"What did I do? I thought we started liking ourselves." Brian mentioned, his voice coming out as a light whisper.
I moved away from him and faced the crowd. Tears had begun clouding my vision. The murmurs in the room reduced as they waited for me to make my announcement.
"He slept with my sister, Sasha. I can't get married to him." I struggled to say while holding back the downpour.
The crowd exchanged glances and Sasha who sat in the corner stood up. Her face was pale from my revelation. Brian was also shocked that I knew about what happened last night.
"Maria, I can explain." He stuttered, moving closer to me to hold my hand. I shrugged away from him.
"Explain what? She is lying!" Sasha screamed as she moved from where she stood. I could see her trying to make eye contact with Brian and urge him not to reveal the truth. I didn't care. As long as I've revealed what was on my mind, I'm okay.
My father was still settled in his place, he hadn't uttered a word as the scene unfolded. Some of the impatient pack members had left, seeing that the marriage may not hold. But the number that remained were still so many that I could hear their indistinct voices filling the room.
"Sasha." My mother called out as she walked towards us. "Is this true?" She questioned, pointing a finger in her face.
"It's true." Brian answered. "I'm so sorry Maria. We can still work things out."
"How long have you two known yourselves? Or do you want to lie that she seduced you?"
"Maria…" He opened his mouth to say something while his face held a sober look.
"You mean that this is true?" My mother screamed. Without hesitation, she turned to Sasha and landed a heavy slap on her face. "How dare you seduce your sister's suitor?" My mom, Laura raised her hand again and slapped Sasha a second time.
Heavy whispers from the crowd were heard with most of the attention shifted from me to Sasha.
Sasha held onto her reddened face with her palm. Her eyes were glassy in tears. Even while in pain from the impact of the slap, she still shot me a hard glare.
"I don't care!" Sasha screamed causing Laura to widen her eyes slightly from her audacity. "Afterall, Maria tried to run away."
Laura turned to me and my heartbeat increased. My father who was quietly watching the unfolded scene became restless as Sasha exposed my plans of running away.
"You tried to run away even when we warned you about going out without guards?" Her tone was sharp and angry. I swallowed hard, not wanting to say anything to make her angrier.
Brian stood by my left side, his finger raked through his hair. I could see the tension in his eyes. Something about him made it look like he was remorseful. Even so, I still couldn't continue this marriage.
"Maria," He whispered from where he stood and moved closer to me. "It doesn't have to be this way."
"Thank you for saving me, but I'm not going to pay back with a marriage." I pulled out the bead I spent time crafting and dropped it in his palm.
"Why are you begging her? If she doesn't want the marriage, I'm here." Sasha said, shamelessly flaunting herself, despite being exposed.
"Shut up!" Laura cut her off immediately. "Maria would…"
"Reynolds!" A husky voice thundered. An elderly man walked into where we stood, and a woman accompanied him.
"Is this how you bring us into your pack to embarrass us? Is this the marriage agreement we made?" His hands clasped behind his back as he spoke to my father.
I knew who he was. Brian's father and by his side was Brian's mother.
My father finally stood up from his seat.
"I didn't mean for this to happen. I'm sorry." He pleaded with them.
"If this marriage would not hold, then the deal is cancelled." Brian's father announced, while pointing a finger at Reynolds.
Before my father could respond with another word, they had already reached the door, ready to leave.
"Aren't you coming, son?" Brian's father asked him. Brian took a deep breath and then gave me one last look before heading in the direction where his family stood.
"Please, we can still settle this." Reynolds followed after them, but they refused to listen. The guards had already begun bringing their items from the rooms.
"I'll do it instead." Sasha said, pushing her way through me to stand by Brian's side. She locked her fingers in his. "I'll marry Brian for the sake of the deal between packs." She paused and hugged him tightly. "And for the sake of our love." She added while still clinging to his body.
"What!" I spat in disgust. "That can't happen."
Reynolds looked at both of them with a scrutinizing gaze before pointing a finger at Sasha.
"If not that I can't hit women, I would have slapped you. Can't you see how you're bringing disgrace to the pack and family?"
Sasha lowered her head and pulled away from Brian.
"You're advertising yourself as a whore, despite being my daughter."
Amidst the pain I felt in my heart, happiness also made its way to a corner as I enjoyed every bit of Sasha being scolded by my parents.
"Go and sit for the marriage."
My eyes widened at my father's command. I watched Sasha walk past me to the place I once sat.
"She can't get married. She needs to be punished." I opposed it as the happiness I felt was washed off.
My father ignored me and walked towards Brian's parents. It seemed like they were renegotiating. Afterwards, his parents walked back to their seats and before my eyes, Sasha and Brian were getting married.
"You don't have to be angry. Afterall she's still your sister." My mother said as she stretched her hand to touch mine.
I moved away from within her reach. The room felt like it was spinning around me and my chest kept rising and falling. What damned negotiation is this that they're trading off their children?
Brian's eyes locked with mine and he looked away almost immediately. Sasha looked at me with a smug smile on her face. She got what she wanted.
Anger boiled inside me and my fingers balled into fists by my side. I felt like punching her.
I sighed, unable to do anything. I found my way out of the hall and headed to my room.
I shut the door behind me, and the tears which I had struggled to hold flowed down my face.
"Why me?"