Adria walked into the ceremony and all murmurings and whisperings died down almost immediately.
She was directed to take a seat next to the Lycan King and as she approached him, her wolf came alive.
Her animal raged inside her, already going berserk at being so close to him.
It pounced, prowled and scratched insert her but then she struggled to maintain a straight face and act like nothing was wrong even though she knew that her whole body was practically burning up as if there was a war going on inside her.
It felt strange and being close to him, she didn’t exactly know how to react to what was happening. She has never felt like this until now. This doesn’t even compare to half of what she felt in the human world when they first met.
She bowed her head at him slightly and proceeded to sit down right next to him.
From where she sat, her eyes scanned through the faces of everyone seated there. They all looked genuinely happy except him. It waa pretty obvious that he was the only one who was born with anger issues.
He was frowning. He looked dissatisfied like he doesn’t want to be here. If only he knew that she also didn’t want to be here but clearly, she had no choice.
"We are gathered here to officiate the marriage ritual between the Lycan King and his new Luna." One of the elders spoke up from the crowd.
At that moment, Adria noticed the King’s eyes boring holes into her skin but she looked away. She wouldn’t dare to bring herself look at him.
Even if her wolf was attracted to him beyond measure, she wasn’t. Her whole body might desperately crave his this man but she would train her mind not to want him in any way.
She had thought that he was a good man when he rescued her but she had only been mistaken.
He had turned out to be her biggest enemy; the man she hated all along. Not only did his people kill her mother, he had also separated her from her sister and created a rift between them.
He had threatened her father and he has put the lives of her people at risk. She wouldn’t simply forgive him even if he grovelled at her feet and begged for mercy.
The marriage rites continued and when it got to the point where he was asked to brand her, to mark her as his woman, he simply leaned closer and lapped his tongue over the sensitive folds of her neck, bonding his scent with hers.
Adria closed her eyes as she forced herself not to make a sound out of pleasure.
The impact of what he had done caused a deep flutter in her stomach and her lower abdomen clenched voluntarily at his touch.
This was the very first time that she experienced something as this.
After that, a small knife was used to tear a line on both their palms to draw their blood which they joined together to seal their bond in oath, blood and tradition.
"It is done. The marriage ritual has been completed. Welcome to the household of the Valtheris, Luna Aria. May your reign be blessed abundantly." They greeted with bowed heads.
Oh, she had almost forgotten one important detail. She was taking the place of her sister and so they addressed her by her sister’s name, not hers.
"Thank you for welcoming me into your hearts and into your home so nicely. I am highly honoured." She responded in a calm voice and they all chatted happily amongst themselves.
Adria felt someone staring at her. When she looked towards the direction, she locked eyes with a strange man who smiled at her in a weird way.
Ignoring his intense stare that creeped up on her, she stood up to approach her father.
"Thank you my child. I am truly sorry that you had to get married now and under such horrible circumstances but I hope that you will live a happy life and find happiness." Her father hugged her and she reciprocated.
Happiness? Was he trying to mock her? There was nothing happy about this union and there will never be anything happy about it even in the future.
"You don’t have to worry about me father. I will be fine. He cannot hurt me even if he wanted to." She blurted out, not knowing where that sudden boldness came from. Maybe it’s because she was confident in their bond.
"What do you mean?" He whispered but she only pulled away, completely changing the subject.
"It’s nothing father." She brushed him off "Take care of yourself and don’t forget to write to me or send a messenger wherever you get the chance to. I will look forward to hearing from you."
He nodded once and suddenly, they were approached by a man who introduced himself as the Lycan King’s Beta.
"My Lady, if it’s okay then we are ready to take you home."
Adria looked around, her eyes getting misty. This was not what she had in mind when she envisioned herself in a bridal attire.
She had wanted to be with a man that loves her and cares for her. A man that will shower her with nothing but joy and happiness but now, she’s getting married to a tyrant instead.
How long does she have before he kills her like her mother and his previous wife? Will she even live to see the next moon or will she die in a few days?
With a man like this, one can never really tell.
"I’m ready." She answered after the brief silence. She was not only ready to go back with him, but she was ready to make him eat his words.
He had promised to get back at her sister because she had refused to marry him and breed his babies.
But couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when it would be revealed that they had played him instead. Even if she dies by his hands after he finds out the truth, at least, it’ll be all worth it in the end.