CH 3 – The Night He Marked Me

Ashley Harrison

I stood in front of the mirror, my breath shaky as I smoothed the skirt of my white wedding dress. The fabric was beautiful, lace and silk shimmering under the soft light, but my reflection told a cruel truth. My body didn’t give justice to the dress. The gown hugged curves… or should I say fats everyone in my pack whispered about—too heavy, too wrong.

Yet my lips curved into a trembling smile. Today, I was marrying the man of my dreams… even if he didn’t love me.

Ashley, we don’t have to do this. Carrie’s voice, my wolf, echoed in my head. She sounded restless, angry. We can still back out. We don’t need this pain.

I placed a hand over my chest, steadying my heartbeat. I have to, Carrie. I’ll give myself a chance to be happy.

Happy? Or miserable? Carrie snapped. Look around you. There are almost no guests. You and Jake are both heirs of your own packs, and yet this garden is nearly empty. Why? Because he’s embarrassed to marry you.

My throat tightened as tears slid down my cheeks. I wiped them quickly before they ruined my makeup. “I know,” I whispered softly, “but at least—on paper—I’ll be his. Even if just for that, I’ll be his. And maybe… one day, he’ll regret the words he said about me.”

Carrie growled in disapproval. You’re blind if you think he’ll ever change. You know about Marian Pearls, don’t you?

I gripped the folds of my dress until my knuckles whitened. Marian Pearls. Everything I wasn’t—beautiful, slim, and seductive. She had always been the kind of woman men like Jake wanted.

“Yes,” I breathed. “But Jake will be my mate. That’s enough for now.”

I’ll never accept Jake, Carrie spat.

A knock pulled me from our argument. My father, Alpha George, stepped inside, handsome and stern in his suit. His eyes softened when he saw me, but his frown deepened quickly. “Are you ready, Ashley?”

I nodded, though my heart pounded painfully. “Yes, Dad.”

He sighed heavily. “Are you sure you want to go through with this? You know I’ll support you if you walk away.”

I forced a small smile. “Dad, I know you worry. But… having Jake has always been my dream.”

He said nothing more, only offered me his arm. I took it, and together we walked into the garden.

The Shadow Fang Clan’s territory was grand, but the ceremony looked small, stripped down. Only a few witnesses sat scattered on white chairs. My chest ached, but I held my head high.

At the altar, Jake stood beside the pack’s priest. His jaw was tight, his expression carved in stone. He didn’t even look at me as I took my place by his side.

The priest began. “Let’s proceed to the mating ceremony. Do you, Jake Lewis, take Ashley Harrison to be your wife and mate?”

Jake hesitated, glancing at his parents. Luna Leonor rolled her eyes, arms crossed. Alpha Kurt sat in his wheelchair, his face stern.

“Yes,” Jake said finally, voice clipped.

The priest turned to me. “And you, Ashley Harrison, do you take Jake Lewis to be your husband and Alpha mate?”

“Yes,” I whispered, tears burning behind my eyes.

When the time came for rings, Jake slid mine on quickly, not meeting my gaze. The priest asked if we had vows.

“None,” Jake cut in flatly.

I lowered my head, clutching the letter I’d written for him. I had dreamed of reading it aloud, but the chance slipped away.

“If anyone here wishes to object,” the priest said, “speak now.”

A sharp cry split the air. “Stop this bullshit wedding!”

I turned, trembling, as Marian Pearls rushed forward, her eyes wet with tears. “Please, Jake! Don’t marry that fat freak pig!”

The words sliced into me like claws.

“Marian…” Jake finally looked up, his voice pained. “I’m sorry, but I will never let my father give all our wealth to the temple.”

She sobbed, pointing at me. “You’re only marrying her because of your father! Even if you do this, Jake, you’ll never love her! You’ll become miserable!”

She turned and ran, leaving silence in her wake.

The priest hesitated. “Shall the ceremony continue?”

“Yes,” Jake said firmly.

The priest nodded. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

But Jake didn’t kiss me. He bolted from the altar, chasing after Marian.

And I stood there, alone in my wedding dress, tears falling as the guests looked away.

*****

It was already midnight, and Jake still hadn’t returned. I sat on the edge of his bed, wearing the nightgown I had chosen so carefully, though the fabric clung tight and looked like it might rip at any moment because of my curves. Still, I waited. My heart hoped that tonight, as husband and wife, we would finally be together.

