Chapter 1— The Ride

Aria's POV

“Whatever you do, do not annoy the prince. Remember your training”, Lady Morgana whispered softly as she tended to my hair.

I sat on the chair in my silver embroidered dress, looking like a zombie with no life in her eyes. I was getting married, this was supposed to be every girl's dream and happiest day.

Except that I was being sold off by my father.

“It's time, let's go”

She led me out of my room and into the ballroom. It was quite full and for the first time in 10 years, I was seeing a lot of people gathered in one place.

I felt my skin prickle but kept my gaze down as I approached the platform. My father was standing there with a grin on his face and Prince Kieran stood by his side, his hands on his ceremonial sword.

I stopped in front of them, my eyes on the ground and feeling the several pairs of eyes burn into my back. The hall was now grave silent, Prince Kieran stepped forward with a smug look on his face.

“My world! Is she pretty. Alpha Theron, you have quite a gem here”.

My father chuckled, “I always produce perfection Kieran”.

He circled me and then stood to face me, he lifted my chin with a finger forcing me to look at him. I stared at his dark brown eyes, hating him even more.

“You’ll do nicely. Defective or not, your bloodline is pure”.

I said nothing but I hoped he could see the hatred burning in my eyes. I remembered my father's words as he told me to get ready for my ceremony earlier today.

Disappoint me Aria and you go back into the hole you've always been in.

Well leaving with Kieran was probably the devil's push I needed to gain my freedom somehow.

“I can't wait to rip this dress off you”, he said with a chuckle.

A low murmur rose from amongst the guests in attendance. I glanced at my father, he had no expression on his face. He just sat there on his throne, staring at us both with his jaw set.

I swallowed the tears that were welling up in my throat and pooling in my eyes

“It's time to exchange the vows”, the priest said. He was looking uneasy as though he knew the foundation of this marriage.

I stepped onto the altar, and a ring was handed to me by Lady Morgana. I stared at the gold circle, wondering how all my life, I'd be in bondage.

“Do you, Princess Aria Theron take His highness, Prince Kieran to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in…

I zoned out at the rest of the vows, staring past Kieran and into space.

“Princess Aria?”

I snapped out of my reverie and looked up at the priest who stared at me expectantly. I looked up at Kieran who glared at me as he towered over me.

“I—

I froze, my werewolf hearing picking up something strange. I looked at the priest's face and saw that it was drained of color. He heard it too.

Everyone heard it too.

It was like a low rumble of a lot of motorcycles approaching. My heart began to race, motorcycles were forbidden in the royal compound.

“Rogues”, Kieran snarled.

My father immediately went into action, his face masked with anger.

“Secure the grounds and the princess!”

But it was quite late. The doors exploded inward, wood splinters flying around the hall. Everyone began to run in different directions, everywhere now a total chaos.

Several bikes with masked riders drove in wearing leather cuts, bikers gloves and dark helmets. My father's guards began to shift into full wolf to attack, the intruders too were not giving them any chance.

There was a lot of screaming, yelling, groans, it was utter chaos. I stood frozen on the platform staring at everything unfold.

Then a bike burst in through the doorway and I realized with growing horror that it was heading for the platform, for me.

I tried to run. The rider drove up the ramp from the opposite direction and I tried to pick up my pace but clearly I was in a gown.

He drove next to me, grabbed me by the waist and threw me on the bike before me so that I straddled him.

I screamed and rammed my fists into his shoulder but he continued to drive ahead, maneuvering with one hand and the other holding my waist tightly.

“Let go of me, you monst—

My eyes widened in horror as I turned to look at what we were approaching. He was going to crash through the floor to ceiling stained glass windows.

I turned, burying my face in his shoulders as I whimpered. I heard the shattering sound of glass, the ripping sound of a dress, probably mine and then we were outside.

I felt the sun on my skin, the wind blowing my hair wildly—in the chaos, it had loosened and fell to my waist.

So this was what it felt like to be free.

Gunshots behind us snapped me back into reality. I looked behind us and saw both bikers and snarling wolves chasing after us.

I decided to take one moment of risk.

I tried to lean sideways, bend his hand and fall off the bike. Father said it was a great taboo associating with rogues and I wasn't going to be disgraced being kidnapped by one.

I tried to fall off but he caught me and avoided a bump. I heard the screech of his tyres and he jerked me back roughly.

“What do you think you're doing?” He hissed, his voice sounding more menacing through the helmet.

“Trying to escape, you dummy. Let me go”

“Stop fighting or we both die”, he hissed.

My body tensed, I knew that voice. It'd been etched into the little memories I had left.

We crashed through the gates and all I could hear were the loud roaring sounds of engines beside and behind us.

Who had taken me?