Chapter 1: Hatred and Betrayal

The House of Mortem; North of the Realm

Olive's POV

Father was that kind of man. He was the man who never listened to his only daughter about anything and everything. He was the man who saw his daughter as a tool to becoming more feared and powerful across the five Houses in the realm.

The night he let Alpha Cassian take my maidenhead, he became no father of mine. Perhaps, I never did open my eyes to see what his cruelty to his own daughter would culminate into. Or perhaps, I expected too much from him, when apparently, he respected none of me.

I peeped out of my bedroom window atop the castle keep, and saw him speaking with Alpha Cassian. They were nose deep into some mischief or the other. That, I was sure of.

The bailey was agog with music, stringed musicians, clowns, ribaldry, and lots of food to be devoured. Tonight was the night I would be sold off to Alpha Cassian in the guise of marriage.

Father wanted me to be his loving and obedient daughter, and be wed to Alpha Cassian without throwing tantrums, or as his term would be- 'raising-a-dust-off-the-boots'.

'The House of Storstrand commands the highest resources in gold and men to win this war, and you can get that for me.' He had said, on that fateful day, when he came into my room to share the news of my imminent marriage with Alpha Cassian.

'But father, I want none of this.' I had protested in tears, 'I do not want to be wed to Alpha Cassian. He's too short!'

'Daughter, what do you think win a war?' he had asked in the most gentle manner I had ever seen of him.

'Urm... Good strategies, good generals, and good soldiers.' I had responded in the most honest manner possible.

'Good!" He had given me a pat on the shoulder. 'Firstly, I happen to be the best strategist in the castle. Secondly, the war generals have agreed with me that we need more men to win the war- good soldiers of valor. And thirdly, you, my daughter, can get me the second.'

'Do I have to get married to him before he gives you what you want?'

'Yes, daughter. That's the only way.'

'I cannot accept this, father.' I had stood up and walked to my bedroom window that oversaw the tiny cottages scattered around and beyond the castle walls.

But that sunny Summer afternoon, none of them caught my fancy.

'You do not have a say in this matter, child!' he had stomped.

I had swivelled to look at him with tears brimming my eyes. Not that my opinions ever mattered to him, perhaps, seeing me in tears may change his hardened heart.

'Have you ever asked me what I wanted, father?' I had pleaded with a brittle voice.

'Motherwould never have wanted any of this.'

He stood us to my face with obvious hurt in his scarred face. Mother was his only soft spot, and he knew I had played that card on him. 'Your mother would have done anything to bring the House of Mortem to victory against the House of Vagamor. She would have approved of it immediately.'

'I am only nineteen, father. I can barely stand the sight of a man.'

'And Drustian?'

How did he know Drustian? I never told anyone I had feelings for his Gamma?

'It's not what you think, father.' I had turned away from him to hide the truth registered on my face.

'You think I don't see the way you look at him whenever he trains the soldiers? I may be here all the time, but I see things, Olive. I hear them too.'

He had the card all the while, only for him to had played it at the nick of time. Too bad I had played my 'mother' card sooner.

'He doesn't know anything. I haven't confessed my love for him.' I pleaded.

"That's why he still has his head on his body. It's a good thing you kept it yourself." There was a coldness edging through his voice which got my heart thumping.

For Drustian.

'It has been decided. You have no say in this.'

'Father! I_"

It has been decided,' he strangled.

'I do not love him.'

'Love is weakness in times of war. We need all the hatred we can get to win this war.'

'You can't marry me off to him, father. if you ever loved mother before you were betrothed to her, why can't I have the same privilege?'

'I was a man of war. I never gave two hoots about the word, let alone the feeling.' he had been blunt. 'But as we got to know each other, she taught me what love was, and I forever will be grateful to her.'

'I want to be wed to the man I fall in love with. Not the man you choose for me. Can't you see that?' I yelled in tears.

'You'll not speak to your father with such insolence! I trained you better!'

'You also trained me to fight for what I want!'

'Enough!' he raved. 'I would not have you disgrace the House of Mortem in the realm. You and Cassian shall be wed, and none shall say otherwise!'

When he saw how speechless I was and how overpowered I had become, he added softly. 'Play your role, and help your father win this war.'

'I can't believe you could see me as a tool and not as your daughter.' I had cried into my palms.

'Cassian!' He called.

The wooden door creaked open to allow the light blond Alpha into my room. He wore a sinister grin on his smooth face that gave me the creeps. He was of average height and with brown eye. He possessed the most hateful qualities I had never wanted in a man.

Brown eyes and mediocre height. How the hell I hated them!

If he wasn't Drustian, he was not meant for me.

I looked from my father to him with obvious suspicion, and back to my father. 'What is this all about?'

Father had kissed me on my forehead and whispered what seemed to me like a warning than an admonition it was meant to be. 'Make me proud.'

He strolled to where the salivating Cassian stood and whispered into his ears, 'Be gentle on her. She is all I have.' He had left the room, bolting the door behind him.

That night, I swore to have my revenge on him, and on father. And the first scheme of my vengeance would begin with me running away on my wedding night to a place far away from home.