Astrid's POV:
I returned home in the late evening when the sun had set. Ever since the rejection happened, I couldn't move properly. My body was in a constant pain which refused to leave. I didn't realize when I crossed the threshold of the living room until Lisa's mother, Madam Elina, stopped me and threw a sharp slap across my face.
"Ahhh!" A scream tore from my throat as Madam Elina's fingers coiled into my hair. She wrenched my head back with such violence it felt as though she would rip the scalp right off my head.
"It hurts!" I gasped, clawing feebly at her wrist.
"Yes, it should hurt! You should be in agony!" Elina spat, her face twisted with a visceral loathing. "How dare you claim a High Alpha like Damien is your mate? Have you ever even looked at yourself? You're a stain on this family, nothing but a sin my husband is forced to hide. You're the illegitimate spawn of an Omega, and you should act like it!"
Across the room, Lisa sat perched on an upholstered chair. "Mom, don't say such things in front of Dad," she murmured, though her eyes glinted with a cruel, satisfied triumph.
Elina didn't stop. She dragged me by my hair toward the center of the room, throwing me down like a sack at the feet of my father, Alpha Levi.
"She almost destroyed our daughter's future today!" Elina shrieked at him. "Are you still going to keep her in this house?"
I knew what would happen now. Dad would order his beta to lock me up in the dark dungeon where not even a ray of light could touch. He would even give the order to the guards to flog me until I would be unconscious.
"Astrid, you're lucky Damien didn't kill you on the spot," Lisa added, clearly mocking me. "You humiliated him in front of everyone." I knew then, with a sickening certainty, that she was behind all of this, but I had no voice to prove it.
"Levi! Say something!" Elina barked.
"You sired this creature with that woman, and now this lowly blood is poisoning Lisa's life. Punish her or I—"
"Astrid will be married tomorrow," Alpha Levi declared.
The words hit me harder than the slap. My eyes flew open in genuine shock. "What? No… No, I'm not marrying anyone! Dad, please, don't do this!"
The thought of being handed over to a stranger like a piece of property sent a violent shiver through my soul. I scrambled forward on my hands and knees, grabbing his feet and pressing my forehead against his boots in a desperate, final plea. "Dad, please don't do this to me. I don't want to marry. I'll go away, I promise!"
"Are you an idiot?" Elina screamed, looming over me. "How much longer do you think we will let you rot in our lives? Levi, don't listen to her. Kick her out! If you let her go without a husband to control her, there's no telling what shame she'll bring back to our door."
Why was my fate so relentlessly cruel? Was the rejection of my mate not enough for today that a marriage proposal was suddenly thrown to me?
"I won't ever bother you again! I promise!" I turned my burning, tear-streaked eyes toward Elina, begging for even a shred of mercy. "Don't force me into this just to be rid of me!"
Finally, my father rose to his feet. He didn't look at me as he stepped over my trembling hands.
"You nearly ruined the reputation of the Clifford name today," he said. "I made a mistake once, and I have spent years carrying you as this family's burden. I have done more for you than you deserve, despite how your mother forced herself upon me. Now, you will repay that debt."
He paused for a moment. "You will marry Kirill Bloodshade tomorrow morning. He sent a proposal for you, and I have no intention of refusing him."
"Kirill?" That name rang bells in my ears. I had heard that name somewhere. But I was unable to recall it.
"Now, go to your room. Prepare yourself mentally for it." With that, Dad simply walked away accompanied by Elina.
"Little sister, you're going to be in trouble marrying Kirill Bloodshade. I just read on the internet that the first ritual he performs in the morning is taking one life every day. What if it's you?" I could see the dirty smirk playing across her lips as if she was referring to me that I would be his new target.
"Shut up. You stole my mate," I snapped at her.
"Oh, Astrid. You are still accusing me of something I never did. Are you sure I stole your mate? What if Damien always desired me? A lowly, wolfless omega, like you, has no place anywhere in this world."
She then walked closer to me and pressed her heel on my hand.
"Ahh!" I cried in pain. "Don't do this. It's hurting me, Lisa!"
"Remember the pain then. You deserve to die, Astrid. If you want to get spared from this marriage, the only way is to die. You're as pathetic as your mother. I will be eagerly waiting for the news of your demise once you marry Kirill," she said with a grin before taking a step back and leaving my sight.
I brought my hand close to my heart and rubbed it. Tears continued to flow down my eyes as I realized how alone I was. Why did my mother even bring me here before dying? Why did I even beg my father to keep me here? Why did I even dream of having a family or love?
'Why does heaven never punish the wrong people? What have I even done to them that none of them want me? And now, Dad wants me to wed me off to some crazy alpha, who might kill me!'
As those thoughts ran through my mind, I decided to take a bold step. I decided to run away to a place where no one could find me.
Looking around myself, I found none and walked toward the door. And then, my feet caught the speed. As I descended the marble stairs in hurry, my foot slipped and I fell straight.
But to my surprise, I didn't touch the ground but the arms of a man, who was staring right into my soul.
I quickly shoved the man in whose arms I had fallen and wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes. Who was he?
"You still cry, Astrid. Who made you cry this time?" the man questioned me.
"Alpha, shall I—" I heard another masculine voice but it was shut off as the man in front of me raised his hand slightly.
The man gripped my chin and swept his gaze across my face before looking down and held my hand.
"Don't touch me," I quickly yanked off his hand. The pain from my right hand had still not gone. Lisa stepped her heel onto me with such a force that sent the nerves tingling with pain. I didn't have time to waste as I took a step on his left, I abruptly halted as he blocked my way.
"I'm sorry for not properly introducing myself."
My eyes again met his and I saw how they shimmered golden for a brief moment.
"I am Kirill Bloodshade, your soon-to-be husband and mate."
I felt the floor slip beneath my feet. I hadn't expected the man who sent a proposal to marry me standing in front of me.
He took a step closer to me before leaning down. "It's a pity, you've forgotten me, Astrid. Because I never forgot you even for once after leaving this place."