Alexia suddenly fluttered her eyes open and groaned, she stood up from her bed, yawning and stretching her body like a wild cat. She noticed the sun was up, and she remembered she was supposed to have breakfast with her family.
She hurriedly took a shower and changed into something comfortable before joining the rest of her family in the dining hall. On her way there, she observed the staff was much busier than usual and sighed, there must be something going on.
She walked down to the dining hall discreetly and realized that every other member of the family was seated; she hastily hung her head low, tiptoeing to take her seat without her father noticing her tardiness.
“You should change Alexia; at this rate, you won't have anyone to marry you.” Alexia's step-sister murmured, and all eyes turned to her. Alexia had a guilty expression on her face, attempting to distract her family's attention.
“No more talking in the dining hall and Alexia, I won't accept any form of lateness from you anymore,” her father, Alpha Rodriguez, said, and she felt ashamed and sought to hide her face with her hair.
Her stepmother, Amelia gave her a disgusted look, and then the kitchen staff came over to offer them breakfast; they ate in silence, and the only sound was the gnawing of their teeth.
Alpha Rodriguez abruptly cleared his throat, and they all looked up to see what he was about to tell them. Alexia gradually dropped her cutlery, so she could listen to her father.
“I had some discussions with the Shadow pack, and we have decided to strengthen our pack by marrying Scarlett off to the Alpha of the Shadow Pack,” Alpha Rodriguez stated, and they all turned to face each other, Scarlett's cutlery dropping from her hand.
“What exactly do you mean, father?”Scarlett asked and looked at her mother for aid, her eyes welling up with tears, but Amelia glanced away, unsure of how to react.
“What I mean is you will be getting married soon,” Alpha Rodriguez said, leaving no room for argument, stood up abruptly, hitting her hand on the table
“I can’t marry the Alpha of Shadow Pack, he is disabled and ruthless, and I heard is so ugly that no one could stand him. How can you want to throw your daughter in the lion’s den? It’s not fair, Father, I haven’t done anything to deserve this. I have been a good daughter!” Scarlett yelled, and Alpha Rodriguez hit his palm on the table too, which made everyone flinch and shiver in fear.
“You dare raise your voice at your father, Scarlett! I will be the one to tell you, who you are going to marry, and as the eldest daughter, you must do what the pack needs!” Alpha Rodriguez roared at his daughter and Scarlett shook her head profusely, running away from the dining hall.
“You should take it easy with her, Alpha!” Amelia said and one look from her husband sealed her mouth.
Alexia watched what was going on as if it were a drama, and she had nothing to add; she had lost her appetite, and she blamed herself for not eating quickly before her father dropped the bombshell.
The atmosphere in the dining hall had entirely changed, and it was only Alpha Rodriguez who could eat peacefully. Alexia stood up softly from her seat and walked out without being detected. She sighed and went to the garden.
Alexia's eighteenth birthday is quickly approaching, and she is afraid to mention it because her father has chosen to marry off her sister. Alexia lost her mother at an early age, and she grew up amid the cruelty of her stepmother and stepsister.
Alexia had never known what genuine love felt like, and her father, who was supposed to be there for her, was always busy, and a vicious man, feared by everyone, including his family, Alexia was startled her father could decide to marry off Scarlett, whom she had always assumed was his favorite child.
She knew nothing about the Alpha of the Shadow pack, but she had heard rumors from the servants. No one had seen him, but his news had spread so far that Alexia wondered how someone who was crippled and couldn't move from one place to another could be so wicked and feared by all.
She felt pity for him and thought his wickedness must have been begotten from his physical state, Alexia sighed as she thought about her sister, though they didn’t have the best of relationship, she didn’t want her sister to end up in the hands of a cripple, Scarlett is a beautiful young woman who was adored by all, and she deserves to marry a man equally beautiful.
Alexia stepped out of the garden and wanted to check on her sister, perhaps she could share some consoling words with her, and she would feel much better about everything; she also knows Amelia will not let Scarlett end up in the hands of someone she does not want.
Alexia stood in front of her sister's room, her right palm raised in the air, contemplating whether or not to knock on the door. She wasn't sure how she could comfort her, but she could sense the anguish she was experiencing deep within her heart.
She suddenly exhaled deeply and knocked on the door. She heard no sound and got scared, she knocked again and got nothing, and she wasn’t sure what her sister could do. Scarlett could be so dramatic and decide to hurt herself.
Her eyes widened at that realization, and she pushed the door open, she stepped inside the room and saw Scarlett cuddling her pillow while she cried profusely, Alexia was stunned, and she found it hard to move her legs and go closer to her.
She is always the sympathetic one, no matter how badly her sister treats her, she is always there when she is in a bad state. Alexia slowly moved closer to her and Scarlett noticed someone was in her room, she sat up immediately and scowled at Alexia.
“I know you are glad Father is sending me to marry that cripple!” Alexia yelled at her, and she flinched, taking a quick step toward her.
“No, I am not happy about it. I know I can’t do anything to change Father’s heart, my words are so worthless to him and I decided to talk to you, maybe you could talk to him later and…” Scarlett suddenly erupted into laughter, stopping the words coming out of Alexia's mouth.
“Oh! So, you think I am pathetic! You think you can come inside my room without my permission to prove I am a pathetic person?!” Sarah asked chuckling and Alexia shook her head negatively, she started regretting her actions to check on her sister.
“I am sorry Scarlett, I just wanted to comfort you,” Alexia said instead, and she was shocked when Scarlett’s palm collided with her cheek, her eyes widened, and she held her cheek tightly
“That makes me feel much better, Alexia!” Scarlett said and stalked Alexia.
“All this is your fault, I know Father is trying to protect you that is why he is trying to marry me off, I promise you, I won’t marry him, and I am going to make sure your life is a living hell. You won’t have a choice but to die just like your mother” Scarlett said and Alexia’s eyes stung with tears.
She hates it when anyone talks about her mom, she turns immediately, running away from Sarah with tears falling freely from her eyes.
