Chapter 7 - Holly

“Be quiet, Holly, or I swear I’ll stick this damn tiara in your head!” my mother growled, making me shrink back in my chair.

“It’s just… The dress is preventing me from… Breathing…” I tried to move a little, hoping to loosen the ropes on my back, but I had no luck again.

“If you weren’t as fat as a pig, we wouldn’t need to tighten the corset so much!” my mother spat, shoving my shoulders to hold me in place again “You’re about to step into the Alpha’s house! No matter how much makeup I put on, your face will embarrass us anyway. So, at least your clothes have to make a good impression!”

“I can’t believe you’re going to do this!” Louis grumbled nearby, his anger barely disguised “All the other families Alpha asked for a bride refused! Why can’t you do the same?”

“Stop talking nonsense or you’ll be sleeping under the snow tonight, Louis!” Mother yelled “Thank goodness we have the excuse that you’re still recovering from the amputation, or I’d have to gag you! You’ve always been rude, but it seems like your ridiculous rebelliousness has only gotten worse since you came back from the army…”

“You want to know what really got worse? Your fucking hypocrisy!” Louis stood up so violently that his chair tipped over “You’ve spent my whole life talking about raising and nurturing me only so I could become a decorated warrior. But now that I can’t fulfill your dream of prestige and fortune anymore, you’re no longer ashamed to treat your own son like I’m worthless, are you?”

"Be careful how you talk to your mother…!"

“You just want to use us like we’re pigs you can slaughter when you need meat! Damn it, Mom, I could have died and all you know how to talk about is how I’ll never be able to fight again, as if that’s worth more than my life!” My heart broke when I heard the embarrassment in his voice, “And Holly could die at Noah’s hands, but you clearly don’t care at all…!”

“Listen here, you ungrateful brat!” she growled, grabbing his shoulders “I didn’t waste my youth, my future, and my sanity creating flaws, understand? We found a use for your sister and we’ll do the same for you at some point. If you’re not willing to fight for a good future, then your father and I will do it for you! So shut your damn mouth and don’t cooperate, understand?!”

“Oh, sure.” Louis scoffed “Since you couldn’t be useful for anything, then I guess all that’s left is to get something through your kids, isn’t it?”

“Louis!” I gasped as mother’s hand struck his face with a furious slap.

“Maybe that’s why the Moon God turned you into an invalid!” she snarled “It was the best way to punish an ungrateful son like you!” She extended her finger in his direction before turning to me “Sit there and don’t move an inch, Holly! I’ll just go get some perfume and then we’ll go to Alpha’s house!”

She continued to stare at Louis with eyes full of hatred until the moment she walked out the door. However, before I could get up to go to him, my brother rushed over to me, his cheek bearing a red mark in the perfect shape of our mother's hand.

“I won’t let them do this to you!” he murmured, kneeling beside me “I won’t, Holly, I promise! I’ll help you escape this place…”

“I don’t want you to get into trouble for me, Louis…” I sniffled “If I’m going to do it… I’ll do it myself.”

“There’s no ‘if,’ Holly!” He grabbed my hand, his voice becoming extremely low “Listen, Alpha Kaia gave me a good amount of money to help support myself after the amputation. I kept it at a friend's house so that Dad and Mom couldn't touch it. I want you to take some of it and run away to some human city. Where none of them can find you, especially Noah!”

"You..." my blood ran cold with pure terror "Do you think he might try to come after me to get revenge?"

“I… I don’t know.” Louis swallowed hard “But, if there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that he highly values ​​his family’s honor. If he’s offended by his fiancée running away… I don’t even want to imagine what he’d be capable of.”

"But…”

“Damn, I can hear her coming back. We'll work everything out better later, okay?”

“Finally, we can go!” mother grumbled as she entered, but thankfully Louis had already returned to his chair “Come on! Get up! I hope this perfume can compensate for your lack of smell.” She sprayed several times around me, making my nose burn “Come on, hurry up! We’re almost late! And remember…!” she said, grabbing my arm “If you say a single word to try and ruin this, I will personally set you on fire again, understand?”

"Yes, Mom." Even with my stomach churning and an overwhelming urge to run away, I followed her out of the room and out of the house, where Violet and Dad were waiting for us, dressed in their best clothes.

Alpha Kaia's house wasn't far. It was right in the center of town, where any of us could reach it if we needed anything. It was bigger than most houses, but still cozy. She let the children use her library, and all the parties were held in her enormous patio. I remember hearing her say once that the house wasn't hers, it belonged to all of us.

Under other circumstances, I would certainly be honored to become her daughter-in-law.

“My Alpha!” my father said the instant we entered the front garden, and immediately everyone in our family bowed, showing our necks in reverence.

However, discreetly, I raised my eyes, peeking under my eyelashes. Alpha Kaia was there, her long, black hair cascading down her back and a gentle, yet almost sad, smile on her face. Beside her was her mate, Arthur. I didn't know much about the pact that led the Lunefar pack to our Alpha's first marriage, but he wasn't the father of my future husband. He was the father of the one we called the second prince.

Cassian. He was there too, blond, handsome, and charming, just like his father. It wasn't just Violet who dreamed of marrying him, but I think all the girls in the pack did. I can't say I ever had a crush on him, though. I considered him the most handsome man in the world, in an almost bureaucratic way, before. It was common sense.

But now, I couldn't stop thinking that the man who was in my cabin was more handsome.

Damn, I forgot to ask Louis about him again. Before leaving, I wanted to at least find out a little more about my Big Bud.

“William.” Alpha Kaia greeted my father, bringing me back to reality “Thank you for coming. And thank you again for accepting us. I promise your daughter will be in good hands.” She turned her eyes to me and, instead of disgust, I only found affection in her gaze when she saw my face “Welcome, dear. It will be wonderful to have you in the family.”

"Thank you, my Alpha." I murmured, trying not to let fear creep into my voice.

“Shouldn’t we let the poor girl get to know her fiancé better, Mother?” Cassian asked, and though his voice sounded friendly, there was a hint of disdain there that reminded me of Violet “She’s certainly looking forward to that part.”

“Of course…” Alpha Kaia turned to the door behind her, looking almost exhausted “Holy Moon, we talked about this, it’s impossible that he…” Her nose twitched discreetly, “Oh, there he is. It’s a pleasure to introduce you to my son Noah, dear. And… Don’t let him scare you.” She murmured just to me, as the front door opened “I promise he’s not like the rumors say.”

Swallowing hard, I tried to remain composed as the door opened. I tried to prepare myself for what was to come. A monster. The most terrifying man I had ever seen. Death incarnate.

But when a gigantic figure appeared, my blood turned to ice. Because I realized that it was nothing more than… familiar.

I wanted to know Big Bud's name so badly, and now I know.

Noah Silverheart.

The future husband I wanted to run away from.