The Set-Up
1973 Words
Alpha Edgar struggled to stand on his feet and when he couldn't, he leaned on the wall.
As he looked away from Ophelia and avoided her gaze, he announced. “Alpha Caius will be here to take you with him in a few days, Ophelia.”
All Ophelia could do was mop at him, them—the Alpha and the Luna who didn't move from a spot, but watched their daughter with pity in their eyes. The Luna then spoke. “We tried to tell you but we couldn't. And now we don't have a choice.”
“I don't believe this.”
Ophelia’s words hit the walls of the large room. She looked around and met the gaze of Adrian who simply watched, although covering himself with the duvet so that he was not naked.
Daphne had a smile on her countenance.
How could she not?
Things were beginning to seem okay for her.
The revenge and justice she deserved was about to be served, how could she not like that?
“You sold me to that man, Father—”
“You were not sold, Ophelia.”
“So what is it?” Disappointment crowded her countenance. She moved front and back, tears clouding her eyes as she looked at the Alpha.
And now she screamed. “How could you do this?!”
Falling to the ground, Ophelia cried. “How could you do this to me, who is your daughter? What did I ever do to the both of you? How could you give me off to that dangerous monster?”
“Hush, child—” Luna pleaded.
“You cannot say that about a man who would become your husband. It's not the right thing to do.” She walked closer so that she could lift Ophelia off the ground, but Ophelia pushed her hands away when they touched her.
“You know how dangerous that man is, Mother, Father. I'm sure you know about what he's done in the past and even what he can do tomorrow. Alpha Caius is the cause of so many deaths, even from this pack! He killed the former Alpha and Luna who were Daphne's parents.”
Daphne's countenance changed.
Even though she was having a good time laughing at Ophelia and her new situation, she didn't want to be reminded of her past—the history of her struggles even as the supposed Princess.
Including how she was subjected to a slave in a pack that should be hers.
It was all Alpha Caius's fault.
He had caused a war that took her parent's lives, hence giving Alpha and Luna Whitmore the right to think they have power over her.
But they did.
The very moment they took over the throne.
“We didn't have a choice, Ophelia—” Alpha Edgar's words cut short Daphne's thoughts. She looked up, shrugging off thoughts about her past so that she could concentrate on the scene. “You know the consequences of refusing a dangerous man, talk more about one as dangerous as Caius.”
“What do you mean, Father?” Ophelia snorted. “Don't I have the right to refuse? Do you think I don't have a right to make my own decisions?”
“You have the right to make your decisions, but not in this case. It's a matter of life and death and we have no choice. Can't you see this?”
There was a fearful chuckle that ran out of the Alpha's mouth. He paced the room before summoning courage to look at his daughter. “You will be dead. I and the other members of this Pack will lose their lives, including your mother—everyone! That's what will happen.”
“I don't care.”
“You don't care?” Her mother asked.
As she walked away from Ophelia, she caught up with another end of the room so she could relax her back on the wall.
A deep sigh escaped her mouth and she looked at the Alpha who had anger written on his face.
Daphne didn't move. She didn't speak.
Although she enjoyed the scene, she could not help but think about herself—how far she's come with Adrian only to be cheated on.
By a woman who should be her sister.
All of these would never have happened if she didn't lose her parents to that deadly war.
The current Alpha and Luna will not be close to the throne. Her crown and throne will remain with her, rather than being passed down to Ophelia.
A woman she's forever going to hate.
“My lord—” the Luna's voice cut through everyone's thoughts. There was a smile mixed with confusion on her countenance.
Alpha Edgar looked at his wife.
“Ophelia cannot be taken by Alpha Caius—”
The Luna announced as she looked in the direction of Ophelia who suddenly had glints of hope in her eyes. “She's pregnant with a child. Going there as an impure woman will cause the same war we are trying to avoid. Can't you see?”
Alpha Edgar heaved a tired sigh.
He nodded and looked at his wife.
“How did I not think about this?” He then looked at Ophelia who was smiling. “Can you see what you've done to us? Can you see?”
“It is not my fault you didn't tell me on time, Father. I'm old enough to be pregnant, am I not?” Ophelia snorted. “What are we going to do?”
Her countenance changed.
“I don't want to die.”
Everyone began to think, including Daphne who needed to see Ophelia by the side of the dangerous and deadly Alpha Caius.
She would love to see Ophelia suffer.
