Chapter 2: Those Eyes
The moment those words left her father’s lips—Ariana’s throat began to tighten. It clenched deeply, as though invisible hands were slowly strangling her. Her eyes widened in alarm as her hands flew to her neck, clutching it as if trying to soothe the unseen pain.
It felt like someone had taken a razor blade and sliced through her throat—not just any blade, but a hot one, intensifying the agony. The pain was unbearable. She began to gasp for air, her breaths coming in short, shallow rasps. Her father’s eyes widened slightly in response.
Then, without a word, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small wrap—something like a tightly bundled packet. It was a bottle of herbs, something he always carried with him, just in case something like this ever happened. He had done so for years, ever since Ariana’s condition had begun—something far more complex than anyone could truly understand.
He handed it to her. As he did, he muttered something quietly to himself, helping her uncap the bottle. Without hesitation, Ariana gulped it down.
The moment it hit her throat, it felt like a massive stone had been shoved down. Her body tensed. Her eyes squeezed shut as tears leaked from the corners. Her lips trembled as she bit them, trying to focus the pain elsewhere. One hand pressed tightly against her gown, as if willing the pain to transfer to the fabric instead of her body.
And tomorrow was her birthday.
In fact, one of the reasons her father had arranged her marriage to Frederick was because, according to him, she was cursed by the Moon Goddess. Unlike Ariana, her sister had a wolf. But strangely, both their mates had been delayed. Typically, wolves found their mates at the age of 18, but in their case, a seer had revealed that their true mates—or rather, her twin sister’s true mate—would appear only on their 21st birthday.
Her sister was to awaken her wolf tomorrow—at the coming of the Blood Moon. Meanwhile, Ariana was to face the Alpha King for her punishment.
Tragic.
Another reason her father had forced her to marry Frederick was simply that she was a wolfless human and, in his eyes, worthless. She would never have a mate, so she was to be married off before she turned 21. But even more cruelly, it had also been to pay off her father’s debts. It was always about him—about what suited him best.
Then he spoke again.