Chapter four
1030 Words
Aria's POV
I stumbled towards the house, tired, my head still throbbing from the headache.
As soon as I stepped inside, I heard my father’s voice.
"Where have you been?" I winced but didn’t reply.
"Are you deaf?" he repeated.
"Good morning, Father," I said curtly as I went toward the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. I thought he was about to lecture me about last night’s drama.
I took another gulp of water, just as I was about to swallow, he dropped it.
"You're getting married."
I choked on the water and coughed aggressively, sputtering as I tried to comprehend what he had just said.
How did he know? I hadn’t told anyone yet. Just as I was about to ask him, he continued. "Garrick Morrow has come to ask for your hand in marriage."
I finally calmed down, swallowing the last remnants of water that had caught in my throat.
What? I’m not marrying that old wolf! He already has two wives, and he is like three times older than me.
"Shut up," he shunned me, his voice cold and sharp.
"He is a successful trader. He will take care of you. Besides, when you get married to him, he’ll help elevate our pack."
I stood up, trembling with anger. "No! I’m not marrying him!" Before I could say another word, my father stood up and slapped me.
I held my face in shock. I was speechless.
I looked up and saw my mother on the stairs. She came toward us, her expression careful and soft.
My father’s voice was stern again. "You’ll marry Garrick. He’ll be here for you in the next six moons."
I was still holding my face when my mother held me gently and led me to my room.
She sat me on the bed and said softly, "He didn’t mean it."
I scoffed. “Yes, right.”
"You know this marriage would be beneficial to our pack. Morrow has connections,"
“But why do I have to be the one to marry that old man?” Annoyance flashed across her eyes. I knew it. She was only ever gentle when she needed something from me.
"Selene is getting married to Damon," she added casually.
I clenched my jaw at the mention of Damon’s name. Right.
After my humiliation last night, the next thing is to marry me off and get rid of me.
She sighed and stood up. "It has been decided, Aria."
She gave me one last glance and left the room. I curled myself into the bed, the weight of betrayal pressing down on my chest, and fell asleep.
My phone ringing woke me up abruptly. It was Lucian.
"Hello," I said as I picked it up, my voice still rough with sleep.
"Aria," he said coolly. "The contract has been drafted. You can come tomorrow and go through it. We can get married tomorrow as well."
"Okay, that sounds good," I replied.
"Alright. Take care." Before I could say anything again, he hung up.
Just as I placed the phone down, I heard Selene’s obnoxious voice echoing down the hall. She was yelling my name.
"For f**k’s sake, what does she want?" I muttered under my breath.
Before I could check what was happening, she barged into my room, almost shoving her phone into my nose.
I pushed her back. "What the f**k?"
"So you w***e yourself out now?" she sneered. "I always knew you were a slut." I held back the urge to slap her and glanced at her phone screen.
It was the video of me kissing Lucian, but half his face was cropped on the screen.
"So after last night’s theatrics, you go and w***e yourself out," she continued, her words sharp and triumphant.
"What is going on?" I heard my father behind her. "What’s with the noise?" He glanced at her phone. His face turned grim as he turned to me.
"You are such an embarrassment to this pack," he spat. "Last night, you claimed your sister’s fiancé was your boyfriend, and now you’re whoring yourself out."
I shook my head, speechless, my stomach dropping.
"You are such a disappointment." He spat once more and left the room without another word.
Selene looked back at me, her triumphant smile making my blood boil.
"You should be ashamed of yourself," she said before leaving.
I decided I couldn’t wait until tomorrow to leave this house. I started packing my bags, hands shaking as I shoved clothes and necessities into the luggage.
As I packed, I moved downstairs quietly. They were all in the living room, watching some show.
I dragged my luggage down the stairs. My mother looked toward me.
"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice rang out.
"She is throwing a tantrum, obviously," Selene said, with a smirk.
My father turned to me. "What stunt are you pulling now?"
"I’m leaving," I said simply, my voice firm.
Selene burst out laughing.
"Aria, please," she mocked. "If this is a way to get out of marrying Garrick, it’s not going to work."
"Let her go, Daddy. She’ll come back sooner or later," Selene added, her tone smug. "She doesn’t even have a wolf. She should be grateful that Mr. Morrow even considered her."
"How are we even twins?" she asked, turning to our mother.
"You are fraternal twins, Selene. She was born seven minutes after you," our mother replied.
I ignored them, dragging my bags toward the front door.
Outside, I called Lucian.
"Hello? I’m so sorry to bother you, but can you send a driver to pick me up?" I asked. "I’d like to move in today."
"Oh…" he said hesitantly into the phone. "Okay then," he finally responded.
"Thank you," I said, hanging up.
I turned to look back at the house I grew up in. The house I had never really felt at home in. My parents had made sure I was always second to Selene. Even her leftovers were better than anything I had.
I swallowed back the wave of sadness rising up my throat and blinked back the tears.
Well, I’m leaving now. It’s time to start anew.
- Writer
