Days have passed since that incident with Father, and I have not left the house since that day. Father is becoming more like a ghost these days. He just breezes in, and out of the house during the day, and at night, he goes to recline at his lover's house.
Through the gossips of the passersby always shouting anytime they pass my house, I learn Archi is out of prison, and the king is fine. Plus, his coronation is in two full moons.
A few times I have sneaked off to the palace, and managed to meet Archi those few times, but unfortunately for me, I do not get to spend as much time with him as I want.
I am sitting on one of the chairs in the living room when father just breaks through the front door, he charges at me fuming.
I quickly get to my feet, "Father?" I gulp, a cold sweat breaking out on my forehead.
"So you already have a mate?" He throws the question at me, his eyes darkening with each second.
"How-- did you know that?'" I take a step back.
"Answer me! You have a mate?!"
I bop my head up, and down, "Yes I do."
He holds his head, his veins are popping out showing he is frustrated.
"What is it? Are you not happy? I finally have a mate after all you have said about me not having one."
"Why does he have to be the king's son?!" He roars.
I crouch back, "What do you mean by that?"
He begins to pace back and forth the room, "it just had to be the king's son.. why? That boy can not be my son in law!" He fumes, grimacing his face.
I arch my brows, "Why are you saying this father? I love.."
"No you do not!" He grips my right arm, "You will not mate him Aria, I will make sure of that," he says, his voice is low, and menacing.
"Why? He is my mate."
"I believe you will find another mate."
My heart skips, and Ryder's image flashes before my eyes. I want to tell him, but I do not want him to immediately think I will leave Archi for Ryder.
"That is not how things work, father. You know that," I try to sound firm.
"What exactly do you know?" He sneers at me, "Do you think we get everything we want?"
"But.. you always say to strive towards what we want, and grab the opportunity once it comes!" I yell, somehow hoping it would stick to his brain, and something in him will let me be.
"You were a child! Of course, you had to be brainwashed!" He pushes me back, his eyes almost popping out of his sockets, "Why on earth did you have to inherit your mother's stupid nature?!"
I clench my fists. I seriously hate it when he talks about mother that way.
"Do not speak about mother like that. She was never stupid, she was always the sensible one, you are the one who is not sensible here!" I speak through gritted teeth.
He is taken aback by my words, and his the cold expression on his face falters a little.
"Why can I not live my life? He is my mate! Is that not better off than you who decides to shove your face in your lover's thighs--"
"Aria!" He flares up.
I think I might have put my hand in the serpent's den, but who cares?
He grabs my hand. With a force, I can not explain, he flings me across the room. I crash into the chairs, my eyes rotating in their sockets.
"I will teach you how to talk to me!" He charges towards me, grabbing me by my hair, "This is exactly why I finished your mother off, she was just more than a talkative!" He grips my neck, chocking me.
Finished my mother off?
I raise my eyes to look at him, the realization kicking in, "You.. you killed.."
"Yes I did. I had had enough of her already!" He slaps me across the face.
I fall to the ground, my body shaking with pain. He killed his mate? Is this really my father?
I turn to look at him. He has a feral madness in his bloodshot eyes, "So what? I would have finished you off too, but how could I?" He grabs me by the hair again, dragging me along the floor.
I whimper in pain as he forcefully pulls me with him.
"I must have given you too much freedom, and I regret it already," he huffs, eventually dragging me to my room.
"You will stay here, and not come out," he opens the door, throwing me in.
"You can not lock me in here!" I scream trying to run back to the door, but he blocks the doorway, kicking me back.
"You foolish little girl. Whatever you do, you will not mate that murderer of a man," he slams the door, locking it from outside.
I crawl to the door, then I begin to bang on it, "Let me out of here! Father let me out!" I keep banging on the door, but unfortunately, my small hands are no match for this strong wooden door.
I fall back to the ground in sobs. What am I going to do now?
How would he feel if I do not show up at his coronation? What about Ryder? Have I lost him? Will I lose them both now?
"Someone help me!" I yell as loud as I can, even though I know it is pointless, no one would want to help the girl with a weak wolf.
I cover my hands with my mouth, my body still shaking from my hard sobs.
"Dear moon goddess," I sniffle, looking around. I look at my window, and run towards it, hoping to break escape through it, but father has beat me to it. It is locked from outside!
I panic as I look around, does he want to kill me, then blame my death on natural causes?
I would have finished you off too, but how could I? Those words ring in my ears.
"No," I fall to the ground helplessly, already feeling suffocated from the lack of air. In desperation, I slam my fists on the glass, creating a hole, and a rush of fresh air follows.
I look at my bleeding hands. There must be something I must do, I will not stay here forever. I calm down a little, dragging myself to the bed.
"If I were to escape now, he would immediately march to the palace, then create an unnecessary scene. Okay, take it slow Aria," I sit down.
"I will get out of here, but not now."