Chapter Two.

I got my answer the second I arrived home. Cassie was fuming, clawing in my head to let loose but she couldn't. Not now, at least or it would blow our cover and I couldn't let anything happen to her. We've already been through enough.

My parent was in the living room, sipping tea and having a wonderful discussion with my cousin, Layla. I didn't know what they said but with the way their lips curled up, it had to be. They never smiled like that at me.

I shook off the sadness. Now wasn't the time to think about all of this. I had a goal to achieve today, so I cleared my throat.

Wilson and Amy Silver raised their heads to know the cause of the interruption and their beautiful smiles were replaced with a frown that came from the depths of hell. Now that was the expression I was used to. 

"What is wrong with you, Decker? Why is your face flushed?" Layla asked concern etched on her face. She was concerned? What universe did I travel to that would make Layla Silver concerned for me?

"Oh Layla, you know the amount of joy you get when you make my life a living hell and someone already did that on your behalf so I don't need your fake pity." I sneered and they all looked aghast.

I had never spoken to them like this. I was the perfect daughter, always doing what I was told but that would continue depending on the outcome of this meeting.

My father stood up, nostrils flared. "What is this nonsense? How dare you speak to your cousin like that? Your impetuousness is foul. How many times have I told you that behaving like this is not becoming of a Silver?" This lecture was engraved in my brain.

"Silvers are one of the most powerful wolves in our pack." He would say.

"Silvers are the building rocks of the pack. Our silver fur shines in the moon because of the Blessed moon goddess, so we must stand out in all we do." So the fact that I didn't have a wolf was a shame. If they knew I had a wolf they would take her away because she wasn't 'right.' 

I rolled my eyes and the action made my mother gasp. 

"Do you see this? Do you see how rude your daughter is? If it wasn't for our relationship with the Alpha's family, you would have never been the next Luna of this pack so you should be grateful!" He glared at me and I scoffed.

"Wilson, calm down," my mother said, though her trembling hands betrayed her nerves. "You can't keep shouting at her."

My eyes were red and swollen making my face blotchy. My hair was no better because of how many times I almost ripped it off my scalp due to my frustration. This situation was tearing me apart. Everything that had been happening since I was born would break me down sooner or later.

"Did you know?" I asked my mother. She was never particularly nice, just neglectful grieving the death of her first daughter, Astra. I understood her grief but she never cared how it affected me. Astra was my sister too. She meant the world to me. 

Her death ten years ago shattered this family. It was my fault, all of them said. I needed to atone for my sins. I should have been there. I should have....

The list went on but the years of being beaten and abused by my father and cousin weren't enough. 

"Know what?" 

"Know that Shawn and Nesta were a couple? Were you aware?" I inquired, narrowing my eyes at each of them making sure they wouldn't lie to me. 

"What? I don't understand." Layla shook her head. "What lies are you making up now, cousin? You would do anything to get out of this marriage even if it means letting this family's business fall? Do you understand the weight of this bond? You are to be the Luna of this pack for the sake of this family and you complain? Any girl would be more than happy to be in your situation!" 

I gave her a chilling stare as I said, "Then why don't you marry him? You are a Silver too. Your dad is my dad's brother. What's the difference? After all any girl would be lucky to be in my position." The last line I spoke dripped with mockery. 

Layla became flustered instantly. "You..."

"That's enough! You are getting married to Lucas Dawson in two weeks so I don't want to hear any more of this debauchery!" My father ordered and I flat-out laughed. 

"Debauchery? He is cheating on me with my best friend! They were together today in a hotel having sex and you want me to marry him!? No way in hell would happen so, dear father, call the Alpha and call off this wedding." I retorted, anger flowing in my veins. Did they care? Did they give a shit what their daughter would suffer?

"You overreact, Chloe." My mother rose to her feet and walked towards me, speaking softly. "Shawn needs to be mated before the next full moon since he can't find a mate, both of you will have to mate. When you mate, everything will be fine, sweetie." She placed her hand on my cheek and I moved away instantly.

"That's not how it works and you know it, mother. The bond is fake and not as strong as a real mating bond. He will never be loyal to me. I will be unhappy, mother. Please see that." I couldn't live my whole life repenting for things I didn't cause. I couldn't keep breaking apart to fix this family.

Astra's death did more damage than anyone would like to give credit for. Dad became an alcoholic, beating me while reminding me that I caused her death. Marrying Lucas would be a continuation of that because he believed Astra was his mate even though they had to be sixteen to be sure but he thought so.

"Happy? You want to be happy after you murdered your sister!?" My mother's countenance shifted and she yelled. "After you robbed her of a life she deserved to have!? You don't get that! You will marry Lucas and that is the end of this discussion."

"No." 

"You have no say in this! This is important to our family!"

Family? This wasn't a family. This mansion had everything from regality to sophistication but it wasn't my home. It never was. 

The mansion's marble floors gleamed under chandeliers that dripped with crystal, but the air was cold and empty. The laughter that once filled these halls was long gone, replaced by strained silences and my father's sharp commands.

