Reborn: Caged No More

Pretty Bride

Irene

The minister looked at me over his spectacles. His forehead wrinkled as he judged me with a critical stare.

“Excuse me?” he said, not blinking even once. He appeared to be unsure of what he heard. “What did you say?”

My gaze was fixated on him. From my peripheral vision I could see Leon gawking at me in disbelief. I didn't give him any attention. What he thought, did, or said wasn't important to me. I had a hunch of what he might do next, but I didn't care about keeping up with appearances or the rumors that might spread. Saving my life was more important than that. This time, I wouldn't allow them to treat me like trash. I knew my worth. Alpha blood ran through my veins. My father taught me well despite not being his heir. Being the first born, everyone knew my brother would be the next alpha, but my training wasn't easier when compared to his. Moreover, my mom raised me to be a strong she-wolf.

In my past life, I allowed Leon and his pack to trample on me, just because I thought he would eventually see the truth. I thought the mating mark on my neck was important to him like it was to me. I held onto a sliver of hope that Leon might stop being so blind. Alas, my belief that he would eventually stop being fooled by the mate bond and see the truth was a grave mistake. I foolishly allowed my heart to develop feelings for him during our first year of marriage and even when he didn't fail to disappoint me day after day, I kept hoping.

I was stupid.

This time, I wouldn't allow that to happen. This time, I would do everything in my power to change my fate.

Composing my posture, I firmly repeated myself, this time, louder. “I don't want him as my mate and husband. I refuse to accept this marriage.”

The audience gasped. Whispers rang through the air. I felt rage radiating from Leon. A low growl erupted from his throat as he lunged towards me.

My heart raced. Taking an involuntary step away from him, I snapped my head towards him. In my previous life, he lunged at me like that to hurt me. Marks of pain that bruised my fair skin would bear witness to the abuse I silently endured. My wolf would heal them within minutes, but his actions left lasting scars in my heart.

Carrying those memories into this life might be damaging to my soul, but perhaps I shouldn't complain. Those memories could save me from the hell that awaited me in his pack house.

“Irene,” Leon whispered rather harshly, as he grabbed my hand. “What are you doing?”

He squeezed his fingers on my wrist. Wincing, I tried to pry myself out of his grasp, but that only made him angrier.

“Let me go, Leon,” I demanded. “You heard me. I don't want you as my husband.”

He shook his head. “You can't do that now. It is too late to back off. My pack expects me to take home their Luna today and we agreed on this. The agreement is prepared and ready to be signed right after this ceremony.”

His grip tightened around my waist, reminding me of the numerous bruises he left on my skin. The memories of the countless nights I cried myself to sleep while he slept with his beloved mate in the same pack house flooded back. My heart got caught in my throat. I wanted to get away from him. He was a monster.

Grimacing, I screamed. “Let go. You are hurting me!”

I guess I was scared. A single tear rolled down my cheek. I heard gasps. My pack seldom saw me show emotion. I was known for my bravery, but the hell I experienced in Leon's pack was seared into my memory.

“Hey! What are you doing? Don't hurt her!” my brother demanded. Several pack members shouted, demanding that he let go of me.

The commotion distracted Leon just enough. My heart hammered in my chest and my breathing was laboured as I stepped away from him.

I stared at the alpha I once thought was drop dead gorgeous. After witnessing his cruelty, I was no longer attracted to him. Even if we did get married, I would be an unwelcome prisoner in that land once his mate showed up. Why would I put myself through that knowing what awaited me?

Leon's jaw clenched. I guess he was trying his best to control his temper. He inhaled a deep breath and spoke.

“Irene. Think about our packs. Yours need protection and ours need a Luna.” He stepped forward to whisper. “Think about what the people would say.”

I scoffed. It was always about what the people would say. He couldn't care less what I felt or that his pack treated me like garbage. I was constantly humiliated in a place where I was supposed to be their Luna. He didn't care about me. He never did. If he knew what awaited him he probably wouldn't care about my rejection.

“Whatever, Leon,” I said, turning around to leave. He wouldn't understand my reasons so I didn't want to waste my time trying to explain. Why would he understand?

