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Vynessa;
Have you ever locked yourself in a bathroom, cried, washed your face, and come back to join the others as if nothing happened?
That's me right now as I sit at the dinner table with my father and his family after just losing my fifth mate, to the cold hands of death. And my wedding was to happen in three days' time.
I don't know what to make of life anymore. but I know to keep my late mother's name alive, I have to survive this dilemma. She has been the only one who has truly cared for me. She made me promise to bear her a pup. And the pup is to be named after her. That was my promise to her before she took her last breath.
That's the gift I owe her for exchanging her life for me that night. But looking at the way the Goddess keeps playing tricks with me, by killing any male wolf who dares to put a ring on my finger, and plans on taking me to the wedding altar, I feel I'm truly cursed.
Earlier this morning, the Goddess succeeded in killing the fifth male wolf. The last man who wanted to take a 25-year-old Gamma Wolf like me, away from the wings of my evil stepmother and step-sister.
The two evils who have full control over my father.
I'm fighting to stop the pain in my heart, and the tears that dare to flow down my cheeks because I can't let them see me as weak. That is what they desire, and I would rather die than give them that desire.
"Vynessa!" Father calls out, sliding a document through the dinner table, toward me. "I know you just lost the only man who had considered you worthy to be a wife, but right now, you have to focus on being useful to the family," he announces, standing up from his position.
Without thinking of my actions, I also sprint up from my seat, "What is this document, Father? And I think this is not the right way for a father to speak to his grieving daughter," I rush toward him, the document sitting perfectly in my hand.
His angry gaze sizes me from my forehead to my toes as his nose scrunches up in disgust. Immediately, I bit my tongue. I'd spit the wrong words. But I'm not moved by Father's angry stares. At least, not anymore. This has been his usual stare at me after the death of Mother, and his concubine-turned wife taking hold of him.
"That document in your hands is a contract marriage between you and Alpha Kryptos. It's already signed. Get ready, the wedding is in a weak time," his voice low, but powerful. Father makes to leave, but I grip his hand. My knees fall right before him.
"Please... Fath...er," my lips quiver even as I try to stop them from shaking. Tears filled my eyes.
Alpha Kryptos is one of the deadliest, and oldest Alphas in all the kingdoms. He's cruel and heartless. One who hates women so much. A lot of she-wolves have died in his hands after their fathers married them off to him. Only two old ones survived, and are still married to him.
I heard the things they had to go through to survive. Terrible things that will kill me just a few days with him.
Father snatches his hand from my hold, "Don't, Vynessa. Staring at you, I hate the fact that I'm your father. You look pathetic and weak."
My jaw tightens as I gaze at him, trying to understand when the once lovely father I had, turned into this. How did everything change so fast? Why?
I let out a breath of frustration, pushing my tears to the back of my head, "How do you expect me to marry a man who is older than you and already has two wives, Father? If Mother was to be alive, would you do this to me?" My voice is soft. I dare not raise it at him.
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