80: 80 I Can't Marry You

80 I Can't Marry You

Delia's POV 0

I knew I was dreaming, but it felt too real.

"Hey, Anna, today is your big day," a stranger girl stood behind me. She had two beautiful braids. She cheerfully patted my shoulder, and as I turned my head, I saw her holding a small mirror, smiling at me.

In the mirror, I saw a face, or rather, it wasn't "mine face," it was Anna's face. Anna was a cute, lively girl with round eyes. I didn't know this girl named Anna, but for several days, I've been dreaming of her every night.

It's like I'm a soul residing in her body, able to only observe her every move but unable to influence her actions.

"You're so annoying, Dale," Anna gave her friend a stern look.

"Don't be shy, Anna. You're the most beautiful girl in our pack," the girl with the braids raised the mirror in her hand, bringing it close to Anna's face.

She pointed at Anna in the mirror and said, "Look, your eyes are so beautiful. Your wolf is beautiful too, with fur as soft as clouds."

"Thank you, Dale. You're always so thoughtful," the girl named Anna couldn't handle her friend's praise and shyly lowered her eyes. She whispered, "Tomorrow is the dance party held by all the packs. Dale, do you think I'll meet the boy I like?"

"Of course you will," I heard Dale's words.

During this time, I had dreamt of this girl named Anna several times. Each dream began with her blushing face and anticipation for the dance party the next day. She hoped to meet her mate who would like her.

However, no matter what, I could never see the end of the story. The dream continued with familiar scenes. Once again, things didn't turn out the way Anna had imagined.

She faced exclusion and embarrassment at the party, with no man offering her a friendly greeting. She came from a distant pack and had hardly attended such grand gatherings before. Her outdated clothes and makeup made her like a ridiculous clown in everyone's eyes.

"Oh my, look at her rough hair. It's so fun."

"Let's forgive her. After all, she's just a country girl. It's probably the first time their pack has received an invitation, right?"

"Hahaha, you have a point. Why is there a girl from such a small pack?"

In my dream, I saw the girl with round eyes.

The harsh words struck her deeply, leaving her defenseless. She could only huddle in the darkness, silently crying, clutching her knees.

Her tears fell, wetting her dress, until a pair of brown shoes appeared before her.

"Are you okay?" A gentle voice, tinged with deep tones, and a fragrant handkerchief was offered to her by a hand.

The moonlight streamed in, and the girl, huddled in the shadow of the column, received kindness from someone else for the first time.

Anna lifted her teary eyes and saw a young man standing before her, dressed in noble attire. His amber eyes revealed concern and sincerity.

"I saw you crying here, um, I don't know why you're like this, but..."

The man, feeling the girl's gaze upon him, grew nervous. His words stumbled, his gaze flickered, but he persisted, "Perhaps, you need this."

Once again, the white handkerchief was offered to Anna.

"What's your name?" Anna raised her hand and wiped her tears with her sleeve. Her somewhat childish gesture surprised the man.

"I believe a lady should introduce herself first." The man looked at her with curiosity, smiling.

"I'm Anna, from the distant Greenwood pack." The girl watched him warily, examining his face, as if waiting for him to say something similar to those people... But the man only withdrew the handkerchief.

He slightly bowed, performing a standard courtesy towards the girl crouching in the corner like an abandoned cat, as if paying homage to a noble princess.

"Well then, may I have the honor of inviting Anna from the Greenwood pack to dance?" he asked. The moonlight fell into the man's eyes.

Anna didn't need to answer and her lowered smiling face was her consent.

In the silent and empty courtyard, a man and a woman danced gracefully under the moonlight. If the dream stopped at this moment, it would probably just be a beautiful dream.

Unfortunately, I already knew what would come next.

"I'm sorry, Anna," it was still the same man, but he was no longer that gentle young man. He was now mounted on a tall horse, impatiently looking at the girl standing before him.

"I can't marry you. The distance between our families is too great," the man said, his armor almost reflecting Anna's pale face.

"I can go with you," Anna stubbornly replied, "as long as you still love me."

She raised her head, looking up at him just like that day they first met. But the man now wouldn't care about her. She saw the indifference on his face, but she couldn't control her emotions.

"But I don't love you anymore," the man asserted coldly.

The whip was raised, and the horse snorted hot air from its nostrils. The man on horseback left without looking back. Anna was frightened by the galloping of the horse and fell in the mud. This time, she knew that the man who offered her the handkerchief would not come.

I sighed.

The water surface of the mud reflected a weeping Anna.

I sympathized with Anna, but I couldn't do anything. I couldn't free her from the swamp of fate. But what right did I have to save others?

I sadly recalled the Crown Prince Kral, who had used me as a tool.

Anna's mental anguish infected me, and my vision darkened. I knew that this dream was coming to an end.

Yet, in my blurred sight, I seemed to see a black shadow. Anna knelt before the shadow and spoke sincerely, "...I'm willing... to swear on the souls of my ancestors... to exchange... his love... never to regret."

A hand, resembling a withered tree, emerged from the black shadow, holding a bottle filled with luminous green liquid.

My heart pounded suddenly, and my wolf screamed in agony.

No! Don't! I didn't want her to drink that thing. But it was too late for everything. Anna drank the liquid in her hand.

She whispered an apology.

My vision turned completely black, and only a faint voice reached my ears.

"I'm sorry, Delia."

It was Anna's voice. ...

I woke up from a dream, my heart pounding so intensely that I couldn't catch my breath, and my body was drenched in sweat.

In that dream, I saw the ending for the first time. My palm touched my dry throat, and it wasn't until I touched the smooth pearl necklace that I finally calmed down.

Who is Anna? I don't think this is just a boring dream. It must be telling me something.

"Pearl..." I softly called out to my wolf, and it responded with a low voice.

My intuition told me that something was being overlooked, but my mind couldn't remember anything.

Restlessness prevented me from falling asleep. I tossed and turned in bed when suddenly I heard a knock at the door.

"Delia, I want to talk to you."

It was the voice of Prince Kral.

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