Chapter TWO

Maren's POV

I didn't remember how I got back to my room. All I could recall was running away from the ceremony, desperate to escape the whispers and the pitying looks that followed me. By the time I reached my bedroom, my legs could barely carry me, and the moment I closed the door, I sank onto the floor.

For several minutes, I couldn't do anything but stare at the wall.

Rhydian had chosen my sister.

The thought was almost impossible to accept, especially when I remembered how excited I had been only hours earlier. I had spent the entire morning imagining what it would feel like to finally stand beside him as his mate. I had imagined his hand holding mine, his smile, and the pride on my parents' faces when the ceremony was over.

Instead, he had stood before the entire pack and called me weak. He had reminded everyone that my wolf had never properly awakened and made it clear that he considered me unworthy of becoming his Luna.

Then he had rejected me.

I pressed my palm against my chest as another wave of pain passed through me. The bond was broken, but the ache it left behind was still there. My wolf remained quiet, and I couldn't tell whether she was exhausted or simply hurting as much as I was.

I eventually dragged myself onto the bed.

By morning, the hurt had settled into something heavier. My eyes were swollen, my head ached, and I had barely finished washing my face when someone knocked on my bedroom door.

"Your mother wants you downstairs," a servant informed me.

I followed her instruction, hoping my parents had finally decided to speak to me about what happened. However, when I entered the sitting room, I found my mother standing beside the window while my father sat on the couch, studying a collection of documents.

Neither of them looked particularly concerned about my condition.

"Sit down, Maren," my mother said.

I remained standing. "What is this about?"

She glanced at my father before turning back to me. "We have discussed the situation, and we think it would be better if you left this house."

I stared at her, certain I hadn't heard correctly. "You want me to leave?"

"You cannot continue living here as though nothing happened," she replied. "The entire pack witnessed your rejection. People are already talking, and we don't need you constantly reminding everyone of the embarrassment."

I felt my throat tighten. "I was rejected yesterday. Where exactly do you expect me to go?"

"That is something you need to figure out," she said impatiently. "You are old enough to take responsibility for yourself."

I turned towards my father, who had finally put down his documents. Surely, he wouldn't agree with her. Even if he was disappointed in me, I was still his daughter.

"Father, are you really going to let her send me away?"

He looked at me for a moment before answering. "Your mother is being practical. Rhydian has made his choice, and there is nothing we can do about it. You should accept what happened and move on."

"But why should I have to leave? I haven't done anything wrong."

"You are making this more difficult than it needs to be," my mother interrupted. "Your condition has always been a concern, Maren. You have no awakened wolf, and now you have been rejected. What do you expect us to do? Keep supporting you while the entire pack looks down on this family?"

I lowered my eyes, struggling to process her words. I had spent years trying to prove that being an Omega didn't make me useless. I had tried to be helpful, obedient, and considerate, hoping that one day my parents would look at me with the same pride they showed Vesper. Yet, now that I needed them most, they were treating me like a problem they wanted to get rid of.

"I thought you were my family," I whispered.

"We are," my mother answered, though her expression remained unchanged. "But that doesn't mean we should sacrifice everything for you."

I looked at my father again, waiting for him to say something, but he simply picked up his documents. His silence told me everything I needed to know.

I left the sitting room before they could say anything else, but I heard a bit of what they said before I left.

"The creditors are becoming impatient," my mother said. "How much longer can we keep making excuses?"

My footsteps slowed.

"I know what I'm doing," my father replied. "But we cannot keep delaying them. If we don't make a payment soon, they'll start taking our properties."

My mother let out a frustrated sigh. "And where are we supposed to get that kind of money?"

"I am working on it."

"You've been saying that for months."

I moved away before they could notice me listening, but their conversation followed me all the way upstairs. I had known the family was experiencing financial difficulties, but I hadn't realized things were this serious. 

I was upstairs when I heard the commotion in the courtyard. Curious, I approached the window and saw several guards entering the compound. Their uniforms carried the royal insignia, and one of them was accompanying a man holding a sealed document.

Within minutes, a servant hurried inside to announce their arrival. I made my way downstairs and stopped near the entrance to the main hall, where my parents were already speaking with the messenger.

The man unrolled his document and began reading.

"By order of the royal household, all adult, unmated she-wolves within the kingdom are required to report to the royal palace for selection. The Alpha King is approaching his thirtieth birthday, and the royal family has authorized a search for a suitable woman to serve within the palace."

My mother exchanged a glance with my father.

The messenger continued, explaining that families whose daughters were accepted would receive substantial financial compensation. The amount would depend on the arrangement and the position offered, but he assured them that the royal household would reward families generously.

My father's interest became obvious.

"How soon will the selected families receive payment?" he asked.

"Once the candidates have been assessed and their positions confirmed," the messenger answered.

"And the selection is mandatory?" He asked.

"All eligible women are expected to report. Refusing a royal summons may have consequences."

I watched my father nod thoughtfully. He asked a few more questions about the arrangement, while my mother listened with unusual attention. Something about their expressions made me uncomfortable, although I couldn't yet understand why.

After the messenger handed over the remaining documents and prepared to leave, my father accompanied him towards the entrance. I returned upstairs, hoping to put the strange announcement out of my mind.

However, I couldn't ignore the feeling that my parents were considering something.

I had heard enough stories about Alpha King Aldric Voss to know that his palace was not a place people entered without fear. He was powerful, wealthy, and feared throughout the kingdom, but there were also rumours about his wolf. People said that something was wrong with him, that his control weakened during certain periods and that those unfortunate enough to be near him during those moments rarely escaped unharmed.

Some believed he was cursed. Others claimed his wolf had become too dangerous to recognize even the people who served him.

I couldn't understand why the royal family would suddenly be searching for women, but I hoped the announcement had nothing to do with me.

That hope didn't last long.

Later in the evening, I was sitting on my bed when I heard my father's voice coming from the hallway. His bedroom was a short distance away, and his door was slightly open. I wasn't trying to listen, but the moment I heard him mention the royal household, I sat up.

"Yes, I understand the arrangement," he said over the phone. "But I need to know how soon the payment will be made."

I slowly approached my door.

"The family is willing to cooperate. She is an adult, unmated, and eligible for selection." The voice said.

My stomach tightened.

Who was he talking about?

I moved closer, holding my breath as he continued.

"Yes, my daughter. Maren."

My fingers curled around the doorframe.

He was talking about me.

"Her circumstances make her suitable," he continued. "She has no mate, and there is no reason she cannot be sent to the palace."

I felt my heart begin to race. I wanted to step out and demand an explanation, but I couldn't bring myself to move. I needed to hear the rest of the conversation.

There was a brief pause before my father spoke again.

"Of course. As long as the compensation is enough to settle our most urgent debts, we have an agreement."

My breath caught.

He had already made an agreement.

He hadn't asked whether I wanted to go. He hadn't considered what might happen to me inside a palace where even the King's own people feared him. He had simply decided that my life was something he could exchange for money.

"She will be ready," he assured the person on the other end. "I will make sure of it.”