Chapter 4: The Engagement

 Chapter 4: The Engagement

Clara’s POV

I couldn’t find Cora anywhere. My father was taking the stand, and it was time for him to announce my engagement. It turned out the trick we had pulled earlier hadn’t worked.

“Zoey, have you seen Cora anywhere?” I rushed over to where Zoey was standing.

“She’s outside with Jace. What is the matter? You don’t look so good…”

How could I look good when my father was about to ruin my life, and yet there was nothing I could do about it?

I tried my best to walk past people calmly, trying not to draw attention to myself.

“Clara… where are you going?” I heard a voice call from the other side of the room.

It was Kael.

He was walking towards me, and I managed to fake a smile.

Kael hadn’t even said hello to me since the party started, not even a birthday wish. This was the man I was supposed to marry?

“Your dad asked me to come and get you. He’s making the announcements soon…”

“Forget about that clown. She doesn’t need to be here. This is our engagement.”

Kael scoffed, and I immediately felt disgusted. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I released my grip on my gown and turned to face him fully.

“I will not allow you to insult my sister. It’s disrespectful.”

“It’s not an insult. Everybody knows your sister is a clown…”

I swallowed hard. I wasn’t proud of what I was about to say, but I was going to say it anyway.

“You once told me, while you were drunk, that my sister was your first choice. Remember?”

Kael went mute. He ran his hands through his hair, looking around to see if anyone had heard what I said.

It was two years ago. We had gotten together after attending an event, and that was the one time I saw him act recklessly. He was drunk, and his words had been clear.

“If Cora wasn’t such a rebel, she would have been my Luna. I would have made her my Luna if she wasn’t such a crackhead.”

He had hated Cora ever since their fight and because of how she had turned out. In the end, he had settled for me.

Maybe nobody else knew this, not even Kael himself, but Cora was his first love.

“Clara… I was drunk. You know that,” he whispered.

“Tell my father I am going to get my sister.”

I didn’t respond to anything else he had to say. Instead, I started rushing towards the door. I knew she was probably at her usual spot with Jace. I needed her.

I pushed the door open, my eyes scanning every corner.

I was right. She was sitting with Jace.

“Cora…” I hurried towards them, but just as I was about to call out to her again, now that I was closer, my ears caught what they were discussing.

“I want you to be my girlfriend…”

My whole body went cold. I covered my mouth with my palms and started stepping back slowly.

I knew this day would come. Jace was in love with my sister, and they would make a perfect couple. I was the Alpha’s betrothed. That was how it was supposed to be.

Who was I fooling?

This was my responsibility. I might hate it, but I couldn’t run away from it.

I wasn’t Cora. Jace would never look at me.

I paused at a corner. I was on the verge of crying, but I couldn’t. I would ruin my makeup, and I couldn’t afford to do that now that my father was about to announce our engagement. I could already hear him speaking on the stage.

“Clara… honey…”

I walked in just in time, my body shaking profusely.

All eyes turned to me.

“As you already know, my daughter is turning eighteen today…”

“Daughters,” my mom corrected through gritted teeth.

“My daughters… Clara and Cora. You also know that one of my daughters, Clara, has been promised to the Alpha’s son, Kael.”

I thought I was going to get sick. My heart couldn’t stop beating so fast.

“Today, I stand before you all as a pack to announce that both families have agreed that, upon the completion of their mandatory years at Shadow Fang Academy, they will be joined together as husband and wife…”

It was at that moment that Cora entered, standing side by side with Jace. She was about to step forward, but I saw Jace hold her back.

There was nothing she could do now.

“Clara, my dear child, please step forward…”

I prayed in my head that my knees wouldn’t fail me. I slowly walked towards my father, and Kael was already standing beside his father.

My father handed me over to Kael. He held my hands, and I felt nothing.

I wasn’t expecting a mate bond or anything, but he had never once made my heart flutter.

We bowed before our parents as applause filled the room.

When I raised my head, Cora’s eyes were the first I met.

The night ended well for everyone else, but not for me. Guests were already leaving, and my father and the Alpha were busy discussing. Cora had already left with Jace, leaving me alone at the table with my thoughts.

“You still didn’t wish me a happy birthday…” I said to Kael.

“Happy birthday, Clara,” he said without even looking at me.

I couldn’t marry this man.

“It was a long night. I should get going… We leave for the academy in two days, and I need to pack my bags.”

I gulped down the glass of wine on our table and left.

I made my way to Cora’s room, with so many emotions running through my head. But the moment I opened her door, all those thoughts faded when I saw Jace in her room. They looked like they were having a conversation.

“Clara…” Cora stood up immediately when she saw me.

“I was about to leave…” Jace stopped in front of me and tapped my shoulders. “Congratulations on your engagement.”

I shut the door immediately after he left and finally let out a deep breath, my hand shaking even as I held the doorknob.

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there when Father went up on the stage…”

“It’s okay. I wouldn’t want to ruin your own moment…”

“What moment?”

“You don’t have to lie to me… I heard Jace ask you to be his girlfriend…”

Cora went quiet. She took a deep breath and moved closer to me.

“Do you really think I will date Jace? I know you have feelings for him…”