Chapter 3

　　Freya's POV

　　The cold wind brushed against my skin, sending a chill down my spine. The temperature tonight was almost at a negative degree Celsius, but that was the least of my problems as I remained quiet peeping from the doorknob as my twin sister and father yelled at each other in fury.

　　With my back still resting on the wall, I pulled my hands to my lips and closed my eyes, trying to stop my emotions from overpowering me.

　　My twin sister Amelia was the only one in the pack I knew who had the mind to stand up to our father. She was tall for a woman but father still towered over her by a few inches. The way Dad glowered down at her with his nostrils flared and his eyes blazing like a volcano made me shrink back in my position but Amelia was never one to cower under Dad's Alpha aura. She glared back at him, with her hands on her hips, and her chin stuck out.

　　As the firstborn, she has the same Alpha aura as Dad and also the next in line to rule out the pack after Dad's retirement but our pack council never regarded the female she-wolf worthy of being crowned or even bestowed a title. The council and Dad were deeply rooted in this archaic belief where only a male he-wolf can successfully lead a pack.

　　"If you dare refuse to obey my orders, Amelia, then you leave me no other option than to send your twin sister Freya to take your place." Dad roared,

　　I froze immediately at the mention of my name. Send me where to replace Amelia? Where could Dad possibly think of sending me off to you that was causing this kind of ruckus between him and Amelia?

　　Could it be that Dad was trying to sell me off?

　　My heart began to thump painfully in my chest, and my hands immediately wrapped around my body. It was obvious that the altercation was all about me but I was too scared to enter the chamber and make my presence known. The blazing energy in the confined space was intensifying and I'm worried that they might get physical with each other. But just as quickly as it seemed to have flared up, some of the fight seemed to fizzle out of Amelia as she took a step back and uttered in an unyielding quiet tone. "No way! You can't possibly do that to her. We both know that Freya cannot survive in that hell you want to push her into. She is too kind-hearted for that demon wolf."

　　"Amelia, the contract has already been signed by the council that Alpha Hades will take one of my twin daughters as his breeder in order to protect and merge our pack with his when I retire since I'm without a son. As the elder one, it's your duty but if you refuse then your sister will take up your place." Dad said, in a tone of finality.

　　I stood with my mouth wide open as I held my breath while watching Amelia's hands ball into tight fists at her side.

　　"You have already signed out your daughter's life like a commodity that can be traded among men." She said, her voice rising into a high destructive tone. I could feel the air rippling around her as her temper erupted again.

　　"Be reasonable Mel, and hear me out," Dad said, with a slight edge of pleading in his voice. "By agreeing to be Alpha Hades breeder and wife you will be giving the pack a great lifetime honour of being merged with one of the powerful packs in the Northern world and also our bloodline will be secured once you produce an heir that would return to rule our pack."

　　"So you're indirectly implying that my only usefulness is to warm a man's bed and produce an heir? Is that what you think about my life? What about your duty as a father to protect your child?"

　　She angrily stomped close to Dad's desk and gave it a vicious kick with her bare foot. The wood smashed under her shoeless assault and a couple of shards flew off. If she felt any pain, she didn't show it.

　　"You know Mel, I wouldn't ask you to do this if I didn't think it was the best thing for you and the pack."

　　Amelia suddenly seemed tired and dropped her body in one of the cotton chairs positioned in front of the large antique desk. She sat sideways, swinging one leg over the arm of the chair. "You know, if Mom were here, she would never allow this barbaric act of yours."

　　Dad also seemed to have lost his strength as he retreated behind the desk and sank into his leather chair with a tired sigh. His eyes roamed around the chamber as though he was trying to remind himself of who he was. Regaining his posture, he placed his palms flat on the wall and stared at Amelia intently.

　　"You are right but she's no longer here with us," He said without emotion, a controlling formality clipping his words. "It is either you Amelia or your sister Freya. One of you has to bear the burden for the pack's progress."

　　I held my breath, even though I knew in my heart that Mel would never leave me to be the sacrificial sheep. She was my champion, my protector, and my guardian. Even though she was my twin sister, she cared for and defended me more than Dad.

　　"Fine, if I am to do this then you have to draft a contract between us stating that Freya will never be forced or compelled to mate with someone against her will and she will also live on her own terms without you or the council meddling in her life."

　　Dad looked offended, with his eyes blazing with fury. "You don't tell me what to do Amelia. I am still your Alpha and your father so I get to decide what happens, not you."

　　"Really!" Amelia stood up, leaned over the table almost in Dad's face, and yelled "Draft the damn contract and put your seal on it."

　　"And if I don't?" Dad inquired

　　Amelia straightened, gently took her hands from the table, and retorted "You have no choice Alpha, and trust me I won't leave without making sure Freya is safe."

　　She turned and stomped out of the office, giving the door a loud bang making the walls vibrate. Immediately she saw me, she gave me a look as if she had known all along that I was eavesdropping on them. She took my hands gently, and we walked down the hallway towards her chamber.

　　"This is a disaster" She mumbled, flopping herself on the bed immediately after we got inside her chamber. I crawled onto the bed and lay down beside her staring at the blank wall. "Mel, are you going to do it? Are you really going to marry him?" I whispered.

　　She groaned and squeezed her eyes, while pinching the bridge of her nose. "I'm left with no choice."

　　"But what about the rumors we heard about how cruel, ruthless, and prideful Hades was? You need to change your mind, Mel, please."

　　The heaviness in the chamber was stifling, as she turned and looped her arms around me, snuggling close to me. "Hey Freya, everything will be alright, you don't need to worry about me, I will be fine. All I want you to do is to be strong when I'm gone and don't allow Dad or anyone to bully you."

　　Closing my eyes, I buried my face in her arm like a child as I remained quiet mulling over the thoughts of Mel getting married to someone who was not her mate. The thought made me shiver and it left me with one question. "Could Dad be this cruel to sign off her daughter to be with a stranger without even a second thought to it?"