The Alpha’s Unwanted Bride

JASMINE'S POV

Once it was nighttime and almost time for the first ritual of the Halo festival, I was up in Loren's quarters.

I saw him repeatedly eye me at his work.

When he couldn't take it anymore, he dropped his glasses and turned to me.

"Alright." He said. "What's it?"

I shook my head. "Nothing."

"You've been staring right into that wall for a while now." He said. "You better tell me what it is."

I knew he wouldn't ask again.

So I sighed and gave in. "I was just thinking about today. I met someone else. I think she is a member of the royal family too."

He frowned and looked closely at me. "Yes?"

"She kept on asking me who I was, and then she dug her nails into my chin." I explained.

That place still hurt, and it was slightly bruised.

"And what did you do?" He asked me.

"I ran," I said. "I didn't mean to buy everything; you just told me to run. She has black hair and is probably a bit older than the Queen."

He sighed and folded his arms on the table. "I believe that would be the Queen's elder sister."

I blinked. "No wonder she looked so familiar. I kept on wondering where I had seen her before."

"That would be Princess Cherry." He said.

"If she is the elder sister, why isn't she Queen?" I asked.

He shrugged. "It's the royal family. There are always strings of drama popping here and there. Trust me, you don't want to get involved, so stay away from them for these three days."

Was he looking out for me?

The past few weeks I had come to stay with Loren, and I had noticed that he was actually a kind person.

He just seemed hard on the outside.

"Moreover." He said. "It's almost time for the hunt. You should go."

"I heard that they kill an animal," I said.

"Ah, the sacred white elk. They have a close bond with us wolves. It must be hunted, and it's horns must be presented by an Alpha who will be declared the winner of the hunt." He said.

I shuddered.

I was angry at the thought that they would kill such an innocent animal.

"I think I'll pass." I said it in all earnest. Then I turned to him. "What about you? Aren't you going?"

He put his glasses on. "When they start bringing in the dead bodies and half-dead ones, I'll be busy. So no point."

I felt sick.

They were going to kill each other.

Then I thought of Alpha Xaden, and my heart raced. I didn't want anything to happen to him.

I knew he hated me, but still, he had been there for me when no one else had.

I made a silent prayer to the goddess and decided that I would take a swim in my secret magic lace.

As I went down the stairs on my way out, I saw the other servants.

It was Lisa and the other girls.

I tried to smile at them, but they glared at me.

No one. Absolutely no one had spoken to me.

They all kept away from me, and I could see the hate they felt towards me in their hearts.

"Something disgusting is in our presence." Lisa said it aloud.

The other girls laughed, and I felt a sting in my heart.

"Come on, girls. We don't want it to stain us." Lisa said.

They all laughed and followed her out.

It was hard to believe that they were the same girls. I had begged Alpha Xaden not to punish me.

But what did I expect?

That one act of righteousness would make them forgive me for the sins of my father.

I sighed and turned away.

Then I saw the other girl, Mya.

The one who had run out of the room that night and the one who was assigned with me and Lisa to clean rooms.

She stared at me.

As if she wanted to say something.

"Mya!" Lisa barked.

Whatever she wanted to say, she kept it to herself and ran off to be with the other girls.

When most of the wolves had gone to watch the hunt, I went out to my lake.

I tossed off my clothes, and then I bent down to learn the new trick I had learnt on how to take off my chains.

It took a while for me to undo it, but swimming with the chains by my ankles only made it hard for me.

Sometimes it felt extremely heavy, like some weight pulling me back, and I couldn't swim so well.

So whenever I undid my chains, I would swim and then go back in them when I was returning home.

Home. What truly was home to me? Did I even have a home?

The pack back at home had been the only sanctuary I had witnessed, but here it was different.

I was aware I was caged and trapped once again.

But this time, it felt extremely different.

I sighed as I slowly took off my clothes and stepped in, naked.

No one would miss me tonight.

There were hardly any more duties, and I had finished the ones assigned to me.

I still had no idea how to read my work schedule.

Also, most of the members of the pack were going to be at the arena, watching and waiting for who would appear with the horns of the elk.

I sighed as I bathed, and then I gently put the magic water over my lips.

In almost an instant, I was healed.

I smiled to myself as I swam in the lake, enjoying the peace and serenity.

Then I rose up in the water, and under the moonlight, I ran my fingers through my wet hair as I looked up into the halo moon.

Then I felt something.

I felt a sudden presence.

I froze, and without thinking or being aware of my nudity, I turned around and saw Alpha Xaden.