So ruthless

My body was filled with disgust and guilt as I slipped on the strappy bra and the lacy underwear. As I stared at my reflection, I saw the horror I was soon going to walk into and there would be no escape from it. My hands ran over my body, and I tried not to cry, even when tears clung to the corners of my eyes.

How could I marry someone who wasn't my mate? How could I?

He made the matters worse when he told my father he will marry me tonight instead of after three months and of course my father just accepted then told me to start dressing up.

My lungs burned as I took a sharp breath and turned away from the mirror. I couldn't bear to see myself anymore.

My quivering hands reached for the shirt and I slipped it on before grabbing the pants and pulling them on. Once I was covered, I felt a little better about myself, but I still couldn't escape the thoughts racing through my mind.

Why did my father do such a cruel thing to me?!

Force me to marry an Alpha twice my age, older than everyone I knew.

How could I marry him?

"Aurora," Mama called from the room next to mine.

I quickly threw my curled hair up into a ponytail and stepped outside to attend to her.

"What have you been doing in the shower for the past twenty minutes?" she asked, curiosity filling her eyes when she found me dressed.

"Nothing, Mama. Just taking a longer shower."

"Come here," she patted the empty space on the bed beside her.

I sat down.

"Are you going into heat?"

"I don't know." I shrugged, trying to push away the thoughts of marrying Alpha Dane tonight.

"The full moon's approaching. You must be going into heat," she said as she wrapped her hand around mine and choked out the words. Even when she couldn't stop myself from marrying to the ruthless Alpha, she still tried. She helped me in every way she possibly could.

"It's alright. There's nothing to be scared of, baby. Heat comes and goes. Sometimes, female wolves make mistakes during heat, which is alright. Don't be scared of something so natural. And don't be worried, just accept and get married to Alpha Dane, you will run away from him when you find your real mate."

"What if I can't find my mate?" I asked while chewing the inside of my cheek.

"You will," she said with a reassuring smile. "Your mate is out there somewhere, waiting for you. And when you find each other, everything will fall into place. He'll love you like you've never been loved, and he'll take care of you. Don't worry, my sweet girl."

I nodded, but deep down, I knew it would never happen. Not when I will be in the the custody of the ruthless Alpha.

Dread filled my heart, and I began to panic.

"Mama," I murmured, wrapping both arms around her. "I love you. And you're going to get better soon."

"Don't worry about me. I've lived my entire life in peace and happiness. It's you I'm concerned about. And I know once you find your mate, I'll be at peace," she whispered, placing her hand on the side of my face.

I lowered my head, and she pressed a kiss on my cheek.

Tears clung to my lashes, threatening to fall as I realized what I was about to do tonight.

I didn't want but I had no choice.

Feeling defeated, I pulled away from her and stood up.

Just as I stepped away from Mama's side, a knock echoed through the door, firm, impatient, and heavy with finality. My heart stopped.

I didn't need to guess who it was.

"Aurora," came my father's voice, sharp and cold. "They're here for you."

My stomach twisted violently.

I turned back to Mama, her eyes wide with worry now. She tried to sit up straighter, her thin fingers tightening around the blanket as if she could hold back time itself.

"I'll be alright," I whispered, but my voice was barely audible over the pounding of my heart. "Don't let them crush you," she said softly, urgently. "You're stronger than you think."

I nodded and blinked away fresh tears.

Another knock. Louder this time.

"I'm coming," I called out, though my voice cracked.

I walked to the door and opened it slowly.

My father stood tall and grim-faced, dressed in the formal robes of our pack's elders, every line on his face carved by duty and ice. He didn't look at me with love, just hatred.

Behind him, two enforcers waited, both towering wolves in black. Their presence made the air heavier, their eyes scanning me from head to toe like I was already property. A thing being delivered.

"Take her to Alpha Dane's headquarters",  He ordered.

Once I reached the his headquarters two female omegas took me into a room where they changed me and slipped the white wedding dress over my body, the one Alpha Dane had chosen for me. My curly hair was styled to fall over one shoulder, perfectly, but nothing about this night felt perfect.

I was about to marry someone I didn't even want, someone I had seen as an elder, someone who wasn't my mate.

My heart broke a little more, and the pain became unbearable.

"After the ceremony, the Alpha will expect you in his bedroom. The night will go on for long, so he has requested that you drink a little," one of the omegas said as she poured a drink for me.

I shook my head. "I can't, I have to see my mother after."

"I'm afraid that won't be possible," she replied, picking up the drink and bringing it to me.

I didn't take it. I had to see my mother before the night ended. I couldn't spend the entire night with the Alpha.

My breaths quickened when I thought about not seeing them tonight. "Can you please call the Alpha?" I asked her.

She nodded and set the drink aside before heading out. My feet ached as I stood in four-inch heels, something I had never worn before. When I looked at my reflection, I saw a bride whose face was filled with fear of what was coming.

I didn't know anything about werewolf consummation, or what the night with Alpha Dane would hold. My body quivered at the thought, of the terrible things he would do to me… and the things I would have to do to him.

No.

My heart shattered, and a few tears slipped down my cheeks. I wiped them away quickly as the door opened and Alpha Dane walked inside.

He wore a tuxedo, but it didn't make him look any better. He approached me, his lustful eyes roaming over my body. They flashed red for a split second before turning black again. My heart pounded as I saw the hunger in them.

"You look beautiful," he said, grinning wickedly. Lust gleamed in his expression. "Is there something you wanted?"

"I have a request, can I see my mother after...

"You're going to do as I want you to, Aurora. You'll be spending the night with me. There is no where you going from now and on", He cut me immediately in mid sentence as his hands circled my hips and pulled me closer.

I could barely stand, and with his hands on me, I felt even weaker. Fear rushed through me and stiffened every part of me.

"Please," I begged.

"No," he said coldly, his jaw tightening as I tried to slip from his grasp. He held me harder. "You'll do as I say." His voice became rough, almost animalistic.

"I can't-"

His hand rose from my hip and struck my face.

I gasped and stumbled back, nearly falling to the ground. Shock rushed through me, and my hand flew to my cheek. The pain came instantly, sharp, biting, like a hundred needles under my skin. But worse than the pain was the cold that settled in my bones, the violation of being struck by the man I was about to marry.

"You'll do as I say, Aurora. If I tell you to bark, you'll bark. Don't try to defy me again. I'll have you for the night, and once the sun rises, you can go play the dutiful luna", he snapped before storming out of the room.

As soon as the door slammed shut, I fell to my knees and collapsed onto the ground. Tears poured down my face, dripping onto the white dress. Sobs tore through my throat as I cupped my stinging cheek.

What did my father do to me?