Never!
1: Chapter 1 – Marry My Enemy?
Never!
JUNE’S POV It was both cold and dark, except for the wooden torches that were mounted on the old stone walls of Crystal cave.
The once lively cave now lay derelict, every dusty object reignited memories and longing.
Its present state was a mockery of my existence, and as I stared at it, a renewed surge of determination filled my heart, refuelling my oath: the vow of vengeance I had made to the lost souls of Crystal Moon Pack.
I had waited a long time for it, we all had…
and we were ready to paint the Red Moon Pack with the blood of our enemies.
“Who is there?” My head whipped toward August, my eyes widening in a silent warning as a deep voice thundered from the other side of the huge black door.
August had carelessly knocked down a table, attracting the attention of our enemies.
Before I could think of something, the door flung open, and three soldiers rushed in, holding wooden flaming torches, their swords sheathed at their sides.
August rushed in front of me, shielding me.
The consequences of being discovered played before my eyes, stirring anger and disappointment within me, and my fists tightened at my sides.
“Thieves!
Robbers!” one of them snarled, matching toward us with confident strides.
“How dare you sneak into Crystal cave?” I knew the wolf masks we had on made them mistake us for thieves, but that was the least of my problems.
I wished I could tear them into pieces to silence them, but damn my fate, I still hadn’t shifted, despite the fact that I had just turned eighteen.
My lips curled in fury as my mind ran wild with calculations of how to escape without being caught.
“Get them!” the man thundered, making a swift gesture with his hand.
August quickly morphed into his wolf, launching an attack on the person who made the first move.
He ripped his arm off his socket, and an agonizing scream tore from his lips.
The commander watched the horror before him, wide-eyed and frozen, fear deeply etched across his face.
That was when I realized they were ordinary guards, most likely newly recruited for day patrol.
I didn’t come for this!
I ran toward the narrow rocky path that led into the woods.
“Let’s go!” I ordered, annoyed that my plan had been ruined.
The woods were radiant in the sunlight, the leaves danced in the gentle breeze.
But with that breeze came an arrow that swooshed past us and pierced the tree beside us.
My head whipped in the direction it came from, and my gaze fell on Lux, Alpha Tristine’s Beta, whose bow was aimed at us.
Beside him were standing five other men whose armour perfectly clung to their chiseled chests and well-defined arm.
Holding their swords like they were ready to strike.
I knew instantly, who they were…
The Elite Wolves whose fame were known across all Packs.
We had no chance against them.
Before us lay a cliff that demarcated the Red Moon Pack from the Greenfield Pack.
It was our safest option, as there was no way we could stand against them or outrun them.
“Drop your weapons and raise your hands above your head!” Lux’s voice echoed through the woods.
I turned to August, who looked ready to shift at any moment, and shook my head.
“The cliff,” I muttered under my breath, just loud enough for him to hear.
“Now!” *** The sun cast a warm glow over the deep blue sea behind us, but I marched on, holding my mask.
I was too angry to answer August’s questions.
“I’m talking to you, Princess Meyer!
Why didn’t you let me fight?” He pressed on.
Something snapped within me, and my fists clenched at my sides.
I was furious.
It was his reckless move that had ruined my plan after fifteen years of preparation, not to talk about his impulsiveness.
I spun toward him to find him wearing the jacket he had snatched from one of my guards, my lips twisted in rage.
“Fight the Elite Wolves, you mean?” I snarled.
“Could you just shut up!” “You think the Elite Wolves are like the newly recruited guard whose arm you ripped from its socket?” My voice boomed above the roar of the waves behind us.
“What happened to our mantra, huh?
Tristine is our enemy, not the innocent pack members or guards!” The waves rumbled along the shore as though coming to his defense, but my gaze was fixed on his cold face.
August swept his drenched short black hair away from his face and shifted uncomfortably in his spot.
“I’m sorry, Meyer.” His shoulders sagged as the words left his lips.
Then he pointed toward the Red Moon Pack.
His voice rising, his determination returning.
“I just can’t let that bastard keep living anymore.
I want to end him more than anything.
I want to give him a taste of what his useless father did to us.” His lips curled into a sneer and his blue eyes flashed as rage surged through him, flushing his fair skin red.
I understood his anger…
We both craved revenge.
But I sighed and shook my head, wondering when August would learn to think rationally.
“August,” I called calmly, gesturing with my hands as I realized how pointless it was to argue with him.
“Tristine’s days are numbered!” I swore under my breath, holding his gaze.
All my life, I’ve had nightmares…
haunted by memories from that night fifteen years ago.
I had never forgotten the faces of all who took care of me.
I had never forgotten the horrifying sight of their throats and bodies being slashed by Alpha Garvin and his men.
I had never forgotten Uncle Reuben, August’s father, or Crystal Moon Palace now occupied by Alpha Tristine, and as I dwelled in those days, my blood burned within me.
