Winter had lost sight of how long she was tortured, but eventually the king got bored and he left to change for the ceremony.

Roderick had immediately stopped and gather Winter in his arms, he had carried her through the castle towards her room. He had softly placed her on the bed.

A few moments later the door to her room opened and a young woman carrying bandages walked in.

"What's happening?" the young woman asked Roderick.

Winter was too tired to listen, she just lay with her eyes closed thinking everything through.

"Reginald ordered the punishment for her." Roderick answered

"Why would he punish his mate like this?" the girl replied.

"Roselyn, she isn't his mate, she is mated to someone else." he answered.

"Is Reginald forcing her?" the girl stammered.

"Yes." Roderick answered.

"You need to stop him." she answered.

Winter opened her eyes surprised by the words. She looked around and was met by a beautiful young woman, she held the same beauty as the king and the prince.

"Alpha Winter may I introduce you to Princess Roselyn, my little sister?" Roderick said proudly.

Winter tried to smile through the pain, but failed miserably.

"We need to nurse her wounds for the ceremony and we all need to get changed." The prince said.

"No" Roselyn said stern.

"She is not mating Reginald. What did you do?" she asked Winter directly.

Winter smiled.

"Free his prisoners." She answered.

"His prisoners?" Roselyn asked startled.

Roderick avoided his sister's eyes, so she looked at Winter.

"The king held young female wolves captive in the castle, he was partly under the influence of his advisor, but"

Winter didn't know which excuse would make things less bad.

"Did you know?" she asked the prince.

"No, I discovered them with Winter." he replied.

The princess took place next to Winter on the bed. She looked at her hands.

"He will never abdicate, not even if we force him."

Tears had filled her eyes as she looked at Roderick.

"No, he won't." He replied.

Roselyn and Roderick had left Winter alone after nursing her wounds to prepare herself. The moment they stepped out of the room, she let Arsen in her mind. From the moment the first whip had slashed against her skin, he had been trying to enter her mind.

'We are almost at the gates.' he immediately said.

'Not yet.' Winter replied.

'You don't have a say in the matter darling.' Arsen replied.

'Yes, I do, have you found my brother?' she asked.

'Yes, we are ready to slay that monster.' Arsen replied.

'It will be done, during the mating ceremony.' Winter replied.

'What?' Arsen yelled in her mind.

'I won't mate him.'

'What happened? Why did it feel like you were in a lot of pain?' he asked.

'I was whipped.' Winter replied.

'I kill him myself.' Arsen snarled.

'No, you are not. I need you ready, just outside the grounds, look for a way in that won't cause too much noise. There are still too many guards on his side, we need him with his defense down.' Winter replied.

'I can take him.' Arsen answered.

'I know you can, but I don't want to be queen and you don't want to be king either.' she answered.

'I want to go home with you, grow old and have lots of pups. I don't want to rule and have the responsibility over the entire kingdom.' Winter said stern.

'We can appoint someone else' Arsen answered.

'It doesn't work that way. Trust me Arsen.' she said.

'Trust that I love you.' she said and closed the link.

Evening had fell over the castle and Winter looked outside her window. In the garden fires where lit and an altar was built decorated with flowers. Winter swallowed the bile that rose in her throat.

A soft knock stopped her dark thoughts. Prince Roderick walked in wearing a dark grey costume. His eyes roamed over Winter and they turned a shade darker for a second.

"You look breath-taking." he smiled.

Winter pressed her nails in her hand palms, she needed to get through this. She was wearing a black over nude dress which featured contrasting layers of tulle and lace motifs. The body of the dress had long sleeves, a plunging V-neckline and scoop back, all accented in floral lace motifs.

A couple of the whip marks peaked out from under the dress, but Winter had nothing to cover them. She cleaned imaginary wrinkles out of her dress and smiled at Roderick.

"Thank you." she replied and grabbed Roderick's arm.

"You look handsome as well." She added.

"Not as handsome as alpha Arsen, I presume?" Roderick smirked.

"With a bit of luck, you can be back in his arms rather sooner than later."

"I hope so." Winter answered.

The garden was covered in snow as they walked through it.

"Lots of people." Winter swallowed nervously.

"A big part of the army." Roderick said.

"The festivities for the people are tomorrow." he added.

"Are they all on his side?" She whispered.

"Not all of them." Roderick smiled nervously.

"A fourth?" she carefully asked.

"A third." The prince answered.

Winter looked around, combined with Arsen and Aster they had a fair shot. They just needed to stay alive long enough.

"Most of my men are standing on our side of the altar, the left side, that way you know who will be with us." Roderick answered.

'Left side'

Winter quickly passed through to Arsen, so nobody could notice she was speaking over mind link too her pack.

The king stood proudly in front of the altar, as Winter saw him a shiver ran over her spine. He looked handsome in his silver suit, radiating power. If she hadn't seen his cruelties with her own eyes, she would never have believed that he was a horrible man.

Roderick handed Winter's hands to the king and stepped behind her.

"My queen."

The king greeted as he bowed a little. Winter just stared him death in the eye. He bowed forward and whispered in her ear.

"Now is not the time to be disobedient or do you like to get punished?" the king smirked.

Winter bowed a little and then looked back up.

"You will never be my king." she answered with a smile.

A gasp went through the crowd.