Chapter 2

Two

LYRA

M y heart raced as I walked toward the palace while the leader of the Wild Wolfmen followed closely behind. He had driven his truck the whole time behind our limo. Reporters for the Howl's Daily swarmed me while we made our way to the palace. Luke was blocking off the reporters from getting to me, his muscular arms holding them back.

"Princess, princess. Is it true you're marrying the leader of the Wild Wolfmen?" asked one of the reporters.

Ignoring them, I stared stonily toward the palace that was only a few feet away. The palace was made of gleaming white marble, with tall, stately columns that stretched up to the sky. It was built on a large piece of land, and it was surrounded by a high, wrought iron fence that was lined with sharp, pointed spears. The Royal Pack guards surrounded us as we walked forward, blocking me from the leader of the Wild Wolfmen.

I didn't dare look back at him or his sidekick alpha walking next to him. I had caught a glimpse of the alpha earlier. He had black hair that was slicked back and a smooth, clean look to him. But there was something about his eyes that scared me.

Soulless. Empty. Like serial killer eyes.

I was freaking out inside with every step. How the hell would I get out of this arrangement? I already promised them marriage. It was the only way to save everyone.

"Get back," Luke commanded the reporters as we entered the palace. I stepped onto the carpets, leading my entourage toward the throne room. When I pushed the door open, revealing the five thrones, I saw my fathers chuckling and drinking tea.

Upon seeing us, Armon dropped his glass, which shattered all over the floor.

"What is the meaning of this?" He stood up from his throne, nostrils flaring.

Vanessa was sitting off to the side, watching the proceedings curiously. My heart pounded even harder as I stood in front of them. I caught sight of my mom sneaking into the throne room from the library, her hand over her mouth as she saw the leader of the Wild Wolfmen in the same room as us.

"Armon," I said. I always addressed my fathers by their first names. It was weird, but it was how they wanted me to address them since I was a child.

He held up a hand, and I went quiet.

"How dare you walk into my city and my palace?" Armon addressed the leader of the Wild Wolfmen. "Get out of here before I kill you myself, Kodan."

Kodan walked around me, facing my father head-on.

"Your precious city is surrounded," said Kodan. "I only called them off because your daughter offered herself in marriage to me."

"No," said Dravin, who was another alpha father of mine. He had a huge belly as he sat on his throne. "We will kill you before we let our daughter marry you. And Voss, you're here too. You coward."

He was addressing the alpha sidekick of Kodan's.

"How am I a coward?" asked Voss, his silky smooth hair shining under the lights. Instead of a ripped shirt and jeans like Kodan was wearing, Voss wore a nicely pressed suit and tie. A nicely dressed murderer.

"Every year, you attend the ball. If I knew you were in cahoots with the Wild Wolfmen, you would never have stepped foot in my home," said Dravin, shaking his head in disappointment. His lips furled in disgust.

"Daughter, we need to talk," said Armon, turning his attention away from Kodan. "Before any big decisions are made."

"Take all the time you need, King," mocked Kodan, crossing his big arms across his chest.

My breathing accelerated with fear and nervousness. My family wasn't happy about this.

I followed Armon, Dravin, and my mother into the library, with Luke following close behind. My youngest alpha father, Arther, remained in the throne room, keeping an eye on Kodan, along with several guards standing silently around the throne room.

In the library, I sat at the table surrounded by my family. Luke stood at the door, giving us a semblance of privacy, but his eyes were on me with his arms crossed in front of him.

"Don't do this," my mom pleaded, grabbing my hand.

"He is our biggest enemy," said Armon. "Daughter, you don't have to do this. We will find another way or even declare war on him."

"I can do it," I said, pulling my hands away from my mom. "You always wanted me to get married. So why is this any different? I'm saving our people."

"Our daughter always does the opposite of everyone," sighed Dravin, his head in his hands.

"No, I don't," I argued. Out of all my fathers, I was the closest to Dravin, and it was easier to talk to him. But ever since Vanessa came into the family, I didn't talk to my fathers except for an occasional greeting.

"This is different because Kodan is not an alpha," said Armon.

