Semua Bab Chosen to be Betrayed: Bab 11 - Bab 20

My heart isn’t racing with joy, but with heavy fear. What comes after this wedding? When will Orvyn show me who he truly is, and force me to become his puppet? How desperate will my pack be in protecting their personal interest?When the maids are done putting my makeup on and fixing my hair, I look at my reflection in the mirror. My face seems pretty, far from what my bullies have been telling me all my life. But the white dress is hideous on my already big frame. It makes me look twice my size. And the crown and jewelry, they’re heavy and uncomfortable to wear.As I step out of the chamber, music explodes from all sides, drowning my loudly thudding heart.The sun casts shadows on the stone path beneath me as I make my way towards the massive garden. The guests are already there. Members of the royal court - who are officials of every pack in Karyndor, the royal family, Alpha Heath, Luna Mireth with her frown, and my stepsisters who are burning with envy.Orvyn stands tall at the en

Marking a mate is not a simple act. It binds two souls—emotionally, physically, and mentally. I’ve never done it before, not even to Victoria. So I don’t know how much of myself I’ll lose… or gain. Not only that, the fact that I need to have a child with a woman I’m not in love with is equally apprehensive. Victoria looks stiff beside mom, while Thalissia looks pale, her eyes flickering and still unable to meet mine. Grandmother narrows her eyes between me and Thalissia. “You two seem not too exhilarated with the court’s demand, which is also your obligation to the kingdom if I may remind you.” I sit up straighter, can’t allow this doubt to spread more. “Thalissia and I have just met. We barely know each other. That’s why this is a sensitive matter for us. But as your king and queen, we will do what is expected.” Then suddenly,...Thalissia’s trembling voice cuts through the room. “If I bear a child, regardless of the gender, will her or his well-being be protected… by everyone

My eyes blink a few times until the blur fades. The first face I see is Orvyn’s—his brows furrowed, lips tight with worry.Such a great actor!I almost want to laugh at him, just to show I’m not fooled. But I can’t coz my body feels heavy.We’re in a white room with a man in a white coat standing nearby.“Where am I?” I ask, my voice dry.“You’re in the palace clinic,” Orvyn replies.Memories rush in. The dinner, the chest pain, and the passing out.Did I overeat? Was the food spoiled?The doctor speaks, as if reading my mind. “The coconut pudding you ate had poison. But don’t worry, I’ve extracted all of the poison from your system through my specialized antidote.”My eyes widen in disbelief. Poison? Someone wants me dead?Orvyn continues, “Your court ladies and the kitchen staff are under investigation. For now, none of them can go back to work until the truth comes out.”I remember eating faster than Daphne and Amelia. I finished my dessert first, before they could even touch their

"Divorce?" Orvyn echoes, as if he’s unsure if he hears me right. I nod, firmly. “Yes. I was always confused why someone like you, who has many admirers, would choose someone like me - fat, poor, ugly. Then I managed to piece the puzzle together. You have a plan… something against my pack. But I’m telling you now, I’m not the key in making you succeed.” My voice starts to crack as I add, “You took me from my awful pack only to bring me into something worse. And this? This is just the beginning of more pain to come. So please… If you're not a horrible man as you said before, let me go. I don’t deserve this pain. I only wanted my freedom.” Orvyn’s fists clench, then loosen, then clench again. His brows knit together as he thinks hard. Finally, he says coldly, “I will not divorce you.” He turns his back and starts to walk away. “No!” I run after him. “You can’t shackle me to this loveless marriage forever!” My tears fall, heavy and fast. But he doesn’t stop nor doesn’t turn as he

The little man hurries over to Gautnier, “We need a nurse to check your nose.” Gautnier agrees. I quickly follow them coz the air here is thick and heavy, and I need to get away—and also get another chance to talk to Gautnier. “Thalissia!” Orvyn calls after me, his voice soft, almost begging. But I don’t stop, let alone look back. And thankfully, he doesn’t follow. We reach a small room at the back of the chateau. It looks like a simple clinic. But no nurse is in sight, no matter how hard the little man searches for one. “It’s alright,” I say. “I can treat Prince Gautnier’s injury myself.” Relieved, the little man hands me the first aid kit. “You can go back to your king. He hates it when his salary-dependent wolves don’t pay attention to him. He may assume you’re focused on me over him,” Gautnier says bitterly. The little man bows slightly and leaves. I press the disinfectant-soaked cotton gently on Gautnier’s nose, and he winces and hisses in pain. “After this, you sho