<h4>Chapter 396: 396-Marrying An Alpha</h4>


    <strong>Oriana:</strong>


    "What if you use that video against me even after I help you?" I asked, crossing my arms.


    "Then we will both be in the video," she replied. "I will only use it if I have no other choice, meaning if you back out of killing Clementine."


    I nodded slowly.


    "Fine. I want a copy of it. You will email it to me."


    She nodded, clearly pleased.


    She exined the rest of the n, then handed me a dagger.


    "They will need evidence. Do you think you can do it to yourself?" she asked.


    My hands shook as I stared at the dagger. It wasrge. It would hurt badly, but not as much as dying in the North.


    "I will do it," I said. "Who is the Alpha?"


    She smiled, her eyes lighting up.


    "Alpha Yorick."


    At that moment, it felt like I had found a way to live.


    We made the video together, and she gave me her phone so I could send it to my own email. That way, I knew she was not going to y me. Once it was done, I went to the room where my altercation with the alphas had happened. Not exactly an altercation. Yorick was the one who had threatened me.


    Before he threatened me, I was scared of whether I would be able to do it. But once he did, I realized I needed someone to protect me the way he protected Clementine. Miss Rue was right.


    I went ahead and used the dagger on myself. It was so painful. I had to bite my lips to keep myself quiet. Once the pain was over, it was time to act.


    Now I was sitting on the ground, crying in front of everyone. The pain was so intense that I started to pass out before I could even scream.


    The next thing I knew, I woke up in the hospital. I was not sure what they had done to Yorick, but my ims seemed solid. The doctor came in just as I woke up. My eyelids were still heavy, and my mind was racing.


    I was worried. What if my n did not work? Then all that pain would have been for nothing.


    The moment the doctor entered, I noticed the ringleaders gathering in the room.


    "So, did you do the tests and all the checkups?" Mr. Rick asked.


    I had to blink harder to make sure I was seeing him clearly.


    "Yes. She was stabbed with the dagger, and it is pretty bad," the doctor replied.


    As soon as he said that, Mr. Rick gasped while Ms. Lenora sat down, burying her face in her hands.


    "What kind of monsters have been let in this time?" she muttered angrily.


    There was chaos after that. Mr. Rick reached my bed and stood beside it with his head down.


    "We are really sorry for what happened."


    As soon as he said that, I covered my face and started to cry, ying the part well.


    "You should have just let me die in the North," I stated. From the corner of my eye, I saw Mr. Rick turn to look at Ms. Lenora, who shook her head.


    "We will talk about it, okay? He will not get away with it. We promise you," he replied. "But there are certain restraints that stop us from throwing him into the North."


    As soon as Mr. Rick said that, my heart skipped a beat, and I covered my face with my hands.


    "No, I do not want that kind of punishment for him," I stated, watching them look at me in confusion. "I am not an animal like him. I have seen what monsters do. If you send him there, he will be a monster, and I will forever think that the man who did this to me gained more power."


    I chose my words carefully.


    "Then we will let the decision be in your hands," Ms. Lenora said. "There will be limits on the punishment you can choose, and we are truly sorry for that."


    She held my hand and gave it a brief pat. I remembered what Miss Rue had told me, that Yorick was going to be freed soon. He really did have that much power. They were afraid even to talk about punishing him. Maybe she had been right. She was onto something. I had chosen the right Alpha.


    "For now, we will let you heal," Ms. Lenora said with a nod. "Just know that Yorick is in prison. He will not hurt you anymore, as long as we are alive."


    I sniffled, closed my eyes, and turned to the side, crying in silence.


    After they left, I sat up in the bed, thinking about my life outside this ce. Coming to the academy had turned out to be the worst thing that could have happened. I remembered when I first arrived. I had been so confident. I was seen as a princess that everyone admired for my branded clothes and bags. Then they took everything away from me. I was not known by anyone anymore. They forgot about me until I used magic, and then everything was ruined because Clementine was alone and they wanted to win her back.


    But now, I would leave this ce. Not as no one. I had already found myself a home. An Alpha.


    I smiled to myself, thinking about my future.


    "He will hate us," my wolf snapped at me.


    "I do not care. He will have to love me. I will manipte him well," I replied.


    "So what is the next step?" my wolf asked.


    "I have to go to the North for onest mission," I answered. "It will be an easy one. I will barely do anything. The shadow earth eater will not hurt me. I will go there, survive, ande back."


    I paused before continuing.


    "Then I will tell them that because of the injuries Yorick caused me, it was hard for me to go there. They will ask me what punishment I want for him."


    The corner of my lips pulled upward until my smile almost hurt.


    "What would you say?" my wolf asked, already snickering.


    "I would say that his punishment is to marry me," I replied. "To protect me and keep me safe, because I am in pain because of him."


    My wolf and Iughed together. It would happen. There was evidence against Yorick, and there was an eyewitness.