But exhaustion claimed me, and when I opened my eyes again, sunlight streamed through the curtains. The bed beside me was still empty.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself up. After changing into a simple dress, I made my way to the dining area.

“Good morning, Luna,” one of the maids greeted softly.

I smiled faintly. “Good morning. I am not Luna yet, you can call me Ashley. Have you seen Jake?”

She lowered her gaze. “Yes Ma’am Ashley…. Well Sir Jake… didn’t come home last night.”

The words stabbed me like knives. Still, I forced my smile to remain. “Okay, thank you.”

I made my way to Alpha Kurt’s room, knocking gently before entering. He looked weak but tried to smile.

“Ashley,” he whispered. “Are you okay? I’m sorry for Jake.”

I clasped his hand gently. “Don’t worry, Dad. Just focus on getting better. That’s all that matters now.”

He nodded slowly. “Go on, have breakfast.”

From the corner, Luna Leonor scoffed. “Breakfast? I thought Ashley already ate. Look at her—so fat.”

“Leonor,” Alpha Kurt said sharply, “enough.”

But she crossed her arms. “It’s true. With a body like that, she’ll struggle to give Jake a pup.”

Heat burned behind my eyes. I lowered my head. “Excuse me,” I murmured, slipping out before they saw my tears.

When I returned to Jake’s room, my breath caught. He was already there, shoving clothes into a suitcase.

“Where are you going?” I asked softly.

He frowned. “To the guest room. I can’t stay with you. Even looking at you disgusts me.”

My chest ached. “W-Where were you last night?”

He snapped, eyes hard. “Where do you think? Of course wiith Marian.” Then he slammed the door behind him.

I sank to the floor, tears spilling freely, my heart breaking into pieces.

From that day on, things only grew worse.

Jake never accepted me. He refused to mark me. He never shared the bed we were supposed to call ours. He treated me like a servant in his house, as though I were an intruder instead of his mate. He barely looked at me, never spoke unless it was to order me around.

Luna Leonor’s cruelty cut even deeper. Whenever we crossed paths, her words were sharp as claws. “You should eat less, Ashley. You look like you swallowed the entire kitchen.” Or, “How could anyone believe a body like yours could carry an Alpha heir?”

Each word left bruises deeper than any wound.

Only Alpha Kurt showed me kindness. Though he grew weaker by the day, he always called me to his side. “Ashley,” he would say, his voice soft but steady, “don’t let anyone dim your inner light. You are Luna now. Hold your head high, no matter how they treat you.”

I would nod, forcing a smile. “I’ll try, Dad.”

When my father visited, he always asked the same thing. “Ashley, do you want to come home with me? You don’t have to stay here.”

But I would shake my head. “No, Dad. I’ll stay. Jake will love me one day. I’ll make him see me.”

He always sighed, pain in his eyes, but never pressed further.

A month passed. Then came the day my world shattered.

Alpha Kurt died.

I cried in silence, my only friend in this house gone.

That night, I sat alone in my room, the silence heavy, when I heard the door creak. The scent of alcohol hit me before I saw him. Jake stumbled inside, his eyes hazy, his shirt half open.

“Ashley…” he slurred.

My heart pounded. “Jake? You’re drunk.”

He moved closer, his gaze strangely different, softer. For the first time, he looked at me as if he actually saw me.

“You… smell good,” he whispered, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from my face.

“Jake…” My breath hitched.

He kissed me then, rough and desperate. And for that one night, I let myself believe he wanted me. I let myself believe I was more than just the unwanted mate.

Under the moonlight, he touched me like I was his. And when his teeth sank into my neck, marking me, I cried—not from pain, but from the hope that maybe, just maybe, this meant he had finally accepted me.

But hope is a cruel liar.

The next morning, I woke to his scream.

Jake stood at the edge of the bed, horror etched on his face. “What the hell have I done?!”

I sat up, clutching the sheets. “Jake, we—”

“Don’t you dare!” he shouted, his eyes blazing. “You tricked me! You disgusting pig! The thought of touching you makes me want to puke!”

Tears blurred my vision. “B-But… you marked me.”

“I must have been out of my mind,” he spat, shoving his hand through his hair. “Don’t think this means anything.”

He stormed out, leaving me shaking and broken.

And for the first time, I wondered if my dream of being loved had already destroyed me.