Episode 8

I stare at Ryan, trying to process what he just said. A blood contract that makes his father insane? My mother being involved in some kind of magic that destroyed this man's mind?

"I need to know what really happened," I say. "I need to know what my mother did to your father."

Ryan looks at his father, who's still drawing on the wall and singing that horrible lullaby. "The only person who can tell you that is him. And he can't tell you anything in his current state."

"But you said the marriage would fix him. How do you know?"

"Because the high priestess told me. She's the one who performed the original blood binding ceremony. She said the only way to complete the broken spell is through the marriage it was meant to seal."

I watch Alpha Jeremy trace his finger along the chalk drawing, whispering sweet words to a woman who isn't there. "And you believe her?"

"I have to, it's the only hope I have left."

"So let me get this straight: You want me to marry you so your father gets better, and in exchange, you'll help me save mine?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying."

I laugh, but I find nothing here funny. My laughter is a cry for help, a broken way to put my frustrations out. "This is insane. We hate each other. You've spent your whole life wanting revenge on my family."

"I still want revenge. But I want my father back more."

"What happens after? What happens when your father is cured and my father is saved? Do we just stay married forever?"

Ryan shakes his head. "Once my father is healed, we can divorce. The spell will be complete, and it won't matter anymore. You can go back to your pack, and I'll go back to mine."

"And you'll really convince your father to help me?"

"I swear it. Once he's himself again, I'll tell him everything. He'll want to destroy Rebecca and Marcus just as much as you do."

I look at the broken man in the corner again. This is my mother's doing somehow, and I feel sick about it. But I also feel responsible. If our marriage can fix what she broke, don't I owe it to him? If him being fixed gets my father the help he needs, don’t I owe it to dad?

"There has to be another way," I say, mostly to myself. The last thing I want is to marry my mortal enemy.

"There isn't, and believe me, the last thing I’d want is to marry you. But the high priestess was very clear. The blood contract can only be fulfilled or broken by death. Since your mother is already dead, marriage is the only option."

I feel tears burning my eyes. Alpha Jeremy killed my father, and now I’m supposed to save him so he can save my father.

"How do I know you won't just use me and throw me away once you get what you want?" I finally look at Ryan.

"Because I'm giving you my word. And despite what you might think, my word means something."

"Your word? You're asking me to trust the words of someone who hates me."

"I'm asking you to trust the word of someone who loves his father more than he hates you."

I study his face, looking for any sign of deception. But all I see is desperation: he's as trapped as I am.

"If we do this," I say slowly, "if we go through with this marriage, I want guarantees."

"What kind of guarantees?"

"I want you to swear on your father's life that you'll help me save mine. I want you to swear you'll destroy Marcus and Rebecca. And I want you to swear you'll let me go when it's over."

"I swear it."

"On your father's life."

Ryan looks at his father, then back at me. "On my father's life, I swear I'll help you save yours. I swear I'll destroy your enemies. And I swear I'll let you go when it's finished."

"And the divorce?"

"The second my father is healed and your father is saved, we'll get divorced. You'll be free to go wherever you want."

I close my eyes, trying to think of any other option. But there isn't one. Dad is dying, Marcus and Rebecca are taking over my pack, and this broken man is the only person who can help me stop them.

"Fine," I say. "I'll marry you, but I want it done quickly. No big ceremony, no celebration. Just the legal minimum."

"The high priestess can perform the ceremony, she's the only one who knows the specific words needed to complete the spell."

"When?"

"Tonight. There's no point in waiting."

I think about my last wedding, how beautiful everything was before it all fell apart. How I ran through the forest in my torn dress, leaving behind everyone I'd ever known.

"I don't want anything fancy," I say. "No flowers, no music, no guests. Just the ceremony."

"Whatever you want."

"And after it's over, we sleep in separate rooms. This is a business arrangement, nothing more."

Ryan nods. "Agreed."

I look at Alpha Jeremy one more time. He's finished his drawing and is now talking to it like it's responding to him. If this marriage can give him back his sanity, if it can help me save my father, then maybe it's worth it.

"I'll need a dress," I say.

"There's a seamstress in the pack. She can have something ready in a few hours."

"Something simple, nothing like..." I trail off, not wanting to explain about my first wedding.

"Something simple," Ryan agrees.

"And after the ceremony, I want to talk to your father. I want to know what really happened between him and my mother."

"If the spell works, he'll be able to tell you everything."

I nod, feeling like I'm signing my own death warrant. But what choice do I have?

Dad is dying, my pack is being stolen, and my enemies are winning. This might be my only chance to fight back.

"I'll do it," I say. "I'll marry you."

"Then it's settled. I'll have the high priestess prepare the ceremony."

Hours later, I'm standing in front of a mirror in a small room in the pack house. The seamstress worked quickly, and the dress she made is perfect. It's simple white silk, nothing fancy, but it fits me perfectly.

I look at my reflection and feel like I'm staring at a stranger. The last time I wore a wedding dress, I was full of hope and love. Now I feel like I'm walking to my execution.

As I stare at myself in the mirror, I can't help but wonder if I'm making the right choice. Am I really going to marry a man who hates me? Am I really going to trust my enemy to keep his word?

The door opens behind me, and a servant appears. "It's time, Princess. The ceremony is about to begin."

I take one last look at myself in the mirror. The girl looking back at me doesn't look like a princess anymore. She looks like a woman who's about to sacrifice everything for the people she loves.

Once again, I find myself in the same situation: forced to marry a man I hate to save my pack and my father.

As I step into the hallway, I can't help but think about my first wedding. How I ran through the forest in my torn dress, choosing myself over everyone else.

Will I run from this wedding too? Or will I sacrifice myself to trust a monster who wants nothing but my family dead?