Ungrateful pup.

"Luna Queen!" I blurted out bowing in respect, and my father bowed respectfully too.

"Don't do that, little pup. That's so impersonal. You can call me Queen Mother, and you must be Mr Stademan." She turned towards my father, extending her hand to him.

I think he was as shocked as I was. Did we get into the wrong room? I swear I saw my name written on the blue door.

"Luna Queen. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, but we must be in the wrong room. We are sorry to disturb you." My father bowed again.

"Don't be silly Mr Stademan. You're where you are supposed to be. I am the one who chose your daughter for my grandson." She said with a smile, and I interrupted without checking myself or who I was talking to.

Damn mouth, always blurting things out without my consent.

"But he is married. I just saw his wife with him in the hall. Unless you have another grandson we don't know about, I don't see how that is possible?" The glare I got from my father was enough to kill a bull, never mind me.

Which caused me to apologise immediately. Bowing my head in shame.

"Sorry, my Queen!."

"It's alright. I understand the shock but may I speak to you alone, Sophia?" She gave a forced smile which didn't allow me to decline.

She was upset by the disrespectful way I answered her.

"I will be outside." My father excused himself doubtfully but we both knew she might have asked the question but her tone implied otherwise.

It was an order.

"Sorry, my Queen I didn't mean to disr..'' She cut me off immediately.

"Shut up. Don't speak unless you're spoken to. Listen to me and listen to me. The next time you interrupt me while I am talking to you or show any kind of disrespect towards me, you will regret the day you were born.

Do you hear me? Heck, your whole generation will regret the day you became part of them." The authority in her voice shook me to the core.

"Yes, ma'am," I answered immediately.

"Good. Now where were we?" she kept quiet for a moment and I wondered if she was asking me the questions or if it was rhetorical.

"Yes. Your wedding to my grandson, Bryce. It's going to happen tomorrow, and as your contract states the marriage will expire in one year if you fail to provide an heir to the throne." She said it like it was simple.

An instruction you can easily achieve by following the rules.

But that wasn't my first problem, the real problem was the fact that the said grandson of the Luna Queen was already married and had his mate, and both were here at the Choosing as the chief guests.

Did they know about this? I highly doubt it. No woman would allow such a mishap to happen. Mostly they seemed happy together.

"He has a mate." That's all that came out even when I was told to keep quiet until I was permitted to do otherwise. I couldn't do it.

"Correction, dear. He had a mate, and just like you, her contract ended yesterday. It's your turn to do your duty and give me a grandchild, but unlike Laura, I am not going to be stupid enough to give you so much time to waste. I have my plans halted once. I won't let that happen again.

You only have one year to give me a grandchild or you're going back to your ratchet pack disgraced, and believe me, I will make sure of it. You can trust me on that." The last part was a threat, I could hear it as she hissed like I was the cause of her problems.

I didn't know anything about the royals, but I think this was going too far. What kind of person makes a contract for his grandson's marriage and decides when, and how the marriage should end?

What fucked up family did I trap me into?

"No disrespect, my queen. But Bryce seems happy with his mate. I saw him in the halls with her. Do they know about this? I can't come between a couple because they have been delayed the joy of having a pup.

The goddess is the only one who can grant children, not me nor you." At those words, I got myself a big slap that made my ear ring.

For a moment I couldn't understand what had happened in that split second, other than the raging pain on my cheek.

"You ungrateful little shit. You listen to me and listen to me, very well. My being here is out of courtesy. It's not like you have a choice in this matter. You signed the contract that stipulates you're going to wed Bryce in the next twenty-four hours or being called the cursed girl would seem like a picnic compared to what I will do to you and your family.

Your sister is married to the Beta of the Dark pack right?" She asked the question with a sinister smirk.

Again, I knew the question was rhetorical, but that didn't stop it from sending cold shivers into my spine.

"I am sorry?" The confusion was still in my voice, and I didn't mean for the apology to sound like a question.

"Your father drives an old silver Toyota right? Not that I wish anything bad for my wolves but do tell, Sophia. What would happen if his car suddenly didn't have breaks, his oil leaks, or something more sinister?

Rogues are dangerous this time of the year." She threatened with a sweet smile.

Her words were full of malice, but her face portrayed that of a very adoring mother as the words spat out of her mouth. That seemed to confuse my emotions.

"I am very sorry Luna Queen. I didn't mean to disrespect you, and I promise it will never happen again. I will do as you say and marry Bryce." My voice was shaky, I didn't even know how much her words got to me until I started speaking.

"His an Alpha to you. Next in line for the throne. Address him as one."

"Sorry, my Queen," I repeated.

"You sound like your marriage was ever a question. Now, you listen little pup. Anytime you start you have brilliant ideas about not following through, just remember one thing.

I will never touch a hair on your head, you owe me a grandchild after all, and I would ever do anything to jeopardise that, but your family won't be so lucky. Their fair game, and always will be." She again threatened me.

How many threats am I going to hear tonight?

Just when I thought my luck had changed, this happens?. What the hell did I do to the moon Goddess for her to punish me like this?

"I submit!" I said bowing even when my heart was boiling in rage.

Bowing was a sign of respect, but submitting was the ultimate sign that you had lost. You gave up, and whatever this was, was only the beginning.

How am I going to face Laura now? How am I going to explain to my family that I am marrying someone else, mate? How do you explain that?

"Good. Now tell your father everything is okay, and Igrid will be here in ten minutes to prepare you to look like a decent she-wolf fit to become a Luna." Then she watched me expectantly for a response.

"Yes, Luna Queen," I answered with my head bowed down in shame.

"It's Queen Mother to you. Now wipe that despair on your face, and cheer up. It's your wedding day, it's not like you're going to get a second chance at it." This time I nodded and fought the tears in my eyes.

I would do this for my family, for their protection, but one thing was clear. Once I had given the queen mother the heir, I was going to leave the Royal Pack.

That woman was a tyrant.

"Use your words. You're such a dumb girl. Here I am doing you a huge favor but you are still sulking like I am one in the wrong. I have saved you from being called a cursed girl, the plague. No one wanted to mate you here. I saved you, and this is the thanks I get? a nod.

Children these days are so disrespectful." She ended her insults while leaving the room, using another door that I didn't even realise was there.

She didn't even wait for my response.

I tried to compose myself, wipe my face, and calm my breathing before I did my best acting out the best, and happiest bride-to-be ever maybe I would be lucky and Bryce would decline but that also meant going back home.

At that moment I didn't know which one was worse, but first I needed to convince my father I was okay with being the second wife of Alpha Bryce.