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Chapter 2

Alina

Night had fallen during the journey beyond Agares’ walls. I had only been out of the kingdom once before, for a short period of my life. It was in my childhood, when I lived with my parents in a hidden cabin in the Dark Forest, which marks the border between Agares and the Northern Lycan Kingdom. I remember little of that time, and unfortunately, most of those memories are bad.

I should be happy to have the chance to see what's beyond the cubicle where I lived since my parents' death, to go to a place where I no longer have to worry about the disgusted looks of the Lycans, but ever since I noticed that silver thing shining at Jared's waist, my heart hasn't stopped beating fast and apprehensive.

The smile I had at the Cathedral died too soon, and the tears of joy dried up. Throughout the journey, Jared's stench prevented me from ignoring his presence, even though we hadn't exchanged a single word until the carriage stopped in front of our new home.

The building looks as simple and small as my old dwelling, which by now must have been demolished. Jared leads me to the door. Now that the carriage is gone, we're surrounded by empty fields and the darkness of the night. This place seems very far from everything and everyone.

The feeling of strangeness only increases when the nauseating smell emanating from Jared seems to get even stronger. I try to calm down, but all I feel is uncertainty. I don't know what the future holds for me in this new house, with my new husband.

"You'll like it here," he says, taking the keys out of his pocket and opening the door. I pray the keys are the silver thing I saw before.

"I'm sure I will," I say, but I'm not as sure about that.

The door opens and I go in first. It's so dark that I can't identify the furniture or the limits of the room. But before I can turn around to ask where I can find candles, a shiver runs down my spine when the door slams shut loudly and the jingling of the keys indicates that Jared has locked the house.

The room has no windows, so my sense of smell is my only guide in that darkness. Jared didn't lock me in here alone. He's with me, I can smell him.

Something sharp presses against the middle of my back, fitting between the laces of my corset. I'm sure it's a blade, and that it's made of silver. My skin is tingling.

"Ok, wolf-girl," Jared's voice sounds deeper and more melodious, but not in a good way. "We're married now, right? This is our home, and it's just you and me. It's time for consummation, dear, and I've been paid handsomely to give you what you deserve."

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...

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The Moon Goddess and Ralous, her human lover, are well-known legends. To keep him from aging, the goddess used her silver blood to make him immortal, inadvertently turning him into a wolf beast under the full moon. Ralous harmed many people, and those who escaped inherited his curse. Realizing the destruction he caused, he ended his own life with a silver blade, as only silver could kill him.

Over time, Ralous' victims married with humans. They adapted to the curse and gave rise to the Lycans, who have a harmonious balance between their human and wolf sides. The goddess forbade them from procreating with each other to prevent the birth of creatures like myself. That's why every Lycan must marry a human.

But humans
 they’re worse than Lycans.

My skin is marked with bruises and knife cuts — the damn thing made of silver that I caught a glimpse of on my Bonding Ceremony day. My face is throbbing, and I feel pain in every limb, every joint, and every movement seems like a new challenge. My eyes are swollen from constant crying, and my voice is hoarse from being forced to scream for help. But who could help me now, when I'm living at the end of the world?

Ah... Who would want to help me at any other time, for that matter?

Undyne is no longer here to pity me, or to support me after finding me unconscious at the end of a full moon night.

As Jared himself told me, he was paid to give me what I deserved. And it seems that being here, huddled in the corner of the room while I hug my knees, locked in a windowless room and fed dry bread and water, is what a cursed she-wolf deserves.

(...) It's time for consummation.

If Jared touched my body, it was only to hurt it and push it to the limit of pain, not to do what would be expected on a wedding night.

Jared cut and beat me, but he never took my clothes off. However, my mind is constantly in turmoil. What if he gets tired of this game and tries to force himself on me? After all, we were united before the Lunar Mother, regardless of whether this marriage was a predetermined union by her or not.

I feel lost and powerless. I don't know what to do.

I hear a knock on the door, and my heart races.

"Doggy, I brought you dinner." Jared speaks from the other side. "I hope you're starving. I went all out this time."

Liar.

Jared is smart. He knows what I am and what could happen if I lose control of my emotions. But I’m so weak that nothing he does to me is enough to awaken the killer beast that lives in the deepest corner of my consciousness. It's like the monster is asleep, as starved as I am.

The door opens and Jared comes in with a piece of bread and a cup full of water. I see the silver knife hanging from his belt, now clearly visible. He approaches and crouches in front of me. I curl up and turn my face away.

"Here, take this." He drops the bread on my lap and places the cup on the floor next to me. "Don't forget to thank your kind husband."

"Thank you..." I say weakly, and I hate myself for it. But I just want to try to avoid more suffering.

"What's wrong? Aren't you going to eat?" In a quick movement, he grabs my chin and forces me to look at him. "You're lucky to be here, away from those Lycans who despised you. And you're even luckier to have a good husband when you wouldn't have had a chance with anyone else."

"Please, stop it." I feel tears impairing my vision. "I can't take it anymore."

"Aw, how cute." He lets me go and stands up, brushing his clothes to get rid of the bread crumbs. "The doggy is crying. But don't worry, our honeymoon will be over soon."

"I want to get out of here."

"Oh, but you'll get out." The irony in his tone scares me. "But there's someone who needs to see you at your best before that happens."

"What are you talking about?"

Jared ignores me at first, then turns his back and walks towards the door. He only came to deliver dinner
 A small part of me is relieved.

"It's a secret." He says as he turns the handle. "After that, you'll be free."

Free. Of course, he won't set me free.

I need to get out of here.

As the door is still open, and he steps out of the room, I feel a desperation that makes me think of trying to get up and run, but my legs don't obey. I'm too weak, and the door closes before I can move a hand. Clank, the lock made. The sound of his footsteps indicates that Jared has walked away.

I am alone again.

I need to get out of here.

If things continue like this, Jared will kill me.

I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE.

I close my eyes tightly. I can't take it anymore.

I can't take it. I can't take it.

I CAN'T TAKE IT.

Suddenly, everything turns red — the beast is out.

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