CHLORENDIA
The carriage lurched and jolted as we rolled over another dip in the road. I kept my eyes glued to the trees speeding by, pretending the scenery was more interesting than the silence wedged between my father and me. Not that we were particularly close even before our last argument. Our relationship was nothing more than an arrangement—a necessary formality. He had raised me with the same level of attachment you'd have for a weapon. Keep it sharp, keep it close, and when you need it, wield it for power.
And that's exactly what he was doing now. This alliance with the Neiborung Pack wasn't about me or my happiness—it was about his reputation, his legacy, his craving for control. I was just a pawn, and the idea of being mated to an alpha wasn't some grand romantic adventure. To him, it was the strategic key to cementing his influence. He saw me as an extension of his ambitions, a breeding vessel that would keep our bloodline in power.
