Arranged to the Alpha

Sold

Issy stormed into the room that was once hers, her heart beating so fast it could literally jump out of her chest.

The maids turned around all afraid to meet her gaze, like hanged up cows for s*******r, their eyes glued to the floor as they all avoided her.

They fussed over her dress, trying to appear busy, but she could feel their nervous energy.

She strode towards the bed, and as if sensing her presence, they immediately stepped aside, creating a path for her.

The dress!

It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. It was a complete masterpiece — The diamonds shimmering on all corners of the white gown and the crystals caught every beam of light entering into the room, making the dress sparkle like the stars. Her eyes widened as she looked at the length.

‘Why would Ivy give me this?’/she thought. This wasn’t a dress for the sister of the bride.

No, this was a gown for a bride.

“What’s going on?” she quizzed.

The maids gathered around her this time, their hands all over her. Some straightened her curls, others powdered her face and lining her brows. Their utter cuteness made the room feel like a graveyard.

Maids weren’t allowed to speak to princesses. It wasn’t their fault. Issy thought again, but for that minute they would be with her, she wanted nothing but for them to at least converse with her.

“My Princess, it’s time to put on your dress,” One of them finally said, daring not to look at her.

Issy opened her eyes and gasped. The reflection staring back at her was almost unrecognizable. The makeup, the hair—it was as if she was made to look like Ivy. “What… is this?”

She blinked, hoping the vision would change. But no, there she was, staring at a mirrored version of her sister.

“Why do I look like this?” she whispered, her voice barely audible as the maids laced up her corset. She winced, biting her lip to keep from crying out when one of them pulled too tight.

“I’m sorry, my Princess,” the maid stammered. “Princess Ivy asked for it to be as tight as possible.”

“Ivy?” Issy’s voice was high pitched, frightening the maids.

“Yes, my Princess.” Another said fearfully.

The fitting continued, and when it was finally over, Issy stood before the mirror, her waist aching from the suffocating corset. She couldn’t bear to look at herself any longer. She felt like she was drowning.

“What’s going on?” she demanded, her voice sharper than she intended as she eyed one of the maids packing up the makeup.

The maid glanced at her, eyes wide with fear. “I don’t know what you mean, my Princess. It’s a wedding. You should be happy.”

“Happy?” Issy’s head spinned.

Something was wrong. She felt the sting of tears welling up in her eyes. She wiped off all the makeup in a one swift glance with makeup wipes, leaving her face bare.

“I just need to get through this,” she said desperately. “Just get through the ceremony, and then I can go back. Back to my safe place.”

As she made her way toward the main hall, a sudden thirst hit her. She diverted her path, heading to the kitchen for some water. But just as she was about to enter, she froze.

Whispers.

“Poor Princess, she doesn’t even know what’s going to happen to her.”

“I don’t feel sorry for her. She’s a curse after all,” Another voice chimed in with a harsh laugh.

“Exactly. She’s being sold off to someone who is cursed just like her. Did you hear? The heir is cursed too. Every bride he’s taken has died on the sixth moon with him.”

Issy’s blood ran cold. “ Sold? I’m being sold off?”

She felt dizzy, the world spinning around her as the reality of the situation hit her.

“There you are!” Ivy’s voice snatched her out of her thoughts, her bright smile reassuring Issy that everything she heard was a lie.

‘Maybe the maids are just trying to scare me.’ Issy thought, convincing herself she didn't hear right.

“You wiped off all your makeup!” Ivy laughed, waving her hand

dismissively. “No worries. We’ll just cover your face with a veil.”

“Veil?” Issy’s mind reeled. “Why would I need a veil?”

‘This can’t be happening.’ Her thoughts were spinning out of control, her instincts kept screaming “Run!”

“Ivy,” she started cautiously, “Who are you getting married to?”

“Oh, Daniel Cartel,” Ivy responded, her voice too cheery, too cheery for someone getting married to an Alpha. “You’ll love him. He’s… handsome, and… everything.”

Issy’s face dropped. “You’ve met him?”

Ivy hesitated, her hands twisting nervously in her hair combing it with her hands.

“Well… sometimes.”

Liar!

Issy knew the truth. The bride never meets the groom until after the wedding night. Panic surged through her, and she tried to pull away, but Ivy’s grip tightened painfully around her wrist.

“We’ve got to go, Issy,” Ivy said, her voice firm, pulling her along. “You’re walking me down to meet him.”

“What? Why not Father? Why me?”

“Issy, please, just—”

“There you are,” Dmitri’s voice echoed behind them. Issy turned to see her father approaching, his expression too enthusiastic.

“I wanted you to have this,” he said, slipping a silver bracelet onto her wrist. “It was your mother’s. She wanted you to have it.”

“Why not give it to Ivy?” Issy protested weakly, still trying to free herself from Ivy’s grip.

Dmitri looked at her with sad eyes. “Because you’ll need it more.”

Issy’s heart broke a little as she stared at the bracelet, and silently she wished her mother was there to help.

Then maybe she wouldn’t be sold to a cursed Alpha.

She wouldn’t let them take her.

She could bet her life on that!

Before she could reply or dry her tears, Ivy pulled her toward the hall, and a veil was thrown over her face. She was dragged into the main hall where the entire pack had gathered.

The realization struck her like a lightning bolt. hey all knew

‘They’re all here to watch me die.’ Tears pooled at the end of her eyes.

She could feel the panic rising in her throat. She had to escape and fast.

As Ivy let go of her hand and pushed her toward the aisle, Issy’s mind raced. ‘Change. Shift. Run!’ But she couldn’t. Her body wouldn’t listen.

She turned to Ivy, her voice low, dangerous, and sarcastic. “I thought this was your wedding, you cruel b***h!”

“Language, Issy,” Ivy sneered. “Just go. He’s waiting.”

“I hate you!” Issy spat. “I hate you with everything in me. I regret that you’re my sister.”

Ivy shrugged. “Appreciate the hate, sis. Now, go.”

Something snapped inside Issy. Her vision blurred, her body trembled with rage.

Her eyes glowed bright red, her voice deepening into a growl. “You all think I’m cursed?” she screamed. “That I deserve to die?!”

Her growl echoed through the hall as she raised her claws, ready to strike Ivy down. But her body froze. She couldn’t move.

Her eyes darted to the bracelet, and horror filled her as it glowed, a deep heat radiating from it. It was a power-dampening chain.

Issy cried out as pain shot through her, her body crumbling to the floor. The world faded as the last thing she saw was her father and sister smirking, stepping towards her fallen form.