CHAPTER ONE
1732 Words
CHAPTER ONE
Three years had passed.
Three completely hopeless and painful years.
Twenty–one year old Asmeria stood in her bedroom, draped in a gorgeous maroon, silk gown. The dress cascaded down to almost meet the floor, only baring the tip of her silver shoes.
In her hands, she held onto the only picture she had of Ma and Pa. The image was old and faded, its edges were torn and frayed.
She wished that it was all just a nightmare and none of it was real. She wished that one day, she would wake up and fine out that Ma and Pa were somehow still alive.
But doing that was merely hoping—and remember, hope doesn't do s**t.
Ma and Pa were killed at the construction site.
A neighbouring pack had brutally launched an attack and they were unfortunately caught up in the chaos. With her parents gone, Asmeria was left to fend for herself.
She was forced to beg on the streets to survive, but no one gave alms to her because she was an Omega, and Omegas were meant to suffer.
So she eventually gave up begging and decided to scavenge for food in trash cans. Dirt clung her skin, she stank, her clothes were tattered and her spirits were withered.
The calendar flipped as days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Every day seemed the same to her; a bitter race for survival.
Yet, she never hoped for better days.
Why? Because she had digested the fact that they would never come, and she'd die a poor orphan on the streets.
But she began to rethink her stance when a fateful day came and Alpha Rick and his Luna, the leaders of another pack in the territory, spotted Asmeria on the streets.
The couple had seen beyond the dirt and the rags she had on. Their hearts were touched by her ordeal, and without much hesitation, they took her into their pack and into her hearts.
She was adopted and became part of the Alpha Royal Dynasty.
It seemed like for the first time in months, she could feel a sense of belonging and security. For the first time in years, she had all her needs adequately taken care of.
And for her entire twenty–one years of living, she realized that maybe hoping wasn't such a bad thing.
But she was too quick to judge.
Not everyone in the family welcomed her, and that sense of belonging didn't last long.
The Alpha's two children completely hated her. She was seen as an intruder, a poor riff–raff who was brought in to enjoy an underseved wealth, an outsider threathening their place in their parents' hearts.
Asmeria was constantly bullied by them, they taunted her, making life difficult for her. Her only solace was the love and support she got from their parents.
She chose to focus on the brighter side, and dare she do it—hope that things would eventually get better.
But they got so much worse. And she cursed herself for believing in that god-damned word again.
Alpha Rick and his Luna met with a devastating accident, claiming both their lives and leaving their only son, Cedric, to take over as Alpha
Now that their parents were demised, Cedric and his sister, Asannah, escalated their hatred for Asmeria to a new level of cruelty.
Each day was a struggle to survive the harsh treatment and scornful look. But she had to persevere, not because she had hopes that things would have a magical turn around, but because she had no where else to go.
This was all she had. And she was going to make do with it.
Her hands clung even more tightly to the faded picture in her hands, tracing the smiling faces of Ma and Pa with tear–filled eyes.
Both her first and second chance of having a family crumbled, and she was left with were tears, a broken heart and this photograph.
…
It was evening bow and Asmeria was no longer standing in the middle of the room. She was now seated at the edge of her bed, in her hands still laid the photograph of Ma and Pa. She stared at the photo, her mind swollen with thoughts.
But just then, the door to her room swung open with a bang and Asannah stepped in, her face scrunched in anger.
Asmeria's atep–sisrer was a beauty, and despite how much Asmeria disliked her, she would admit that the girl was gorgeous.
She was the same age with Asmeria and had long, black hair that cascaded down her back. Her sharp plue eyes shimmering with hate as she glared as Asmeria.
"And what the hell are you still doing here, Asmeria?" She spat out the name as though it left a bitter taste in her mouth. "Or aren't you aware that there's an important visitor coming for dinner?"
An important visitor? Asmeria's brows knitted in confusion. This was the first time she was hearing about the arrival of a guest tonight, no one had told her.
"I never knew that we were having a visitor. I wasn't told. Who is it?" She voiced and Asannah rolled her eyes.