"So?" I countered. I wasn't sure what Kodan was. But he didn't give off the alpha vibes when I was standing next to him. The air around him felt different, and his scent was harsher.

"He is a sigma," said Armon, scratching his mustache.

"What's a sigma?" I asked. It sounded like a stupid question, but I honestly didn't know. I didn't know much about them because they were even rarer than omegas like me.

"They are lone wolves," said Armon. "Like the big bad wolf we never talk about. They are naturally aggressive and don't do well in a domesticated household. He's not the family man that I want for you."

Oh, whoa.

I wasn't sure about this. I've never seen or heard about sigmas in my life, considering I lived at the palace and my fathers always fought off the Wild Wolfmen. It was an ongoing fight that never ended.

"If I back out now, it'll start an all-out war," I said.

"She's right," said Luke, clearing his throat. My eyes widened. He usually didn't speak up during family meetings. "If she ends up marrying the guy, I'll make sure she's safe."

"I can live with that if you go with her," said Armon, rubbing his forehead in thought. "If anything happens at all, come right back home. Okay?"

"I will," I said.

Don't you worry, Dad. If he's crazy as hell, I'm running right back home.

"Time to arrange everything, then," said Armon. "I will speak to Kodan and let him know our final decision."

Wait, what? Everything was happening too fast. Couldn't he wait a couple of days? While Armon spoke to Kodan in the throne room, I could feel my heart pit-patter in my chest out of nervousness and indecisiveness.

We sat quietly in the library while Luke shuffled around the room. Every tick from the large grandfather clock above sounded like a boom. Dravin was scribbling notes on a piece of parchment while my mom munched on little chocolates from the candy bowl on the table.

"What the hell am I doing?" I said out loud as my mom passed me a piece of chocolate candy.

"You're saving the kingdom," said Mom. "That's what we should tell ourselves."

"So, you're okay with this now?" I asked.

"After thinking about it, this is the only time you've volunteered to get married," said Mom proudly. She had always wanted me to settle down. I dropped the candy on the table, shaking my head.

"I'm forced into it," I said.

"No one forced you, honey. You decided to save your people."

I didn't want thousands to die when it was just me who had to get married. I was going to be pressured into marriage regardless, even if it wasn't to Kodan.

At least this way, people didn't have to die.

Luke opened the door for Armon, and he stood solemnly before us in front of the bookshelves. He didn't look happy, and his eyes were filled with unshed tears. Damn, I didn't know my dad cared that much, considering how he treated my mother.

"It's final," he said. "The wedding will be tonight."

"Oh, my," said Mom. "We have to start getting you ready, Lyra. We only have a couple of hours left until sunset."

Without warning, Kodan strolled into the room, and Luke grabbed him by the arm.

"It's okay," said Armon, and Luke released him with a growl.

"Sheesh," said Kodan, shaking his head. "I came to talk. I'm family now."

Kodan sat across from me, and I finally got a good look at him. Even though the scar above his eye was intimidating as hell, his green eyes were playful and held an air of mischievousness.

"What is it?" I asked.

"You're not shy at all," he said with a half-smile. The curls of his long black hair almost covered his eyes. He pushed his hair back with one hand, his gaze on me not flinching. Not looking away. "Are you ready to marry me, little princess? Are you regretting your choice?"

My heart jumped at being called that again. I didn't want to be his little princess. Yet at the same time, the feral side of me wanted it.

I've held back those feelings for so long, taking heat suppressants religiously every day, waiting for the one day I could throw them away. But I didn't trust him. I needed to keep them.

"I'm ready," I stammered, the bravado from earlier vanishing. "But I have one request."

"And what is that?" he leaned forward on his hands, and the table suddenly became small.

"I want Luke with us to make sure I'm safe."

"Your bodyguard?"

"Yes."

"Well," he said, intertwining his fingers over the crystal snack bowl. "There's one condition."

"Okay?" I said, my heart lifting.

"You will only be allowed to be around males you are married to," he started. My heart began to sink at what he was going to say next. "You can have him around. But under the condition that he marries you tonight, along with myself and Voss."

Oh, my god.

