ANDREA.

I stare out the carriage window as the guards open the gates of the Dark Claw Kingdom pack. The view is majestic, to say the least, with towering trees and tall buildings stretching as far as my eyes can see.

But, honestly, I couldn't care less about it. This is not the life I imagined for myself, but I have no choice but to accept it. My fate is sealed and my father will kill me if I refuse his orders.

"We're here," the masked bodyguard says, his voice breaking through my thoughts. He opens the door for me, and I nod before stepping out. I stand before the imposing mansion, feeling alone and abandoned, this is supposed to be my new home from now onwards.

The sheer size of the Dark Claw pack's territory is overwhelming. I stare at the strange faces present to welcome me, wondering which one of them I'm getting married to. There are eight men, all decked in black outfits, standing with an air of authority. I take a deep breath and steel myself for the introduction.

"Welcome to Dark Claw Pack," one of the men says, offering a polite nod. “The pleasure is mine.” I say and they lead me into the house taking me straight to an almost stark but beautiful room. It's pink and airy, with a massive bed adorned in white sheets which is totally not my style. There is nothing else in the room.

I turn back to speak to the masked bodyguard who brought me but to my surprise, he's no longer with us. A shiver runs down my spine, realizing that I'm truly alone in this unfamiliar pack.

"Who is Alpha Ronin amongst you?" I ask, trying not to show how nervous I am. The men look at each other, their expressions slightly amused.

"He's not here; he's on a trip," one of them responds casually.

"On a trip?" I say, taken aback. "The wedding is tomorrow, and he's on a trip?" I mutter more to myself than them , finding the situation rather incredulous.

He didn’t seem it important to welcome me or make himself available on the eve of our wedding.

"The maids will serve you and help you settle," the guard says with a reassuring smile. With that, he and the other men exit the room, leaving me to my thoughts.

Alpha Ronin must think I’m crazy to marry him and has no regards for me. If only my sister didn’t run away I will not be in this situation. He is too pompous judging from tales of how ugly he is.

I try to get some sleep, lying on the unfamiliar bed, but it's futile because my mind is racing with questions and uncertainties. The wedding, the strange place, and the unknown Alpha I'm marrying keeps me restless and I keep turning and tossing till morning.

The sun begins to peek out through the curtains, casting a warm glow in the room and I know it’s morning. I hear my door open but I lay still.

"Good morning, it's time to get ready," I hear one of the maids say as she gently wakes me. I groggily sit up and try to shake off the fatigue. There are three maids in total, and they fuss over me.

They help me strip out my nightclothes and assist me in washing. It's uncomfortable since I’m used to doing everything by myself but my mind is preoccupied with thoughts of the Alpha I'm about to meet. I wonder how he looks, and more importantly, if he's a kind and understanding man.

"Is the Alpha kind?" I finally ask the maids, my voice trembling with anxiety. They exchange uncomfortable glances but remain silent. I can't blame them; they likely can't disclose anything about their pack's Alpha.

They dress me in a beautiful wedding gown that I couldn't have imagined for myself. One of the maids works on my hair, crafting an elegant style, while the other focuses on my makeup. As they finish their work, I stand up and walk over to the mirror to see myself. The reflection staring back at me is a far cry from the apprehensive girl who arrived just the previous day.

"Hey," I hear a familiar voice say, and my heart leaps. I turn around, and there's my sister, Annalise. "Anna," I call, relieved and grateful she is here.

"You look majestic," she says, tears glistening in her eyes as she embraces me tightly. I hug her back, holding back my own emotions. “ I don’t know if I can do this, Annalise.” I whisper, biting my lips.

She looks at me troubled, "Don’t say that, Dad is outside; the wedding is about to start," she informs me. I nod, realizing there is nothing I can do at this point except follow through with the plan. We step out of the room and she leads me to my father.

He stands straight and looks angry, his brief glance tells me everything. He doesn't seem impressed, and his words cut like a knife, "You know exactly why you’re here, don’t embarrass me," he mutters as we make our way to the hall.

I nod, accustomed to his brashness, and keep my emotions in check. As we step into the hall, it's filled with the entire pack, all eyes on me. I feel like an outsider, an alien among them, and I can hear them whisper and point fingers. I grip my father's arm tightly, and we continue our slow walk to the altar.

Alpha Ronin is conspicuously absent when I reach the officiator. My father leaves my side, leaving me standing there alone and embarrassed. The hushed conversations among the pack members grow louder and more hurtful.

"The Alpha must hate her. She's ugly, poor child."

I hear the disparaging remarks and feel my cheeks burn with shame. I hold my head high, refusing to let their cruel words break me. I clench my fists and curse Alpha Ronin internally for putting me in this situation.

I stand there for about fifteen minutes and the crowd gets more rowdy. Then, an elder steps forward, and my heart sinks further. "Alpha Ronin will not be able to make it to the wedding," the elder explains, their voice filled with regret. "But you're to sign the marriage certificate here and take the marriage vows alone."

I'm fuming, and tears sting my eyes, but I can't bear the thought of embarrassing my father. "Very well," I say through gritted teeth, taking the pen and signing the marriage papers. My voice shakes as I recite the vows, the sound of the violin getting louder .

I turn back to the crowd, forcing a smile on my face as if I'm the happiest bride in the world. The pack members cheer and clap, blissfully unaware of the anger I’m feeling. I am greeted by many and they introduce themselves to me before I make my way back to my room, the facade dropping the moment I close the door.

"Fuck," I swear, in anger. "How can he do this to me in front of his whole pack?" It’s obvious he is not just ugly but also unkind and mean.

Anna walks into the room, looking concerned and she tries to calm me down. "Are you okay, Andrea?"

"No," I reply, "How can he embarrass me like that in front of everyone? I have no idea who he is, nor did I want to marry him. But now I'm married to a faceless man, and he can't even show up to his own wedding."

Anna pats my shoulder. "I'm so sorry," she whispers, her voice filled with sympathy.

A guard abruptly walks into the room. "We have to leave now," he states bluntly to Anna, his tone leaving no room for argument. Anna shoots me a helpless glance and walks out, leaving me alone to seethe with anger.

"I swear I'll make him regret doing this to me," I murmur under my breath.

I take off my dress and throw it aside changing into a slip dress when a maid walks in with my dinner. "The Alpha is back." She says.

"Really?" I reply, angrily. "How convenient for him to come back after the wedding. Only a useless man would come for his wedding night but not the wedding itself. They value the intimacy that would happen but not taking the sacred vows," I say bitterly.

The door opens, and the masked bodyguard walks in, his presence commands attention and he has this aura.

"What did you just say?" He demands, authoritatively. I swallow hard and stare at him, my mind racing as he advances toward me.

"Well, I was wondering what sort of Alpha your pack has that can't show up to his own wedding."

He steps even closer, his presence imposing. "Well, I am the Alpha of the pack. I am Alpha Ronin."

The revelation hits me hard, leaving me stunned and betrayed. "What?" I stammer. "You deceived me and lied that you're a guard and didn’t show up to the wedding. And why the hell do you have your face in a mask?"

He leans in, his cold eyes fixed on mine. "You talk too much and ask too many questions," he replies, his voice low.

"I'm not obliged to answer any of them. If you want to stay in this pack, then you'd better learn to hold that sharp tongue of yours...wife."