"I can't marry him. Maybe if you spent the last money we have on investing instead of shopping, we wouldn't be in this mess!" 

Blood. Mettalic and salty tasted in my mouth as my head snapped to the side because of the slap my mother gave me. 

My mother's slap brought it all rushing back—Astra's laugh at the edge of the cliff, the sound of her shoes skidding on loose rocks. I'd replayed that night a thousand times in my head, but the ending was always the same: her body, lifeless at the bottom.

The slap came out of nowhere, leaving my cheek stinging and my ears ringing. For a moment, all I could do was stare at her, shock battling with the rage boiling in my chest. My wolf growled low, furious at the humiliation, but I forced her down. Not now, Cassie. Not yet. 

"I will not marry him. I will not be the one to sacrifice my happiness for your mistakes. I am done atoning. I am done, so find another scapegoat because I am exhausted from carrying this family's burdens." 

I was born to give Astra blood because of her disease. Wolves rarely had disease because we healed faster but this one was a curse from a witch. I wonder how they pissed off a witch. We never got along with the other creatures but at least they didn't go around cursing people. My use was to serve Astra so when she wandered to a party instead of staying at home with me, it was my fault.

"How dare you!? You have to marry him! Stop being stubborn! If Astra was here she would never say such!"

"Well, she isn't here, father." 

"Because of you!" My mother's voice sounded in my ears almost making me deaf. 

They never cared for me, so what was the point of all this? They were serving me up to be killed because there has never been a wolfless Luna. They would kill me and.... It fell into place. And Nesta would be the one to mate him. It all made sense. 

Taking a deep breath, I made a decision. Wow. This was my worth.

"If I find an investor for your company, you will grant me emancipation from this family in every aspect. I won't be a Silver any longer and won't stain your name further." 

To be honest, I had thought about this since I turned 18, two years after Astra's death when the abuse was at its highest but I waited 6 years because Astra wouldn't want that. That was what I thought. Astra would want me to stay and protect Mother but I couldn't anymore. 

My older sister loved me but just like our parents, I was just a tool for her.

No one spoke. My mother blinked. 

"Why would you say-"

"Deal. You want to be emancipated, find an investor and you only have 24 hours." My dad's cold voice overshadowed my mother's.

"Wilson, you cannot be seriously considering this! If she wants to be a child then you shouldn't egg her on!" 

"She is not a child, she is twenty-four and capable of making her decisions! You have 24 hours Decker-Chloe to find an investor, if not you will marry Lucas Dawson and there will be no excuses!" 

24 hours? That was insane. The words echoed in my mind, twisting like a knife: "24 hours." My hands trembled as I tried to steady myself. How could he demand this? Was this his plan all along—to watch me fail and fall in line like the obedient daughter I was never meant to be

"How do you want me to find an investor in that short period!? You are setting me up to fail. This is unfair!" I protested. 

My father smiled wolfishly, "I don't care. Do you agree?" 

"Done," I said, though the word tasted bitter on my tongue. My father's wolfish grin told me everything I needed to know: he thought I'd fail. Maybe he was right. But I'd rather crash and burn than let him win

"You don't have to do this, Chloe. Just marry Luke. Please." she pleaded, her green eyes swirling with a thousand unfamiliar emotions. 

We were different, my mother and I. I had golden eyes and fiery red hair while she had platinum blonde hair. Instead of her soft features, I inherited sharp ones that commanded attention.

"It's too late for her to change her mind, Amy. Let her go." My father said dismissively, sitting back down on the plush couch to sip tea. 

As I left the mansion, the question raked my mind: "Where would I find an investor on such short notice?" 

"You can marry me instead." The rich baritone voice rang in my head. 

"We could try it, Decker." my Wolf said, her restlessness piercing through me or was it mine? Just remembering him, did things to me.

"No." I shut her down. I didn't know where we would go so I just drove around the city, trying to forget everything that happened. 

It was all too much. How the fuck was I to find an investor? I should have studied business administration if I knew it would have come in handy. 

Something was off. Something didn't feel right and I didn't know what. It was pushing me, tugging at my brain urging me to find some peace but how could I find peace when I didn't even know what made me uneasy?

I blinked and I found myself in front of the same hotel. How did I get here? It was like I was being pulled back here and I didn't know why. 

I got down from the car and I froze when I heard someone. "Hello, Princess."

His voice sent a shiver down my spine, low and smooth like velvet brushing against my skin. Cassie growled in approval, her excitement making my chest tighten.

No, not now. Not him.

"You," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same, Princess." His smirk was maddening, but it was his eyes—sharp and stormy—that unraveled me

"Were you looking for me, Princess?" 

"You! How did you know I was here?

"I smelled your scent." He said, a little too smugly. I could feel Cassie growing restless. He was standing way too far, so I took a step forward before I remembered myself. 

What the fuck?

"It took you long enough, mate."

His presence was magnetic, pulling me in despite the wall I had built around myself. My wolf stirred, her voice almost a whisper now: "Mate."

The word reverberated through me, breaking apart every defense I had left. No. Not now. Not him. But as his stormy eyes locked with mine, I knew there was no denying it.