CHAPTER 1

The ropes bite into my wrists but the people inside the room don’t care about my well-being. For them, finishing the job is the most important thing to do, or else, they will experience the wrath of my father. 

Yes. 

Ropes. 

Because that’s how far my father is willing to go. He even pushed me to death several years ago. 

If and only if, those bastards didn’t save me from falling to death…

“Damn it!” I cursed inwardly. 

I refused the dress, the makeup, and the damn wedding!

So now I’m tied to a chair like a criminal while strangers smear powder and gloss onto my face like I’m some porcelain doll!

“Hold still!” 

The make-up artist snaps but I notice that her hands are trembling as she tries to apply eyeliner to someone literally tied to a chair. I understand why she is scared. Messing with my face at the moment will cause her death, and I am sure of that. 

“Maybe don’t stab my eyeball and I won’t flinch,” I snarl.

I have been tied to the chair since they started and they have been at it for hours. They are so thorough with my make-up that I don’t recognize myself in the mirror anymore. 

And the silk wedding dress?

It’s suffocating! It clings to my body like a curse and the corset digs into my ribs and chokes the air from my lungs! The hem drags against the floor and the veil? Oh damn, don’t even get me started because it feels too perfect for a funeral. 

Mine apparently. 

Then, the door creaks open.

I don’t need to turn to know it’s him.

“Is she ready?” my father’s voice booms through the room like a gunshot.

One of the maids nods quickly. “Yes, Alpha Thiago.”

“Good.” Then, he walks toward me and grabs my arm. “Smile, darling.” 

I don’t.

He doesn’t care, though.

Then, finally, the ropes are untied, but his grip remains iron-strong as he hauls me to my feet. My legs tremble from sitting too long, but there’s no mercy from my Dad. He marches me toward the grand hall like I’m some prize he’s offering on a silver platter. 

Actually, if there’s an award for being a bastard, my Dad will surely get the grand prize. 

“You will behave,” he growls under his breath. “Don’t you dare embarrass me and ruin this alliance, Vivienne.”

I don’t answer.

Then, he grips my chin. “I mean it, Vivienne. One wrong move, and I’ll make sure Francis pays for it.”

My heart plummets at the threat. He can’t be serious, right? Francis is also his son for goddamn sake!

I want to call out his narcissistic behavior but before I can say anything, we arrive at the wedding hall, and I swear I forget how to breathe for a second. 

Several eyes turn toward us and they are from every corner of the region to witness my wedding with Alpha Jimin. 

Then, I see my groom. 

At the end of the aisle, Alpha Jimin waits. His smile is wide and fake, but his eyes... they gleam with possessiveness and hunger like he is already imagining our wedding night. 

Gross!

I fight the urge to gag because he is old. Not the ancient type but definitely more than twice my age. Aside from the huge age gap, he is arrogant and always full of himself. He is the kind of man who sees women as trophies or worse, toys. In short, he is the kind of man my father thinks is perfect for me. 

Before the wedding, I try so many things to escape and fail.

When we are almost at the altar, my feet refuse to take another step, but of course, Dad sees to it that the wedding will take place.  

“You look ravishing, sweetheart,” Alpha Jimin whispers later on. “Can’t wait to tame you…in bed.”

I don’t reply.

Then, the officiant begins the ceremony, droning on about bonds and duty and the sacred ties of the Moon Goddess. I block it out. My gaze flickers to the back of the hall, to the windows, and to the guards stationed at every door.

Because I need an opening.

I need…

CRASH.

A loud noise echoes from the far end of the room. A tray drops. Then, someone screams. 

Now! 

I don’t hesitate.

With all the strength I have trained for, I lift my heel and slam it down on Alpha Jimin’s booted foot. Not only that, I kick his groin and really aim for his balls for a more painful effect as it will give me enough time to escape.

He roars in pain. 

Then, I reach for his belt, yank out the silver dagger strapped to his thigh, and slash the hem of my dress in one quick motion. The silk rips, revealing my legs and freeing my stride. 

Taking off the stiletto heels, I run without looking back.

Down the aisle, past the horrified elders, I tear through the doors, and the wind slaps my face as I burst into the courtyard.  

“Stop her!” 

Someone yells but they can’t stop me because I’m not just an ordinary runaway bride. I am the daughter of the Alpha and I have trained so hard in the past. My feet fly over the cobblestones. 

The woods are just ahead…and I will be free! 

While running away, I flash a victorious grin at my father and launch forward, fueled by my wolf’s speed. My ruined wedding gown flaps around my legs like a battle flag. 

I am almost past the manor gates when I slam into someone and crash hard onto the woodland ground. 

“Ugh, for the love of—” 

My voice dies when I see who it is. Standing above me, eyes wide with alarm, is Francis, my brother. He blinks, taking in the dagger gripped in my hand, and the ripped wedding dress.

“What the heck…Vivienne?” His eyes narrow suspiciously. “Is that…was that your wedding gown?”

He was outside receiving a package, probably one of those last-minute wedding gifts from Dad’s allies in the nearby towns. Behind him, the delivery truck is beeping as it reverses.

“There’s no time to explain,” I pant, scrambling to my feet and gripping his wrist. “We need to leave. Now!”

He frowns in confusion. “Vivienne, what the hell is going on?” he asks but he follows me when I run. 

Good. We don’t have time for questions now.

“Faster, bro!” I urge him when we are finally out of the gates. 

We run straight to the woods and the wind howls in my ears, or maybe that’s just the sound of panic. Francis and I are both panting for air but we don’t stop running. We are almost at the riverbank when I hear it; the snap of twigs and the rustle of boots. 

Then I heard voices. 

“Don’t let her escape! She is still nearby!”  

Oh no. I panic even more when I recognize the voice. It belongs to my Dad’s top trackers. Without thinking, I shove my brother behind a tree as my instincts flare like a match. 

Then, I scan the treeline, heart in my throat.

I hear several footsteps and they are coming closer now!

“Viv… there’s more than one.”

Of course there is. Dad and Alpha Jimin are probably joining forces to catch us, and knowing Dad, he never plays fair. 

“I think they’re gone,”Francis whispers later on. 

“Shhhh…” I caution him because that tracker’s ear is so sensitive. 

For a moment, we restrain our breathing and the woods go quiet. The kind of silence that comes before a kill and then…an arrow flies past my head, grazing the bark by an inch. 

They found us!

“Francis, run!”