Bound in Sin

Chapter Two

ZUMI

Evening comes and the entire family is seated at the dinning table.There’s a huge feast before us. Usually, we had a feast but today’s feast looks like we’re throwing a party. Father is indeed in a good mood.

I sit down between my siblings. My brother and heir to the pack, Deane Redd, throws glaces at me from time to time but he remains quiet.

Deane and Diane are twins. Deane is the oldest and most reserved. Just like Diane, he is also a spitting image of our father. His short wavy dark hair that sits on his head and styled just like father's, his hazel eyes and tanned skin. He has a chiselled jawline to match. He also has father’s mannerisms and frightful spirit but he is a little more gentle-spirited, at least to his family. He has never believed in the silly mantra father preaches all the time, “PACK BEFORE BLOOD”. I always thought it was ridiculous, I still do.

Earlier, I briefed Diane on everything that happened and received an earful. She couldn’t believe what I had done. Even I couldn't even believe what I had done.

Deane knows nothing about last night.

If anything, I don’t want him to know what I have done and with who. He had a keen eye and he had people around too. The walls have ears, they said.

Plus, if he ever finds out I slept with his best friend, Riot Roth, I can kiss our lovely relationship goodbye. Infact, Riot’s pieces wouldn’t be found. Deane never joked about his sisters.

Right now, the glances he throws at me arre sickening to the core. He definitely knows what father wants to ‘discuss’ and despite trying super hard to mask his worried expression, I can see it behind his mask.

We eat in silence while mother tries sneaking in small talks every now and then. After a while, Father clears his throat and everyone has their eyes glued on him.

The workers around take his actions as a cue to clear the dishes and exit the room.

“It is no news that our kingdom has been in shambles ever since the attack from the rouges and the cursed SilverFang Empire attacked.” Father begins.

Deane stiffens in his seat and folds his arms over his chest to match father’s. His eyes zooming in on father’s eyes at the same time.

Politics has always been a taboo topic in this house. Atleast not in the presence of mother, Diane and I. Father made sure we took no part in politics and talking about it in our presence is highly forbidden and that’s why listening to him say this rings bells in my ears. Trouble is definitely lurking and I know it’s for me.

“The Bloodcrest Empire will lend us a helping hand,” he continues “but, at a price.” Now, his gaze finds mine.

“What price? How does it concern us then?” mother asks. The only thing that concerns her are official gatherings, oarties with high ranking women, etec but never political discussions about the kingdom including war.

She definitely has no idea what he’s talking about. The only person who dosn’t look or act surprised is Deane. Typical.

“I’ll get to it.” Father grunts. “We have recieved a marriage offer.” he drops the bomb.

“What?” Diane exclaims. “And the offer has been brought to our doorstep? Father you promised!” anger encroaches her face which is completely understandable.

Diane is in a very serious relationship and a public one at that. She is off-limits. But I’m not.

This doesn’t concern her. If anyone should be angry right now, it should be me. I know just where this “discussion” is heading to and who this “marriage offer” belongs to.

“This is not about you, Dee” Father quips. His eyes piercing into mine, “Your relationship with Reese is rather too serious so this is definitely not about you.”

Diane lets out a sigh of relief before her gaze falls on me. This time, everyone except Deane stare at me.

“Don’t tell me…” Mother whispers.

“Yes.” He confirms with a gentle nod.

He continues, “Zumi will marry to the Heir apparent of the Bloodcrest Empire.”

Anger boils within me. How could he? How could he agree to such a thing without consulting me? I am his daughter for crying out loud not a servant.

Hot tears well up in my eyes and this time, I let them flow.

“You’re silent Zee.” he spits the obvious.

“At least give her some time to process what she just heard.” Deane finally spits.

“How could you do this to your daughter? An arranged marriage?” Mother shouts.

Everyone has something to say but I sit and wet my cheeks with hot salty liquid. I owe part of my anger to the events of this morning but still, I am angry. I can’t be married off so quickly without receiving closure.

“I’ll take your silence as a yes.” father concludes.

“Can’t you see she is in tears?” shouts mother.

“I’m fine!” I spit angrily. “I’m fine mother,” I turn and face my father, meeting his gaze. “How could you do such a thing to me? This is unfair! I have a life!” I yell.

“A life?” he rises up to his feet, hitting the table at the same time. His fists curl up in angger as he throws daggers at me through his gaze. “A life? Oggling the Alpha Prince that clearly has no intentions of being with you? Is that the life you’re referring to?”

The room falls silent.

All this time, I believed I masked my feelings well. The realisaion that father knew makes me even more angry.

“If you knew, why didn’t you arrange a marriage between the both os us, father? Why are you doing this to me?”

“I do not answer to you, Zumi.” he warns. “He doesn’t care about you. Why force things? If he loved you, he would never have gotten engaged.”

Silence.

Father is right.

Riot is engaged.

If he wanted me, he would have refused the engagement. He would never have left the way he did after we exchanged bodily fluids. I had s*x with him even though I knew he belonged to another. I feel so dirty rught now. Hell, we didn’t even use any form of protection last night. Sick.

“That doesn’t mean you’ll sell me off like a piece of shit.” I bark, my chest rising and falling in visible anger. I don’t care what he thinks about my relationship with Riot. This is wrong and I will not let this happen. At least not with me.

“Language, Zee.” Mother scolds.

“You think I am selling you off? I answer to the King.” he sings out. “We all answer to him! If you have been chosen, who am I to say no?”.

A thousand meanings wrapped in a single sentence.

I can feel the anger in his voice. He didn’t want this either.

The Alpha King, Roth, made him do this and he definitely had no choice. This marriage is a message to me as an affirmation of power. He makes the decisions and no one dares to change them. Riot was getting married and by falling in love with him, I was in his way of doing what was “best” for our nation.

I am nothing but a mere obstacle and what better way to get rid of a woman who didn’t know her place? The only solution is an arranged marriage.

“Maybe, just maybe, if you had kept your feelings to yourself, you wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place..” Father walks to the door and turns back to face me.

He continues, “Let’s pretend this never happened. You have a lot of planning to do." Exiting the room, he adds, "Your wedding is in two months.”