ENGAGED

I walked into the pack smeared with in my human form. I shifted back before entering and wore the extra clothes I left behind a tree.

My mouth still had traces of blood, so did my body. The blood of the rogues that were smeared on my body had dried. I looked scattered and unkempt as I stepped into the pack house.

"Where in the goddess''s name did you go to and why are you covered in blood?" My father, Alpha Raiden, glared at me.

"I went for a run to calm my wolf down and decided to do a little hunting. I did not want to ruin your alliance because if I had stayed back a minute longer I might have caused a war and ruined the peaceful coexistence you wanted with the White Moon pack," I shrugged and went to take a seat. 

That seemed to calm him down and his eyes softened a bit. I think I saw something more like pity in his eyes but I looked away not wanting his pity or that of anyone else.

"Oh my baby, are you ok?" Luna Scarlet, my step Mom, rushed to me, engulfing me in a tight hug. When I say tight hug, I mean a choking hug.

"I'll if you stop choking me," I said, grasping for breath.

"I'm so sorry," she pulled away.

" I'm sure there's someone else out there for you," she gawked at me, her eyes laced with sympathy and I could tell she wanted to hug me again. So I took a step back out of her reach. I couldn't risk being choked to death with her hug.

"I don't need anyone's pity."

"My duty is here in this pack and I want to be a pack warrior and nothing else," I scoffed and she glanced back at dad, trying to pass a message. I had a feeling they did something I wouldn't like.

"Ok what message are you guys passing at each other?" I glanced from Dad to Scarlet, waiting for one of them to talk.

"You can't remain in this pack forever Imelda and you are a female, you can't be a warrior either."

"Are you trying to kick me out?" 

"Actually…" Dad was saying before Irina, my step sister barged in, interrupting him.

"Imelda," her eyes glistened in tears as she hugged me.

"I heard what happened, I can't believe he did that," she sniffed, still hugging me and I patted her hair.

"News really travels fast around here." I was irritated and I didn't fail to hide it. It was glaring on my face. I can't believe the news of me getting rejected had traveled this fast within hours. 

"At least you have people that care," Arla spoke up and I ignored her. I hated pity because it made me look weak.

"Do you want me to deal with him for you?" Irina released herself from my hold and stared at me waiting for my permission. If I did give her the permission, she was truly going to hunt Damien down. Not to brag, but Irina could be lethal when fighting.

"You will be dealing with no one, Irina. We are now at peace and I won't have you disrupting that," Dad spoke up authoritatively.

"But he hurt Imelda and didn't care about her feelings," she retorted and Dad growled at her, making her take refuge behind me.

"My decision is final Irina, I do not want to see you on the shores of the White Moon pack causing any trouble."

"You should listen to your dad Irina," Mom spoke up, interfering and stopping Irina from saying a word again.

Irina huffed and folded her hands angrily. For some reason, I kept quiet and just watched my Dad as he glared angrily at Irina.

"Have you told Imelda that you are getting her married to Prince Derek in my stead," Irina asked and time seemed to freeze at that very instant.

"Irina!" Mom chided Irina who stared at me bug eyed. I still didn't understand what she said because it didn't make sense.

"They are getting us married," Arla rechoed it in my head.

"Shut up Arla, we are not getting married," I gritted my teeth in anger refusing to accept the betrayal trying to weigh me down.

"Dad, what is Irina talking about and who is getting married?" I faced my dad. He had a sorry look on his face. He always had that look on his face whenever he did something he knew I wouldn't like.

"Imelda darling, we did it for the good of the pack," Mom wrapped her hands around me and I shrugged it off, pushing her away.

"I still don't understand what you guys are talking about. Can you guys explain and stop giving me sorry looks!" I glowered in anger.

"Irina was betrothed to the Prince from birth," dad said.

"What!" I yelled.

"How could you get her betrothed to the prince? What if he was not her mate? Didn't you ever think of that?" 

"Not all wolves are given a mate by the moon goddess. You of all people know about the curse. Only a few are blessed and given the opportunity to have a mate. So we took the chance to betroth Irina to Prince Derek when it presented itself to us to secure her future."

"You mean to secure your position," Irina scoffed and Mom pinched her to be quiet.

I took in slow breaths trying to calm myself and stop myself from exploding because if I didn't I might end up doing something really bizarre and crazy.

"So what does all these have to do with me?"

There was silence and nobody talked. I was getting impatient already and was close to blowing up if no one said anything.

"Irina found her mate," he dropped the bomb.

"She is mated to the beta's son, Caleb. So it's either she rejects the beta's son to be with the prince or breaks the engagement with the Prince and puts our family at risk of execution."

My mind already knew where this was going but I was unwilling to accept it. 

"So what was your decision," I stared deep into his green emerald eyes, praying to hear something different from what my mind was telling me.

"Since you were rejected by your mate, we decided that you'll get married to the prince in her stead."

My heart seemed to have stopped beating at that very instant and all that kept ringing in my head was that…..

"You'll get married in her stead….."