opened it to find a young maid.
The young girl looked her up and down, her lips twitching just slightly at the corners, like she was trying so hard not to laugh.
Right. Of course. No one respected her here. Not the guards, not the gardeners, not even the maids. Why would they? When her own family treated her like nothing, why should anyone else act differently?
“The lady of the house, Madam Kaia, has requested your presence,” the maid said, her tone flat. She barely spared Wrenna a glance before turning to leave.
Wrenna watched her go, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. Well, that can’t be good.
If her mother was requesting her presence, it could only mean one thing, trouble.
Because Madam Kaia, her dear, sweet mother, had made one thing painfully clear all her life.
She hated Wrenna.
And the worst part?
Wrenna had never understood why.
She started walking to her mothers room.
With Astrid Kaia was different. She was their mother’s favorite. The golden child. The daughter who could do no wrong.
Meanwhile, Wrenna? She was nothing. A ghost in her own home.
It used to bother her. She used to cry, wondering why her own mother hated her so much. But now? Now, she was just tired.
And now, here she was, standing outside her mother’s room, fully aware that walking in meant willingly stepping into the lion’s den.
Still, she knocked.
“Enter,” came the cold voice from inside.
Too late to run now.
Wrenna pushed open the door and stepped inside. The room was as perfect as always, no dust, no mess, just polished wood, elegant furniture, and a scent of lavender. And at the corner of the room, dressed in her usual silk robe, was her.
Madam Kaia. Her mother.
She didn’t even turn at first. Just continued brushing her long, silver-streaked hair, watching Wrenna through the mirror like she was an annoying bug that had just crawled in.
“What took you so long?” she asked flatly.
Wrenna forced her shoulders to stay squared. “Apologies, Mother.”
Finally, Kaia turned, her gaze sweeping over Wrenna’s plain dress, wearing a disgusted expression like she had just tasted something bitter. “The ball is tonight,” she said.
Wrenna nodded. “Yes, I…”
“You will not make a spectacle of yourself,” Kaia cut her off, stepping closer. “You will not seek attention. You will not embarrass this family.”
Wrenna’s fingers twitched at her sides. She wanted to say something. Anything. But she knew better.
Her mother’s eyes got darker. “Now I wonder, will any man of worth even look at you?” She scoffed, shaking her head. “The only reason you are attending at all is because your father insisted .” She exhaled. “As if that could change anything.”
It wasn’t the first time she was hearing that anyway, but it hurts more coming from her own mother
Wrenna clenched her jaw. She wouldn’t cry. Not in front of her.
Kaia sighed dramatically and turned back to the mirror. “You are dismissed.”
Just like that. Like Wrenna was a maid. Like she wasn’t even worth another second of her time.
She gulped, turning toward the door. She could handle this. She always handled this.
But just as she reached the doorway, her mother’s voice rang out again.
“Oh, and Wrenna?”
She paused.
“I expect you to behave. Don’t embarrass the family no matter what happens”
- Writer
