Chapter 1 IN THE FOREST

Chapter One

In the forest

(Olivia's POV)

My bright smile suddenly disappeared from my face as my father made the announcement.

I almost staggered, but Jada, my best friend was quick to notice my shock and hold me.

“What do you mean, father?” I swallowed hard as I faced my father. My palms were already getting sweaty.

I anticipated his response, hoping that I heard him wrong.

But I didn't. He shrugged with an air of indifference as if he had not just made a decision that could turn my entire world upside down in seconds.

He raised his eyebrows as he looked at me, speaking with a strict tone.

“You've been betrothed to Alpha Tristan, therefore, you're getting married to him.” he said with an authoritative tone. That was when I realized that it was a prank. It was the reality.

My eyes brimmed with tears as I gave my mother a pleading look, hoping that she would intervene and come to my rescue but her expression was also serious like dad's.

My lower lip almost bled as I bit it hard, staring at my parents, the Alpha and Luna of the Redcreek pack. I needed no one to tell me that the betrothal was a decision made by them.

I shook my head as I stared with disbelief. My heart was full of fear, confusion and anger.

How could they do this to me?

Everyone knew that Alpha Tristan was arrogant, cruel, and dangerous. He was a man in his mid-twenties who who possessed much power.

I had always hated him for his evil attitude. As the Alpha of the Bluemoon pack, he ruled with fear and terror. He treated everyone below him like dirt.

He killed without fear and hesitation and did whatever he wanted because he knew that no one would question him. His name sent cold shivers down everyone's spine.

We hardly met each each other, but the few times we did, he was so cold, disrespectful and utterly arrogant. My legs shook with fear at the thought of spending the rest of my life with that devil.

"This can't be true," I almost screamed, but I tried hard to control myself.

"No! you cannot do this to me," I protested, my voice shaking with hurt.

Mother sighed and took a sip of wine before setting the wine gass back on the black stool in front of her.

"Olivia, this is for your own good. This is for the good of the pack. Tristan is powerful and wealthy. With an alliance of both packs, we will be untouchable." mum replied with a persuasive tone which only infuriated me the more.

I could not believe my ears, neither could I stop my tears from falling. The large sitting room suddenly felt tight. It was though it was suffocating me.

I scoffed.

"No, mum, this isn't for my good and neither is it for the good of the pack. You are doing this for your own interests. You and dad are just selfish."

Before I could say another word, my mum's palm flew across my face, and a sharp pain landed on my cheek. I winced in pain as my fingers instinctively touched the place where I had just been hit.

Mum stood in front of me with her eyes full of fury. "How dare you talk so disrespectfully to your dad and I in this manner?"

I shook my head and scoffed. "I'm not getting married to Tristan, not to that devil," I asserted in defiance, and ran out of the living room. My vision became blurry by my tears but I didn't care.

Without waiting for Jada, who was running after me, asking me to stop, I stormed out of the house.

Run. That was the only thought that came to my head.

My head was clouded with anger and hurt as I ran. I didn't know where I was going but I didn't care.

All that was in my head at the moment was to go far away from home. I needed to breathe. What I didn't realize was that I was gradually leaving my pack's territory into our archenemies"s territory. The Lycans.

After long minutes of running, I stopped and put my hands into my pockets as I walked. I was too upset to realize that I was going deeper and deeper into the forest.

My heart shook with terror as I imagined being Alpha Tristan's bride.

"I'm not some bargaining chip to be traded for power. I'm not his and will never be his." I muttered with bitterness.

I gave a sour smile as I remembered the glamorous 18th birthday party which my parents threw for me 3 days before. My 18th birthday meant only one thing. That it was time to find a mate.

I was expecting a betrothal, but what I didn't expect was that my parents would be willing to betroth their only child to the dreaded Alpha Tristan.

I didn't know how long I walked, but it must have been for hours. My thoughts blurred into my anger until it turned into exhaustion.

I was no longer crying. My breathing grew heavier and my steps were getting slower.

The atmosphere suddenly turned cold and unfamiliar. That was when I realized that something was wrong. I could feel my wolf growl low inside me, her instincts clawing at my chest in discomfort. This could only mean one thing.

Danger.

I stood still, my heart skipping. I was all alone in the forest. The air was eerie, indicating a bad omen. Everywhere was dead silent. Before I could think of retracting my steps, a rough and deep voice suddenly roared in the forest.

"Who dare cross into the Lycan territory?" Within the twinkle of an eye, a huge figure stepped out from behind a tree right ahead of me. He was the tallest wolf I had ever seen. His muscles could be visibly seen beneath the black uniform he was wearing. A lycan guard.

He began to walk towards me like a lion who had just sighted it's prey. His eyes glowed dangerously as his sharp fangs flashed at me. I Instantly ran into a panic mode. I almost stumbled in fear but was quick to hold my balance.

Instinctively, I tried to shift but he was faster. I felt his rough hands on my neck as slammed my head against a tree. I winced in pain from the hurt, and a low gasp escaped my lips.

"Why is filthy wolf like you trespassing on our land?" I struggled hard to free myself but I was no match for him.

"Let...me...go." I managed to say in a weak voice, my vision blurring.

He tightened his hold on my neck with a devilish grin.

"Of course," he said with mockery. "I will let you go but not until after I end your miserable life right here." he pulled his arm back, his sharp claws pointing ferociously at me under the moonlight, ready to strike.

"Enough!" A deep voice laced with authority suddenly pierced the air. A figure stepped out of the trees into the moonlight.