LAVINIA'S POV
"I have good news dear, you can finally be able to come to the pack with me." My father revealed and my joy knew no bounds.
"Really?"
"Yes." He confirmed and I grabbed him in a hug, unable to stop myself.
Finally,
I can finally go to my pack for the first time in my life and I'm completely thrilled. For as long as I could remember, I've been locked up in this cottage like a prisoner.
I've only ever known two people in my entire life, my nursemaid, Siri and my father who I'm told is the Alpha of our pack.
I've been kept in this cottage my whole life and I've never been allowed to go outside, I've never been under the sun or felt the wind in my hair or touched the grass.
I shifted since I was fourteen but I've never been able to go for a run because I'm not allowed outside.
Since I could talk, I've always wondered why and I've asked Siri to tell me the reason countless times but she never did. She was always strict with me so I'm a bit scared of her but I still love her very much because she's like a mother to me.
I've also tried to find out from my father why I'm being locked up like I had committed the worst crime but he too refused to tell me.
When I threatened to take my own life if they didn't tell me the truth, they told me that I was being locked up for my own good and that if I was allowed outside, I would be in great danger and this made me both scared and curious.
I asked if I had some kind of disease which would kill me if I went outside but he said no, that my situation was much worse than that. I asked for a further explanation but since then, he's refused to speak more on the matter.
Everytime I try to bring up the topic, he always changes the subject. After trying hard to understand my situation and still failing, I've gradually come to accept it with a heavy heart.
I'll probably grow old and die in this cottage, I'll never be able to experience what it feels like running through the forest, the wind blowing through my fur, I'll never be able to feel the rain on my bare skin, I'll never be able to make friends or even find my mate and lastly, I'll never have kids. I'll die a sad and lonely wolf and all because my father thinks keeping me locked up like this is protecting me.
I know you'll probably ask why I don't just go outside without Siri noticing but believe me, I've tried. The cottage is fortified with some sort of magic or enchantment, anyone can just walk in and out, anyone except me. Each time I try to walk out that door, I become enveloped by excruciating pain and it almost feels like I'm engulfed in fire, the flames blazing at my skin piece by piece.
I can barely stand the pain for two seconds but the shocking thing is when I move away from the door, I'm completely fine and there's not even a bruise on my skin. I've tried a dozen times and with each unsuccessful attempt, my hope gradually faded away. When I turned 15, I decided to completely give up on the idea of ever going outside. I accepted my dark fate and since then, I've been a lot happier.
But the day that I had never thought would come was finally here. My father was standing in front of me today and telling me the best news of my entire life and I really can't quantify my happiness.
"Calm down Lavinia or you're going to strangle me." He said jocularly.
"I can't calm down dad, I'm so happy. I'm 18 years old and this is the first time I get to leave this godforsaken cottage, I feel like I'm gonna explode with joy." I chirped happily.
"Don't say that, this place isn't that bad." He said and I threw him a sarcastic look.
He ruffled my hair a bit and I broke into a huge smile.
"But dad, will I really be able to leave this place? Won't trying to pass through the door hurt me anymore?" I asked, afraid that my dream might not come true.
"Don't worry, that has been taken care of. You can now walk out that door without feeling anything." He assured me.
"Promise?"
"I promise."
I gulped and stood up, ready to test it for myself but my father stopped.
"Lavinia wait, before we leave, I have something very important to share with you." His words instantly stopped me in my tracks. Is it possible that he finally wants to tell me the reason why I've been locked up?
I turned around and walked back to him. "What is it dad?" I asked urgently.
"I know that you're excited about coming with me to meet the pack for the first time but after this, your life is going to change completely." He began slowly but it was obvious that he seemed hesitant to continue.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked, curious.
I know that meeting other people for the first time would be very strange and I'd surely feel uncomfortable but I'll get used to it quickly. After all, they're my pack, my own family and I'm their princess. Even after today, I'll still be me, the happy, down to earth but still slightly awkward Lavinia.
"You don't understand dear. I'm not taking you out of this cottage so that you'll come live in the Pack house with me and the rest of the Pack, you're leaving this cottage because you're getting married. You're going to get married to the Prince of the Shadow Stone Pack in a few days." He finally dropped the bombshell and I froze on the spot.
"WHAT?!"
