CHAPTER TEN

In my bed chamber, Marissa helps me into my dress.

"You are so lucky to marry the alpha," she gushes.

She does not know what kind of a man he is.

She pulls the laces tight.

"I am lucky," I lie. "Now, let me take a look."

I stand in front of the mirror.

I see how my body is displayed.

I like the way the fabric is tight around my breasts.

I like how my hips are squeezed in, how my belly is flat.

I like the curve of my buttocks.

But I wish Tanner were here to admire me.

I wish he could see me now, dressed as a proper mate.

Marissa looks at me with kind eyes.

"You are so lucky," she says again. "To be the mate of the alpha. To have so many riches. And he really loves you."

I smile. I have to keep up the act. I have to keep up my charade.

"Here," she says. "Let me help you with your hair."

She touches my braid.

"It is fine," I say.

I bat her hands away.

She looks disappointed.

I go to the bed.

I pull the poison plant out of my bodice and hide it beneath the pillow.

"What is that?" comes Marissa's voice from behind.

I swirl to face her. "A fertility plant," I lie.

"No it is not," Marissa says. "It is poison."

She shakes her head.

I feel a stab of guilt as I realize what I have to do.

"Come here," I instruct her.

She walks over, her eyes wide.

"Closer," I say.

She does.

I grab her neck.

I hear her gasp.

She is stunned.

"I'm sorry," I whisper in her ear.

I cut off her air. I squeeze her neck.

She struggles a little.

I hold her tight.

I think about Tanner. I wish he were here for one last moment.

Now she is still.

I drop to the floor, holding Marissa in my arms.

I feel tears in my eyes.

I feel the wrongness of what I have done.

"I'm sorry, Marissa."

I push her body beneath the bed.

Then I stand.

I have to get to the ceremony.

It is time for the wedding.

I leave my room in a daze.

I walk down the corridor to the great hall.

The guards have assembled in the hall. They are tall and muscular. They wear smart uniforms, tight shirts and black pants.

I see the crowd.

I see the guests. The guards. The maids.

I see the rest of the pack.

And I see Lucius.

He stands proudly.

He is dressed in a smart suit.

His hair is greased and combed.

He is waiting with the priest.

I approach him.

Lucius' eyes glint. I hate the way he looks at me.

I walk up the steps to the altar.

The priest begins to speak.

I feel the alpha's eyes on me.

I feel the crowd look me up and down.

My heart is pounding.

The priest says the words.

He says the words to complete the ceremony.

I lay my hand in the alpha's.

The alpha grasps it tightly.

Then, at last, it is over.

I am married.

The guests cheer.

We go to our seats.

The alpha sits next to me, in the place of honor.

Lucius raises his glass. "Tonight," he says, "we feast! Tonight, we drink! Tonight, we rejoice! For there is much to celebrate!"

The guests raise their glasses.

I raise my glass and fake a smile.

Lucius puts his arm around me.

"This is my mate!" he shouts.

The others laugh too.

But I do not laugh.

I stay quiet.

I keep my deadly secret.

I let everyone continue to drink and tell jokes and laugh and dance and celebrate.

It is time to eat.

The guests all sit down to the feast.

There are all kinds of dishes. A fish course. A meat course. A vegetable course. A pudding course.

I sample some of the different dishes.

But my stomach is turning because I know what I am going to do tonight.

Lucius, on the other hand, eats everything. He eats and eats and eats.

He is a beast.

There is nothing dainty about him.

He is a wild, savage wolf.

Hr drinks too. He downs glass after glass. Each time he takes a sip, he raises his glass in the air and shouts over and over again: "To my new mate! To my new mate! To my new mate!"

Then, Lucius leans over to me. He speaks into my ear. His breath is hot.

"You are ravishing," he says."It is time to mate."

I gulp.

The time has come.

I nod and stand from the table.

We leave the others to their party and go upstairs.

Lucius sways. He is drunk.

He stops outside his bedroom chamber.

I remember the poison plant it hidden under my pillow.

"Can we mate in my room?" I ask.

He smiles, drunkenly. "We can mate in any room in the mansion!"

I grimace.

"My room will be fine," I reply.

We go inside.

I try not to think of Marissa lying dead under the bed. No one asked me where she was. Lucius has probably forgotten all about her.

"You should undress," I tell him. "And lie down."

He laughs, like this is thrilling. "Of course."

He lays down.

I lean over him. "Close your eyes."

He laughs again and does as I say.

I take the plant from beneath the pillow.

Then I stuff it into his mouth.

His eyes fly open.

I keep hold.

He is choking.

His eyes bulge.

His face turns red.

He thrashes and throws me off.

But I am ready for him.

I tackle him.

He is weak with the poison. He cannot hold me off.

I hold him tight.

He tries to spit out the plant.

But he cannot.

He is dying.

I watch him.

I feel a pang of regret.

I wish there was another way.

I wish Tanner were here.

But he isn't.

Slowly, Lucius' struggles stop.

I watch his eyes roll backwards.

And then, he stops.

I have killed the alpha.