Bride Of The Beast

"We have received a missive from the king of wolves." My father began, each word precise, as my siblings and I stood before him in his library. "He has decreed that one of my beloved daughters is to wed the beast of Northshore."

A sharp collective intake of breath followed his voice, my own breath caught in my throat, remembering all the rumored whispers I'd heard about the beast of Northshore.

They said he was one of the three princes who went feral during the war, brought back by magic or sheer will, but never quite the same. Some whispered he was stuck in a half-wolf transformation, locked away in his castle. Others claimed he was a monster, his presence enough to drive humans mad and wolves feral.

I flinched when my father's gaze slid to mine, and I immediately lowered my head. "Raven, you will go as a replacement to your sister as the beast's betrothed."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. The room spun around me, my vision blurring at the edges as my father's words sank in.

Kaden shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his eyes darting between our father and me. Mirabel's face was pale, her hands clenched into fists in her lap. She was the one who was supposed to marry the prince, not me.

"But Father-" Kaden began, his voice hesitant.

My father's hand sliced through the air, the sound cutting through the tense silence like a whip. The scent of old books and leather bindings seemed to intensify, heavy with disapproval. "You will do as you're told, Raven. You'll disguise yourself as a woman, which I'm quite sure wouldn't be hard for you to do." His voice dripped with disgust.

I felt a surge of humiliation, but I kept my face expressionless. Danica's voice was the only sound in the room, her words dripping with sarcasm. "What's the point of this, Father?"

Lord Dierna narrowed his eyes on her. "Those vile creatures have no respect for our customs or traditions, even our very lives are being controlled. Why then should we honour theirs?" His eyes settled on me again. "You shall be his bride and that's final."

My siblings seemed to be holding their breath, waiting for me to react. But I just stood there, frozen in shock.

"If the king were to discover your identity before the wedding he would slaughter us all to set an example, do you understand the gravity of the role you play in this?" My father's voice was cold, detached.

I nodded, my throat constricting with fear. "Yes, Father."

He waved his hand dismissively. "Pack your things, the king has sent an escort to take you to the palace, you will be wed within the week." His gaze swept over me again, the disgust evident in his eyes. "Never reveal you're a boy, do not try to run, I'll make sure you regret it."

I knew all too well he meant his words.

Danica's voice