Chapter 2

Nora's POV

The bad dream hadn't ended yet. If anything, it got worse.

I was pacing around a specially prepared room in the alpha's quarters, back in my pack and my home. Was it really a home though, if the mere sight of it choked me with tears and bitterness?

Being chosen was very strange to me. Out of all the people in my wolf pack—heck, out of every single person in my family—I was the least talked about, the one everyone pushed aside with a scoff and a dismissive wave of the hand. Who would think of quiet, plain-looking Nora anyway, when her more desirable sister was there?

And so, when the alpha himself had chosen me as his mate over my sister, the entire pack had been struck dumb. I shuddered in remembrance; I could still feel his eyes on me as he'd singled me out in front of everyone one on his mating ceremony.

What was more: it had been the mating ceremony between himself and my sister, Alina.

I hadn't craved for the attention that came with being chosen. I didn't want to be his mate. So I'd done what I knew how to do best.

I'd run away from everyone and hidden, finally joining a bandwagon of slaves before Alpha Chester had grabbed me and dragged me back to this hellhole.

I stopped my pacing, standing in the middle of the room with my chest heaving. Tears rushed down my cheeks, and before I could control myself, a scream of rage tore out of my chest. 

I broke down completely, sliding to the ground and wrapping my arms around my knees. Tears gushed from my eyes in torrents, and it was the creak of the door that finally silenced me.

The last of my sobs caught in my throat and I glanced up at the door. The door finally swung open, revealing the alpha.

He was still in the garb he'd worn when he'd come for me in the marketplace. The white shawl he'd covered his face with was wound around his neck, and his face was as hard and as unforgiving as ever.

"What are you doing on the ground?" He growled, the sheer force of his voice sending goosebumps down my arms. He walked into the room, shutting the door behind him. And before I could speak or react, he reached down and wound his fingers around my arms, then pulled me up forcefully. "That is an act unbecoming of a future Luna."

Roughly I pushed his hands away, taking a step back. The mere sight of his face, framed by that halo of raven-black hair made me sick to my stomach. "What if I don't want to be your mate, your Luna? You cannot force this upon me!"

"Oh, but I can, Nora." He murmured, impressive eyebrows cocked. "I chose you, which means you're my mate now. There's no running from this, Peach. You're mine. Mine forever."

"This is all crap!" I spat at him. "You're...hell, you're mated to my sister! This is a travesty, an abominable act! You cannot be mated to two sisters at the same time. You cannot have two Lunas of the same blood. That is—"

"And who said anything about being mated to your sister?" He growled, cutting off my next words. In one swift movement, he reached out and grabbed both of my arms, holding it in his iron-strong grip. I struggled in frustration, aching for freedom, but he held on tight.

"I wanted nobody but you in that mating ceremony. I still don't want anybody else." He murmured, his breath hot and delicious on my face. My lower belly clenched as I saw the blues in his eyes deepen to an almost-black colour. I knew his wolf was fighting for dominance, and knew he wanted to let his feral instincts lead.

"I'd gone for what I wanted, and what I want is you. And there's no fucking body in this pack that would stop me from getting mated to you."

He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, then let go of me. "Get ready. Some maids will come in and get you ready for the mating ceremony.

I blanched. Mating ceremony?!

As though on cue, the door of the room burst open and two maids walked in, holding white dresses in their hands. They stopped before me, and I stared at them as though they'd stepped out of hell to torment me.

I turned to the alpha, filled with shock. "Are you—"

"A Wolf Priest is waiting for us downstairs." He said, a tone of finality in his voice. "It's going to be a quick wedding. Get prepared." Then he walked out, leaving me in the room with both maids and my scattered emotions.

Dully I selected a dress at random and slipped it on, not bothering to take a look at what I was putting on. I sat on a chair as the maids crowded around me, trying to make me as presentable as possible. Salty tears streamed down my face as I contemplated my new future with this man. This alpha that had been nothing but a distant figurehead in our pack, would become my husband overnight.

The thought left my skin numb and made my mouth taste like ash. It was as though all I'd ever known was heartache and pain. Alpha Chester was the beginning and the end of my nightmarish future.

As though my day couldn't get any worse, the door burst open again. Someone new walked in and immediately stormed towards me.

I raised my head just in time to see my sister's vengeful face before a resounding slap hit my left cheek. A groan of pain slipped from my mouth, and I found myself on my knees, clutching at my face.

"How could you?" Alina screamed. "How could you, Nora?"

Slowly I raised my head to look at her. The tears blurred my vision, but there was no mistaking the hurt I could see in her eyes. My father was by her side, with his arm around her. "Alina, this wasn't me—"

"Oh, save it!" She snapped, her face twisted in a vicious mask. "This was all I'd ever wanted. This was everything I wanted with the alpha, and you went for it because you wanted him for yourself. Admit it!"

"This wasn't me!" I spoke up, but Alina's words cut me off again.

"Read my lips, Nora!" She snarled, then moved closer to me until we were nose-to-nose. "As long as I live and you live too, you will never know peace. I will make sure of that. I will make sure that you bow before me and lick my feet. You will regret this, Nora!"

The entire room was thrown into a stunned silence at her words. Alina took a step backwards, then turned and stormed out of the room, leaving my father behind.

"Father..." I started, lips trembling with tears. "I don't want this either—"

"You should be disgusted with yourself, Nora." My father spat, his face cold and unforgiving. "After all our plans, all our preparations, you decided to....take the alpha for yourself. He was meant for your sister, not you!"

I stared at my father incredulously, not believing the words from his mouth. Hadn't he seen the alpha single me out at the mating ceremony? Wasn't he there when I'd dashed out of the ceremony and ran far, far away? Why were they both acting as though this was all my fault?

It hurt that my own family would turn against me in this manner. 

I opened my mouth to speak back at him, but he raised a hand, silencing me. "Do not speak any more of your lies, Nora." He snarled, eyes full of venom. "You have done your worst already."

And without another word, he turned and followed Alina out of the room.