---- thoughts that plague me, the silence overtakes the hall. Once, someone told me there were different types of silences, and | laughed at the person. | was a fool to do so because this is different from the type | used to crave. It's heavy and cold. An atmosphere that freezes the ability to think or move. It's not uncomfortable or awkward; it's threatening and loud. | have experienced many types of silence over the years. The silent treatment when my father would forget | existed, and he perceived me as wronging him. That sort of silence is lonely because he deprived me of human interaction for days, forgetting to even feed me. Then there is silence that is tranquil, at peace. | usually only found that sort of silence while reading. My mind wandered away as | turned each page, or when it rained and the pitter- patter of the rain against the window pane lulled me to sleep. But this sort of silence is deafening, dooming in ---- a sense. Like sitting in the eye of a hurricane, just waiting for the wind to pick up and tear everything apart in its path. This silence is killing me. Normally, | crave the distance from my father and the absence of his voice, but now, | need it more than the air | breathe. | need the familiarity of it. | need to know what to expect from it instead of watching the question mark hang over my head. | need an answer, so | can prepare - maybe estimate the toll of the damage it will cause me. Father's answer, reaction or next offer will directly affect me. The main problem is that | dread anything he might say. No matter how he twists and turns the offers, Alpha Dorian isn't a man to follow the orders of others. As much as | wish and pray my foreboding will let me down, deep down, | know it won't. My father doesn't have my best interest in mind. It's anything but. ---- If my lucky star shines on me today, they will invite me in, as much as | fear it, and Alpha Dorian will announce that | am not to his liking and stop the wedding preparations. Besides, if the man heard details about my appearance already and called me a troll, | must be as far from his type as humanly possible. Sounds promising, right? "Soo..." | drag the word to catch the guard's attention. Once he looks at me, | grin and wiggle my eyebrows. "Is there a chance Alpha Dorian will reject me as his possible bride? Find enough faults to push me aside and let me stay here?" If the guard shares the hope that burns in my heart, perhaps the scenario could become more believable. | can trust his opinion - he has accompanied my father to plenty of meetings and met many influential men; if anyone, this guard knows how they think. He tears his eyes from the door and slowly takes me in. The guard doesn't shy away from letting his gaze linger on my body a little too ---- long than my father would deem appropriate, until his eyes settle on my face, and he frowns again. "Sorry, no." He shakes his head to emphasise the moment, my hope comes crashing down. "I wish | could give you more hope, but you're too pretty for your own good. Everyone knows that. We have heard the rumours, you know." | frown, trying to remember any rumours that might be associated with my name, but none surface. | frown, trying to remember any rumours that might be associated with my name, but none surface. "Rumours?" Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!