Heather's life is turned upside down when she is forced into a marriage with Prince Keith of the powerful Devontae Kingdom, a man she has never met and a kingdom filled with whispered rumors. Determined to resist her fate, Heather braces herself for a life she never chose, only to discover her new reality is far more complicated than she imagined. Keith, the enigmatic third prince of Devontae, is as cold and unwelcoming as the rumors suggest. Bound to his mysterious past and deeply loyal to another woman, he makes it clear their union is nothing more than a political formality. Yet, behind his harsh words and piercing hazel eyes lies a truth Heather never expected, Keith is not the man the world believes him to be. But even with that, everything was pulling them closer because he was her fate and she is his fate.
View MoreVeeryl Pack
Heather's POV
I hastened my feet down the stairs heading towards the dining area. I knew I was very late and everyone would probably be waiting for me. Almost tripping on my gown, I took a deep breath, grabbed both edges, and continued with my walk. Anyone who saw me right now would think I was being chased by someone but all I wanted was to get to the dining area on time to avoid my step-sister and step-mother's wrath.
The only person I had always known and referred to as my mother was my stepmother. I never knew my biological mother. I heard she passed away shortly after birthing me. I had never seen any portrait of her and I knew nothing about her. It felt like inquiring about her was a sin of the highest order. No, it was forbidden. Probably because she was my father's mistress; if you could hold having a one-night stand with an unknown woman in such regard. And I was the result of that one-night stand no one expected. As soon as I got to the door, I took in a deep breath and fixed my hair before gently making my way inside.
They were all already sitting at the gigantic table. Father, on the highest chair in the middle, and my step-mother and step-sister sitting by the right two seats away from him.
"Look who finally decided to grace us with her presence," my stepmother said sarcastically.
"I'm sorry I'm late..," I started trying to take a seat next to them.
"Sit somewhere else. It's so hot in here. I need air," she cut me off without glancing at me. I slowly let go of the chair and moved to sit on the left side of the table.
"Do I need to tell you before you realize that you will be obstructing our view if you sit there? As if arriving late and starving us wasn't enough, why do you have to stress me out?" my step-sister asked irately. So much for not incurring their wrath.
"I apologize. I didn't mean to," I replied politely walking towards the right side of the table again and sitting about seven sits farther away from them. I glanced at my father but he didn't say a word.
"Good day Father," I greeted with a smile. He hummed and made a gesture with his hand in response. If it wasn't already obvious, my family wasn't exactly fond of me. My father has always been a bit cold towards me since I was a child. As the illegitimate child that I was, I knew it had to do with the fact that I was a stain on his reputation. A stain he could never get rid of.
As for my stepmother and stepsister, it wasn't their fault that we didn't get along. We had misunderstandings at times but it didn't mean that they hated me. Besides, the backlash I got today was partly my fault. I delayed them from having their meal because the time skipped my mind. The maids began to serve our meal when I settled in my seat.
"I have an announcement to make," Father said speaking for the first time that evening.
"What is it? Have the dresses I ordered arrived from the other pack already?" my stepsister asked excitedly. I grabbed a glass of water to quench my taste.
"Your marriage has been fixed, Debra. It will take place in three days," he said with a straight face staring right at my stepsister. Debra stared at him speechlessly.
"Marriage taking place so soon? To whom?" my stepmother asked coming to her rescue.
"To the son of the Alpha king, Prince Keith of Devontae," he replied calmly.
"What!" Debra screeched. I spat out the water from my mouth in utter shock. Debra glared daggers at me. I shook my head trying to explain that I didn't mean it but no coherent words could come out from my mouth.
"Prince Keith? Are you serious right now?" my stepmother asked in shock. I was just as shocked as they all were. Devontae was a prosperous and powerful kingdom led by the Alpha king who ruled over smaller packs like ours. Anyone would jump for joy if they were opportune to get married into such a family or even become acquainted with them but getting married to Prince Keith? That was a totally different thing.
Prince Keith was the last son of the Alpha and a cripple but despite being disabled, he was rumored to be cruel, useless, and disliked by the king. The Alpha king even had him outcasted to a part of the palace where no one frequented. Father was going to allow his favorite daughter r marry such a man? It was unbelievable.
