Seven

Anika's POV

Immediately after Reagan left, I felt my heart saddens. It was just yesterday we met but I got so attached to him.

I was already missing him.

I couldn't help but daydream about his lazy smiles and his half-smirks. He is so handsome and breathtaking.

Thank goddess, I met him while I was escaping from his marriage proposal, or else I would forever blame myself if I lost him to another woman.

“Anika, stop daydreaming and come here, let the seamstress take your measurements, we have limited time.” My mother let out, probably making a joke of my lovesick expression.

“Mama, stop it, you are not allowed to make fun of me.” I pouted as I moved closer to her and the seamstress.

“I'm not making fun of you, sweetheart. I just thought that it's amazing to see you mooning over the Alpha king. At least, I can be sure that you wouldn't feel forced when you marry him,”

“Mama, Reagan is a good man. When I left yesterday and bumped into his carriage, he didn't shout at me like how some Alpha would have done. Instead, he came down and tore a piece of his cloth to wrap my hind leg with.”

I explained to my mother as I relived the memory again with a large smile on my face.

I think that's when I started getting attracted to him or was it when I first heard his clear and calm voice? I really can't explain.

But I know I'm attracted to him, not just a bit. So much.

“Really, he did that?” My mother asked with her mouth open.

I knew she would be shocked because even I was shocked when I saw him rip off his clothes and wrap them around my hind leg yesterday. His actions were so gentlemanly, I got weak in my legs.

“I'm telling you the truth, Mama.”

“If what you said is true then maybe some of the rumors were wrong then, but you still have to be careful. Don't provoke him or try to make him angry because I heard that he gets very unreasonable when he's mad.”

“He won't hurt me, Mama. He's my mate. Mates protect each other, right? I asked my mother but she only nodded.

I saw her avert her gaze quickly but I didn't think much of it and let the seamstress take my measures.

“What color of gown do you want?”

“Hmm, I would have loved to wear white but because I would be traveling too, I think I would go for a nude pink.” I replied to the seamstress.

“Can you make the dress from the fabrics brought by the Alpha King? They will look so nice on her.” My mum said to the seamstress.

“Okay, Luna. What about the selections of jewelry and the rest?” The seamstress threw her next question at me.

“I will leave that to you, I don't really wear jewelry, so just choose some unique and simple ones that match the dress,” I replied.

I'm not really a fan of jewelry because they don't only add to someone's beauty but they are also quite heavy.

I'm someone who likes to be free and unbounded. I've never pictured myself wearing huge jewelry on my wedding day.

“Okay, Miss. I will report back to you later in the day.” The seamstress said with a bow and left.

I was chatting with my mother when my father came in.

“Anika, darling, how are you?”

“I'm okay, Daddy,” I replied and stood up to hug him. He hugged me back and sniffed after sighing heavily.

“Daddy, are you okay? Are you crying?” I asked two questions at a time.

My mother came forward when she heard my voice and gently patted my father's shoulder.

“Sweetheart, I can't help but cry when I remember that you will soon leave us soon.”

“Mama, tell Daddy to stop crying, it's not as if I'm going there to die. I will still come and visit.” I said to my mum but my voice was now heavy with emotions.

I really love my parents. We've always been so close because I was their only child.

Even though I'm eighteen, I've never thought of meeting my mate or leaving them.

I've always thought we trio will always be together until yesterday when I heard them talking about my mate being the Alpha King.

“I know, sweetheart,” My father replied, but his voice was very low as he gazed at me.

“Dad, you know I will be leaving tomorrow, I wanna tell Amy.” I discard every feeling of heart sickness, my body once again booming with excitement.

“Okay, sure.”

When I got back home later in the night, everyone was already asleep, so I went to bed too while anticipating D-day.

Repeated knocks on my door woke me up the next morning and I instantly knew who it was.

“Anika, wake up, and let's get started. You can't sleep in, you have a long day ahead of you.”

“Mama, I'm up. I'm coming downstairs now,” I announced loudly enough for her to hear me.

“Alright, sweetheart. Be quick!”

After that, I heard her steps decline.

I took a long breath and heaved an exasperated sigh.

Last night, I dreamt of Reagan. He was in a wedding suit with a woman beside him. She has long black hair like mine but when I went closer I found out that the girl wasn't me.

