Chapter 4 Chapter 4 : The wolf inside me roared . " I will not marry my father's enemy , " I snarled . 87 55 vouchers Uncle grabbed my chin , his claws coming out , piercing my skin . " You will do as I say . " The lethal threat rang in his voice . " Our pack needs Bretomosa as an ally , and he needs an heir . You will marry him and bear him a child . Your marriage will solidify that alliance . " " I will not marry a sadist whose source of entertainment is torturing omegas ," I growled . " You can kill me now . I will not help you ally with that sick bastard . " Uncle fixed his eyes on mine . " Your little tantrums amuse me ." A feral smile stretched across his face . " But ... I know how to convince you ." He stepped away from me and glanced at his Beta . " Vad , bring her in ." My stomach roiled as the man strode out of the room and returned a moment later , dragging someone ... " Bea . " I breathed out . My eyes filled with tears as Vad pushed my friend onto her knees . She still wore a dress from last night's ball , but now it was torn and stained with dirt and blood . Her hands were tied behind her back , her beautiful face pale . Her whole body trembled as Uncle Cyril stepped toward her . He grabbed her hair , tilting her head back . One of his claws came out , and he pressed it to Bea's exposed throat . " It's fairly simple ... You can marry Bretomosa without protest , or ... " He applied more pressure , cutting Bea's skin . She screamed . " Don't ! " I yanked the ropes , wolfsbane burning my skin . " Don't hurt her ! Please ! " My uncle gave me a bone - chilling smile . " You're right . That would be too easy . Maybe I should tell everyone she sympathizes with the rebels and arrange a public execution ? Or better ... should I bring everyone you care about in this pack , including the omega servants , and execute all of them at once ? " " Orelia ... no ... " Bea groaned softly as a trickle of blood ran down her slender neck . " Shut your filthy mouth ! " Vad growled while Uncle pressed his claw harder , cutting deeper . " Please ... " My voice cracked , and more tears coated my eyes . An icy smirk curled Uncle's lips . " Please , what ? " " I'll do it ... " I sucked in a ragged breath . " I'll marry Alpha Varian . " " Excellent ." Uncle withdrew his claw . " Behave , and I'll let your friend live ." He freed Bea from his grip , and she fell to the floor . Her eyes found mine , and a tear slid down her cheek . I swallowed a knot in my throat and gave her a weak smile , whispering , " I'll be all right , Bea , " A cold chuckle escaped Uncle's mouth . " One more thing , niece . " He snapped his fingers , and one of the warriors stepped forward , a small flask in his hand . " You will drink this . " The warrior opened the flask and pressed its top against my lips . " Want your friend to live ? Drink , " the man ordered . 7:58 Mon , Sep 22 Chapter 4 : 87 55 vouchers Fucking bastards . I knew what was in that flask . I recognized the spicy smell ; it smelled just like the so - called wine from the night before . I looked at my uncle and saw a dark grin pull at his lips as I opened my mouth and let the warrior pour the poison down my throat . It was far worse than the last time . The potion burned as if I had swallowed several hot coals . A few seconds passed , and my body began to convulse . I heard Bea's cry , the sound blending with Uncle's laughter . The laughter grew - the cruel , mocking sound , echoing across the room . My wolf whimpered as my senses began to fade . Finally , Uncle stepped closer , surveying my condition . He clasped his hands and chuckled . " Take her away and prepare her . She's leaving for Bretomosa's castle tonight ." *** I used to joke that my room was my prison cell , a beautiful golden cage my father had built for me . Now , that joke was my reality . The warriors hand - picked by my uncle guarded my door while I , the future wife of Alpha Varian Bretomosa , prepared for my trip . I hardly had the strength to take a bath . Once I had somehow managed to scrub off the dirt and blood , I slumped on the bed and just sat there , unable to move . The poison made my wolf nearly silent . She was hurting , perhaps more than my human body was . Now I realized how defenseless my father and others had been during those cowards ' attack ... The doors opened , and Bea walked inside . They let her help me after they'd seen I could barely walk and realized that my packing and preparations would probably last for hours . Thankfully , her hands were no longer tied , and she'd changed her torn ballroom gown into a pair of