Chapter 2

Violet’s pov

“Violet!” came a bark.

Before I came to realization on what was really happening, a slap broke me out of my misery and I snapped back to reality.

“Violet!” Father was standing right in front of me now. His fingers circle around the collar of my dress and his eyes, flashing red.

Tears filled my eyes and I let them fall. “Father?”

He gave me a hard push and I fell to the marble floor. “I am not your father!... I refuse to father a murderer!”

Murderer… that word was more familiar to him than my own name and he loved saying it.

“That's the only way to get rid of filths like you!” He ran his boot into my stomach and I yelped in pain.

To the guards, he ordered, “Get her out of here. The mere sight of her makes me sick.”

I was hoisted off my feet by two burly-looking werewolves dressed in broken leather armour. 

The blow from the kick was so fatal that I couldn't walk so I was dragged into my room. 

“There you go.” They let go of me and I dropped me to the floor like a used rag.

Pain lanced through my body as I tried to gather myself up. Each time I tried to stand, the pain intensified and I found myself on the floor again. I laid on my back in tears, watching the maids walk past the open door and laugh, watching Melanie's friend walk by and laugh. No one cared or asked if I was alright. Everyone there saw me as a joke, a spectacle for their own amusement. Now, I wish I was dead. I think the Moon Goddess granted my request because everything went blank right after I whispered that prayer.

Sunlight peeked through the holes in the curtain, flooding the room with light. 

I opened my eyes and squinted. It was too bright.

“Violet!” I heard a pounding on my door and jolted. It was Melanie. 

“Breakfast! Now!” She banged her fist on the door before leaving.

Of all the 60 maids that work in this house to cook for the Claire's,they decided to pick me, the “cursed” child.

I heaved a frustrated sigh and rose to my feet from the makeshift-bed made from straws and sacks in the form of pillows.

After washing my face, I dried it with a towel and stared at my reflection in the mirror. At one point in my life, I hated my face. Father would always remind me that I killed the one thing precious to him. He sang that like a song to me everyday for three years and it almost became my mantra. Before I clocked 12, I already accepted my fate as the most hated omega wolf in all of the RedMoon pack. 

Melanie pounded on the door again. “Hey!”

“I'm coming, madam!” I called back with an eye-roll.

When I heard her retreating footsteps, I heaved a sigh. “If this keeps up, I'll never find a mate.”

Mate… huh.

The word felt strange now. All my life, I grew up yearning for love and acceptance from the only one who would show love and compassion for me – my true mate but now, chances of that ever happening are slim. I was getting married.

I heaved another sigh and looked at my face in the mirror. Then I pulled out my locket and opened it. The same face stared at me — hair the colour of sunlight, eyes beautiful round and strikingly green like the Acacia green forest, and lips so full of life. She was me and I was her and yet I killed her.  

The sun had made its full appearance in the sky. I had to go make breakfast.

I made my way to the kitchen to find it buzzing with activity. As usual, I tried to make myself obsolete. No one would notice dirty gross me even if I walked into a party. I was that hard to miss.

“Hi, Violet. Did you see this morning’s paper?” Vivian, one of the maids asked.

I lifted my eyes from the eggs I was mixing. “Paper? N - no.”

Vivian was the only person who saw me as human in the entire packhouse. I liked her and would confide in her my deepest thoughts but sometimes, she can easily be swayed by Melanie and Jayden. 

Vivian made a dramatic gasp and shook her head. “It's horrible. Alpha Ethan has returned from war with the BlueMoon pack and…” her eyes darted left and right before she continued. “There might be a possibility that he’ll come here.”

The other maids gasped, including me.

Alpha Ethan was a household name in the entire kingdom and wasn't exactly known for his good reputation. He was the worst being that ever existed. All he does is declare war and bathe in the blood of his enemies. We call him “the scourge of the earth” because he had never lost a war. 

“Is there no way Alpha Stephen can appease that mad man? I don't want to die. Not when my love just proposed.” One of the girls cried.

Then one of them turned to me. “What if the Alpha gives you away? I mean, you're useless to everyone here.” She turned to the other girls. “Right, girls?”

They all fell quiet.

The engaged maid took up the grit to reply despite shaking. “I hate Violet but I’m not that cruel.”

Another added. “Yeah. I mean, we know we don't like Violet but it's cruel to wish she's given to Alpha Ethan. It's torture. I wouldn't even wish that for anybody.”

Vivian stepped in. “Hush now, girls. Breakfast won't make itself.”

And just like that, I was forgotten. Again.

During breakfast, I stood behind my father and he demanded I see him in his office.

“I wonder what he wants to say this time.” I mutter under my breath.

Wearing my heart on my sleeve, I trudged towards his office, the mere mahogany of the door dominating me.

I lifted my hand to knock but he said to enter. My scent must've ticked him off because he once said I wasn't hard to miss.

I pushed the door in and entered, remaining at the door.

“You summoned me, Your Grace.” I said with a low bow.

He began. “You are getting married…”

“...You told me that last night, my Lord…” Before I could open my mouth to speak, he cut me off mid-sentence.

“You are getting married to Alpha Ethan,” he said in a calm yet cruel voice.

I was forced to lift my head. “W - - who?”

He pushed back his chair and sauntered to where I stood. “What better way to get rid of you than a marriage with the scourge of the earth? Now, I can finally rest in peace because you'll be dead!”

“No! Father! Anything but marriage to that man…. I'll remain a maid in the packhouse. I can even be married off to a farmer but please, don't do this.” I fell to my knees and clutched the hem of his trouser.

He kicked me away and scowled. “Don't touch me, you cursed child! My decision is final! You will be gone  first light!”

He roared for the guards and the same soldiers that dragged me out of the drawing room yesterday, arrived.

“Take her to her room and lock her up!” Father ordered.

“Father, no! No!” My screams fell on deaf ears as the guards dragged me out of his office.

Everyone stepped out into the corridor to watch me scratch and fight. Nobody…nobody…not even Vivian, came in to defend me. They all watched in horror, some with amusement dancing in their eyes. 

My fate had been sealed. I was never going to escape it.