Chapter 4: Three Days Until the Wedding

Violet

The first thing I feel when I wake up is the burning pain in my wrists. The silver chains are gone, but my skin hasn't forgotten them. I wince as I try to sit up, immediately regretting the movement. My entire body aches from what happened at Darius's castle, and my wolf remains unusually quiet. It's been a day since his warriors brought me back to the caves, yet I still can't get that bastard's threats out of my head.

My mother is sitting beside me, dividing a small piece of bread into portions. She looks exhausted, with dark circles beneath her eyes. When she notices I'm awake, she immediately sets the bread aside.

"How are you feeling, sweetheart?"

"Like I've been run over by a carriage."

She manages a small smile, although the sadness in her eyes doesn't disappear.

"The healer checked on you while you were sleeping. Your burns are healing, but she said the silver has weakened your wolf. You shouldn't push yourself."

I look down at my bandaged wrists. Every time I close my eyes, I can still hear Darius threatening to execute my father and send his warriors after everyone hiding in these caves. I thought I could escape him, but all I managed to do was make things worse.

"Mom, do you think he'll really do it?"

She frowns.

"Do what, Violet?"

"Kill everyone if I refuse to marry him."

Her expression changes immediately.

"I don't want to find out, sweetheart."

I lower my head, swallowing the lump forming in my throat. I hate that answer, but after meeting Darius, I know exactly why she's afraid.

"I'm terrified of him," I admit. "I know I acted brave when I was standing in front of him, but I thought he was going to kill me."

My mother gently pulls me into her arms.

"I wish I could protect you from all of this."

I bury my face against her shoulder, fighting back tears. Before the invasion, my biggest worries were finding my fated mate and convincing my father to let me travel beyond our territory. Now I'm eighteen years old, my father is imprisoned, and I'm being forced to marry a man who has already threatened to destroy what's left of my family.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps echo through the cave.

"Ma'am!"

One of our surviving warriors appears near the entrance, breathing heavily. My mother immediately releases me and turns toward him.

"What happened?"

"Warriors from Alpha Darius's pack have arrived. They're asking for you and your daughter."

My stomach drops.

"Did they say why?" my mother asks.

"They brought a message from the Alpha."

Of course they did.

That bastard apparently can't leave us alone for a single day.

I push the blanket aside and struggle to my feet.

"I'm coming."

"Violet, you're still injured."

"And I'm not going to hide every time Darius sends someone here!"

My mother looks as though she wants to argue, but eventually helps me stand. We make our way toward the entrance, where three unfamiliar warriors are waiting. All of them wear the emblem of Darius's pack, and the man standing in the middle holds a sealed scroll.

"Which one of you is Violet, daughter of Alaric?" he asks.

I step forward.

"That's me. What does your Alpha want now?"

The warrior briefly glances at my bandaged wrists before breaking the seal.

"By order of Alpha Darius, the marriage ceremony will take place in three days. An escort will arrive on the morning of the wedding to take you to the castle. Once the marriage is completed, the surviving members of your pack will be allowed to return to their lands under Alpha Darius's authority."

For a moment, I simply stare at him.

Then my anger gets the better of me.

"Excuse me?"

The warrior lowers the scroll.

"Is there something you didn't understand?"

"Yes! The part where that bastard thinks he can schedule my wedding without my permission!"

My mother grabs my arm.

"Violet, please."

"No, Mom!" I pull away and turn back to the warrior. "I haven't agreed to marry him! Your Alpha said he wanted an answer, and I haven't given him one!"

"The Alpha has made his decision."

"Well, he can change it!"

The man's expression hardens.

"Miss, I suggest you remember who you're speaking about."

"And I suggest you tell your Alpha that I'm a person, not some piece of property he can claim whenever he wants!"

The warrior exchanges a look with his companions but doesn't respond.

I open my mouth to argue again, only to notice the people gathering behind us. Several survivors are listening to the announcement. Some look frightened, but others seem relieved.

An elderly woman starts crying when she hears we'll be allowed to return home. Another survivor whispers a prayer of thanks to the Moon Goddess.

And suddenly, I feel sick.

They're happy because the marriage means they might finally get their lives back.

I want that too. More than anything.

But why does saving everyone have to cost me my freedom?

"There's something else I need to know," I say, forcing myself to remain calm.

The warrior looks at me impatiently.

"What is it?"

"My father. Darius promised to release him after the wedding. Is that still part of the agreement?"

"Yes. Alaric will be released once the marriage has taken place."

"Then I want proof that he's still alive."

The warrior hesitates.

It's barely noticeable, but I see it.

My heart begins pounding.

"What happened?"

"Your father is alive, miss."

"Then why did you hesitate?"

He exchanges another glance with the men beside him.

"Alaric was involved in an incident at the prison."

My mother's hand immediately tightens around mine.

"What kind of incident?" she demands.

"He attempted to escape during a change of guards. There was a struggle, and he was injured."

For a second, I forget how to breathe.

"Injured?" I repeat. "What do you mean, injured? How badly?"

"I wasn't informed of the severity of his injuries."

"Then find out!"

"Violet," my mother whispers, her voice trembling.

I turn toward her and realize she's already crying.

"Is my husband receiving medical attention?" she asks the warrior.

"According to the information I received, he's being treated by the prison healer."

"Can we see him?" I ask immediately. "Please. I need to know he's all right."

"Visits are prohibited until after the wedding."

I stare at him in disbelief.

"Are you serious?"

"Those are Alpha Darius's orders."

"He's my father! He's injured, and you're telling me I can't even visit him?"

"I'm not authorized to make exceptions."

"Then let my mother go!" I insist. "She's his wife! Surely your Alpha can allow her to see her own husband!"

"I'm sorry, miss. No visits."

My mother brings a trembling hand to her mouth.

I want to scream.

I want to march straight back to that castle and demand that Darius let us see my father. But the memory of his golden eyes and the way he threatened my family stops me.

I know what he's capable of.

And I can't risk making things worse for Dad.

"Please," I whisper, fighting back tears. "At least tell us if he's going to survive."

The warrior's expression softens slightly.

"I was told his condition is stable. That's all I know."

It's not enough.

Not nearly enough.

But I cling to those words because they're all I have.

The warrior folds the scroll and hands it to my mother.

"Alpha Darius expects you to be ready when his escort arrives. He's also ordered me to warn you that another escape attempt will be considered direct disobedience."

His eyes settle on my bandaged wrists.

"I strongly advise you not to test his patience again."

I glare at him but remain silent.

After giving a brief nod, he turns and walks away with the other two warriors.

My mother stays beside me, staring at the scroll in her trembling hands.

"Your father tried to escape," she whispers. "Oh, Moon Goddess, what if he's hurt worse than they're telling us?"

I immediately wrap my arms around her.

"He's alive, Mom. They said he's stable."

"But we don't know what happened to him!"

"I know."

She starts crying against my shoulder, and I hold her as tightly as my injured arms allow.

My father has always been a proud Alpha. He fought to protect our pack until there was no one left capable of standing beside him. I can only imagine how much he must hate being trapped in Darius's dungeon while his people suffer.

And now he's injured because he tried to escape.

I look toward the forest, where Darius's warriors have already disappeared.

Three days.

That bastard has given me three days before his men return to take me to the castle.

Three days before I'm expected to stand beside him and promise to become his wife.

I don't know how to save my father. I don't know how to convince Darius to abandon this marriage. And I can't run away again without putting everyone I love in danger.

For the first time, I begin to understand that my mother might be right.

Maybe there really isn't another way.

Because in three days, I'll either become Alpha Darius's bride or risk losing everyone I have left.