Chapter 6

IVY

His presence felt like a hand closing around my throat, squeezing the air out of me. A shiver slid down my spine. Only after that did Vladimir step back and storm out of the ward. I swallowed a heavy, fearful gulp and eased myself down onto the floor, trying to breathe in as much as I could.

Fear crept in like something cold. Uncle Amos, the one person who might have been my escape, had failed me. Now I was truly stuck with this Vladimir as my Alpha. To think I signed the contract.

I swallowed again, harder this time.

Footsteps approached. I looked up and my face met Craig’s.

My state did not faze him. He did not bat an eye. He simply said, "Alpha Vladimir requests that you leave the hospital premises and prepare for tomorrow."

I knew what he meant. The contract said the wedding was tomorrow.

I stayed on the floor, tears pricking at my eyes. "No, I am not marrying that monster."

Craig said, "Alpha Vladimir insists I drag you out if you refuse. Is that what you prefer, Miss Ivy?"

I glanced up at his face. They would do anything to obey their Alpha. Why me? Why did it have to be me?

"I need a minute," my voice croaked. "Alone."

Craig replied stiffly, "Alpha Vladimir instructs you to leave the hospital premises right away. Leaving you alone for a second would be defying his orders."

They took me to a large house that looked like a pack house, Omegas drifting in and out. A few stopped to stare; others whispered. I felt broken. I wanted to stop being Alpha Vladimir’s puppet, but he had caught me and tightened his grip on my neck.

A knock echoed on my door. I moved away from the bed and opened it, hoping for a miracle. Anything. Maybe Vladimir had been struck down, or someone had come to take me away. I just wanted out.

When I opened the door I found a woman in an Omega outfit standing there. She held a folded cloth in her hand. She smiled and said, "I have come to help you change for the night before your beauty sleep."

I slammed the door in her face. I heard her gasp. I leaned my back against the door and felt cold seeping through the thin wood into my gown. I slid down until I was sitting on the floor, one handful of my hair caught in my fist.

The Omega called, "Miss?"

"Go away!" I yelled. "Just stay away from me!"

I breathed in a ragged, frustrated breath. The Omega’s voice softened outside and Craig’s voice cut through.

"The Alpha instructed that if she needs rest, let her have it. If she insists on not changing, leave her be," Craig said, his tone oddly gentle in a way that made me feel like I was losing my mind.

I groaned. Alpha instructions, Alpha instructions. Goddess, please end him and free me.

Seconds stretched and then collapsed as I sat on the floor. Later I paced the room. My thoughts were a chaos of escape plans that all fell apart the instant I imagined them. Even if I managed to slip out of this pack house, how would I get past the pack border? What had they done to my sick mother to make her slip into a deep sleep yesterday? Every possibility ran through my head until the morning light seeped through the window.

It was morning already? So soon?

I had no idea how to leave this monstrous place with my mother ill. I paced some more. A soft knock came at the door. I flung it open, anger flaring. Two Omegas stood there. One held a black wedding gown and the other grinned like someone enjoying someone else’s misery.

I turned to slam the door, but the grinning one began, "The Alpha instructs—"

"One more Alpha instruction and I will rip you apart," I snapped.

The older Omega shot back, "I doubt you could do that with your weak, light frame. You would only hurt yourself."

"We will see who gets hurt first," I bit.

The Omega did not answer. She pushed past me and stepped into the room. She gestured for the other Omega to follow and she did.

"I am Vivian, the head Omega of this pack house," she announced, head held high. "I have been assigned to ensure you look your best for the wedding."

I opened my mouth to protest but she cut me off. "If you try to sneak away or refuse to cooperate, I will report directly to the Alpha. He has you under his thumb and if you resist in any way, there will be consequences."

Consequences, of course, meant my sick mother. Who knew what they had done to make her sleep so deeply yesterday.

"Will you comply, Miss Ivy?" Vivian asked.

"I am forced to comply," I said roughly.

Vivian’s face lit with a crooked smile. A bath, makeup, the dress. I was dressed in a black wedding gown, silently mourning my dignity and whatever remained of my soul. I was about to be married to the man who had destroyed my pack, something that should have been punishable by death.

They escorted me into a hall where everything was black and the flowers were stiff and colorful as if someone had tried to brighten a funeral. The crowd looked unhappy or neutral; none of them offered a warm face. My palms were sticky with sweat. A veil covered my head. I walked down the aisle and stopped face to face with the Alpha who had ruined my life.

He wore black from head to toe, his golden hair slicked back. We said the vows, we exchanged the mating rings, and everything moved too fast until the officiant announced, "Now you may kiss the bride."

The world slowed, every second drawn out as Vladimir leaned down and kissed me. When he stepped back I brushed my hand against my lips as if I could wipe him off me.

The officiant smiled and declared, "I pronounce you husband and wife, two souls as one with the mating rings binding you both."

He went on, "May the moon goddess bless you with pups to populate this pack."

I cringed. I clenched my fists until the nails dug into my palms.​