Chapter Four

Aria’s Pov

“ What if I say No, I don't want a mating ceremony with you?” My voice suddenly became bold. Who was he to force me into a mating ceremony?

“ I never gave you an option to pick ria. Did I?” He asked me with a daring smile. How am I so sure that he is indeed my pup’s father?

“ I guess you have to prove to me that you are my mate and the father of my pup, if not I am not going to agree with the mating ceremony”. I blurted out but he just let out a throaty laugh. What was funny?.

“ Like I said Ria, I never gave you a chance where you got to pick an option. Would you like to know which part of your body bears my mark? He chuckled, narrowing his beautiful grey eyes at me.

“You bear my mark ria, in the most intimate part of your body,” He said, his rough hands on my skin spreading sparks down my body. I stood frozen. How did all of that happen without my knowledge?

“ Or will you like me to remind you about all that happened that night, and trust me it will be a shame you don’t remember any of it. You begged for it, how on earth do you expect my wolf to deny a young innocent girl like you?” His cocky smile widened on his lips. He was openly flirting with me in front of my entire pack, in front of my father.

“ Fine we will have the mating ceremony but on my own terms.” I barred my shoulders, now I have to decide my own fate.

“ What ever you chose as long as the mating ceremony holds tommorrow.” He said, his voice sounded like it was the final decision.

“ I need the ceremony to be held in two days. I am not really a Luna, I need to get prepared for the role.”

“ I never asked you for a Luna duty or role, you will be my mate, the mother of my pup” His eyes fell on my stomach as though he could see my ….our pup.

“ The ceremony still holds tomorrow, you can’t disobey your Alpha, your mate. Can you do that?” He taunted me, an evil grin plastered on his face. Why was he flirting with me openly?.

“Prepare my bride, force her if you have but make her stunning for her mate tomorrow.” He ordered the female gamma. He kissed me on my cheek before leaving the hospital.

I was doomed, he was cocky but somehow I loved it, his air was commanding. He was certainly the kind of man Melissa- my stepmother feared.

Somehow I didn't care if my life was going to end in forty eight hours but I was happy my prayer was finally answered by the Moon Goddess. I have a mate to call my own.

“ You will suffer for what that beast did to me.” My stepmother fumed in anger. Was she threatening my wolf and I was weak but not my mate, not the father of my pup.

Just then the head of the pack maid arrived with five other maids behind her.

“Princess the Alpha asked us to get you ready for the ceremony,” The head of the maids, Clara muttered, bowing her head. I looked surprisely at her, this was the first time in months she called me princess and even bowed her head.

My stepmother made me a slave in my father’s own house. This same woman bowing her head made me scrub the kitchen floor all through the night for seven days.

“Tell my father I will be ready shortly,” I rolled my eyes at her sudden change of behaviour. Why was she suddenly respectful to me? I thought I was a crippled beast to her.

“Am sorry Princess, the order wasn’ t from your father.” she muttered, her head still facing the ground.Things just started to get more interesting.

“Tell him I will be ready in no time.” I turned my back to her.

“Please you have to come with us princess, he threatened to rip our head off if you don’t come with us at this moment,” She whispered, her voice filled with intense fear.

“Fine, let go.”

***

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, My white flowing dress made of pearls that perfectly suits my hour glass body. My Auburn hair was perfectly styled,this was the first time I wore something expensive

My mind races with different thoughts. My life was about to end in two days.

“Aria.” The seer called me as soon as she entered the room. I smiled at her, while my heart kept pounding tirelessly like it would explode at any minute.

“Am I going to die like the rest?” I asked her, my eyes already welled up in tears. “You aren’t going to die, my daughter." She smiled warmly at me.

“What difference can I make– I am crippled.”Tears gushing out my eyes. “You aren’t cripple Aria, your stepmother is responsible for making Cassia crippled.” She said with a sincere look on her face.

“She did what?” I snapped.

“She made your wolf cripple.” she muttered softly.

“Is my father aware of it,” I growled. “Yes that's why he rejected you as his daughter, your step mother threatened him.”

“Threatened him with what?” I was nervous

“With the death of your mother.” she said.“What about my mother?” My voice was cold. Why will my father be responsible for my mother’s death?.

“I can’t tell you child, you will find the truth in due time.” She said with a reassuring smile, before leaving the room.

Everything made sense now. My father's sudden change of character. My stepmother constantly abuses his deaf ears towards it.

“If i was really going to die in two days time will accept it.” I said with a sad smile on my face.

“Let me help you fix your dress, sis.” My step sister Sophia's overly sweet voice cut through my thoughts.

“Leave!!” I snapped angrily at her. “I know you dream of becoming a luna but the Moon Goddess blessed you with a cursed pack to suit you.”Her face plastered with an evil grin.

“You know the reason he considers you a mate is because of that you bear in your stomach she said pointing at my stomach.

“That’s not the only reason, my wolf recognizes him.” I said, defending myself even though it was a lie.

“You have a wolf.” She chuckled.

“Yes I do.”I replied with confidence, I have a wolf don’t I?.

“You and that crippled beast of yours will be dead in two days after all,” She said with a huge smile on her face. “Why don’t I make things easier for you,” She said, striding towards my direction.

“I don’t have time, my mate seeks my attention,” I said as I made my way towards the door. But she was faster. She yanked my dress, pulling my hair with her other hand.

“You beast you have always taken what has always been mine,” She screamed like a lunatic, her face reddened with anger. “You have to die!” She said her breath suddenly became fast as though she was possessed with an evil spirit.

I tried to free myself from her hold but she was stronger.

“Please” I begged my voice low. But it fell on deaf ears.

“I need to get that pup out of you, I can't watch you live a better life why i suffer,” She said as she tied my hand.

“Sophia we can talk about this, I am sorry” I begged her.

“I have always wanted to be a mate with Alpha Damien but you scratched him,” She muttered, her breath rising with intense rage.

She brought out a syringe out of where only the Moon Goddess knows.

“You think I will sit back like a good girl and watch you take all of that freely,” She said with an evil grin on her face.

“Bye sis,” She said as she injected me with the syringe in hands and headed out the room. My legs suddenly became weak as I fell on the floor, my vision blurred as I struggled to breath.

Then everything went black.