"I will not marry Prince Keith, father. He's the worst out of all the Alpha King's sons," Debra said shaking her head vehemently.
"That's my final decision and you shall obey me," he declared. Debra turned towards her mother in panic.
"Mother, did you hear that? Father hates me. He's going to make me marry a disabled man," she cried out.
"Don't say that Debra. Father doesn't hate you," I muttered softly but she glared at me so hard that I thought her eyes would pop out of their sockets.
"You can't do this to our only daughter. You are ruining her life. I won't allow that s happen," stepmother retorted.
"The marriage has been arranged to take place in three days. Start getting prepared," Father ordered firmly. I was surprised to see him acting so coldly towards Debra. This had never happened before. Debra stood up angrily pushing her chair aside. It fell onto the floor with a loud crash.
"I'm never getting married to Prince Keith. Never!" she yelled and stormed out of the room.
"You have to reconsider this," my stepmum said to my father as she hurriedly followed after Debra. The room fell into total silence. I gently stood up, my chair screeching against the floor.
"I will check up on them," I said before leaving. He stared at me without responding. I quickly walked towards Debra's room. The door was open so I just stepped in.
"Don't worry my darling. I won't let him do that to you," I heard my stepmum assuring her.
"Debra," I called out softly. They both looked up at me.
"Are you okay?" I asked walking towards her.
"Don't you dare take another step forward!" she growled, her eyes flicking between green and a golden hue. Her wolf threatened to come out.
"I was only trying to check if you were alright," I said startled by her attitude.
"You pathetic liar! You came here to mock me didn't you?" she asked pointing her finger at me accusingly.
I shook my head taken aback by the accusation. "Of course not. I would never do such a thing. If this is about my reaction at the dining table then I'm sorry. It wasn't on purpose."
"I bet you are rejoicing deep down. You are happy this is happening to me!" she screamed.
"Sister, how can you say this? I truly came here to console you..."
"I'm not your sister! I forbid you to ever call me that!" she yelled.
"Calm down sister. I understand how you must be feeling right now. You are angry and upset. You don't mean what you are saying," I said calmly. She must still be in shock to speak in this manner.
"I told you I'm not your sister and I can never be! Your mother was a whore and you are nothing but an illegitimate child. We are not related," she spat viciously. Her words stung but I still tried to compose myself. Anyone who heard this kind of news would react in the same way if not worse. I tried to move towards them again but my stepmother stopped me.
"Do not come closer to my daughter. Remain where you are," she warned. I nodded and remained rooted in my spot.
"I won't take a step further if that would make you feel better. I'm sure Mother will do everything in her power to make everything alright," I replied.
"How am I your mother? Your wretch and home breaker of a mother is dead and in hell where she belongs," she deadpanned.
"How can you say such a thing to me?" I asked in disbelief. Were they really that upset that they would both take it out on me in this way?
"That's right. I will make sure you join her soon but before that, I'm going to make your life miserable. Every second you live, every breath you take will be filled with pain and misery," she swore. I stared at her speechless and in shock.
"Did you hear that? I'm going to put an end to your miserable life! Get your pathetic self out of my room!" she growled furiously. I glanced at my stepmother and she stared at me with disdain. I turned around, making my way out of her room slowly. I couldn't fathom what she meant by making my life miserable. Was something going on that I didn't know of?
