Chapter 8 Chap Seven

• I’m still in a daze, staring blankly into space. It’s late at night, but I can’t close my eyes while sitting on the bed, chained up. I feel utterly miserable. How could this be happening to me? I can’t imagine getting married at this age, especially to someone I don’t even know—or love!
• What about my dream? I’ve always imagined marrying the man I love, not someone who’s cold, rude, and an alpha!
• Damon said we’re getting married tomorrow, and as much as I want to escape, these chains make it impossible. I feel so hopeless. I wiped the tears off my cheeks, scanning the room. Damon left earlier after locking me up, and I know he wouldn’t spare a moment for my pleas, even if I begged on my knees.
• What am I going to do? Is this really my fate—to be a Luna in this strange kingdom and the wife of a goddamn monster?
• As time passed, the sun began to rise over the eastern mountains. I hadn’t slept all night and felt light-headed. I tried to close my eyes to ease the throbbing in my head when someone knocked and entered the room. I opened my eyes to see the familiar housekeeper. Maybe I should ask her name? She’s probably the one assigned to me.
• “Ma’am, I’ll prepare your bath. Please wait here,” she said politely and bowed before heading into the bathroom. I sneered, sure she had seen the chains on me but didn’t react. Maybe she’s afraid of Damon. It’s clear everyone here fears him, but I intend to be the exception.
• The housekeeper returned from the bathroom, approaching me slowly with a key in hand. I watched her as she unlocked the chains.
• “What’s your name?” I asked. She looked puzzled at first but replied, “It’s Anna, Ma’am.”
• “How old are you?”
• “I’m 20, Ma’am,” she answered. So, she’s two years older than me.
• “How long have you worked for Damon?” I inquired. She hesitated briefly before saying, “Since I was five, Ma’am.” My jaw dropped. What?
• “What did you say? How? Why?” I was shocked to learn she had been serving Damon since such a young age. She gave me a half-smile. “I was born a slave, Ma’am. My parents were slaves, and so was I,” she explained. I was stunned. Does this mean if you come from a slave family, you’re doomed to be a slave forever?
• “That can’t be! You shouldn’t accept that!” I said, my tone rising. Her lips parted slightly, and she looked at me like I was a puzzle to solve.
• “Ma’am, no one in this kingdom, in this place, can defy the Alpha. His authority is absolute. There’s no one who can challenge him, not even you,” she said. Her words left me silent. I almost forgot we live in a different world.
• I was used to freedom, while the people here aren’t. Then... will I become like them? How can I change my fate? Or do I even have the power to change it?
• Anna guided me to the bathroom. I closed my eyes as I sank into the bathtub filled with roses and milk. It was refreshing, if only I could forget that in a few hours, I’ll be marrying the alpha.
• “Anna?” I called out. I knew she was nearby. She entered the bathroom immediately.
• “Yes, Ma’am?” she asked. I smiled at her.
• “Can you stay here with me?” I asked. She looked confused. “I just want to ask some questions. Is that alright?” I added. She sighed heavily and nodded.
• This is my chance to learn more about this world and this kingdom. I need to understand the rules and policies before marrying Damon. I don’t want to be clueless in front of them. Plus, this might help me plan my escape.
• “Can you tell me about this kingdom? About Damon?” I asked, looking at her. She stared at me for a moment, clearly hesitant, but I knew she couldn’t refuse a future queen.
• “This is the Kingdom of Agama, ruled by the Scot family. They are one of the most powerful werewolf families, and no one has been able to defeat them. Unfortunately, Alpha Damon’s older brother died in an accident, which was a devastating blow to the kingdom. As a result, Alpha Damon was forced to take the throne since the former Alpha had no children. The former Alpha’s mate was your mother, Ma’am...” she looked away. I already knew that part. Damon had mentioned it.
• Mom was mated to Damon’s older brother but married my father instead.
• “Everyone despised your mother when we learned she was involved with a human, which is against our rules. Once your mate dies, you are meant to remain alone for the rest of your life…” My right eyebrow shot up. Does that mean if Damon dies, I’m not allowed to be with anyone else?
• “The council sentenced her to death, but Alpha Damon sensed your life. We discovered that your mother was pregnant with you. It’s rare to sense someone’s life before birth, but Alpha Damon did, and because of that, the council gave your mother a chance. She would live but couldn’t stay in our kingdom anymore,”
• “Why? Is it also against your rules to kill a pregnant woman?” I asked, puzzled. I couldn’t understand why they would spare my mother’s life for that reason.
• “No. It’s because the council believed that the baby your mother was carrying must be Alpha Damon’s mate,” she said.
• “How could they know that?” I bit my lower lip.
• “It’s rare for wolves to sense their mate while they’re still in the womb. It doesn’t involve our powers. Typically, we sense our mates when they are fifteen or eighteen, and we start to feel them once we reach eighteen. Even though Alpha Damon was already a hundred years old at the time, he sensed you while you were still in your mother’s belly,”
• Is that why Damon keeps insisting that my mother kidnapped me and took me away from him? Because he knew from the start that I was his mate?
• “That’s why Alpha Damon kept your mother while she was pregnant, but he never knew she planned to escape and take you away,”
• “My mom is my mother! She can do whatever she wants for me!” I shook my head. I can’t believe Damon was telling the truth! I can’t believe my fate was sealed by him even before I was born!
• “I’m sorry, Ma’am, but an Alpha without his Luna will never have enough power to protect his kingdom…” Anna said meaningfully. I looked at her, stunned.
• “What do you mean?”
• “An Alpha is stronger and lives longer with a Luna by his side. Without a Luna, the council and the pack will question his leadership. Without you, he will be powerless,”