Chapter 2

After the meeting and a series of congratulations from the elders which had my head swirling in a few minutes, I walked back home but took another route that didn’t lead to my house.

I needed to speak to someone about all this craziness.

I needed someone who could understand my craziness.

I walked down a lonely road till I got to a very familiar building and knocked, my heart heavy with the news I had to share.

"Samantha!" my best friend, Lily, exclaimed as she opened the door. Her blonde hair framed her face, and her blue eyes were filled with warmth and concern as she peered into my face. “What brings you here? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I sighed, stepping into her inviting home. The scent of cinnamon and vanilla greeted me as I settled on the plush sofa. "You won't believe what happened at the pack meeting today, Lily," I began, my voice trembling.

Lily sat down beside me, her brow furrowed in worry. "What is it? You can tell me anything, you know that."

Taking a deep breath, I recounted the events of the day 

Lily listened intently, her hand gripping mine in support. "Oh, Samantha," she said, her eyes glistening with empathy. “That must have been very hard for you”

“Yes, it was. To find out like this that my whole life has been planned by another? It was terrible,”

‘What are you going to do about it?”

I sighed, “What is there to do? Nothing. I cannot disobey the alpha even if I want to. He says, "We follow.”

“You know the Alpha is a very smart man. He would not make a choice if he had not thought it through first.”

“I know that. That does not make it okay still. This is the marriage we are talking about. It’s the rest of my life. Imagine how it would feel to have the rest of your life announced and dictated to you in a public gathering”

Bad. It felt really bad.

“I know. I can imagine how you feel right now, trust me.” Lily said and placed a hand on my folded hands, “But you will be okay. I know you. You always find a way to adjust in the worst possible scenario,”

She was right. But I really don’t see how I’m supposed to adjust to this.

“I guess I have to just get used to the idea over time. And consider it an honor that I was chosen for such sacrifice,”

“Atta girl, “She grinned, “But what about Michael?”

To be fair I haven’t considered him since this news.

What would be his fate?

“He will be fine. No matter what becomes of me, nothing will ever take me away from him. Nothing,”

Not even an arranged marriage.

“I thought so too. Just know that I am always here whenever you want to talk. Okay? Who knows? This might just be what you need to finally get closure from what-is-his-name after eight long years.”

I highly doubted that, although that would be nice.

As usual my heart twisted painfully at the mention of my ex, Jackson.

My first love, and my only, to be fair. Jackson had been that man that made my heart beat. Until that fateful morning, when he looked me straight in the eyes and rejected me as his mate.

And I had never been the same ever since that day.

Never healing from the pain inflicted by him.

Lily and I chatted for a while longer before I stood up to go back home because my parents might start getting worried.

As I walked towards my family home. The comforting sight of the familiar wooden cabin, nestled among the tall trees and surrounded by the vibrant green foliage, provided little solace as I prepared to confront my parents about the arranged marriage.

The door creaked open as I entered, revealing my parents sitting in the living room, their expressions etched with concern. They had always been my pillars of support, and I knew I could count on them now more than ever.

"Mom, Dad, we need to talk about the decision the Alpha made," I began, my voice barely above a whisper.

My father nodded, motioning for me to sit down next to them on the worn leather couch. "We heard, Samantha. This is a huge responsibility that has been placed on you, and we understand that you must have concerns and fears."

My mother reached out, taking my hand in hers. "Sweetheart, you can tell us anything. We're here to listen and help you through this difficult time."

Taking a deep breath, I let the words pour out. "I just never imagined that I'd be the one chosen for this marriage. I don't know anything about the man I'm supposed to marry, and the thought of tying my life to a stranger from the rival pack scares me."

My father sighed, his eyes filled with understanding. "Samantha, we know this is a heavy burden to bear. But our pack is facing a threat greater than any we've encountered before, and the alliance with the rival pack is crucial for our survival."

My mother squeezed my hand, her voice gentle yet firm. "Sometimes, we must make sacrifices for the greater good. You are a strong and capable woman, and we have no doubt that you will face this challenge with the same courage and determination that you've shown time and time again."

 I listened to my parents, each word strengthening me with a new resolve. Their unwavering faith in me bolstered my determination to see this through, despite the doubts that still lingered in the back of my mind.

"You're right," I finally agreed, meeting their gaze. "I will do this for the pack, and for our family. I won't let you down."

My father smiled, placing a hand on my shoulder. "We're so proud of you, Samantha. We'll be with you every step of the way."

