Monster's bride.

Then, in a desperate attempt to save themselves, someone shoved me forward. I collided with him, my body slamming into his chest. He did not even flinch. Slowly, I lifted my gaze. He was staring at me again. For a fleeting second, I thought perhaps he would spare me, or simply decide I wasn't worth his energy. But then his hand wrapped around my throat. His grip was crushing. Air vanished from my lungs. Panic flared in my chest. "N-no…" I choked, the sound barely a whisper, strangled by fear and my inability to breathe. His expression did not change. His hold tightened further, and darkness began creeping into the edges of my vision. My wolf whimpered inside me, thrashing against the suffocating force. This was it. This was how I would end. I tried to claw at his hand, to push him away, but it was useless. My strength was nothing against him. In resignation, I closed my eyes. Moon Goddess… please… do not send me to hell.

Suddenly, the pressure vanished. I fell to the ground, coughing violently as air rushed into my lungs. My chest heaved, my ribs aching from the force of it. When I opened my eyes, the elders were staring in stunned silence. One of his eyes had turned gold again but the other remained black. Relief washed faintly over the room, though it did little to calm the storm raging inside me.

And then he growled. "Mine."

Silence fell like a heavy cloak over the chamber. My stomach dropped. I swallowed hard. "Mate."

The word hung in the air, heavy and undeniable. My pulse pounded in my ears. I instinctively glanced around, certain there must be another woman present...someone more fitting, someone who could possibly make sense of this. But there was no one. The shock on the elders’ faces mirrored my own disbelief. He took one step toward me and then stopped again as though battling something within himself. Every instinct in me screamed to run, to hide, to disappear, but I was frozen. Without another word, he turned and stormed out. Only when he disappeared did the tension ease slightly, leaving my heart pounding against my ribcage like a drum.

I was dragged back to the dungeon, though strangely, it no longer felt like the worst place in the castle. At least the darkness there was predictable. A guard brought food later. Hunger forced me to accept it, though I barely touched it. My wolf had grown quieter, no longer frantic, but restless in a new, strange way… a simmering tension I couldn’t shake.

Morning came earlier than I wanted it to. The guards arrived again, dragging me to the council chamber. The elders all sat there, their faces grim. The Alpha too sat with a blank expression, as if the situation yesterday was nothing. I was made to kneel before them, and my legs shook under the weight of my fear.

"Your punishment has been decided," Elder Theron began, his voice low and cold. I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat thick and unyielding. "Beta Sophia, you have committed the greatest act of defiance ever witnessed in our pack. Your actions directly challenged Alpha Alexander. Therefore, as punishment, you are hereby demoted to Omega. All your powers will be frozen." 

A tear slipped down my face and I struggled to hold myself back. My lungs felt tight. My hands trembled as I tried to steady myself. Then he paused, glanced at the Alpha, and returned his gaze to me. "And you shall replace Beta Calista as the Alpha's wife."

My head spun. The words slammed into me like a tidal wave. The events from yesterday replayed in my mind, each one worse than the last. How in Moon Goddess’ name am I supposed to marry that…monster? My stomach churned violently, threatening to betray me. My heart pounded like a frantic drum, and more tears streamed down my face, unrestrained. The Alpha’s expression remained a blank mask, unreadable and terrifying. I gathered every ounce of courage I had left and spoke, my voice trembling but loud enough to deliver my message.

"Kill me instead."

Elder Theron rose slowly and walked toward me. Relief surged like a warm tide… he had decided to grant my request. My pulse eased slightly, hope whispering in my chest. But instead of the death I had begged for, his hand brushed against me, and I felt something leave me. No… it couldn’t be my powers.

"Death is not an option here," Elder Theron said, his tone final. "Your powers are now frozen."

He had to be joking. I closed my eyes, willing myself to shift. Nothing happened. Again, I tried, desperate, clawing at the invisible barrier that held me back. Again. And again. Still nothing. I finally gave up and collapsed onto the cold floor, tears streaming down my face. Of what use was a wolf that couldn’t shift? My claws felt useless. My senses felt dulled. My very essence felt stolen.

For a long, suffocating moment, no one spoke. No one touched me. Then Elder Theron’s voice cut through the silence. Guards seized me again, and I went willingly, too numb to resist. But this time, I was not taken to the dungeon. Instead, I was brought to a room that screamed royalty, the walls dripping with gold accents and velvet drapes. Two maids waited inside. Their eyes were wide, filled with pity, and something else… worry, maybe… that made my stomach churn.

"You have to take a shower, my lady." one said softly.

Lady? Was I even still worthy of the title? My body trembled at the word, the absurdity of it clashing with the horror of what awaited me.

Why? I asked, my voice weak and shaking.

"We have been ordered to prepare you for your wedding to Alpha Alexander." the other replied, with a gentle tone.

My head felt dizzy, and bile rose in my throat. I fought the urge to vomit, to run, to curl up and disappear into nothing.

"When is it?" I asked, barely able to form the words, my heart hammering in my chest.

The two of them exchanged glances, their eyes wide with silent apology. Their expression made it clear things were worse than I could have imagined.

"This night, my lady."

I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I retched, hot tears mingling with the bitter taste of bile in my mouth. My body shook violently, the room seemed to spin. I sank to the floor, my head in my hands. How had it come to this? How had I gone from saving someone from a monster to becoming the monster's bride.