Prince Keith's POV "What did you mean by it was a nice day with Princess Heather? Are you beginning to love her? Will you leave me?" Nyles asked, her voice growing louder with each word. I shook my head at her and downed the contents of my cup. The liquid left a burning sensation down my throat but it was nothing compared to the burning feeling in my chest. It was not like I cared about Heather or anything but I could not begin to assume how hard her life had been before she got here. "Look, Nyles, you know I love you and would do anything for you right?" I asked her, willing to say anything to just get her to shut up. I loved her and she knew, it was almost like she didn't believe I loved her. Sometimes I wonder why because I was the one going against the whole world for her while all she wanted was for me to throw her on the table. "I used to think so but after what I saw this afternoon, I am not going to be fooled any longer. You are going to dance to the tune of your uncle and
Heather's POV Prince Keith was waiting outside the garden for me. He had a displeased look on his face and I knew that he wished he were anywhere else but with me. I loathed him too. It was not like he had done anything to me but him having problems with all the important people in his life for a woman that clearly didn't like him as much was not a good sign. "Well, that took you long enough!" He yelled at me as I got close to him. "Look, Prince Keith, I know you would rather not be here right now, I also share a mutual feeling. I don't care what you choose to do with your life. This is the first real time I can say that I am really free but even that, I am still saddled with responsibilities that I do not want to bear" I said in one breath, barely able to catch it when I was done. He stared at me, his mouth half opened. I could get that he was stunned since he had not been expecting me to say all of that to him. I was shocked myself, I didn't know that I had that fire in me but i
Heather's POV I rushed up the stairs to my room. Breakfast had gone by in a flash and the food had tasted bland because of what I knew was waiting for me right after. The king, supported by the grand Luna had ordered prince Keith to spend the whole day with me. All I wanted to do was to curl up in a corner and die, now I had to go out with the very man who was making it very clear to whoever cared to listen that he was in love with another woman. "My Princess" Ella's voice interrupted my thoughts as I got to the door of my room. I had not seen her waiting there and she had a fresh set of clothes in hand, waiting for me. I assumed it was for the day I was supposed to spend with the unwilling Keith."Ella" I said calmly, keeping a composed exterior even though my insides was in shreds."How do you feel today?" She asked me as she fell in step behind me as we entered my room. She placed the clothes on the bed and immediately came to help me out with my gown. Before I could say yes or
Heather's POV The next morning, I woke up feeling worse than I did before. My whole body was hot and I could have sworn that it could boil a bowl of water. There was a rapt knocking on my door and I wondered if that was what had made me wake up early. Slowly I crawled out of the bed and went to the door, shocked to see Lucinda the head maid standing there. She had not expected me to open the door when I did, so she was caught off guard and hence was a bit flustered. "Good morning Princess" she greeted and I nodded my head. "Good morning Lucinda," I said and waited for her to state her reason for showing up at my door so early. "I'm sorry to have woken you up so early but you are expected to have breakfast with the rest of the family this morning. It's where you will be formally introduced to the rest of the members of the family" she said and I froze. No one had told me what to expect or how to prepare for this. The nerves overwhelmed me, threatening to cripple my knees. It did
Keith's POV "I can't believe she is the one I'm supposed to be married to. To think that she shrunk herself in a dress that almost killed her for a wedding she claims that she didn't want... Very pathetic." I sneered angrily at Nyles. "She even had the guts to speak of you in such a manner? She must really have some guts to speak to his majesty like that. She should be taught a lesson, that it is not everyone you treat anyhow you want and go scot-free with it." Nyles said to me, caressing my head and slowly easing the tension that had burdened me for the past few minutes. She was all I needed and I know that she was the one I loved. The strange girl from the lowly park had nothing to offer me. I didn't care one bit about her and I never would. "Are you sure you don't mind her presence here my love?" I asked Nyle, looking at her lovingly. "Baby, I don't mind. You know I'm very peaceful, I wouldn't want the rest of the people to think that I am standing in the way of something bene
Heather's POV"You can really walk?" I asked him, the words tumbling off my tongue just as the alarms were. I backed up to the wall and he walked up to me, not stopping until he was towering over me and breathing on my face. "I guess I should be expecting you to swoon over me now?" He said, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Oh shut up! Do you think I care that you are also a liar and a faker too? Probably have everyone deceived and running after every demand you can conjure. I am not going to swoon over such a man." I said and could have sworn that I saw the blaze come in his eyes. He looked at me, his teeth grating, out of fury. "You will learn to speak to me with some respect, little girl. I suppose your father did not school you properly on what to do when you are married to a prince?" He asked me angrily. "Last time I checked, we both don't want this sham of a marriage so what kind of treatment am I supposed to give a royal liar?" I fired back, equally angry myself. "
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