"None of your f*****g business. Alpha Cedric and I have a visitor, there is no we. You, should be in the kitchen right now preparing the table with the maids."
Asmeria's heart sank upon hearing that, but she was already used to the unfair treatment from Asannah. So she got up from the bed and dropped the picture upon where she had sat.
Her eyes were downcast as she obediently nodded. "Of course, Asannah." She replied softly, feigning a small smile.
As she turned to leave the room, Asannah's voice followed her with a cold sneer, "And just to be clear, stay completely out of sight during the dinner. We don't need you embarrassing the family."
The words stung deeply like salt on an open wound, and it made Asmeria to pause in her tracks. Her fists clenched as she fought back the urge to snap at Asannah.
But it was best to avoid a confrontation of any sort, so she had to control herself and close shut the anger that had begun to rage.
She simply gave another affirming nod before she made her way to the kitchen. She heard as Asannah gave an angry huff before going in the opposite direction.
-:-
The grand dinning hall flurried with activity we the maids worked hastingly, busy arranging the table with fine china and silverware.
Asmeria silently took her place amongts them, rendering a smile and a nod to the maids that acknowledged her presence with curtseys.
She stuck out the like a rose amongst weed as she joined in the preparations, her hands still trembling with suppressed anger.
She glanced towards the living area and sighted Asannah, and she had to begrudgingly note how stunning she looked.
She had flawless makeup, accentuating her sharp figures. Her sapphire blue gown was a f*****g masterpiece, it was elegant, and it shimmered with beadwork that caught the light in every movement.
Asmeria dropped the plate in her hand on the table in frustration, and it landed with a clang that caused all the nearby maids to turn their heads.
She couldn't help but feel a slight envy—who was she kidding—a big, fat, gigantic truck–load worth of envy, as she compared her simple maroon dress to Asannah's extravagant gown.
But amidst her jealousy, she began to wonder just how important this guest was to warrant such an elaborate dressing. Yes, Asannah loved to dress up, but this was certainly more extra than usual.
Asmeria's thoughts briefly fleeted to the consideration of changing into something more flattering. Her maroon dress was no match for the opulence of Asannah's attire.
But then she sighed, pushing aside the thoughts of changing into something else.
What would be the use?
She knew that no matter how dressed she was, she wouldn't be welcomed at the table.
So she ith a heavy heart, she refocused on her task.
But she couldn't simply ignore the fact that the maids were charged with an unusual sense of urgency. They excecuted each of their tass with meticulous precision – she had never seen them work like this before.
She could also the heightened sense of excitement and tension that escorted them as they worked.
It was clear as day that this guest was too significant. But who could it be?
She couldn't bare to keep her curiosity locked in and inquisitiveness took over. She grabbed the arm of the maid near her and the girl was startled as Asmeria pulled her closer.
"What is happening? Why all these preparations? Who is it that is coming for dinner tonight?" She asked in a hushed voice, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
The maid's brows constricted together momentarily in confusion, definately surprised that a princess herself was asking such a question.
How come she wasn't aware?
"My lady, It is the Lycan King of the Obsidian Moon Pack. His name is Alpha Thorian Blackthorne." She divulged, her voice low with reference as she spoke.
Asmeria's eyes widened in surprise.
She was sure she had heard that name, Thorian Blackthorne, before. Yes, she was very sure of it. However, it was never attached to anything positive.
The man was most likely in war against some pack, or he was responsible for some bloodshed somewhere, not forgetting the constant territorial disputes with various packs.
He was a menance, Asmeria noted.
Nevertheless, why was a man with such a reputation coming to their pack?
And why was his arrival such a big celebration? Hell, they were supposed to be scared to their bones.
"What brings him here?" Asmeria voiced her worries.
The maid's jaw dropped for a brief moment of surprise, she was indeed taken aback by Asmeria's question. How on earth did the princess not know about the very important event taking place today?
"Well, My princess, The Lycan King is coming here to choose a bride." She explained in a gentle tone.
The news hit Asmeria like a bolt of lightening striking a tree, and her heart started to pound in her chest like a war drum.
- Writer
