Elira
The air in the grand hall of the Greye Mansion crackled with tension.
I stood with my head bowed and fists clenched tightly at my sides. My nails dug into my palms, but I welcomed the pain – anything to distract me from the overwhelming rage threatening to consume me.
"Look at what she did to me!" Darian Blackmoor whined, thrusting his hand toward his father. The deep crescent bite marks stood out, red and angry against his pale knuckles. "She bit me, Father. She's completely untamed."
I bit the inside of my cheek to stop the retort hovering on my lips. Untamed? If only he knew how close I was to showing him what that word truly meant.
Darian's father, Alpha King Theron Blackmoor's nostrils flared as he examined his son's wound. His imposing figure seemed to fill the entire room as he turned to my father, Alpha Silas Greye.
"This is what you call discipline? Is this how you raise your daughter, Silas?" the Alpha King thundered. "You let your daughter run wild like a rogue pup? Attacking my son like some rabid animal? Where are her manners? Where is her respect for her fiancée?"
My father dropped his gaze to the floor, bowing so deeply his nose nearly touched the polished marble floor as his shoulders hunched forward in submission. "I deeply apologise for my daughter's behaviour, my King. I assure you this will not happen again, and I will correct her behaviour immediately."
"It certainly shouldn't," the Alpha King growled. "The alliance between Stormrock and Crestborne is too important to be jeopardised by a disobedient daughter." His cold eyes slid to where I was. I refused to lower my gaze further than it was.
The Alpha King sighed before beckoning to his son. "Come, Dairan," he ordered, turning toward the exit. "We're leaving."
As the royals turned to leave, Luna Helene, the Alpha King's wife, paused by the threshold with her deceptively sweet tone. "Let's pray the wound doesn't scar. We wouldn't want anything to complicate the alliance."
The threat hung in the air, loud and clear.
"Again, my sincerest apologies, Luna Helen," my father said, bowing deeply again. "I will ensure my daughter understands the severity of her actions."
"Don't be too hard on her, Silas. It could be a lover's quarrel, who knows?" she smiled one last time before floating towards the exit door.
My father remained in his bowed position until the Blackmoor family had left the mansion. When the heavy doors closed behind our guests, he strode across the room and turned the lock.
The decisive click echoed through the silent hall, but I didn't flinch. This wouldn't be the first time my father locked the door to make sure I didn't escape what would come next.
He walked to a table and quietly removed his wristwatch and signet ring before turning to me.
He had a blank expression on his face.
"Come here, Elira," he ordered calmly, beckoning me with his hand.
I didn't move a muscle.
"COME HERE, NOW!" he roared, letting the mask fall off.
Only then did I cross the room with measured, deliberate steps. I met and held his gaze, tilting my chin in defiance.
"Strip to your underwear," he ordered.
For a moment, I hesitated, wondering if I wanted to take the high road or not. Then, without a word, I reached behind my back and unzipped the heavy party gown I'd been wearing for the evening's festivities. The burgundy silk slid down my body in one gentle tug.
"Silas, please," my mother, Luna Eva, rushed forward, desperation etched across her beautiful face. "Calm down! There must be a reason Elira attacked him. She wouldn't do something like this without a cause!"
My father whirled on her, pushing her aside. "This is your fault! You never taught her proper respect, proper submission!"
My mother fell to the floor with a cry but quickly scrambled to her feet and rushed to my side.
"Darling, please apologise to your father," she begged, tears streaming down her face. "Tell him you're sorry for what you did!"
I remained silent, my gaze still fixed on my father, as I stood in nothing but a thin slip. I was cold, but I clamped my lips to stop my teeth from chattering.
My father stared at me for several seconds before his hands moved to his belt. With deliberate slowness, he pulled the leather strap free from his trousers.
"Do you understand what you've just done?" he seethed.
"Yes," I replied. "So?"
My father's face twisted into horror. "You humiliated the Stormrock heir. In front of his father. Do you even know what this alliance means?"
"Selling me off like a broodmare to gain small favours from the Alpha King," I retorted.
His face turned purple. "You think you're so righteous? So untouchable? You have no idea what other Alphas will give to have the Alpha King in their pack and as their father-in-law, yet you had the guts to leave a bad impression. Now tell me," he ran a hand through his hair. "Why did you attack him?"
I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Darian tried to force himself on me."
My father scoffed, looking at me with disbelief and dismissal. "That's all?"
I didn't say a word.
"Why didn't you just let him fuck you? It's not like you're still a virgin." His lips curled in disgust. "Besides, you'll both be married a week from today. What's the big deal?"
A dry laugh escaped my lips against my will as I looked my father dead in the eyes. "Then Darian should wait for marriage."
The words had barely left my mouth when the belt lashed across my bare shoulder. The first strike stung, bringing unwanted tears to my eyes, but I didn't make a sound.
"You proud, stupid bitch!" my father snarled, raising the belt again. "Do you want to ruin everything for me? Do you have any idea how important the alliance between Crestborne and Stormrock is?" The belt came down again. "Are you a fool?"
I remained still despite the painful welts forming on my skin. My calmness only seemed to infuriate him more. Before I could dodge, his palm connected with my cheek in a resounding slap.
I stumbled, nearly falling from the force of the blow. Slowly, I straightened, holding on to my smarting cheek as I stared at him in disbelief – not at the pain, but at the boundary that had been crossed.
"You hit me? Because of Darian?" I asked softly.
"I'll do it again and again until you learn your place!" He grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking my head back as he shook me. "Are you not over that fool yet? Did carrying his pup make you lose your mind?"
Something inside me broke. The mention of him – of the child – ignited a flame smouldering for too long. A scream tore from my throat as I planted both hands on my father's chest and pushed.
My father flew across the room as if he were shot from a cannon, crashing into the opposite wall with enough force to crack the plaster. He slumped to the floor in a daze.
The room fell silent. I just stood there frozen, shocked by the strength I had just displayed.
I wanted to rush towards him and tell him how much I was sorry, but my feet couldn't move. I watched as he slowly pushed himself up from the ground. For several heartbeats, he stared at me blankly while I braced myself for the worst.
Without another word, he turned and walked out of the room, the door closed with a quiet click that somehow sounded more final than any slam could have.
My mother rushed to me immediately, her eyes were wide with fear and tears.
"Elira!" she cried out. "What have you done? Quick, go after your father and tell him you're sorry."
I shook her off and reached for my heavy evening gown, slipping it back on my body. This time I didn't bother with the zip.
"I'm going to my room," I murmured, trying to walk past her.
"Going to your room?" my mother stammered. "You just pushed…"
"I know what I did, Mom!" I sighed. "Please, I just want to rest. I've heard a long night sucking up to the Blackmoor's."
"But…" My mother tried again.
"Goodnight, mother!" I whispered, hurling my heavy gown as I started for the stairs that led to my room.
Whatever happened next, nothing would ever be the same again.