Chapter 12
1088 Words
Sovia’s POV
“What! No!”
Before I could stop the words, they came out in a yell.
“Humph! Young lady, how dare you raise your voice at your own father.”
I moved away from his grip, my mind racing hard.
No! No! No!
The chant kept playing over and over in my head as those awful memories clouded my mind.
Moon Goddess, no.
“Sovia Henric, have you lost your mind?”
I bit my lip and whipped my head toward my mother. This was her doing.
“Dad, please. I don’t want to marry Janova… he…”
The rest of my words rolled back inside my mouth. How could I tell him?
Even if my reason wasn’t as bizarre, he still wouldn’t listen. That woman had stuffed his head in a box. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if she was using her dark magic to spell him.
My father narrowed his eyes. An unreadable expression came over his face as he heard my pleas.
He stared into my eyes. “Sovia, you’ve always had feelings for the second prince. Why the sudden change of heart? This is a royal decree and it must be obeyed.”
“Dad, I can’t marry him because …”
A sharp pain twisted and pierced through my chest. I gasped.
Blood curled against the back of my mouth. I squeezed my chest as my wolf whimpered, thrashing painfully under the restraint.
“Urgh!”
Tears blooming as the world blurred. My knees connected with the cold floor, the chill biting into my skin.
The familiar agony forced my gaze upward toward that woman—my mother.
She was still seated, calm like still water. Her eyes blinked as they settled on me.
Nanny Nicola now had her hands clasped behind her back, a smile on her face.
This was their doing.
My father groaned, irritation fluttering in his tone. He turned away from me swiftly.
“Sovia, begging is useless. Janova is your mate. And if you reject him, this family will be in peril. Do you think the Alpha King will spare me? How will I hold my head high in court?”
“Court? This is about your daughter’s happiness…” I gritted my teeth. A hot sensation flared at my ribs. Sweat pooled at the corner of my forehead. “I don’t love Janova.”
“Love? Happiness? What is the use of them if they come at the expense of your family?
You owe this family, and now it’s time to repay us.”
I opened my mouth, tears filling my eyes. “I’m… I’m your daughter. Do I have to pay for you to bring me into this world?”
“Yes.” He said without warmth as he crouched down to my level. His hands reached my shoulders and I shivered.
His palm was cold like ice, and it sent goosebumps racing over my skin.
“Be good. This is for the family. Our pack. Make us proud.”
To hell with this family.
Though in my past life I had loved Janova deeply, I should have seen this marriage alliance for what it truly was.
A means to amass more power. For glory. Honour and power.
None of them cared.
Not even my own father.
***
When I got inside my room, it felt quiet except for the crackle of my sharp breaths. I pressed my back against the door, one hand resting on the handle.
“In three days, you will wed Prince Janova.” My father’s words echoed continuously.
Moon Goddess, anything but that, I prayed.
In a flash that hit me like a blade, I saw his face.
How he smiled when his warm hands reached into my chest, gripped my heart, and tore it from my body. The hot copper blood flooded my mouth as victory clung to their scent.
“I’m going to die again.”
I tried to swallow, but my throat had sealed shut. Air scraped in and out of my lungs in tiny, useless sips. My heartbeat roared in my ears, drowning everything.
My knees buckled. I slid from the door, curling into myself on the floor and pressing my forehead to my knees. Black spots swarmed my vision.
My fingers tingled, then my lips. I dug my nails into my arms, trying to breathe. But all I could see was Janova’s smile as I died.
A broken sob tore out of me. “I can’t… I can’t breathe. I’m going to die.”
The door latch clicked. I didn’t look up. I just folded smaller as the panic swallowed me whole.
“Sovia!” I heard through the fog.
Tears rolled from the corners of my eyes and dropped onto the floor.
Footsteps padded against the floor. Warm arms pulled me against a soft chest. Lavender, rosewater, and warm vanilla wrapped around me—comfort.
“Shh. Breathe with me,” the voice murmured, a hand stroking slow circles on my back. “You’re safe.”
I clung to that scent, letting it anchor me as the panic loosened its grip.
Smooth hands cupped my cheeks, brushing the tears away.
I blinked. Slowly the world began to take shape.
Lydia was the one holding me.
A soft whimper came from the side—Vanessa.
Her face was red, her little nose flushed along with her cheeks.
“My lady… you…”
The tremor subsided a little. I forced a smile. “Stop crying. I’m not dying.”
Lydia’s grip tightened. “What exactly happened inside the hall?”
Vanessa sniffed, wiping tears from her face as she moved closer.
I sighed, lowering myself against Lydia’s shoulder.
“I’ll be marrying Prince Janova in three days.”
“What? Why? Did Father agree to this?”
“Hmm.” I managed a nod.
Lydia breathed out sharply, as though her only hope had drained away.
Vanessa’s cold hands wrapped over mine. She squeezed, crawling forward. “My lady… what are we going to do? Are you going to marry him?”
I shook my head.
Vanessa’s eyes widened, stuttering. “But the Alpha…”
Lydia’s voice came on hard before I found mine. “Don’t worry. I won’t let that happen.”
My gaze flickered to Lydia’s face, clenched in a frown.
My wedding was in three days.
Good.
Only that the groom wouldn’t be Janova, and the Moon Goddess helped whoever got in my way.
With determination, I squeezed Vanessa’s hand.
- Writer
