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Chapter two: Guards get her out!!!

ANNA'S POV

"You have to do this, Anna!" My head rang multiple times as I heard my stepmother's words. I just couldn't believe what they wanted to push me into.

"Father..." I called out, looking at him, with the most pleading expression I could muster. He looked back at me, with a clueless expression. He was trying to feign ignorance.

I was hurt and broken and I realized I hadn't felt any fatherly love, ever since he got married to Emily's mother. Why then would he take my side now?

"I can't..." I started, in a shaky tone and then continued, "I can't do it, Father. Please..." I said and immediately, my stepmother burst into a peal of mocking laughter.

Her eyes crinkled as she looked at me while my father looked away. At this point, I was standing in the middle of my bedroom while the unfamiliar guards raged downstairs.

"Anna Marie.." My stepmother called out as her laughter ended abruptly.

"Emily is not here and you know that. She has a mate and you don't. No one caused you to lose your mate to her! So, therefore, you have to stand in as a bride for her!" She declared and it was apparently the final say as my father had no say.

I was hurt once again and I wondered how I had gotten into such a life. I was never aware that Emily was betrothed to the useless prince of the kingdom.

Now, she was nowhere to be found alongside Lucas and then I was made to stand in as the bride.

From being the Alpha's son's mate, I had become a substitute bride. Could my life get any worse?

But then I couldn't just stand there and watch them boss me around!

"You both can't do this to me! All you have to do is cancel the engagement! I'm not Emily and will never be!" I shouted, with so much anger bubbling within me. My eyes were wide and red as I pointed at them while making my point known.

Immediately after I finished my words, she burst into a peal of hilarious and mocking laughter. Slowly, she stood up from the bed and before I knew it, she was beside me. I couldn't keep up with her speed at all.

"Anna!" She called out as she grabbed my jaw and her sharp fingers dug into my flesh.

"Stop!" I shouted, painfully as I felt her fingers pierce my skin.

"You are hurting me!" I yelled and tried to push against her but she held onto my hands, tightly. I was decapitated and couldn't move. I never knew she was so strong.

"Get this into your head, dimwit! You can never be Emily and you will never be!" She said, through gritted teeth. In the next second, she pushed me to the floor. My knees collided with the hard floor and I winced in pain.

"You wouldn't want Emily to get mated to a disabled prince, would you? She is just right for the Alpha's son!" She added and in the next second, she walked out, alongside my father.

I was left alone, wallowing in my misery. My life had turned upside down, in just one day.

How could I get mated to the famed useless prince and throw away my life like that?

I couldn't do so! And immediately, I stood up to my feet, to dash out of the room. I needed to escape before they come to get me, again.

But then as I opened the door, I was met with the face of the scary guard. My heart skipped a beat and I started to step back.

"Get away from me!" I yelled, in anger but he did not budge, as he continued to walk toward me. I tried to act brave but deep down, I was greatly scared. How did he appear so quickly?

"Are you going somewhere?" He asked, with a devilish smirk on his face and I shivered. If he was this deadly looking, how much more would the people in the palace be?

I couldn't fathom that and immediately, I dashed toward the window. I was determined to jump down to my death if that was what was necessary!

"Get her!" The guard ordered, just I dashed toward the window.

"Fuck!" I cussed as an array of guards ran into the room.

Before I could get to the window, I felt a gust of hot wind and a guard was already by my side.

"Ahhh!!" I screamed as he held onto me and dragged me, across the room. His speed was unmatched and his grip was so strong, I couldn't get away.

"Help me! Someone, help me!" I yelled as I thrashed about but no one heed to my cries. My father paid deaf ears to my pleas and my stepmother, laughed at my predicament.

I was alone, again!

A few seconds later, I was bundled, into the carriage leading to the palace.

"For fuck's sake! I'm not Emily! I'm Anna!" I yelled, trying to prove my identity.

How could the guard mistake me for someone I'm not?!

"Shut up!" He yelled back at me, with a scary face and I was quick to pull away.

My body shook in fear.

