CHAPTER 1 Blood Wedding
Kayla's POV
I stare at my reflection in the mirror, barely recognizing the woman gazing back at me. A warm breeze flows through the open windows. It should be comforting, but it only made me feel even more out of place.
"Hold still, my lady," one of the maids says. She is carefully adjusting the lace at my shoulder. I couldn't care less about it but I understood if everything wasn't perfect she could get in trouble.
I should be excited. I should be happy to be wearing the gown. The gown is a beautiful assortment of ivory silk and delicate beadwork. It was fit for a princess not a political pawn.
"Please tell me you're finally done," I say.
The head maid, Elara, steps back to survey her work. "Nearly finished, Lady Kayla. You look absolutely stunning."
"Thanks," I mutter. I don't even attempt to force a smile. The gown feels like a cage. I barely know the man waiting for me at the altar, yet by the end of today we'll be bound for life.
"Thank you," I respond. "You've all done beautiful work."
Another maid fusses over my hair as she brushes it for the fifth time. "The Palecrown Alpha will be breathless when he sees you, my lady."
I resist the urge to scoff. This isn't about love or attraction. This is about alliances and pack politics. I could be uglier than a doorknob and that Alpha would still have to marry me.
"I'm sure he will," I reply, not in the mood to argue about how it doesn't matter if he found me breathtaking or not. What I was concerned about was how to make this work. How can I lead a pack with a stranger? How can I be expected to-
A soft knock interrupts my spiraling thoughts. "Come in," I respond.
The door opens, revealing my childhood friend, Lena. Her eyes widen as she takes in my appearance. "Oh, Kayla," she breathes. "You look..."
"Like a foolish little princess?" I finish for her.
Lena approaches me, shooing away the maids with a gentle wave. When we're alone, she takes my hands in hers. "You look like a queen," she says softly. "But I can tell in your eyes something is wrong. Are you okay?"
For a moment, I considered standing firm and just lie like my father wanted me to. But Lena has known me since we were pups, and I couldn't lie to her.
"I don't know if I can do this, Lena," I whisper, finally allowing myself to drop my guard. "This isn't what I want."
Lena squeezes my hands. "I know. I wish I could rescue you from this, but I can't," she says, her voice is a mixture of sympathy and resignation. "You're the strongest person I know, Kayla. If anyone can make this work, it's you."
I take a shaky breath. "You're right," I say, straightening my spine. "I am strong. I am a leader. And I will do what needs to be done."
The heavy oak door creaks open, and my father's imposing figure stands there in the doorway. His eyes, usually sharp and calculating, soften slightly as they land on me.
"It's time," he says.
I nod, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. Lena pulls me into a quick hug and whispers, "You got this." As I move to join my father, he places a hand on my shoulder, his touch uncharacteristically gentle.
"Kayla," he begins, his voice low. "I know this isn't easy. But remember, this is your duty. The Palecrown Pack needs a strong Luna, and you were born for this role."
"I understand, Father," I reply, not looking up to meet his gaze as I knew I wouldn't be able to stop the tears from falling.
As we make our way through the winding corridors of the Palecrown Pack's grand estate, suddenly, a low growl echoes in my mind, my wolf bristling with unease. I stumbled slightly, my hand flying to my temple.
"Kayla?" My father grips my shoulder to help maintain my balance. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," I lie. "Just a moment of nerves."
But as we continue, the feeling of dread grows stronger. Something isn't right, but I can't put my finger on what.
'What is wrong?' I ask her.
'I don't know. Just... just be careful,' she responds.
Before I could ask anything, I stumble into my father's back as he has stopped in front of the doors of the grand ceremonial hall. He is shielding me, allowing me to regain my composure before I step inside.
"Make us proud, my little tigerlily," my father says, low enough for only me to hear. His calling me by his nickname for me brings a true smile to my face as he hadn't called me that in years.
I step inside, making my way to the altar. The room has a sea of faces, some familiar, most strangers, all eyes locked on me as I make my way down the aisle.
My fiancé, Aiden, stands at the altar, his broad shoulders rigid beneath his formal attire. It seems he is also not too keen on this alliance. Our eyes meet, and I find is cool detachment in his eyes, mirroring my own emotions.
"You look beautiful," he murmurs as I take my place beside him.
"Thank you," I reply. "You don't look so bad yourself." My last statement earns a small chuckle from him.
The officiant begins the ceremony. I barely listen to his words. I stand there, outwardly calm, while inside, my thoughts race. Is this really happening? Am I truly about to bind myself to this man, this pack, for the rest of my life?
Suddenly, my wolf surges forward in my mind, a growl of warning reverberating through my consciousness. The intensity of it causes me to flinch.
"Kayla?" Aiden's voice is sharp with concern. "What's wrong?"
I open my mouth to respond, but before I can form the words, a glint of silver catches my eye. Time seems to slow as I watch a blade slice through the air.
"No!" I cry out, trying to pull Aiden toward me, but it's too late. The knife buries itself in Aiden's chest. His eyes widened in shock, blood spread across his white shirt.
As he crumples to the ground, blood sprays across my face and gown. For a moment, everything is silent and then, chaos erupts.
Shouts of alarm and rage fill the air as dark-clad figures materialize from the shadows, their movements fluid and deadly.
Assassins.
I get into a fighting stance ready to defend myself, but someone yells, "Protect the Alpha's daughter!"
Warriors from both packs rush forward to defend me. I kneel in front of Aiden, thinking I could help him. I roll him on his back. His eyes are open, staring up unseeing. How could silver kill him that quickly?
"Seize her!" The guttural command cuts through my thoughts snapping me back to the present. Elder Thornton of the Palecrown Pack points a finger in my direction, his face contorted with fury. "She's covered in his blood! This was her plan all along!"
My heart pounds, a frantic rhythm in my chest. "No, I didn't-" I start, but my protests are drowned out by the growing chorus of accusations.
"Treachery!"
"The Grayridge Pack betrayed us!"
My father's voice rises above the others. "This is madness! My daughter is innocent!"
But his words fall on deaf ears. I can see it in their eyes- the fear, the suspicion, the thirst for vengeance. In their minds, I've already been tried and convicted.
"I said seize her!" Elder Thornton roars again, and this time, warriors begin to close in around me.
My wolf howls within me, urging me to run, to fight, to do something. But my body feels leaden, my thoughts sluggish. How did everything go so terribly wrong?
"Kayla," a familiar voice calls out to me. It is Marcus, my father's beta. "Don't make this worse. Come quietly," he pleads.
"I won't be a sacrificial lamb for your pack politics," I declare. "This was an assassination, and I'm being framed."
Elder Thornton sneers, "Lies! Your own wolf betrayed you, girl. We all heard its growl of disapproval during the ceremony."
"My wolf sensed the danger," I argue. "If you'd just listen-"
A burly Palecrown Pack warrior lunge forward, his massive hand reaching for my arm. Without thinking, I react. My grandmother's training takes over, and I twist, using his momentum to send him sprawling.
Gasps ripple through the gathering. I've just confirmed their worst suspicions.
"See?" Elder Thornton crows triumphantly. "This barbaric girl is a trained killer!"
I back away, my heart pounding. "Please," I plead, hating the tremor in my voice. "I'm innocent. I did not do this."
But as I look into the growing crowd of hostile faces surrounding me, I realize that explanations no longer matter. In their eyes, I'm already guilty.