“We’ll definitely get our revenge!” The words had barely left my lips when a lady’s voice snapped me back to the present.
“Princess,” Amira, one of Princess Kira’s maids greeted with a small bow.
I drew a deep breath to calm my racing heart as I turned to face her.
“What is it, Amira?” “Lord Boston demands your presence.” She replied meekly, her gaze fixed on the ground.
“He’s with Princess Kira in her room.
They’ve been waiting for you.” “Understood.” I said curtly, nodding at her.
“You’re dismissed.” Amira bowed her head again, and walked away.
A sigh escaped my lips as I turned to face August, and gave his shoulder a gentle, reassuring squeeze before walking away.
After taking off my body-hugging suit, I hurried through the rows of thatched tents in Greenfield Pack, given to families who were either deserters or exiles and had taken refuge under Lord Boston, the Rogues’ Alpha.
It was a large single-story stone manor with many rooms.
Standing outside the huge black door to Princess Kira’s room, I let out a breath and bowed my head.
“You called for me, Lord Boston!” I stated with a firm voice.
“Come in!” he said, his voice drifting through the closed door, quiet yet commanding.
I walked into the room to find Princess Kira covered up to her chin, her skin was pale, and her eyes were more sunken than before.
My eyes widened as soon as I saw the once radiant Princess Kira looking like a shadow of herself.
I didn’t even know when my jaw dropped.
She forced a smile on her face as she took in my surprise.
Only then did I regain my composure, and I quickly looked away.
“You called for me, Lord Boston,” I muttered, my hands clasped in front of me as I bowed in reverence.
Lord Boston’s broad back was turned to me, his hands folded behind him.
He let out a sigh before turning to face me.
“June, please rise.” He muttered.
Yes, June.
That was the name he gave me when he rescued me that night fifteen years ago, the month I was found.
It was also the month I lost my father and Pack.
It was so I wouldn’t forget the purpose of my existence.
“I heard you went to Crystal cave,” he stated.
“How did it go?” I could feel his gaze on me and I blinked, thinking of the best way to tell him I had failed.
He had always urged me to exercise patience and trust his plans, and I had waited for fifteen years already.
I lifted my gaze to the tall, bearded man whose shoulders were as broad as a mountain.
I was surprised to see a small smile on his face, which was a stark contrast to the situation in the room and of course, my disobedience.
“We were discovered, Lord Boston,” I muttered, my voice faltering slightly as I held his gaze.
I wanted to read what was going on in his mind.
But unlike before, he let out a loud breath, and then turned toward Princess Kira.
Silence followed…
Then I saw Princess Kira nod at him, and my brows furrowed.
“You want revenge?” Lord Boston asked, turning to face me.
“This is an opportunity.
A chance I think you should grab.” Lord Boston spoke in a firm voice that echoed the determination burning within him, but I didn’t understand what he meant.
“I’ll let you enter the Red Moon Pack in place of Princess Kira,” he stated as though he could read the confusion etched on my face.
His words slammed into me, and my eyes widened.
For a moment, I thought I had misheard him.
“This is your chance to reclaim what rightfully belongs to you, Princess Meyer.
It’s the easiest way to kill that son of a bitch whose father murdered your father – my good friend, Alpha Kyan.” He pressed on, his blue eyes turning a shade darker.
“You know my intentions all along.
I had pursued this marriage with Alpha Tristine for this sole purpose, but fate seems to have other plans for me.” “The Moon Goddess demands my daughter, and her health has greatly deteriorated.
There’s nothing I can do about it, but I won’t let this chance pass us by.” “I have to hold onto this marriage alliance to avenge my good friend, Alpha Kyan, and all the innocent souls of the Crystal Moon Pack.
This is an opportunity to restore the Crystal Moon Pack and erase the Red Moon Pack from your territory forever.” Lord Boston’s words tumbled out in a firm rush, and I scoffed, too shocked to believe what I just heard.
Yes, I wanted revenge, but why would he even suggest marrying me to the man whose father murdered my father?
Why would Lord Boston propose such a ridiculous plan and ask me to marry my enemy?
Never!
The thought of it alone made my blood boil.
But I was too angry to respectfully give him a piece of my mind.
He had taken care of me since I lost my father at three, and with Princess Kira right there, I knew I had to be mindful of my words.
I was still thinking of how to calmly tell him, when Lord Boston’s voice came again: “My daughter is dying,” his voice broke.
“The physician says she has just a few days left.
She might not even make it to the marriage, and of course, Alpha Tristine would not accept her in this state.” “This is an opportunity for us, all you need to do is to pretend to be Princess Kira and marry that bloody bastard.
You’re smart, I’m sure you can come up with something, to have both your revenge and reclaim your Pack.”