“Two Options”

CHAPTER SEVEN

- - - - -

Charlotte's POV

Tears slipped from my eyes as the weight of Damien’s words sank in. He wasn’t just scolding me, he was questioning the way my parents raised me. And in our world, that was a deep insult.

“I—I’m sorry, Your Majesty…” I whispered, my head still bowed.

Olivia started crying where she sat, looking fragile and heartbroken. Her mother gently rubbed her back, whispering to calm her down.

Watching her, I felt a wave of guilt. I had ruined her big day—something no one should ever have to go through. No matter how it happened, she didn’t deserve this.

My father rose to his feet, his voice thick with guilt.

“I apologize, My King and My Queen,” he said, bowing deeply. “This is my failure as a father. I clearly did not raise her well enough. I take full responsibility for her actions. Please… give me the chance to make this right.”

But Damien raised a hand, stopping him mid-sentence.

“Apologies won’t undo what’s already been done, Alpha Silas,” he said, his voice steady and cold. “This isn’t a broken dish or spilled wine. This was my wedding… and it was interrupted.”

I glanced at my mother, and my heart sank. She was holding back tears, trying so hard to stay composed. My father stood beside her, jaw clenched, barely keeping himself together.

Then Damien stood, and his voice cut through the room.

“Still, since she insists it was unintentional, I will show leniency.”

He paused, staring down at me. I knew he could see how badly I was shaking, but his face remained unreadable, completely blank.

“There are two options,” he said, turning his attention to my father. His voice was cold and steady. “Alpha Silas, your daughter stood beside me at the altar, and a royal toast was made before the court. In the eyes of the Kingdom, the union is sealed. She is now bound to me.”

My heart stopped. I looked up at him, barely able to breathe.

“She will either face punishment for taking what wasn’t hers—her hands will be severed with silver before sunrise, and your pack will be stripped of its rank and reduced to omegas.

Or…”

Damien continued, his eyes colder and darker than before.

“Or… she will remain here in the palace as my mistress. She will be marked and claimed by me, and she will never be allowed to accept her mate, even if the Moon Goddess grants her one.”

A sharp cry broke through the silence.

“Damien, how can you say that?!” Olivia’s voice rang with disbelief, her eyes wide with fury. “She humiliated you, she humiliated all of us! Her pack deserves worse than the first option. They should be exiled! You’re not supposed to give them a choice here,” she snapped, her voice growing louder.

“And now you want to reward her by keeping her close?”

Her hands clenched tightly in her lap, knuckles turning white as anger built in her eyes. But Damien didn’t even glance at her. His voice stayed calm, but there was a sharp edge to it.

“I understand your pain, Olivia. But don’t ever interrupt me again,” he said firmly. “What she did today doesn’t change the fact that you and I will still be married. So there’s no need for such harsh punishment.

If you have a problem with my decision, then find a way to deal with it.”

Olivia’s mouth fell open, stunned by Damien’s response. Her eyes burned with a mix of anger and heartbreak, and tears welled up as she stood from the table and stormed out of the room without another word.

Her mother quickly got up and rushed after her, calling her name as she followed.

I sat there, stunned by Damien’s verdict. A small part of me had hoped he might show me some mercy, but I was wrong. Both options felt like a life sentence. I couldn’t let my pack suffer exile because of me… but I also didn’t want to be bound to a man who didn’t love me.

Then Olivia’s father spoke up again, his tone heavy with disapproval. It was clear he didn’t support Damien’s choices either.

“My King, don’t you think you’re being too lenient with this girl?” Alpha Kaldros said, his tone edged with suspicion. “It’s making me wonder—did you really not know she wasn’t the bride at the altar?

We all agreed to keep the bride’s identity hidden from the kingdom, yes… but you know what Olivia looks like. So how come you didn’t stop the wedding? Are you hiding something?”

Damien’s eyes narrowed slightly, but a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

“Are you questioning me?” he asked, voice calm but dangerous.

“I—I’m sorry, My King,” Alpha Kaldros said quickly, bowing his head. “Forgive me for speaking out of turn… I just had to ask.”

“All right, Alpha Kaldros,” Damien said, his tone sharp, his eyes locked on Olivia’s father. “I could choose not to answer that question, but since you asked, let me make one thing clear—I have never met your daughter before. You can ask her yourself.

Maybe if you spoke to her more often, she would’ve told you that.”

He paused, his expression turning even colder.

“And again, that’s not the purpose of today’s meeting, Alpha Kaldros. Let’s not waste more time talking about things that aren’t important.”

His words hit with the weight of a slap, and the insult in his look was impossible to miss. For a moment, I forgot they were meant to be in-laws. The way they spoke to each other, it felt more like a power struggle than a family bond.

“I’m truly sorry, My King,” Alpha Kaldros replied, though his voice lacked sincerity. “I was only trying to do what’s best for my daughter. I’m a father, and I told you earlier that my pack and I would arrive a bit late due to unexpected issues. So when I got here and saw what happened… no father would just sit quietly. That’s why I spoke the way I did. I apologize again.”

Damien gave a short nod, dismissing the tension like it didn’t matter as he walked back to his seat.

“No worries. I understand, Alpha Kaldros,” he said dryly, before turning his gaze back to my father. “Now, back to the matter at hand. Alpha Silas… which of the two options are you choosing?”