A sigh ran out of her mouth and now, she looked in the direction of Ophelia who had a worried look on her countenance, then at Adrian who was now seated on the bed, still wrapped on the duvet.
“I have an idea, Father.”
Everyone turned.
They looked at Ophelia, hopes in their eyes. There would be war if something wasn't done about the situation and no one wanted that.
“What do you have?” it was the Alpha asking.
“Father, Mother—” Ophelia cried.
But she went mute the next moment, like she never had an idea in the first place. A sigh ran out of her mouth and she looked around the room.
“This is something I believe we should do to save the day. But before that, I need to know if Alpha Caius knows what I look like. Did he come here by himself or did he send a message to you?”
Alpha Edgar looked at the Luna.
He looked back at his daughter and shook his head. “No, not at all. He sent a messenger, Ophelia. He doesn't know you, yet.”
“He's never going to know me, Father.”
The Luna cried. “What are you talking about?”
Before she would speak, a wicked smile appeared. She looked in the direction of her stepsister who had her gaze on her.
“Daphne is not pregnant. She can be sent to The Howling Abyss Pack in my stead.”
“What?!” Daphne shouted.
“What did you just say?”
Again, Ophelia looked at Daphne, a triumphant smile coming alive, and then she looked at Alpha Edgar who on his face had a look of relief.
“Father, Mother, I cannot go to that Pack, especially because I am with child, and in order for this war to be avoided, she can represent me.”
“You've got to be kidding me.” Daphne snorted.
“You've got to be kidding me. Am I suddenly the Princess of this Pack? Am I your daughter?” She faced the Alpha who paid less attention to her.
“Answer me!”
“I'm sure this is a good idea—” the Alpha spoke. He looked at his wife, his daughter and Daphne who boiled with so much anger. “This is the best if you asked me. It's going to save us a lot.”
“Yes—” the Luna mouthed.
A sigh of relief ran out of her mouth, and then that or Ophelia who feared for her life all these while. Ophelia walked to a part of the bed and sat on it.
“I can have my child in peace, finally.”
“No, you can't!” Daphne retorted.
“You're going to The Howling Abyss Pack and that's final. If you really care about the Alpha finding you out, then abort the baby.”
“That's a taboo and you know it.”
“I don't care! Why should I give a f**k?”
“I am in support of everything your sister has said, Daphne—” Luna's words resounded in the room.
“This is what is best for us. You know the war we are trying to avoid, why are you inconsiderate? If you go to The Howling Abyss Pack, you'll save so many lives and my daughter will be safe. It'll help maintain the deal we have with Alpha Caius.”
Daphne didn't believe her ears.
She didn't want to believe they would do this. After all that had been done already.
“I can't believe this is happening—” she scoffed and burst into laughter. “You're asking me to go live with the same man who happens to be responsible for the death of my parents?” She chuckled again, walking closer so she could look them in their faces. “And you think that I will.”
“Daphne—”
“Don't!” She shunned the Alpha. “I know you've always hated me. Because if you didn't, you won't ask me to go there when it shouldn't be me.”
“Oh, Daphne. You're a generous person.”
“Shut up, Ophelia.”
“Have you forgotten you should help out your sister?” Ophelia, free from the mess, joked.
She walked closer so that she could face Daphne who had hot tears running down her cheeks. “You'll do just fine, with or without us in your life.”
“Shut up!” Daphne raged.
“You will not speak where the elders are, Ophelia. You and I know you're not fit to sit on my own throne, but I let you have it. I've been a slave since you and your parents took over from my parents. What did I not do? Do you think I'm a fool?”
The Alpha called. “Daphne?”
“Don't—” She looked at him. “Don't, Father. Ophelia is the one who should be with Alpha Caius. She's the one that will go there too.”
“That's not possible, Daphne.”
“I'm afraid to announce it to you, too. What you're asking for is also not possible.” She scoffed and walked back to her initial position—leaning on the wall while more tears fell down from her face.
She had thought she was close.
She believed was this close to getting back at Ophelia for everything she's done to her. But no, it turned out Ophelia was the one who was getting at her once again and as usual.
But Daphne will not take it.
She would not take it from them. Not now or ever. Not when her past reflects on the issue at hand. The same man who killed her parents cannot and will not have her. Over her dead body.
She looked up, ready to speak.
Ready to make her decision, one last time.
- Writer
