Cursed Bonds

RHEA'S POV

The last thing I'm looking forward to is tomorrow.

Cassian stepped into the room.

I glanced behind my back, lifting my eyes to the mirror on the dressing table, watching as he hefted a huge package over his shoulders, dropping it at the side of the dresser.

He straightened up, coming to stand behind me.

"That's a nice drawing," he said, peering down at the sketch I was doing next to the makeup kit.

"It's just a doodle." I slammed the small notebook shut, pushing back on the swivel chair.

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he watched me put the book away into the drawer.

"You know, I've seen all your drawings," he said lazily, slipping his hands into his pockets. "And they're pretty nice."

"No, Cassian." I stood up. With no chair between us, I became acutely aware of how close he was, close enough to be illegal, especially for a bodyguard... An omega guard.

That had been my best friend since I could remember, a voice in my head completed for me.

I gulped. He had closed the door, but anyone could come in at the moment. Especially with the buzzing of activity outside.

I took a step back, my hip bumping against the dresser. The air between us felt thick, charged with something I couldn't dare to name.

"They're just sketches," I muttered, avoiding his gaze. "Nothing special."

Cassian didn't move, but his eyes tracked my every motion, the way they always did. Like I was something precious that might shatter if he looked away.

Sometimes I hated it when he looked at me like I was a princess.

"Everything you do is special, Rhea."

My chest tightened. I hated when he said things like that. It made everything so much harder.

Don't get all soft on me now, I wanted to say and laugh it off like I usually did, but today, now was different.

He reached out, his fingers brushing the hair out of my face. "Rhea, I..."

"Don't," I whispered.

"Don't what?"

"Don't look at me like that. Not tonight."

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, something dark flickered across his face. Pain, maybe. Or anger. "Like what?"

"Like you..." I trailed off, shaking my head. My fingers found the pendant at my throat, my mother's pendant, the only thing memory of her I had left. "Like tomorrow isn't happening."

The silence stretched between us. Tears brimmed at the corner of my eyes, and I didn't have the strength to blink them away.

Looking past him, I could see the purple wedding gown hung next to the dresser. Outside, I could hear the servants bustling around, putting in place the decorations.

Preparations for a celebration that I wanted no part of.

My wedding. To two men I'd never met, two Alphas who would claim me. No one ever wanted to hear what the little wolfess wanted, who I wanted.

Cassian's other hand lifted, cupping my cheeks, turning my gaze back to him.

"Rhea..." He began again.

I wished he would hold me in his arms, tell me that everything would be fine, that he would find a way out. But he stepped back from me, lowering his gaze.

"I'm sorry, Rhea."

I glared at him, hot angry tears running down my cheeks. "I'm not doing it," I said suddenly, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

Moving past him, my eyes met the purple dress again, fist clenched. "I'm not letting dad sell me off to those ruthless men. I won't be his political pawn."

"Please, Cassian's voice broke. "Don't make this harder than it needs to be."

"I'll escape," I stepped closer, my eyes pleading. "I'll leave the pack before tomorrow. We can run away. Please, Cassian, you know you want to..."

My words were cut off as Cassian clasped a hand over my mouth, shutting me up.

"Enough." The authority in his voice made me stiffen, my blood running cold.

He glanced around, like he was scared someone would overhear.

He straightened up, slipping his hand back into his pocket. "Your father wants to see you. Nyra, the seer, is here to bless the union."

I watched him turn, walking away, and a part of me felt torn apart, watching him walk away.

He paused at the doorway, looking over his shoulder. "You must get through with the ceremony tomorrow, Rhea."

With that, the door was closed shut.

I stumbled back, my back hitting the dresser. "No," I whispered, my voice weak but mind made. "No, I won't."

Few minutes later, I pushed open the door to my father's study just as he rounded off a conversation with his beta. Snippets of their conversation filtered into my ears.

"...and the alpha twins would support us in the war. It will be perfect," Alaric was saying.

I stopped at the doorway with a cough.

Father turned around. The smile on his face stretched, cold and twisted.

"I see you're getting ready for your big day tomorrow."

I remained silent, keeping my eyes on the ground as his footsteps drew nearer.

He lifted my chin to face him, pride dancing in his cold blue eyes. "Tomorrow, you get to be a true Morwen. Happy birthday in advance, dear."

I gritted my teeth. Of course, I needed a reminder.

Tomorrow, I was turning 24, and dad couldn't wait to get rid of me.

"I don't want to marry the Alphas," I spat, stepping back from him, my jaw tilted defiantly.

Father stiffened.

Somehow, I found the courage to continue.

"One is enough, but you can't force those two animals on me..."

"Watch your tongue, young wolf!" Father's tone bristled, his eyes sparking with fury. He raised his hand, and I fell silent, the tears running freely now.

"You will lower that voice when you talk to me," he began. "And you will not say a word to irk the alpha brothers tomorrow. Do you understand?"

I glared. It was all I could do.

His gaze trailed down to the pendant hanging on my neck. Father let out a scoff.

"Tomorrow, you'll get to be useful in a way your mother never was. I'm sure she'll be proud."

"Don't talk about mom like that," I yelled.

But instead, he snapped his hands in the air, and two enforcers stepped in, restraining me. Father didn't spare me a glance.

"Lock her in the basement cell till she learns her place. And her expectations as a submissive bride." His voice dropped lower. "I need you perfect for tomorrow. You will not be addressing the Alpha twins in that tone."