AMY’S POV
The car ride back to the mansion was suffocatingly quiet.
Richard sat beside me, his body tense and his gaze fixed out the window.
He hadn’t spoken a word since we’d left the reception hall, and I could feel the distance radiating off him like a physical wall between us.
I stole glances at him from the corner of my eye, my mind racing.
He’d been different since Elder Leo approached us.
More distant and cold.
The warmth he’d shown me during the ceremony and the first dance had evaporated, replaced by something guarded and impenetrable.
‘It’s because of his ex-mate,’ Lexie said quietly.
‘I think there’s more to their rejection.’
I thought so too.
The rejection was more than 10 years ago and if he was still affected by the memory of it then there was definitely something else that he was keeping to himself.
‘But it didn’t make sense that he was still brooding over a rejection that happened more than 10 years ago,’ I said to Lexie.
‘What if it was something else entirely?’
We weren’t even sure Elder Leo was really his ex-mate’s father, that was just an assumption.
But Richard’s reaction had been so visceral, so raw, that it was hard to imagine it was anything else.
‘Or maybe because you know nothing about him other than what he was telling you,’ Lexie pointed out and I couldn’t argue because she was right.
I wanted to ask.
I wanted to reach out and demand answers.
But something held me back.
Richard wasn’t the kind of man who opened up easily.
Pushing him would only make him retreat further.
So I sat in silence, watching the city lights blur past the window, my heart heavy with unanswered questions.
When we finally arrived at the mansion, I followed Richard up the grand staircase, my heavy wedding dress dragging behind me.
I was exhausted, physically, emotionally, mentally.
All I wanted was to collapse into bed and forget about the chaos of the day.
But I knew that wouldn’t happen because it was my wedding night.
Every she-wolf most anticipated night.
Richard had made it his mission over the last two weeks to tease me and made him want him more and beg for him.
I was sure he was going to finally put me out of my misery tonight.
Richard stopped in front of his bedroom door, turning to face me.
His expression was carefully neutral, his voice calm and measured.
“You must be tired after such a long day,” he said.
“You should get some rest. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask the housekeeper.”
Before I could respond, he opened his door, stepped inside, and closed it gently behind him.
I stood there, frozen, staring at the closed door.
He was dismissing me, on our wedding night.
My eyes burned with unshed tears.
I didn’t know what I’d expected.
At least some acknowledgment that this was supposed to be a special night.
But instead, I’d been sent to my room like a child being put to bed.
I dragged my dress to my room, my footsteps heavy and sluggish.
I managed to unzip it myself, letting the heavy fabric pool at my feet.
I stood there in my undergarments, staring at my reflection in the mirror.
I looked beautiful tonight.
The designer had outdone herself with the dress.
My hair was perfectly styled, my makeup flawless.
I had been radiant, stunning, the picture of a perfect bride.
And yet, my husband had no interest in touching me.
I felt the tears spill over, hot and embarrassing.
I quickly wiped them away, angry at myself for crying.
I had known this was a contract.
I had known there would be no love, no romance, no happily ever after.
So why did it hurt so much?
‘Because you hoped to be treated right on your wedding night,’ Lexie said softly.
‘It’s a night that every she-wolf looks forward to.’
I stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the tears and the fatigue.
I stood there for a long time, my forehead pressed against the cool tile, trying to compose myself.
It’s just one year, I reminded myself.
One year of pretending to be his wife.
Then I walk away with my freedom, my education, my mother’s life.
That’s what matters.
Not love.
Not affection.
Just the arrangement.
I stepped out of the shower, dried off, and put on the sexy nightgown that had been prepared for my wedding night.
It was made of sheer black lace, delicate and alluring, the kind of thing that was supposed to drive a husband wild.
I looked at myself in the mirror, then let out a bitter laugh.
What was the point?
He wasn’t even going to see it.
I climbed into bed, pulling the covers up to my chin.
I closed my eyes, willing myself to sleep, to forget the disappointment burning in my chest.
I was just drifting off when I heard a commotion downstairs.
There were loud voices and the sound of something breaking. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
I sat up in bed with my heart racing.
I quickly grabbed my robe, wrapping it around myself as I hurried out of my room.
Richard was already in the hallway, his expression dark with confusion and irritation.
He was wearing only a pair of low-slung sweatpants, his chest bare, his hair slightly disheveled.
“What’s going on?” I asked, rushing to his side.
His jaw tightened.
“I don’t know. Stay behind me.”
We descended the stairs together, Richard’s protective stance making my heart flutter despite everything.
When we reached the foyer, I gasped.
Derek was there, drunk and raging, swinging a shattered bottle at the butler.
The housekeeper was cowering in the corner, her hands over her mouth.
Glass was everywhere, glittering like deadly stars on the marble floor.
“ENOUGH!” Richard roared, his Alpha voice echoing through the hall.
Derek froze, his head snapping toward me.
“AMY!
There you are.
My beautiful, treacherous little mate!”
“Derek, what the hell are you doing here?” I demanded.
“I’m here to celebrate my mate’s wedding to my bastard uncle!”
Richard stepped forward, his voice cold and commanding.
“Derek, you need to leave.
Now.”
“Or what?” Derek laughed, the sound hollow and bitter.
“You’ll throw me out?
You’ll humiliate me?
You’ve already done that, Uncle.
You’ve already taken my mate from me.”
“I took nothing from you,” Richard said flatly.
Derek’s eyes snapped to me, blazing with fury.
“You! This is all your fault! You were supposed to be mine! You were supposed to love me!”
I met his gaze, my voice steady despite the tremor in my heart.
“I did love you, Derek. But you destroyed that when you cheated on me. You have no one to blame but yourself.”
He let out a roar of frustration, hurling the whiskey bottle against the wall.
It shattered, glass and amber liquid spraying everywhere.
I flinched, stepping back.
But Richard moved faster, grabbing Derek by the collar and shoving him against the wall.
“You’re going to leave,” Richard growled, his voice low and dangerous.
“And you’re never going to come near my wife again. Do you understand me?”
Derek laughed again like a maniac.
“Your wife? She’s my mate! She’ll always be my mate! You can’t change that, no matter how many rings you put on her finger!” he shouted in Richard’s face as he shoved him back.