I looked over at Luke, and he gave me a slight nod with a serious look on his face. He was okay with this idea! I started biting my fingernails, the glitter pink nail polish falling on my lap. The only way I could stay safe was to have Luke around. There was no way I was going alone to a foreign society with this sigma.

No way in hell.

"That's fine," I said bravely. "Are you okay with that, Luke?"

"I am," Luke said without a shadow of a doubt as he gazed at me. "I'm not letting you go alone in this."

My heart beat a little faster with both males watching me. Warmth fluttered in my center.

"Interesting," said Kodan, rubbing his chin with his weathered fingers. "Another alpha in my pack. I'm not very fond of alphas, y'know?"

"Well, you're going to have to deal with me," said Luke, standing taller.

"Let's get you ready," said Mom, grabbing my hand.

"Alright," I said, standing up and gathering my dress around me while Kodan and Luke stared daggers at each other.

"Put her hair up," said Mom. While the maid worked on my hair, Vanessa was doing my makeup. I closed my eyes as Vanessa applied the eyeshadow on my eyelids.

Vanessa. Yep.

She had to help, at Armon's orders. Obviously, I didn't want her here, but I wasn't going to be the one who started the fight. She knew how to do makeup even better than me since our makeup artist was out, and this was last minute. While the maid attacked my hair, Vanessa poked me in the eye with the makeup brush.

"Ow, what the heck Vanessa," I sighed, shutting my eyes tight.

"Sorry, the brush slipped," she said. I didn't believe her for a second. "Are you nervous about getting married?"

"Of course I am."

"Don't be," said Vanessa. Who was she to give me advice? "He might be just what you need. Someone to break through your perfect little shell."

"He's the complete opposite of me," I said, taking offense at being called sheltered.

"Yeah, Kodan's definitely rough around the edges," breathed Vanessa.

"Alright, back off before you get too excited," I said.

"Ooh, someone is already possessive," laughed Vanessa. I seethed inside. "Makeup's done."

I opened my eyes and looked into the mirror in front of me. The simple silver eyeshadow with the black eyeliner made my blue eyes look sultry. Not too bad. The pink lipstick and the blush complimented my skin with a little highlight on my button nose. My blond hair was done in a nice updo, curls framing my face.

"I like it," I said. "Thanks."

"I know, I'm the best," said Vanessa. "Well, I'll see you at your wedding even though you and your mama never talk to me."

When she left, my mom finally spoke. She absolutely refused to talk to Vanessa or join the conversation if I was talking to Vanessa.

And understandably so.

"Your hair is perfect," she said, patting the stray hairs down.

"What am I going to wear?" I said, panicking and looking at the sunset outside. It had taken forever to get my hair and makeup done after my shower. I made sure to shave every part of my body too. Who knew what was going to happen on the wedding night? Would all the males just pounce on me? Ravish me until the morning? I grew nervous, especially since Luke was involved. He was going to be one of my husbands by tonight.

My mom brought out a long cream dress from my canopy bed, which I didn't even notice. She must have put it there while I was in the shower.

"My old wedding dress," she said proudly. It was clean cut in the front with no sleeves, and it was stunning, with a row of white petals going down on each side. I held my breath as I softly touched the fabric.

"It's so beautiful," I said.

"You better wear it before I throw it away," said Mom. "You know exactly how I feel about your fathers."

"I know, Mom," I said, pulling the dress on over my white bra and slip. She helped zip me up, and we both looked in the mirror. My hair piled high on top of my head made me look regal, with little blond tendrils of hair framing my face.

"Here is the jewelry, my queen," said the maid, handing my mom a box. She opened the box, and I gasped when I saw the diamond set inside.

"I want you to think of me when you wear this," Mom said, pulling out the diamond-studded choker necklace.

"This is too much," I protested, not wanting to take her most precious jewelry. I choked up as I looked into the mirror after she put it on me.

"You are the light of my heart and for the kingdom," said Mom. "You deserve every single piece and more. I pray that you find love with Kodan and his pack. As your mother, that is all I wish for."

"Thank you, Mama," I said, hugging her, tears in my eyes. She believed that I could do this. That I could somehow bring peace between the warring factions. I thought about the sigma and the two alphas waiting for me at the altar.

Trepidation and fear swirled inside me.