Tomorrow's Bride

Chapter Two

SERAPHINA 

After a while of silence in my room and pacing back and forth, father finally left the sitting room, slamming the door behind him. We have never fought. I can't say he had been a softer version of parenting since my mother passed away, if anything, losing her had brought him closer to us- his girls. 

Now I was left in my room, pondering the direction my life had taken from Alpha's daughter to the future wife of a monster. It didn't help when the pack members' plantation got looted and crops destroyed, they chose to blame father instead of the Lycans. And it was so frustrating seeing my father having to plead all over and over again to the people. 

They'd been the bane of my existence since I could remember, having grown up in this world as it was. They're the very things I had grown to detest. Grandmother had told me they never existed when she was a child. They had lived their life in the shadows where they ought to belong. 

But instead, when my grandparents were teens, they had stepped out of their hiding shadows in a large number and asserted dominance quickly over the werewolves. Of course, the werewolves didn't take this lightly and tried to fight back at first and declared war. But the Lycans were cunning and devils-in-wolfs-clothing. They gathered in large forces, took the werewolves by surprise and raided the packs. Destruction was the order as they mercilessly burnt, killed and raped the werewolves. 

When the dust settled, the werewolf population had withered and nearly gone into extinction, and the packs which weren't caught in the fire gave up their lands and shuttled off to smaller towns and began re-building their packs.

We were offered electricity, sewage, phone lines and access to clean water, but that's where their kindness ended. Education was in the neighboring Lycan packs – racist occurs, but we were allowed to study in their schools. But we were left to grow our crops, rear our animals, process our foods, mend our clothing and do other things with the little resources we were able to lay our hands on. Eighty-five percent of the people were farmers with little education. Only the werewolves with funds were capable of sending their children to the lycan's exorbitant schools.

I looked at the wall clock above my bed, signifying the workday was ending for most. My father had called me to discuss something important in detail. I didn't know the considerable debate would be the end of my precious life. Why did he think marrying me to a Lycan would bring peace between both species? And clear off our debts? And him believing it'd be a safe union was annoying. Leone was a monster, a king to a race of monsters.

I grabbed my phone next to my bed and placed it on my ears, making sure my father wasn't on the other end of the line planning my arrangement. When the dial tone hit me, I quickly punched the numbers I knew by heart.

Freya answered after several rings, breathlessly. She must have run to catch the phone. “Hey, bigsisto,” she rasped. I could picture the wide smile breaking on her lips.

I returned the smile at the receiver, even knowing fully well she couldn't see me. “Hey, little angel, what are you doing causing you to breathe this way? Have you made another catch? Is he cute? Does he ride you well?” 

“No, sister, and don't start now, I am not in the mood.” She half tutted and half-warned me.

A laugh escaped my lips before I could control myself. “Hmm.” I hummed, taunting her the most.

She hissed, and I knew it was backed up by her rolling her eyes at me. “How are you? Are you alright? How's father? And the pack? Any news?” 

I sighed and collapsed on the bed. “I don't know how to break this news to you, but…. I'm set to be married.”

The silence at the end of the phone was deafening. Freya was my younger sister and the closest family to me now. Even though it's been years since she left the pack to study at one of the neighboring lycan pack's, and we barely see each other often…still she was my favorite family, and we catch up on gist through phone calls and spend more time with each other when she's home during holidays.

But Freya was a notorious playgirl. Most of our discussions range from her latest guys hit to her recent bed warmers to fashion sophistication and other girly stuff. Where she was a pro in those, I was but an inexperienced virginal big sister. She was my corruption and I love her for it.

I wonder if my virginity had been a topic of discussion with Leone or his grandfather. Had they demanded a virgin sacrifice? I shuddered terribly at the thought of my father discussing my sexual life.

Freya was already talking, I wheeled my mind and focused on what she was saying.

“— why would father do that to you without your consent and freewill? And who the hell is taking my sister?” She demanded furiously.

“Leone Night.” I huffed in frustration.

“The Lycan monster?” 

“The only one!” I nodded, despite Freya not being able to see me.

“Holy moly shit!' she exclaimed dramatically. “Is dad okay? Why would he do this to you?” 

