Reborn To Ruin

Princess Elara’s POV “What are you doing here?” I heard a voice and I turned instantly to see my mother. “You're…you're here mother.” I tried to get calm as I cleared the jewellery bag and hid it behind me. It was easy to hide as I was wearing a ball gown. “Did you want to see me?” my mum asked. “No…mother. I mean yes.” I answered, my voice shaking. “Oh my dear, it's normal to be tense.” She said, trying to come close but there was a knock on the door. One of the house maids entered and bowed, “Luna, Alpha Gregory is asking for you.” My mother dared not delay so she left immediately without saying a word. I heaved a sign of relief as I looked at the items I had stolen. I left the room immediately to my own room, walking as fast as I could. Immediately I got there, I shut the door behind me. I opened the bag and began to look at the items,the thin gold chain, the sapphire earrings that had always flashed whenever my mother turned her head, and the small ruby pendant that used to rest just above her heart and the diamond ring my father had gifted her on her last birthday. All these were my mother's most expensive pieces and they were very rare. Today I was supposed to walk down the aisle towards Adam, a marriage arranged by my father to strengthen his political career but instead I was going to give everything I had stolen from my mother to Jacob, the man who I loved so we can start up a new life far away from here. He was my father's Pack officer. I slipped the jewelry into the deep pocket of my travelling cloak, changed into something comfortable and turned toward the side door that led to the kitchen garden. It was the safest place to leave and unluckily for me that was when Adam stepped into the corridor. He looked the way he always did whenever I saw him, straight face no smile all laced with a frown. I was speechless when I saw him and immediately I became really scared. His eyes moved from my face to the slight bulge in my pocket and back again. Something flickered there. Not quite a surprise, I was holding precious stones which shone even on broad days. “You’re leaving?” he said. It wasn't a question this time which meant he had a clue of what I was about to do. I hated that he was so intelligent and always trying to find out about everything. I didn’t answer. I only tried to pass him. His hand closed around my upper arm, firm enough to stop me, not yet hard enough to bruise through and I took that option. “Elara, stop. Whatever this is, we can still…” I shoved him hard. The heel of my palm struck the centre of his chest and he stumbled back against the wall. For the first time I could remember, surprise cracked across his face. I guess he didn't expect me to be that strong, I was a princess after all. I didn’t wait to see whether it would harden into anger. I ran as fast as I could. Leaving the house wasn't going to be a problem, all the security men were having breakfast so it was easy to leave. Once the security coast was clear, I ran out of my father's house before Adam raised an alarm that I had run away from home. Jacob had told me to meet him in the old chapel so we could get married there and escape together but most importantly , it was the rarest place my father would come looking for me. The path to the old chapel on the far side of the estate was wet with mud, it had rained the previous night so that explained everything. My slippers were soaked through by the time I reached the low stone wall. I got to the chapel and it was open already, I suddenly saw the strangest thing happening. Jacob stood at the altar in a dark coat I had never seen him wear. Beside him, a young woman in white held his hands. Her veil was simple, her head slightly bowed. The priest’s mouth was still moving, the words steady and sure. Jacob’s head was lowered. He did not look up. He did not see me. The priest’s voice floated toward me, calm and final. “…if anyone can show just cause why these two should not be joined…” My scream ripped out of me before I could stop it. “Stop!” Every head turned. The priest froze. Jacob’s jaw tightened once and then nothing more. I stumbled down the aisle, my voice and legs shaking. “You’re making a mistake. That woman is not his bride.” The priest’s eyes narrowed on me. “And who, exactly, are you?” “I’m the real one.” I stopped at the foot of the steps, chest heaving. “I’m the woman he promised to marry. I'm his real bride.” I lunged forward and tore the veil away from the other girl with both hands. The face underneath stopped my heart. It was her. The same soft, familiar face Jacob had introduced to me only weeks ago with that easy smile and the words “This is my sister.” My blood turned to ice. “Jacob…” My voice cracked. “Why are you marrying your sister?” A murmur ran through the pews. Jacob didn’t even look at me. His voice was low, controlled, absolute. “Continue, Father.” “She’s his sister!” I screamed, lunging again. “He introduced her as his sister!” The woman at the altar turned slowly. Her eyes met mine, she was cool, clear, and completely unafraid. “I am his wife-to-be,” she said, each word precise as a blade. “Jacob has never had a sister. You are mistaken. Or you are lying.” The church tilted. My mind scrambled for solid ground and found none. “Jacob, What's going on?” I asked, hoping whatever I was thinking wasn't true. “Are you dumb? I'm getting married to the love of my life and you're interrupting?” He yelled at me. I broke down immediately, “You can't do this, not after running away from home, not after stealing my mother's…” I stopped halfway and thought about it. Immediately my instinct screamed and I spun towards the door but Jacob moved first. He grabbed my hair and made me face him. Suddenly without a warning his hand landed across my face so hard the sound bounced off the stone walls. White-hot pain exploded behind my eyes making me go blind. “Continue priest…” were the last words I heard before my world blurred.