I was about to descend the stairs and walk up to my very confused mother when he roughly grabbed my hand again. I winced. He wasn't being gentle.

“Hey you are hurting her! Let go!” My best friend screamed, as she dropped the flowers she held in her hands. My brother and the rest of my family members shot up to their feet, screaming words I couldn't quite understand. Some of the wolves shouted from the audience, but Theon didn't seem to care.

“If you leave this altar, I swear that I will be your Pack's worst enemy!”

My heart raced… not in a good way. Something sinister glimmered in his eyes as he glared at me. I knew what that meant. He was furious.

“Alpha, I don't think we should do that,” I heard the minister.

A short scream escaped my lips as he pulled me, forcing me to hit his chest.

“Humiliate me and you will regret…”

Regret? Regret was all that he left me with. I regretted marrying him and enduring everything in silence. I regretted not spending my mother's last days with her. I regretted everything…

An energy I didn't know I possessed coursed through my body. I threw my bouquet onto the ground, elbowed his abdomen and grabbed his hair as hard as I could. When he didn't let go even after all that, I drove my heel into his foot. That caused enough pain for him to let go of me.

With my heart hammering against my chest, I dashed down the stairs. I believed I made myself clear. Although we agreed to sign an agreement, I had chosen to step out of it. The pact wasn't signed yet, anyway. As I reached the bottom stairs, I peered over my shoulder to take one last look.

My actions must have struck his last nerve. He roared, his eyes bloodshot and muscles bulging.

“Irene! Come back!”

My racing heart only picked up its pace. All I wanted was to have a word with my mom. Seeing my mother's teary eyed face broke my heart. Causing more pain to her was the last thing I wanted to do. But I knew it would hurt her more if she knew what I had to endure in his home. I ran up to her and grabbed her hands.

“Mom… please trust me on this. I will explain when I have the time, but right now, I need to leave.”

My best friend and sister-in-law urged me to run. My brother and his guards stepped in front of Leon and Theon so that he couldn't grab me again.

Without waiting a second longer, I sprinted towards the exit at top speed. Thankfully, guards from my pack opened the door for me, allowing me to escape without any further delay.

“Guards! Capture her!” Theon's voice resounded in the hall.

His guards wouldn't hesitate to obey his command but I knew warriors from my pack would protect me. My goal was to escape before both packs broke into a messy fight. The place was crawling with warriors and each soldier would try their best to protect their members. Besides, the Moonstone Building was meant to be used by all wolf packs for peaceful gatherings and a battle was the last thing we needed.

Ignoring the uproar in the main hall, I ran down the corridor. Strangers from various packs walked around, going about their own businesses. The Moonstone Building was the venue to numerous important meetings and had several floors. I ran up the stairs not knowing where I was headed.

I ran… until I fell into what felt like a wall.

It wasn't until after a few seconds I realised that I had run into someone and fallen in front of him. Breathing heavily, I tried to catch the ambience that surrounded the stranger standing in front of me. His aura was dangerous and was surrounded by equally intimidating wolves. From the well polished shoes and expensive looking pants, I could tell he was a high ranking figure.

He reached out for me. Without thinking much, I accepted his help. At least he was gentleman enough to help me stand up.

I slowly looked up. My breathing got caught in my throat when I saw who it was.

It was Alpha Vlad Theodore of Black Raven pack, Theon's deadliest enemy. His pack was the biggest and the strongest pack in the east. His place in the world of werewolves was undisputed. Meanwhile Theon worked hard to make his pack the most powerful pack in the west, which he achieved within a few years. What Theon didn't like about Vlad was that he wouldn't agree to establish business arrangements between the packs on his terms and that Vlad did things in his own way. They both wanted to be the most powerful alpha in the world and neither of them would back off.

I heaved a breath and forced a smile, while subduing what went through my mind. What was Theon’s arch nemesis doing in the same building as him?

He smirked, just slightly. “Hello,” he said. His deep voice seemed to do something to my heart. Or maybe I was still shaken up by the recent events.

“Running away from your wedding?” He asked. “Only a loser would lose such a pretty bride.”

My lips parted as I stared at the dangerously handsome man standing in front of me.

Did he just call me pretty?