The Betas Baby Sister

"Hold me tighter, Win," my grandfather, Alpha Vlad, urges. "Your hand is slipping away."

Nodding, I tighten my shaky hand around his, my other hand clutching a bouquet of winter lilies, crushing their stems in my grip.

I was only six months old when I was promised to Alpha Triton, so this wedding shouldn't come as a shock. But maybe some part of me still prayed - hoped - that it was just a bad dream that I would wake up from.

Turning to look up at my grandfather, horror fills me at how determined he looks. His face is expressionless, his demeanor composed, and he doesn't seem unsettled in the slightest.

How can he be so calm while leading his only granddaughter straight to the man whose family killed his own son?

Sighing, I look away, too angry to speak.

"He's a fine man," he says, drawing my attention again.

"Huh?"

"Triton Ganymede," he says, clarifying his earlier statement. "He's a fine man, a strong Alpha, and a well-respected Wolf. He is the leader of Alphas, and you will be his Luna. You will put Frost blood on that damn Obsidian Throne."

"Hm." I nod, blinking to keep my tears locked in.

Apparently, the best way to get payback for the death of your son is to wed his only child to those behind his demise. I mean, what happened to strangling? Whatever happened to flaying? Whatever happened to waging wars? My blood boils at the thought.

Our steps reduce to a halt as we arrive at the large, blue, ornamented doors - the only thing separating us from the wedding guests.

Suddenly, my heart rate quickens, and I have a terrible urge to run. This man is renowned to be the 'Beast of the Form'. He earned the name due to his ridiculous strength and abnormal characteristics. Some say he looks just like a beast, while others swear he's Aster reincarnated. I choose to believe the former.

"Are you ready?" Grandpa asks.

Shaking my head, I whisper, "No! We can stop this now. We still have time! I do not want to-"

"Winter!" he roars my name, making the guards bow their heads while I shudder in fear, his Alpha energy oozing out. "You will do this, and there is no debating it! I just need you to catch your breath and compose yourself as befits a Frost of Great Frore."

Forcing down the clog in my throat, I nod. "I understand."

He pulls up a tight smile, reducing his lips to a tiny slit and wrinkling his old face. "Good."

Nodding at the Epsilons at the door, they move in unison, each grabbing a handle of the giant doors and forcing them open.

For a moment, I'm blinded by the light that greets me - just before my sight returns. Grandpa takes the first step, and I follow. Our steps are much slower now, much more deliberate.

At the other end of the white carpet, the Beast stands tall, his back to me as he chatters with the magickster - our officiator.

Tall and broad-shouldered, with thick, long black hair tied in a half-knot in the middle of his head, he looks every bit like a massive monster from behind. I should transform and ruin this wedding - Grandpa can kill me for all I care. After all, he already did that when he insisted on this accursed wedding.

When we are just a step away from the altar, a deep, husky voice emanates from the Beast. "Alpha Vlad," he acknowledges before turning to face us, a huge beam on his striking face.

I'm frozen in place, staring up at the unholy beauty before me, towering over both Grandpa and me.

His emerald gaze shifts from my grandpa to me, making goosebumps spread across my skin. Damn it!

"Winter," his pronunciation of my name sounds like music to my ears. Still maintaining the beam, he adds. "You look beautiful."

He presents his hand to me.

"Win," Grandpa jerks me out of my daze. "Go on, take Triton's hand."

His bright smile is replaced by a dark smirks, definitely noticing the lack of honorifics before his name, but he doesn't react.

Slowly, I place my tiny hand in his, the difference in size making my belly tingle.

"Ahem." Jessa, the magickster, clears her throat, calling both our attention. "Shall we?"