Lavinia's POV"What do you mean by marriage?" I blurted, tears brimming at the edge of my eyes."Lavinia please calm down and listen to me carefully. All this is for your own good. Everything I've been doing and still doing is all for your own good……" He began but I couldn't let him finish."Stop! Just stop it already! I've had enough! You keep telling me that everything is for my own good but if it really is, why aren't I happy then? Stop lying to me. Everything you're doing is for your own self motives, I'm pretty sure you don't even love me at all. You keep telling me you're protecting me but you're only ruining my life. I've spent 18 freaking years in this place and when I finally have my freedom, you want to marry me off to some stranger? Do I really mean nothing to you? If you truly are protecting me, then what from? What are you so afraid of? I'm tired, I just can't do this anymore. I don't care if I have to die but if I can get just one week of happiness, I'm willing to die pe
Lavinia's POVOver the years, I'd always imagined what living in a pack would be like and what it would feel like to be around so many people but the real thing beat my imagination hands down.I've never left so welcomed in my entire life. Everyone was already gathered outside of the pack house, waiting for me. I was welcomed upon arrival and they all seemed so happy to see me. I was equally happy as well to meet everyone, though being around so many people made me feel shy. I met my stepmother and step siblings for the first time.I was given a beautifully furnished room in the pack house and I felt like all my worries had disappeared.Dad came to my room and informed me that my marriage would be taking place in three days, after which I would go with my mate to his pack to start my new life. He also told me that Prince Rylan and his entourage would be arriving at our pack the next day so we would have enough time to at least get to know each other and come to an understanding before
Lavinia's POVI landed heavily on the ground with a thud, the wolf pinning me to the ground with its weight. It growled at me aggressively, looking like it was ready to tear me to pieces. I was too afraid to shift at this time and even if I could, I had received no training whatsoever. How am I supposed to defend myself? I closed my eyes in fear, tears falling down my cheeks but then it suddenly stopped and got off of me.When I couldn't feel its cold and ragged breath on my cheek, I slowly opened my eyes and saw the wolf standing a few metres away from me.Just then, it shifted into a man and a very handsome one at that. There was just one problem, he was completely naked!He looked at me straight in the eyes, seemingly unashamed of his nudity. A huge blush instantly spread across my cheeks as my eyes travelled downwards to the place they were not supposed to.I turned away instantly in shame, mentally kicking myself for staring at him so boldly.I heard him chuckle behind me before
Lavinia's POVI closed my eyes, petrified, waiting for the intense pain that was to inevitably envelope me once the arrow lodged into my body but it surprisingly never came.I opened my eyes slowly and saw Prince Rylan standing a few metres away from me, a bow in his hand and a quiver of arrows hung around his shoulder.He held an apologetic look and I turned around to see that I was standing in front of the target. The arrow was embedded directly in the bullseye, which meant that it had missed me only by a few inches…..The arrow was never meant for me but I had unknowingly gotten in the way and was almost hit. Thanks to the goddess for the prince's perfect aim."My lady, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?" The maids soon clattered around me, checking my body for any signs of injury but they found none.Prince Rylan finally approached me. "Are you OK? Please tell me that you're fine." He asked, worry and guilt etched on his face."I'm….. I'm fine, just feeling a little shaken."
Lavinia's POVI followed the maid to my father's room and though I was slightly upset, I didn't show it.As I knocked on the door of his room, the maid retreated. I heard his voice from the other side of the door and when I informed him of my identity, he told me to come in.When I entered the room, he was standing by the window gazing outside, he didn't turn around to acknowledge and this worried me a bit. Had I done something wrong?I cleared my throat before speaking. "Father, you called?""Yes." He replied before finally turning to face me and it was then that I saw that he was holding something, a golden box.He clutched it protectively and I wondered what it could possibly contain."Please take a seat." He requested and I obeyed."Lavinia, you'll be getting married tomorrow and once this marriage happens, there's no going back so I'm giving you a final chance to decide if you want to go through with it or not. I realize that the first time I asked this of you, I was indirectly
LAVINIA'S POV"Son, I still don't understand why you agreed to this marriage in the first place, we could have easily gone to war instead. That girl is cursed, she could bring destruction to our pack but yet you're still adamant about it." Alpha Argo said and my heart clenched. I didn't realize it but tears had gathered at the edge of my eyes.Was this really what my future father in-law thought about me? How can he refer to me as cursed and a bringer of destruction? What had I ever done to him? I was beginning to worry if I would be treated right in the Shadow Stone Pack after marriage."Lavinia please calm down and control yourself or they'll be alerted of your presence. In life, not everyone will like you, there's always bound to be people who dislike you." Isis tried to console me."It doesn't seem like Alpha Argo just dislikes me, from his words, it's clear that he hates me for some reason." I muttered sadly."That shouldn't matter right now, Rylan is the one we're going to marr
LAVINIA'S POVMy eyelids open gradually and I'm blinded by the darkness all around. I blink repeatedly and it takes a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the dim light coming from what I assume to be a lamp.I try to move but then notice that I'm stuck, I try again with more force this time and the thick chains around me bore into my skin, rubbing roughly against it and leaving my skin sore and raw. I seemed to be chained tightly to a chair.Confusion instantly sets in and I start to wonder where I am but just then, a deep but familiar voice causes me to still."I see you're finally awake."I turned my head to the direction of the voice and I saw him sitting in the shadows. Even in the dark, I could make out his figure, he was sitting back, legs crossed. His eyes were fixed on me and I could make out the small smirk at the edge of his lips.His eyes twinkled in the dark, they held a raw emotion I had never seen, one that scared and intrigued me at the same time."Lavinia focus! Have
LAVINIA'S POVI'm awakened by the sound of birds chirping. As my eyes flick open, I'm nearly blinded by the sharp rays of sunlight that wash over my face. Only then do I realize that I'm chained to a chair just beside the window. It takes a few minutes for my eyes to adjust to the light but when they finally did, another realization quickly hit me.Taking a good look around, I soon discovered that I had been kidnapped and was currently being held hostage in my own cottage!Yes, the cottage I'd known as home my entire life had suddenly become a prison for me and I was being held by a twisted and sadistic man who I'm sure is completely out of his mind.I think back to the events of yesterday and though much of it still makes absolutely no sense to me, I decide not to focus on it.The most important thing to me right now should be escaping from here. I should try my best to free myself and leave before Rylan comes back. The sooner I'm able to return to the pack and tell my father everyth