"Who do you think will believe you?! Your family has already agreed to the marriage and you can't do anything about it!" He reiterated and immediately, I went quiet.

Who was I to complain when they had already put a seal over my life?

In the next second, the carriage went quiet. I was in total shock at the happenings. Before long, the carriage started to move and I wondered what was waiting for me, ahead.


Two days later…

"It's time!" I heard the guards who surrounded me say while I was seated on a stool. I was seated in the center of an almost empty room, already dressed up and dolled up.

For a day, we traveled and for another day, I was kept in an empty room painted in all white.

It was depressing!

My eyes were red and watery and I fought to hold onto my tears. I couldn't let them fall! I was warned severally not to ruin my makeup!

A few hours ago, I was dragged out of the empty room. I was escorted to a secluded quarters, where I was bathed and dolled up for the ball, tonight.

It was said that the useless prince would be choosing his bride which was me. The substitute bride!

"Get out! You have to behave yourself! Else, you are dead!" The guard warned, cruelly as he pointed at me.

I was quick to nod my head at his words and a tear slipped from my eye, uncontrollably. A veil was placed over my head in order to hide my face from everyone else!

Soon, I was up and led toward the ballroom. The party was in full swing and I felt Incredibly off and odd.

I had never been in such a space where the most powerful people around, were present.

I was sure my stepsister, Emily, would have pulled off such a task, easily.

I was dragged toward a particular hidden spot and was made to stand.

As I watched everyone around, I saw the prince sitting in a wheelchair.

He looked dumb and arrogant at the same time.

It was no wonder my stepmother was opposed to the idea of Emily getting mated to the prince.

My heart thudded in my chest at the thought that I would have to be with such a person for the rest of my life.

"I have to leave!" I muttered, under my breath and I turned toward the entrance of the hall. I wanted to escape, again.

But as I turned around, the host suddenly announced.

"Please, welcome Prince Damon Drew as he chooses his bride!" Immediately, there was a loud round of applause as that was what everyone was here for.

I couldn't move! I couldn't turn around! I knew I couldn't escape anymore as the guards would be on high alert at this time.

"Miss Emily, it's time to meet the prince." One of the guards came forward and motioned for me to walk to the stage.

It was weird how I wasn't even escorted by beautiful females but just scary-looking guards!

This was not how I envisioned my life to be!

The prince was already on the stage while he was all smiles.

There was a lecherous expression on his face and I knew I was in for it. I knew he couldn't wait to man-handle his bride, however he wanted.

As I walked out of my hidden spot, with the veil over my head, I felt all eyes on me.

It was like they were trying to bore into my soul.

They all wanted to know who the prince has chosen.

"Do you think she is going to be really beautiful?" I heard someone ask but then I shrugged.

"Who would get married to such a useless prince? Maybe she is just as crazy as him!" Another said and I felt my soul leave my body.

They were already terming me as crazy.

However, before long, I was before the prince, and my legs, shook. I just wanted to get all this done and get away.

"Get down!" He ordered, in a stern tone as I towered over him. Looking at him, he was handsome but not extremely handsome. His arrogant expression had overshadowed his cool countenance.

"Get down!" He ordered again and I was pulled out of my thoughts. I never had to kneel to anyone, with force, in my life.

Was this what my life entailed now?

With all eyes on me, I knelt down and before I could settle, he pulled off the veil roughly.

The whole hall gasped as he pulled it off without so much care.

"He should be more careful!" They whispered, however, there were some people who enjoyed the show before them.

On the other hand, as the prince looked at me with so much expectations, his smile slowly diminished. His expression changed to an angry one as he pointed at me, with shaky fingers.

"You are not my bride!" He declared and the whole hall went into an uproar.

"What? Is she an imposter? What is she doing here?" The people started to talk, however, I was overwhelmed with a sense of shame.

"Guards! Get her out, right now!" The prince yelled angrily.

I couldn't even process what was happening before I was grabbed.

He had apparently known the real Emily before she was chosen! I was rejected, again!

Everything happened too fast as I was thrown onto the ground, outside the ballroom!

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