It was another girl who had an oval face and an unparalleled beauty. I saw that Reagan was smiling down at her.

I wanted to talk to Reagan and ask him who she was when I heard the repeated knocks on my door.

I felt so depressed when I remembered the dream. I just hope that Reagan doesn’t keep any of his mistresses in his house because I heard that he had lots of girls.

He won't do that anymore when we get married, right?

I really hope so.

After some hours, I was already done preparing and I was planning on leaving.

“Anika, take this ring with you, it belongs to my mother.” My mother said as she gave me a small sapphire.

I tried the ring on and I saw that it fitted perfectly around my index finger.

“Thank you, Mama, I love it.” I beamed and hugged her tightly.

I will miss them, especially my daddy.

I've always been closer to him.

“If he mistreats you, let me know, even though he's the Alpha king, I will still come and bring you back home.” My father said in a serious tone before hugging my mum and me together.

“Alright, Daddy, I will.”

I waved to them and entered the fancy carriage left by Reagan. His two soldiers, and Dolphus, who was left to lead my wedding caravan, followed on foot because my luggage was put in the second carriage.

I continued waving to my parents, Amy, and all my friends as the carriage took us further and further away from them till they declined from my sight.

Slowly, I began to get depressed because I'm leaving for an unknown place, where I only knew two people, Alpha King Reagan, my mate, and Dolphux, his Gamma. Typically, I will be living among strangers.

I suddenly felt my eyes switching and tears started streaming down my cheek.

It wasn't long when we left my pack that I heard close sounds of wolves howling.

At first, I thought they were just normal wolves until their scent hit me.

Rogues!

We are besieged by rogues!!

“Anika, stay in the carriage. Don't come out!”

I heard Dolphus, who was left to lead my wedding caravan, shout from outside.

I started shivering..

No!

No!

This can't be happening, I told myself repeatedly as beads of sweat start settling on my forehead.

It was really happening!

I heard sounds of bones shifting, I immediately knew that it was Dolphus and the two soldiers.

“Protect the Luna Queen with your lives!” Dolphus yells to the other soldiers following my procession.

I started feeling feverish when the pained sounds of the soldier standing at my side roared in pain and then everything was quiet.

“Anika! Get down and run! Run to your east. Don’t stop running until you see a sign with the Alpha King symbol,” Dolphus yelled to me as he helped me down the carriage.

He cried out in pain as one of the rogues bounced on him.

I tried to run back to him but he kept on shouting for me to run.

“Run, Anika!”

“Run!!”

And that was what I did.

I kept on running and running. I didn't shift so the rogues wouldn't smell my scent and catch up with me quickly.

I ran till my pale pink wedding dress was shredded into pieces by the thorns in the forest.

I felt pain assault my brain cells as my hind leg which was just healing broke again, and my shoe was already out there somewhere.

“Reagan! Where is Regan?”

Reagan, please save me!

I called out in my head as I tried running again but I couldn't anymore. I could only pant and limp as quickly as I could.

I looked around but I couldn't find any familiar places or any Alpha Symbol.

I have been running for so long and I'm running out of breath.

I tore what remained of my wedding dress and used it to wrap my hind leg as I saw Reagan do it the other day and started running again.

I haven't run much when I heard a distant wolf howl and I shiver in fear. They are here again.

I sniffed the hair for any normal wolf scent but it was only filled with a rogue scent.

My heart skipped a bit as I trembled.

West! West! Dolphus said to keep running west!!

I started another race and continued running and running till my leg passed out.

It could no longer move.

I looked back and saw three big wolves approaching me steadily as if we were playing hide and seek.

“Don't come near, don't!” I screamed at them but they didn't listen.

I turned back to start limping very fast but they no longer pursued me, they were just coming steadily.

There was no way anymore.

I had nowhere to limp or run to.

I was in a dead-end. I only have a cliff behind me.

I turned around but the three wolves were still approaching slowly but surely.

I shiver, huffing out labor pants. I can't die here.

No!

I don't want to be torn to pieces by these rogues.

I looked frantically between the cliff and the wolves, tears streaming down my cheeks as I trembled in apprehension and dismay.

Reagan, I'm so sorry.

I can't be with you in this life.

I looked at the three big wolves again and I didn't hesitate before jumping off the cliff.