I'd Rather Die
1382 Words
Alexandra
The doors open and I walk in the grand hall. As soon as I’ve made a few steps in, however, I take my surroundings in. There are
more people- and wolves- than I expected. The air is hot, and suffocating.
My father is sitting on his throne, dressed in a long robe. My younger sister- Laura is sitting by his side. She's only a year younger than me nineteen, but she looks like a beautiful woman already. Laura has always been the pretty one. Feminine, with long red hair and bright blue eyes. More fragile. My eyes flicker to the sides as I walk the long aisle to the throne. Everyone is looking at me.
What is going on?
I swallow the fear- one of the first things you learn when you are human- is trying to control yourself in a room full of wolves who can smell your uncertainty. I lift my chin up and despite my dreadful look, I close the distance between me and my father.
“Your majesty, “
I bow my head in a greeting and kneel before the dice. Laura is looking at me, wide-eyed. I know what she sees. I know what everyone sees but they didn’t even give me a chance to get changed.
“You asked for me, “
I manage and stand up. My father looks disappointed at the way I look. At least he doesn't know I was with Eliot.
“Alexandra, you are my older daughter, “ he begins and I shift nervously.
“Uh… yes. “
“And I’ve always loved you with all my heart. For that reason, you will be the one to leave for the royal palace in the north, in Infenia. “
It takes me a moment to understand what he is saying. I hear the whispers, the words everyone mutters but I don’t register them. I remain where I am- confused, unsure what any of this means when my father goes on.
“Our kingdom is small but the soil gives ample food for us and enough to give to other neighbouring lands. However, we’ve feared war might break and we will need the support of the crown itself if it happens. “ I listen to my father, still unsure why we need the history lesson. Laura is still sitting next to our father but I can tell she knows what this is all
about. Why hasn’t she mentioned anything?
My father continues.
“And if we need the protection of the crown, we need to give them something in exchange. “
My father gets up and everyone present bows their heads. My eyes land on the marble floor in front of me as I cast my eyes down. My feet are still bare and the cold starts creeping up from my heels to my calves until I am unable to move.
“You will be given to the young prince in exchange for peace. '' my father declares and my eyes snap up at him.
“You will leave tonight. “
The people and wolves present start cheering and I feel like falling. This is not happening.
“What?” I gasp, "No. You can't do this. “
Everyone is looking at me- I can’t speak to Damitri like that regardless of whether I am his daughter or not.
“This is the price I agreed to pay in exchange for peace. “ His tone doesn’t suggest arguing. He speaks like the king now, no longer my father.
“No…” I say again, my eyes stinging, as if the repetition of “no” will make everything go away.
“You can’t do this!” I yell. “Not now, I… I can't leave. “
“You are leaving, Alexandra.”
He nods to his guard and they start walking toward me.
“And no one will say anything?” I exclaim and turn to Laura.
“Not even you?”
She sits closer to the edge of the seat. Her long, silk dress spills around her, revealing part of her beautiful leg. Laura has
always looked more like a princess than I have. Besides, she's not just human like I am. She is frowning, the deep crease on her forehead giving her an unusually worried look.
“I am sorry, “ she whispers, “I tried to stop them…”
“But…” I try again, the guards waiting for my father’s orders. My father exhales slowly.
“Pick up your things and one of my men will escort you to the royal palace. “
“Don't touch me, you filthy beasts! “ I argue, “No!” The guard’s hands close around me and I meet my father’s eyes.
“You will do this?” I raise my voice, “You will let your betas take me out of here as if I am… am not your daughter?”
My eyes fill with tears.
“You can’t send me there, I…”
I choke on the reality of what’s happening. He is doing exactly that. The father I’ve always loved so much, my sister - they all agreed to this. No one will protest. No one will do anything as the guards take me out of here and I will never come back.
“My mother would never allow this!” I yell, “Never!” Then I speak the words that make everyone present gasp with horror.
“You’d rather sell me to this monster than fight? Coward!” I hiss through my clenched teeth and my father’s face pales.
“I am not leaving!” I declare. “And I…. I am going to stay with my mate. “ This time the gaps are louder.
“That’s right, Eliot is my mate. “ I say, “And I am going to marry him. “ The murmurs get louder and my father looks hurt and angry at the same time.
“ I refuse to leave. “ I repeat through the fear.
“Alexandra!“ My father raises his voice, “You can’t marry an omega. And you are going to the royal palace. Immediately! “
Then he nods to his guards.
“Take her!”
“This is my life!” I yell, desperately, struggling as the betas wrap their powerful hands around me.
“My fate is mine, I decide! And I am going to marry Eliot! I’d rather die than go there! “
But my father's eyes confirm what I've always known- what anyone present is aware of. My fate is no longer mine. Perhaps it never was.
***
“I am going to run away, “ I decided as the guards waited for me in front of my room. I pretend to collect things and call for one of the maids.
“Take this to Eliot, “ I tell her. “And don't tell anyone. “
The girl nods and hides the letter in the pocket of her skirt. I wait until it gets dark outside and exit my room.
“I am ready, “ I lie to the betas, “But I will speak to my sister before we leave. “
They exchange a look and eventually agree to let me go see Laura. But I don’t go to my sister’s room. I sneak out of the palace and run towards the back garden.
Eliot is there, waiting for me.
“Eliot!” I call out for him, breathless. He runs towards me too and takes me in his arms when I reach him.
“They are sending me to the royal palace.” I say, “ We have to run away. “
“To the palace? But…”
“They want to give me to the prince, this monster, and…”
“I won’t let them, “ Eliot declares, “We will get out of here and…”
We hear footsteps and shouts. And we both know we’ve been discovered.
“Run, “ I tell Eliot, “Run or they will kill you if they see you here now. “
“I won't leave you!”
He stays where he is but only a few seconds later I hear the low roar and I know without looking that we are surrounded by wolves.
- Writer
