The Girl He Promised to Protect

The sunlight peeks into my bedroom as I hear someone knocking on the door. Groaning, I cover my head with a pillow, cursing whoever is behind it. It’s too early in the morning. Who, in their right mind, would wake me up at this hour?

“Scarlet?” I hear my mother's voice calling me on the other side of the door.

“Go away,” I grunt, my voice muffled by the pillow. A few seconds pass by and I sigh, thinking she already left. Then, I hear the door knob turning and my mother comes in, staring down at me with a displeased look on her face.

“You should be up by now, young lady. Today’s a big day.”

“Mother, please... Let me sleep.”

“No,” she answers firmly. “Get up. We need to get you a fine dress. You should be prepared beautifully for tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“Have you forgotten?”

“What?”

“The Shadow Pack is visiting. Alpha Blake is coming tonight.”

The moment I heard it; I grimace in discontent. I almost forgot. My father invited Alpha Blake to visit our pack a long time ago to offer a truce. For a time, the Alpha hasn’t answered to our request. But when he did, the letter said he wants something in return.

My father thinks it’s gold he wants. But I hardly believe that the infamous Alpha Blake, who can have anything he wants, kill whoever he likes, will ask for a pile of coins in exchange for peace.

I despise him. For everything he’s done to our pack. And my father is a fool for trusting him.

“The pack needs to be presentable tonight,” my mother continues, “and you, young lady, need to be on your best behavior. I don’t want you doing anything that will get on the bad side of the Alpha.”

Sitting up, I look up at my mother and nod my head bluntly. “Yes, mother.”

She sighs when she notices my sad expression. “I understand how you feel, sweetheart, but you have to understand this is the only way we can make peace with our enemy. Alpha Blake has a strong pack and we are helpless against his warriors. You have to understand… your father and I are only doing what's best for the pack.”

“I understand.”

“Good.” With that, she tucks away my hair behind my ear, kissing my forehead. “I've prepared your breakfast in the kitchen.”

She walks across my room, opening my curtains and letting the sun shine through the darkness. Her red hair shines bright as the sunlight touches it. My mother is a redhead, just like me. Some said I look a lot like her when she was younger. With my long red hair and deep blue eyes, our similarities are uncanny.

“You look exhausted, sweetheart,” I hear her say. “Did you sleep well last night?”

“No,” I answer truthfully.

“Is it those dreams again? About seeing a big black wolf?”

I nod. “I usually dream about chasing the wolf. But this time... he's the one chasing me.”

“And did he catch you?”

“No.”

“Hmm... Perhaps you should let it catch you this time and see what it all means.” She smirks. “You might be surprised.”

“It was just a dream, Mother. I don't think it means anything.”

“You’ll never know,” she shrugs. “Come on, sweetheart. It’s time you eat your breakfast.”

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