The Cursed Prince's Strange Bride

Inside the carriage, Alicia used a hand to cover her mouth as she sobbed. She had woken up a while ago and had kept her eyes closed as she tried to process her thoughts, but she did not know what to say or what to think. She couldn't get past the fact that Harold was a werewolf.

A werewolf? Never in her wildest imaginations would she have thought of that, even though Harold had all the makings of one.

All the signs had been there, and maybe she should have guessed it, especially with the whole weird-looking night guards, the full moon, and hunting stuff. Their exceptional hearing ability. Everything was there!

But she didn't try to think about it because she didn't think it was possible.

How would she have ever thought that werewolves truly existed and weren't just mythical creatures?

Thinking of that, she remembered telling Harold about werewolves, and she closed her eyes when she remembered how he had listened to her with keen interest and asked if she preferred werewolves or vampires.

He could have told her the truth this whole time, so why didn't he?

She remembered him saying he wanted her to give herself to him first. He had said something about telling her everything about the kingdom after she bore his child.

How could he say he loved her yet keep such a secret from her? Besides, did werewolves love someone who wasn't their mate? From what she knew about werewolves from books and movies, werewolves only loved their mates. So how could he claim he loved her when she wasn't even his mate?

Alicia shook her head to get focused. Love was the last thing she should be thinking about. Harold was a werewolf, she reminded herself.

If Harold was a werewolf, did this mean every one of them were werewolves too? Including Tyra, Susan, and Luciana? That had to be it since Susan and Luciana also had sharp hearing abilities.

They were werewolves, yet they had been mad at her for not telling them she was a witch? Now she felt as though she were the clueless female lead in a fantasy movie or a web novel.

Paulina had been correct. They had an even bigger skeleton in the closet.

Her mind replayed Harold's transformation again, and she shut her eyes tightly, trying not to remember it, but whenever her mind moved from there, it went to Ivan pouncing on Luciana.

She felt like throwing up. Her motion sickness was not helping either.

Why was everything so difficult and complicated? Why did she have to be reborn in this place where there was one problem after another and most of the causes seemed to revolve around her? Was this really the olden days or an alternative universe with so many crazy things?

Or maybe she had been reborn into a novel with a weird plot?

How was she supposed to feel or react to the whole thing? This was her Harold. A man she loved. But...

He was partly an animal!

The thought broke her heart and almost made her cry loudly. She had heard the fear and apology in his voice, and even though she hadn't directly looked at him, she had been able to feel it in his gaze.

Just what more surprises were left? Vampires or zombies?

She sniffed and used her hands to clean her tears before tapping Paulina, who was lying across from her, while also softly calling her name.

Paulina opened her eyes and looked confused initially as she tried to sit up while Alicia helped her up.

Paulina was about to ask what happened, but judging by the look on Alicia's face—her red face and bloodshot eyes—she tried to remember what had happened herself. And she did.

"Prince Harold," she gasped loudly, her eyes wide with fear before she used her hand to cover her mouth and looked around her in panic.

"W-where... are we... going to?" She asked first since that was the most important question for now. But she made sure to whisper. As much as she wanted to look out to see the people outside with them, she was too scared to do so.

"We are returning to the palace," Alicia said, watching Paulina sadly. The poor girl looked pale and terrified.

"W-What... about... Lady Luciana and Lady S-Susan?" Paulina remembered to ask first since they had all traveled together in the carriage the first time.

"They traveled ahead of us. Lady Luciana is injured and needs to be treated urgently," Alicia explained, trying to stay calm for Paulina's sake.

She knew how quickly the girl could freak out, especially if she suspected that Alicia was just as scared and confused as her.

"Are they also...?"

Alicia nodded slowly, knowing that Paulina probably didn't know what to call them.

Paulina's hands went to her mouth as she tried to muffle her frightened gasp. She couldn't believe that the people she had eaten with and laughed with were all part half humans and half dogs. What if she had annoyed them, and they had turned and pounced on her?

Goosebumps rose all over her body when she remembered how she had almost been devoured by similar creatures on her first night in the kingdom. Had those been humans too? One of them?

She gasped again in surprise when she remembered Beth. She did not doubt that Beth was like them too. Beth, who had hated her and her mistress. Oh, no!

"We... can't go back there. Please. We can't go back with them. Please. . let's... not go." Paulina whispered in a frightened tone. She was on the verge of tears, and Alicia could see that.

"Then where do we run to?" Alicia whispered back. At this point, she wanted to stop this conversation because she didn't know if they could all hear them outside.

"Anywhere safe, Milady," Paulina said desperately as she took her hands, but as she looked closely at Alicia, she could tell Alicia didn't plan to do that.