“Thank you so much,”

My mum wrapped me up in her arms, “You are a very brave girl And I can feel it in me that this will be very good for you. Just free your mind to accept it instead of fighting it. What is done is done<”

“Thanks ma, I surely will.”

“Do you have any idea when you will get to meet your husband?” She asked to release me from the hug.

“Yes. Alpha said we will meet tomorrow in the center for an official introduction.”

They both nodded with a smile, “Well that is great then. That’s good, that is good. So, we just have to get you ready to ensure you are in your best appearance,” Mum said.

I frowned at that, “What is wrong with my appearance now?” I asked with a frown looking down at my dress and she just waved her hand in a dismissive gesture.

“You always look beautiful darling. But you will be meeting your future husband. You have to look as pretty as possible.”

“What difference would that make? We are getting married either ways, so why bother>”

My mum regarded me with a haughty expression and dad laughed.

“You know how your mother gets. Allow her.”

“Fine then. Tomorrow. I need to get some rest first,” I walked to the stairs that led to my room hurriedly, to at least get away from the discussion about my arranged marriage.

“When is Michael coming back?”

My mum called after me.

“Tomorrow ma,” I shouted back and locked the door to my room, Collapsing on my bed seconds later.

Yeah.

I definitely needed to get away from all these for now. Just escape reality for now.

Tomorrow I can embrace the fact that I am getting married to a stranger.

The next day was a blur of activities in the whole pack. Everyone seems to be more excited than I am about this whole marriage thing.

Well that was because they were not the ones getting married, so to them they think that this is a very good gift.

When I went into the market that early morning to get some supplies for my mum, I had received dozens and dozens of congratulations till my head started spinning and I had to try my best to suppress the urge of screaming it in frustration. What on earth was wrong with these people?

I even overheard some girls whispering how lucky I was, and how they wished they were in my shoes. To marry the future Alpha of the almighty Crescent pack, making me the future Luna? Oh, what a gift.

Trust me darlings, I would gladly love to hand my shoes over to you. Maybe you will understand what it means to have your future dictated to you against your own free will.

My mother? Well she was not left off. Preparing different dishes and ordering me to apply this and that on my face and body.

I needed to look sparkling and beautiful, she said.

Honestly, who cares?

The whole pack was running around involved in one activity or the other.

Decorations and all.

The Alpha of Crescent pack and his son are coming to our pack today to meet their future bride.

Psst.

By noon everything was all ready. The pack hall was beautifully decorated with ribbons and flowers, everyone was in their best attire, seated and waiting for the big arrival.

And I was sitting beside the alpha on the high table, also beautifully dressed in a dress that was picked by my mother, adorned with different jewelries.

On that table, I felt like a dressed ram that would be used as a burnt offering to the mother goddess. But who was I to resist or say no.?

A few more people trooped in and settled down in the hall till the place got filled up, everyone anxiously waiting for their arrival

Few minutes later, I heard the sound of trumpets and some marching footsteps and the hall broke out into murmurs.

Seriously? Trumpets and parade? Dramatic much?

I scoffed.

“They are here. Oh, I can’t wait to see the leader of the almighty pack,”

Someone murmured from the crowd and I frowned. What was wrong with these people?

The hall opened and some soldiers marched in, about five or six of them, followed by a very beautiful and elderly lady, who I assumed was the Luna of the pack. Followed by another muscular elderly man.

Must be the Alpha. He had an unsmiling face unlike his wife.

His built physique gives him a very domineering look.

So, this was the leader of the crescent pack. The pack that had previously tormented us in the pack.

The whole stood up to greet them including our Alpha. I begrudgingly stood up too as he walked…strolled powerfully into the room, followed by a young man who wad…. wait a minute.

My knees grow weak immediately when I saw the young man behind the alpha, even as I squinted my eyes because surely my sights were deceiving me.

Oh no.

I gasped as my heart dropped into my stomach, my chest squeezing painfully and knocking the breath out of me. Pain shot to my heart from every nerve in my body, breaking it into a million pieces.

Everyone else had a different reaction to the young man who just walked into the room.

“Is that the Alpha’s son?” Someone whispered, “Oh my God he is so handsome.”

Of course, he was handsome.

But no one seemed to notice the fact that I was out of breath, and how terribly I was shaking.

Because this really cannot be.

His eyes went up and met mine, and his cold eyes widened in shock when he saw mw.

Jackson?

Jackson was my future husband? The same man who had made my life a living hell?