Chapter 2
1181 Words
My head was throbbing as my eyes opened slowly and my vision was blurry. I felt strange and disoriented. I tried to move, but my body felt heavy and sluggish.
"Where am I?" I wondered, my voice came out hoarse and raspy.
Gradually, my vision cleared, and I realized that I was lying in a luxurious bed, surrounded by soft pillows and silken sheets. The sun shone through the window, casting a warm glow over the room.
My confusion deepened further as I managed to sit up and I glanced down at my body. My skin was unusually pale, my curves were better defined and my legs were longer than I remembered.
What was happening?
My head hurt as I tried to remember how I'd ended up in this strange room. Just then, the door opened and a group of maids walked in holding different boxes and a white dress.
“Come now miss, it's time to get you ready”
I didn't say a word as I was ushered into the bathroom. The maids took off my clothes and gave me a bath. I was scared to say something because I had no idea what was going on yet. I thought it would be wiser to play along at first.
I was led back into the strange room where my hair was put in an elegant updo and I was dressed in a long white dress.
As I looked into the mirror, the reflection that stared back at me wasn't mine. She was beautiful, and extremely so. I had a delicate gold chain around my neck.
But it wasn't my neck or my face or my body. As I sat there it all slowly came back to me, Darren, Lydia. I'd been pushed off a cliff. How was I still alive? And whose body was I in?
“The ceremony will be starting shortly. We'll come back to get you when it's time” One of the maids said before they all left.
A sense of dread filled me as I realized that I was dressed for a wedding, my wedding.
“No,” I whispered. “This can't be happening”
I scrambled to my feet, my mind racing. I could hear the distant sound of laughter of voices and laughter, the unmistakable sound of a wedding celebration.
“I've gotta get out of here”
I crept towards the door, my heart pounding in my chest. As I reached for the door handle, I heard a voice from the other side.
“Alyria?”
I froze instantly. Who was it? Had someone figured out the truth?
“W-who's there?” I asked with a shaky voice.
“It's Zara, your bridesmaid,” the voice replied. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I'm fine. I just need a moment to myself”
“We need to leave now. The ceremony is starting”
My heart sank as I heard those words. I was trapped in this confusing, terrible situation.
I opened the door and Zara entered.
“You look beautiful”
“Thank you”
She ushered me out to the main hall where a man was waiting.
“My daughter,” The man said as he embraced me. I felt awkward but I returned the hug since the man was technically my father.
“Come let us go in now”
The music started playing and my father walked me down the aisle. My mind was spinning as I felt all the eyes in the hall on me, and there were so many of them.
As we reached the end of the aisle, my father smiled at me and the groom, a handsome man with dark hair and piercing blue eyes, stepped forward to take my hand.
I recognised him instantly. Alpha Ivan, the Alpha of the Northern pack, the strongest pack of all. I'd only seen him during the annual pack summits.
I was slowly beginning to put two and two together. Alpha Ivan had been set to get married to the daughter of a beta, the beta of the Western pack and now… that was me. I was in the body of the daughter of the Western pack's beta.
The entire ceremony was a blur to me as we said our vows and exchanged the rings. Thankfully, we didn't have to share a kiss.
After the ceremony came the reception for dining and drinking. I was seated next to Alpha Ivan overseeing the guests. People came to greet us and congratulate us but I didn't know any of them. I wasn't sure the real Beta's daughter did either.
“Are you well?” Alpha Ivan suddenly spoke
“Me? Y-yes I am well, I'm fine”
He seemed to be observing me and it made me uncomfortable.
“Why? I don't look fine?” I asked with a weak smile.
“You seem a bit off. Not like yourself”
“Oh. I'm fine I'm just a bit overwhelmed, you know, being married and all”
“Hmm. I've invited the other Alpha's of the major packs. The Southern and the Eastern packs”
My blood ran cold as I heard the last pack. The Eastern pack was my pack, Darren's pack and he was Alpha. He was going to be at my wedding and he wouldn't even recognise me.
“Did you hear what I said?:
“Sorry?”
He seemed annoyed but he didn't say anything.
“I said the purpose of this marriage is to form an alliance between our packs but we still need to maintain a good relationship with the other packs so I implore you to be polite and respectful, especially with the other Alpha's”
He said it like I had a history of bad behaviour and I was inclined to ask.
“I'm not usually respectful?”
“You and I both know that you're an entitled girl that's been spoiled too much by her father. I only agreed to this marriage for the sake of an alliance”
I was taken aback by his speech. He didn't seem in any way reserved about his opinions of me. It was clear that the owner of the body and Alpha Ivan weren't on good terms.
It only worsened my anxiety. What kind of marriage would this be?
Just then, an announcement was made.
“Welcoming the Eastern pack in the presence of Alpha Darren of the Eastern pack!”
“I took the liberty of inviting your old lover too” Ivan whispered into my ear.
Did that mean Ivan had been having multiple affairs while being my mate?
Darren walked in with Lydia on his arm, their steps exuding confidence and arrogance. Lydia was dressed in a very seductive red dress, looking like the devil's spawn. Both their faces were bright with beaming smiles.
How could they stand there and be happy after what they had done to me?
As they approached me, it took everything within me to smile at the people responsible for my death.
- Writer
