Chapter One: Arranged Marriage

I'm getting married. It's not even a happy one. No. Instead of falling in love and getting married, I'm having an arranged marriage. Are they even legal in America? I didn't think so but then again, my clan and I are anything but normal. Arranged marriages happen all the time so no one thinks anything of it. Well, I do. I'm the alpha's younger sister and there's two clans here. They keep fighting over land and it's hard since Ludington isn't small, nor is it big enough for the two clans. The alpha's son is Haden and they decided for me to marry him. My brother, Balthazar is already married and has a son, Charlie who is the most cutest thing alive. But he never wanted to marry Lissa. He wanted my best friend, Bionca but he can't have her since he is already taken. So he thinks I should suck it up, especially since I'm not in love or anything. So the count down has begun. Three days. Three days til my life is over and I get dragged down into the fiery pits of hell.
There is six clans here in Michigan. Too many but there's plenty of forest so we've never tried to kill each other since the fifteen hundreds. Too much blood was shed and not just by us. Man as well. It was then agreed that there should be peace and thus began the Treaty of the Loup-Garou. No loup-garou can murder his or her own kind and we must hide our wolf side from mankind. I'm loup-garou. Always have been, always will be. Even if it means I have to be forced to do things I don't want to do. For the better of the clan, that's my duty.
A big reason for me not wanting to get married to a complete stranger is because of my father. He was killed several years ago by vampires. I was only ten and still remember that day as if it was yesterday. Because I saw the whole thing. My father was helping me build a tree house, one just for me. It was dark out and my mom and Balthazar were out watching fireworks. My father decided to get us some water. When he didn't come back, I went inside. There, right in front of me were three vampires. Two had my father pinned, the third getting ready to bit him. I had screamed and yelled for my father. He struggled when he saw me, panic in his ice blue eyes. My eyes. They told him it was either me or him. I begged him not to do it. He let them have him. They bit him and dragged him away, blood spilling over the floor. I remembered crying, crying so hard that when I called my mom, I couldn't speak. All I could say was father....father....
Stop that. No need to think of bad thoughts, Tessa.

Only...I had always pictured him being here by my side to walk me down the isle. How can he if he's dead? I shook my head and thought of Bionca. She had lost her father, just not like I did. Her father left her. For a human woman.
I knew it hurt her a lot and it took a few years for her to get over it. Our kind can never mate with a human. To my people's eyes, half-breeds are an abomination. I didn't think so but I kept silent. Being raised up as loup-garou has taught me to never speak out of tongue. But lately that has border has been pushed. My brother and I are constantly fighting, both not proving weak, even though he's alpha. I don't care what they say, I do this then I'm dragging him down with me. And he knew it, though it didn't help Bionca out. She's become the peace-maker, which never happened before. We used to get along so well, just the three of us growing up together.
Between Balthazar and me, we look nothing alike. I'm blonde, blue eyed and fair skin while he was black hair, hazel eyes and lightly tan and really skinny. I'm not, being a little pudgy and loving to snack. Ah, it never gets old, those damn snacks are just so delicious! It's like trying to quit smoking and unable to with chocolate.
Today was one of my last free days so I thought I'd spend it with Bionca. Her green-brown eyes were lit up and her red hair blew gently in the breeze as we made our way down the street. We were heading for the park where we could just sit and talk like old times, laughing and just having fun. But when I started to burn in the summer heat, we decided to head on back, the blazing sun too much without protection.
As we walked back, she kept talking about Haden, never shutting up about him. How I'm going to love being married to him and how cool Haden seemed. Of course none of us here met Haden but we've seen him once."He's not that

good looking Bionca. I mean, I've seen better and so have you." I shrugged, not really caring.
"Not that good looking? Tessa, he's hot! Every girl who sees him wants him." Bionca protested.
I scoffed, not believing a word she said."Then why don't you marry him?"
Bionca seemed to shut down, her shoulders sagged and the light left her beautiful eyes."You know why I can't." She murmured, her voice soft.
I cursed, realizing my mistake. I hugged her."I'm so sorry Bionca. I am."
She hugged be back."It's okay, I just wish things were different. But I can't keep hoping for something that will never happen."
I tried to lighten the mood by joking around."Like Eliza dying?" I asked mischievously.
Bionca batted me away."Totally. If she died, me and Balthazar could marry and Charlie will be my son. yeah, I don't think so."
I laughed, making her giggle."No, but you wish."
We laughed together as we walked inside my house. I hurried into the kitchen and pulled out two Mountain Dew's. She opened hers and sat on the counter top, grinning like an idiot. Just as I took a sip of my favorite pop, Balthazar came in. Bionca tensed and looked away, her grin faltering. I tried to make the mood lighter but I'm never really good at making people happy. I usually screw it all up.
"Mom home?" I asked, tossing him a pop.
He caught it and opened it in one swift motion."No. Are you ready to try on your wedding dress?"
I groaned."You know, I'm not even sure I want to marry this guy."
"Why?" Balthazar asked.
Bionca remained quiet, not wanting to get involved."Because...Why can't someone else do it? I know Emily would be more than happy to. I just..."I fought for words but they just wouldn't come. Never have.
"'I just' what?" Balthazar grew irritated.
I was frustrated and hated being on the spot.Me and my stupid big mouth.

I thought crossly."I just don't love him!"
No I had my older brother's full attention."Please let someone who does, marry him! I want to know love!" I begged.
"No."
"What?" I bristled, glaring at him. Has he lost his mind?!
"You have a duty to perform. I suggest you go upstairs and try on your wedding dress." Balthazar growled, roughly setting his pop down.
Bionca opened her mouth to snap at him when I interrupted, tears blurring my vision."See? This is why I wanted mom here. 'Cause she as least understands me!" Without Bionca, I raced up the stairs, my pop sloshing everywhere. I slammed my door closed, refusing to even glance at my dress.
Instead, I plumped onto my bed where I cried. This was a sensitive topic to discuss with me. The other reason why I didn't want to marry Haden was because of my dad. He was supposed to be here. To lead me down the isle and tell me he loved me even though he was giving me up.Time went by but I barely noticed, nor did I care. Someone knocked on my door but I ignored it. I didn't want to talk to anyone but my mother. Finally, I door opened.
"Sweetheart? Are you okay?"
My mom.
When I heard her voice, I cried even harder. She sat on the edge of my bed and held me close to her, my tears soaking her new shirt."What's wrong? Why won't you marry Haden?" She soothed.
"Because! I don't love him and dad's not here. Mom, he was supposed to lead me down the isle and dance with me at my reception. I want him to tell me he loves me and no matter who I marry, how old I get, I'll always be his little girl." I wailed in despair.
My mom was silent for a few moments. "Then you should run away."
I looked up, confused. "Wait, what?"
She smiled sweetly. "I have a plan. We'll hide you. I'll tell everyone you ran away. We'll look every where and when we can't find you, Haden will marry someone else. Then you come back and you can marry who ever you want. Sound good?" She asked.
"Yeah, but where would you hide me?" I sniffed.
Mom frowned. "Not sure yet. We are good trackers but I can think of something."
"No." I sighed. "I'll just marry him. Thanks though mom."

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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 23.11.2011

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Widmung:
To my Aunt Ruthann who died a few years ago from an aneurism and Harley-Ann Aldridge. Without her I would never have finished writing this book. :)