Chapter 1

Scarlett’s POV

Being the first time that I'd be called back home from the academy, it was pretty suspicious and scary, but I was managing to keep a cool and calm head.

Michelle, my best friend, had assured me that it was probably just to give me a gift, or deliver a great deal of good news to me in person.

“Why go through all that stress of signing paper works, and writing letters, mails and a billion other processes when they can just give me the gift, or just come over and tell me what news it is?” I had asked her.

“Don't overthink it baby.” She said, pulling me close to herself. “It's just a meeting, and you never can tell what the outcome will be.”

Now, here I am, sitting on the huge dining table, fiddling with the food they had made. It was even more suspicious that they had made my favorite food. The cornbread was untouched, and so was the soup. Even when death stares at my face, I'd eat buffalo wings, so that was the only part of my favorites I had eaten that night.

“How's the academy, baby?” Arya Kraven, my mother asked.

“Mom, you never ask me about anything? Just tell me what's going on.” I said, taking a deep breath. I had always seen my mother as being out of touch with her emotions unless Matthew was having a cute moment with her.

She literally became a ghost after my father died, and that light she once had only comes out when Matthew is with her. Any other time, she's just nonchalant.

“Okay.” Matthew said, getting all of my attention.

“Baby, I just need you to know that we thought about this well, and this is the best decision, for the sake of everyone.” Arya said.

“Okay? I'm listening.” I said, nodding my head gently.

“Have you heard of Timber North? The king of the North walls?” Matthew asked.

“Yeah? The old and ugly king?” I responded with a shrug, trying not to guess his next words, because they'd be as terrible as I could guess, and I wasn't ready to be terribly heartbroken yet.

“Well, he's not that old and ugly, and he's pretty calm and rich.” Matthew said as if he was trying to convince me of something I couldn't agree with.

“Where's this conversation headed to?” I asked, barely breathing now. It was all headed to the exact place I could tell that it was headed to.

“You are getting married to him.” Matthew said, and my heart dropped to my stomach. I felt like screaming, but I was way too silent. I felt like throwing plates and overturning the table, but I just sat there, calmly and breathlessly, listening to him repeat the same sentence over and over again. I could see his mouth moving like he was trying to convince me, but my head wasn't in the right space.

“Why the fuck am I getting married to him?” I asked. “I'm not getting married to that man!”

“I don't need to have a reason to betroth you to someone, and you will marry whoever I say you will marry!” Matthew snapped at me.

“Don't make decisions for me like you're my fucking father!” I snapped at him.

“You're right, I'm not your father, but I sure will make decisions that will keep the future of this family.” Matthew shot back at me.

“Why would you force me to marry someone and I don't even know why?” I shouted at him.

“Soon enough, you'll grow wiser, and you'll understand why we did what we did.” Matthew said. “And you'll be grateful that we did what we did.”

“Please.” I begged, seeing no other way out of the horrible situation I was in.

“Begging won't do you any good, Scarlett.” Matthew said with a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“This is why you'll never be my father!” I growled, and he started speaking also. “You're horrible, evil and you'll never be able to lace the shoes of that man!”

“Scarlett quiet!” Arya snapped at me, making me shake and keep quiet immediately.

“You will marry Timber, and I'll have no more discussions on this subject matter.” She said with a final tone.

“But mom…”

“You will do what I've said, and I'll not listen to you speak on it anymore!” She snapped in a very gentle manner.

“I hate you so much!” I screamed. She just looked at me with a side eye glance and shrugged like it didn't matter to her.

I stood up from the chair, and I ran to the room, trying hard to fight my tears.

I could not stop crying because they had placed a difficult situation on me, and I couldn't even tell why? No one explained why they wanted me to marry not just an old and ugly man, but also a wicked one.

I picked up my phone, and I dialed Michelle's number, still silently sobbing.

“Hello ooh, my latest car owner!” She giggled until she heard another sob. “What the fuck is wrong?”

“Michelle.” I cried since words eluded me.

“Scarlett, just tell me whatever the fuck is wrong, and I'll fix it, I promise.” Michelle said, and I tried to calm myself down.

“They're forcing me to get married.” I said, and that was where my tearless moment could take me, before I began sobbing again.

“What?! To whom?” She asked, and I took another deep breath.

“Timber North,Michelle, Timber fucking North.” I cried.

“What the fuck?” Michelle growled. I could hear the growl of her wolf. It also overshadowed her voice whenever she was angry.

“I don't know what to do. I just can't do this. I can't marry him.” I cried, gripping my bed tightly.

“Scarlett, I just need you to do one thing.” Michelle said. “You wouldn't have to marry that man.”

“What?! How?”

“Just find a way to get back to school tonight. And I promise that I'll get you somewhere safe.” Michelle said, and I sniffled.

I walked to my window, and I took a quick survey of what could be called a castle that I lived in, and I saw no escape route. I still thought of several ways out, but nothing struck me. Nothing came to mind. The whole space was airtight, and escaping would mean having to face several guards.

“Are you still there?” Michelle asked.

“I'm looking for a way out.” I muttered.

“Scarlett, just get your ass here, and trust me to do the rest.” Michelle said, and I was absolutely convinced.

“Okay, you'll see me soon.”

I guess it's time for me to be the rebellious audacious girl I've never been.