~ Essence' POV ~
"If you wanted to rule over everyone here and if you wanted that man's throne as yours, then you need to eat the heart of that person and drink the blood of that woman.
Even Vivian's prolonged illness can be cured by that girl's blood. Sacrifice her in the name of the kingdom's prosperity and the goddess.
No one will question you. If that girl remains alive, then you will lose both your children. I believe that you have the right over her life.
I mean, even after finding out the truth about her, you didn't throw her out. She should try to repay you all somehow. This is her destiny."
After I crossed the hallway, I heard some familiar voices, "You don't have to worry about that. All I have to do is to call her my daughter and then she will start to wag her tail in front of us."
I saw my mother, Olivia, gently caressing the face of my sister, Vivian, and they all raised a toast in the name of my sacrifice.
I covered my mouth when I heard what they were planning to do with me.
There was a time when I used to wear gowns and dresses, I believed that I could do anything and nobody could stop me.
I mean I was a princess once, but after my sixteenth birthday, people stopped treating me like a princess as I failed to awaken my powers and after that day they started to doubt my identity.
And now it's almost been more than nine years and I have still not heard the voice of my wolf.
Not many know this, but sometimes I hear the sweet voice of the moon goddess in my head. They call me crazy and some people treat me like a freak because I usually talk to myself.
Maybe that's why my third husband sent me back. I have been sold in the name of alliance so many times that I have stopped considering myself as a living person.
I am the crazy, pathetic abandoned princess Essence Riven.
It's been so many years. I have been humiliated, tormented, sullied and shamed, but I still believe that one day these people will see how much I crave for their affection and how far I could go to become a part of the family.
But now, they are planning to kill me. How could they become so blinded in their greed?
'These sick-minded people! I should have never messed with your destiny, Essence. I feel so helpless right now.
I could not do anything for you… I can not intervene now, nor can I tell you anything. That was the condition… that was the promise.' I heard the goddess' voice inside my head, but I could not understand what she was trying to tell me.
Messed up with my fate… what does it mean?
No, it's not the time to think about useless stuff. I need to somehow escape this damn Kingdom if I want to survive.
"Who is there?" I heard the voice of Ryan, the current alpha king, our brother. So I decided to escape the palace. If I stayed here even for a night they would certainly kill me.
I tightly clenched the pendant that Amara left for me and when I turned to leave, I heard familiar footsteps.
I need to quickly get out of here.
Why is this happening to me?
They are not wrong to call me stupid and naive. Mother was right. All she needs to do is to address me as her daughter and I will happily sacrifice myself for them.
I have heard that those people have hired a lot of people to treat Vivian, but they all failed.
This man must be a dark wizard. He has given them hope to cure their lovely daughter and to make Ryan the true ruler, so they will do everything to get rid of me.
What should I do now?
It might be tough out there, but it will surely be better than here.
I escaped the palace and after looking here and there, I found nobody. There are no patrol guards around and there are no maids or omegas that work in the palace.
Is it just coincidence or things have become easier for me?
I should not miss this opportunity.
I might be abandoned, but I don't want to live my life as someone's sacrifice.
The moment I stepped inside the dark forest, I ran and ran without stopping anywhere.
My arms were scratched because of the thorny bushes and my feet were covered with blisters and blood as I had forgotten to wear my sandals. I was in so much of a hurry to escape this hellhole that I didn't care about the other things.
The moon was shining alone in the night sky. For some reason, I always felt closer to the moon… even more than that so-called family of mine. It somehow provides me the solace that I lost after finding out the truth about myself.
I was gasping for air when I stopped in front of some old trees. I immediately covered my mouth when I heard someone's footsteps coming closer to me.
"I know that you are hiding here, sister. Why don't you come out, huh? You can never escape from me. Don't tell me that you want to continue this game of hide and seek with me?
Tsk, if you want to blame someone, then blame the woman who swapped us. You are nothing more than a wolfless princess... No, you are just a wolfless girl and nothing else.
I am so sick right now that I can't even stand properly. Can't you come out here for my sake?" Vivian wiped away her fake tears while she started to cut off the bushes with the weird silver knife that she was holding.
This is the first time that I heard her speaking in such a tone. Usually she pretends to play the role of the innocent princess who has a really big heart.
"So, you are finally tired of pretending, huh? Aren't you tired of hurting me for all these years? I… I married those filthy jerks… in your place.
Only later did I find out that it was you… you who fixed my marriage with those bastards and yet you dare to call me your sister.
What's… what's with that knife? Are you here to stab me to death?" I asked her and the girl only smiled. After walking for a while, she stopped right in front of me.
What is she doing?
Why is she pointing the knife blade towards her?
"Brother! Ahh!" She screamed at the top of her lungs while she forced me to put my hands on the knife that she was holding.
Blood was oozing out of her wound and before I could push her away, the members of the royal family found me. They came with the guy with the black robe and I also saw a familiar face.
What is he doing here?
Don't tell me that he is one of them?
Why the heck is this happening to me?