leggings and a long tunic . The guards slammed the doors behind her , and she rushed toward me . " Orelia , don't do this . We'll find a way to survive ... " She cupped my cheeks and fixed her eyes on mine . " You need to run . " I gave her a wry smile . " How ? All those who witnessed my uncle's doing were either killed or locked in the dungeon . There's no one who could help us . " Bea nibbled on her lip , looking around my room . " I have friends living in a nearby village . With their help- " " They would never win against the train warriors , " I said . " Besides , I'm not sure how many imperial guards are in the castle ... Let's face it , you can't fight them , and with the poison in my veins , I can't even throw a decent kick without falling on my ass ." Bea's shoulders slumped . Then she sat beside me on the bed and blew out a breath . " Do you think it's true ? About the King wanting your father's death and all ... " " I don't know , " I muttered , lowering my head . " We both grew up listening to all those stories about our king . The gods - chosen leader , the man who fought against the tyrannic Alpha Kairos Adustio and freed thousands of slaves . " A bitter smile twisted my lips . " I've always thought Alpha King Zyran is a righteous man . After all , the gods wouldn't have blessed him with great strength and longevity if they hadn't found him worth it ... right ? " I looked at Bea and saw the pain and anger burning in her eyes . " He can't be a righteous man if he ordered the killing of our Alpha and my parents . They were loyal . They did nothing wrong ." I grabbed her hands and squeezed them . " That's why I don't think the King knew about it . I believe those few warriors and Uncle Cyril are lying . The man who once freed thousands of slaves couldn't be behind a cruel 7:58 Mon , Sep 22 Chapter 4 assassination . " " But what if you're wrong ? " Bea fixed her eyes on mine . I blinked , confused . " Wrong about what ? " " The King . What if we're all wrong ? " B 87 55 vouchers I shook my head . " The King was blessed by god Maktus himself . He's like a hundred and fifty years old . If that doesn't prove- " " Maybe he was different then , or maybe his powers weren't given by gods at all ," she mused . I pressed a finger to her lips , then glanced at the doors . " Careful , Bea . You sound like one of the rebels ." Bea pulled my finger away . " What if this is the right way ? If the King sides with people like your uncle and is ready to kill those who oppose him , what other choice do we have ? " My brows knitted . " You can't be serious . Would you follow someone like this ... Shadow , who travels around the Lumeria Empire killing people ? " Bea's hands fisted . " At least he doesn't kill the innocents . " Her words triggered another crack in my heart . The grief , despair , and rage coiled inside me , pushing me further to the verge of falling apart . I couldn't allow that to happen . Not now ... I drew a deep breath , summoning my composure . " Let's not forget that the rebels believe the throne belongs to Alpha Kairos's bloodline - the cruel tyrant's bloodline . I doubt that whoever they want to place on the throne would be better than King Zyran ." Bea lowered her head . " You're right ... But there has to be a way ... " She looked at me with tear - coated eyes . " You can't marry Alpha Varian ." " I have to , " I breathed . " You heard my uncle . He won't touch you if I do as he says ." " Don't worry about me and others ." Bea leaned closer and lowered her voice . " I've sent a message to my cousins in Korenville . The guards know that I'm weak , so they ignore me , and they'll ignore me even more once you leave . I'll need another day to prepare , but I think my cousins can get me and a few others out of Verendell ," She fixed her eyes on mine . " So be strong and escape when the chance arises . Promise me ." My brows knitted . " I can't ... not without knowing you're safe ." She shook her head . " Don't worry about me . Save yourself ." A tear slid down my cheek . Then I drew a shaky breath . " Fine ... In a few days , if there's a chance , I'll escape . " Bea's trembling lips formed a weak smile . " We'll see each other again ... won't we ? " More tears streamed down as I nodded . I couldn't bear the thought that this might be the last time we saw each other . She might fail to escape Verendell . I might die at the hands of a brutal sadist . Yet , I shoved those thoughts away , pulling all remains of hope into my smile . " We will ." 7:58 Mon , Sep 22 Chapter 5 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!