BOUND BY FATE

Chapter 1: The Marriage Sentence AVA “Adrian!!! No! "You’ll hurt him!” My cry tore through the trees, my chest squeezing as I watched the horror unfold. But my scream didn't reach my deaf twin ear, or maybe he didn't just care. Adrian's rage was like a storm. Once unleashed, nothing could stop him. I ran forward, hearing the cracking of bones and the agony scream from the boy he was torturing filled the forest. I ran forward, my heart pounding. “Adrian, stop it!” “Leave me, Ava!” His voice was thunder, deep and unrelenting. His dark eyes burned, face twisted with fury. “I warned everyone in this pack to stay away from you! "And yet he had the nerve, the audacity to bully you?!” He snapped his head toward the blonde wolf beneath him, twisting harder. The boy, Fillot, let out a wail, his body trembling. “Please, Adrian. "I'm so… sorry I didn't mean to bully her. ""I didn't even do what you said I did,” his voice shaking, his blonde hair sticking to his sweaty forehead. “So that means I'm blind! "Is that it?! "I didn't see you earlier!” Adrian yelled, his grip tightened, another horror scream echoed from Fillot. My throat tightened, tears stinging my eyes. “Adrian, please! Stop this.” As much as part of me wanted him to punish Fillot… I couldn’t. Not like that. I couldn’t watch bones break and blood pour. I knew too well the kind of pain he was going through. The kind I had gone through as an omega, powerless at the bottom of the pack. The forest shivered with a loud crash, the sound of a body slamming against wood. Leaves scattered into the air. My eyes widened as I gasped. Fillot was flung into a tree, his body dangling there as he tried to get up. I swore his bones had cracked already, yet he struggled. Adrian’s voice was cold, merciless. “Maybe I’ll use you as a lesson. "A warning to anyone else who thinks about touching my twin sister.” He started toward Fillot, his fists clenched. I rushed forward, grabbing his arm. “No, Adrian. Leave him. That’s enough.” “Let me deal with him, Ava. "He would never touch you again if I did,” I rushed to hug him, letting the tears fly freely on his brown shirt. His chest rose with heavy breaths, and then he pulled me closer, his nose on my neck like he always did when trying to calm himself. “Don’t, please. "For my sake, my voice cracked, trembling. “… Our parents would be angry if they heard about this.” He pulled back, and for the first time since it began, a chuckle broke past his lips. “Our parents?” His smirk twisted. “You mean those who don’t even care about us? Or did we suddenly get new ones I don’t know about?” The way he rolled his eyes made me laugh through my tears. My chest shook with it, a small bubble of light in the dark moment. He raised his hand, wiping my cheeks with his thumb. “Stop crying." Fine... I’ll leave him. He’s had enough. He should have learned his lesson with that… small torture.” “Small torture?” My eyes widened slightly as I smacked his shoulder. “You almost killed him!” I stormed a few steps away, but he only grinned, amused. When I looked back, Fillot was already on his knees before us. His blonde hair fell across his face, and fear flooded his eyes. “I’m sorry, Adrian. "It won’t happen again.” His voice cracked with desperation. Adrian’s smirk vanished, his tone sharp. “Don’t beg me. Beg her.” Fillot’s body fell forward, chest pressed against the sandy ground. His hands rubbed together as he pleaded, trembling. “Forgive me, Ava. Please. I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again.” His hand dared to reach toward the hem of my brown gown, but rage burned through me. I stepped back, my voice rising sharply. "Don't you dare touch me! Pervert!” My voice trembled with anger, memory rushing back, how he was trying to grab my breasts earlier after telling me I was useless. ‘If not because of your brother, I would have tasted you,’ his venomous words echoed in my skull. “He tried to molest you?” Adrian stiffened his head, snapping at me, his angry voice mixed with fury and disbelief. I shook my head quickly, not wanting to ignite another storm. “No. Don’t mind him. You’ve already given him the best judgment. He’s nothing but a fool.” Fillot opened his mouth, but a soft voice cut through the tension. “Good day, Prince and Princess.” We both turned. A maid bowed before us, her voice calm though her eyes flicked nervously at Fillot. “The Alpha has requested your presence at the palace.” My heart leaped. “My dad is back?!” She nodded. I grabbed Adrian’s hand, excitement sparking through me, though he didn’t share it. His expression stayed cold, unimpressed. “Don’t be too happy,” he muttered. “They might leave us again soon.” I swallowed the hope, but still clung to his hand. Maybe this time it will be different. Maybe. The palace was alive with the scent of food and the glow of golden chandeliers. My father and mother sat at the long dining table, waiting. As always, Adrian and I split... me running into my father’s arms, Adrian leaning into our mother’s side. “Awwn, my sweet boy,” Mother’s voice poured affection into Adrian, her hands smoothing his dark hair. I rolled my eyes. She never touched me like that. She never praised me. Maybe because I was an omega. With her, it was always like we were strangers. “You’ve grown so big, my baby.” Father’s laughter filled the room as he kissed my cheek. I giggled, clinging to him. “You don’t want to come back to the pack again?” He chuckled. “It’s not like that, baby. "And now we’re back fully to take care of you both.” His gaze flicked toward Adrian. My twin’s face tightened. “I hope so,” he muttered. Then my mother’s voice reached me. “How are you, Ava?” Our eyes met, and it struck me again, how much I resembled her. The black hair, the golden eyes, the pink lips. Even Adrian had it. We were her reflection. Yet she despised me. She tried to hide it, but the distance was too obvious. Maybe it was because I didn’t match her strength, her dominance. Maybe because I was weaker. “I’m not fine,” I admitted softly, praying she would ask. Praying she would finally care. But she didn’t. Her eyes left me quickly, her smile reserved for Adrian as he leaned closer to her shoulder. “Baby, what’s wrong?” My father asked instead, his voice pulling me back. I forced a smile, hiding the tears swelling inside. My mother had once told me that crying made me weak. And I hated that part of me she hated. “Nothing. "I meant to say I’m fine.” I leaned onto his shoulder, mirroring Adrian against hers. “Copycat!” Adrian’s shout filled the room, breaking the tension. I laughed, rolling my eyes. “Did you see that, Mom? "Ava’s been more disrespectful to me lately,” he whined, his dramatics making Father chuckle. “I’m the elder, remember!” I shot back, smirking. “I’m your elder sister!” “Yes,” my mom's voice stepped in, “the one too weak to even act like a younger one.” “Mom!” Adrian gasped. “Raina!” Father’s voice boomed. They spoke at the same time. “I told you to stop this,” father growled, “She is your daughter.” Mother’s sigh was sharp, her attention shifting to the maids who brought in the food, as if she hadn’t even spoken. Adrian pulled away from her, the distance between them visible. Father’s eyes softened as he turned to me. “That’s why I’ve made a decision. To keep her safe.” Adrian’s brows furrowed. “How?” “She will marry Elijah Rummon, the son of Alpha Samuel Rummon of the Nightshade pack, on her eighteenth birthday.” The words dropped like stones into the silence. “What?!” Adrian’s voice shook the hall. His eyes widened in shock before fury clouded them, controlled but deadly. “No. You can’t do that.” I couldn’t even speak. My My body froze, my heart cracking. I had thought my mother’s hate was the worst thing I’d ever faced. But this… this was worse. .