I released a breath. “Because he says the family is dwindling in debt, the packs are getting riled up and on the verge of dividing, his Alpha status is hanging in the balance. And he thinks it will bring unity among both species. Leone's grandfather insisted on a girl with notable status. Apparently, I am the notable and chosen sacrifice to the monsters.”

“Ohhh my!” Her tone was sad as the weight of the proposal crushed on her. “I am so sorry, sister. I was going to inform you about the latest information on my education, but I guess it's not new anymore.” 

My heart sank at her tone, she was still receiving the threats from the school authorities. And for whatever reason, it was shattering my heart into pieces. I could not start thinking of the ridicule we would face if she returned to the pack without being a graduate. 

“You don't have to be sorry Freya, it's not your fault. This is my cross as the first daughter, and I am going to carry it with smiles on my face. And you won't be dropping out of school, okay?” 

“You will marry the Lycan monster?” She balked.

“Yes.” I deadpanned. And then sighed. “Freya, I don't have a choice. I have to do this to clear the debts, keep you in school, uphold the stability of the pack and our rights.” I paused thoughtfully. “ I already played the card by trying to talk him out of it, but our hands are tied, we've got no other plan B. My fate is decided and this is it.”

“Big sisto—”

“Don't do that, Freya, please. I need a bit of cheer here and not sullen faces and tone.” I cut softly.

“You know what?” She reiterated in a sparkling tone. I swear I could feel her smirking.

“What?” I asked, raising my eyebrow at her.

“Fuck the Lycan monster and his decision. We are Houston's. We are not scared of the monster. Likewise, we won't respect them. Show them what you are made of. Kick the Mo*******ker ass. Make his life miserable. Make him regret deciding on the choice in the first place. Go Sera. You're my brave, big sisto.” She freaking yelled in my ears, causing me to flinch at first, but then a slow smile spread across my lips. 

This was undoubtedly the reason she was my favorite. Always the vibe bringer.

“Yes, trust me on this. I'm going to kick his a**.” I grinned from ear to ear.

“That's the spirit baby,” she cheered on.

“I am going to leave you to continue what you are doing while I sort this out with my father. The earlier we had this marriage, the better for me.”

“I wish I could come, but I have exams. I promise to visit after I am done.”

“I'll be longingly expecting your nasty stories. Ace all your papers. And take it easy on the guys.” She barked a laugh but didn't deny the accusation.

“Bye, love you, bigsisto.”

“Love you more.” I smiled as the kine went dead.

I took a deep breath and rose, my heart was beating wildly, but I refused to back down. Not only that, but I sauntered out of the room and found my father in the kitchen cooking pasta and chicken sauce for dinner.

My eyes raked the kitchen, there were less food supplies than the last time. I sighed deeply. He was right. The crops were dying. Resources were becoming scarce. And if we hoped for the pack to last through the winter, something miraculous needed to happen. And it just happens something miraculous would be marrying the Lycan.

I looked at him, my shoulder sagged in defeat. “I'll do it.” 

He whirled around, dropping the knife, startled by my voice. And then he was looking at me with surprise. “What will you do?” His words were mixed with confusion.

I nodded slowly. “I am not happy about it. But I will do it, for Freya and the pack.” 

My father flung me off my feet, wrapping his hands around my waist. “Thank you, sweetheart.” He smiled.

I let him hug me but didn't reciprocate it, even though he only meant well, but it didn't stop me from being mad at him. He could have requested for a violet daughter or the Houston's not his daughter. And he could have talked Grandfather Lucien out of it, but he didn't. But as fate would have it, I guess I did hold the most status in our pack.

My father pulled away, happiness glinting in his eyes. “I will inform Grandfather Lucien so he can fix a date for the wedding.” 

“Good.” I replied, walking out behind him to the sitting room. “Does the pack have the resources for the wedding ceremony?”

My father waved a hand at me whilst fishing out a card from the desk, and grabbing the phone. “Grandfather Lucien will provide everything. He just needs our consent.” 

I rolled my eyes and returned to the kitchen to finish the cooking. I would rather not listen to the discussion between both parties.

“Sera dear?” Father called after a while.

“What's it?”

“Grandfather lucien has fixed the wedding date.”

“Great!” I deadpanned.

“No! Sera, it's not great.” I looked over my shoulder to find my father's face hooded in horror. “The wedding is tomorrow!”