The wedding vows I didn't want

Chapter 2

Carmilla 

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I sat in front of the mirror ,staring at my reflection. The dress was beautiful–too beautiful for something so horrible. White lace covered my arm, the gown flowed like a river and pearls shimmered across the bodice –but none of it mattered.

I wasn't dressed like this because I was happy.I was literally about to be given like a gift wrapped in silk and pearls.

Three days passed like a breeze and yet I wasn't able to escape.

I ought to have seen my husband to be by now but for some odd reasons, Aunt Freya's didn't let me. I began to wonder what he looked like. Was he ugly? or perhaps disabled? 

I lurked around most of the times when Aunt Freya had an important park meeting and never for once did I hear her or the members talk about him. Although there's a time she mentioned an Alpha who got a severe face burn after returning from a war. Could it be him?

I didn't even know this man yet I'd belong to him in a few minutes.

My fingers clenched at the bouquet of blue roses. My hands were cold ,but my skin felt too light.It was as if my body was rejecting all what was going on.

A knock came at the door. 

“It's time.” Aunt Freya's voice called.

I didn't answer. My heart was beating so fast that I thought it would burst. 

“Carmilla,” her voice was sharper this time. “Don't make me come in there.” 

I swallowed hard and stood up.My leg felt wobbly but I pushed myself forward. My stomach twisted painfully as I walked towards the door. Each step I took felt like I was being dragged into something awful. 

I finally reached the ceremony hall. White and blue decorations hung from every corner.The air smell of roses ,thick and sickly sweet . The guest wolves from both packs sat quietly waiting. 

Waiting for me.

I clenched at the bouquet in my hands ,my fingers quivered as I shuffled down the aisle. I could feel people's stares piercing through me. I could hear their whispers.

“She looks terrified.”

“Getting married to an Alpha, how more lucky can she get.”

“Poor girl… she has no choice.”

I began walking on the aisle. For as long as I could recall, I always saw getting married as a means of freedom, getting to be with someone who loved me as my father loved my mom. The both of us getting a nice house by the beach, raising two kids up. I dreamt of it all. I thought I would walk down with flutters but instead it turned to stings. I saw all my dreams crumbling right before my eyes. This event was nothing more than a funeral.

At the end of the aisle stood him.

Alpha Evans.

My breath hitched when he turned around. He was nothing like i imagined. He had no burns neither was he disabled, rather he was extremely handsome. He was tall with broaded shoulders,sharp hazel eyes, his upper body ratio equivalent to his lower body ratio.But it wasn't enough to sway me.Handsome wasn't enough currency to make me trade my dreams. Then his piercing hazel eyes flickered over me as I swallowed a lump in my throat.

The officiant started his speech, his voice sounded like a dull hum in my ear. I hardly heard what he said. Everything looked slow.

Then it was time for the vows.

“Do you, Alpha Evans, take Carmilla to be your wife, mate and Luna?

A heavy silence spread across the room. Then his voice broke the ice. “Yes, I do.” 

Then the officiant turned to me “And do you, Carmilla, take Alpha Evans, to be your mate and Alpha?” 

My heart thudded in my chest, echoing in my head, erratic like a wardrum. But still I willed myself to push forward. To sacrifice my happiness for the sake of our pack

I swallowed and my lips parted. The words “I do” were supposed to come out next, yet they hung at the back of my throat. 

I could feel Aunt Freya's glares piercing my back, making my skin throb with a terrifying heat.

The officiant cleared his throat. “Carmilla, can you hear me?”

With his brows furrowing, Alpha Evans’s jaw ticked.

I flinched.

It wasn't the priest voice nor anyone in the room.

It was my mother's. 

“Run, Carmilla!” 

The memory came flooding in. Her terrified look, the smell of blood. The night i lost everything. 

Then– I dropped the bouquet.

Without thinking things through, my legs had moved, I was dashing down the aisle. 

Chairs scraped. People shouted. 

But I couldn't care less. 

“Carmilla!” Aunt Freya's voice was sharp, others screamed my name too.

But I didn't pause for a second.

I opened the door and a wave of the cool evening breeze gushed in.

The estate ground stretched before me. I just had one chance.

My breath ragged, beads of sweat formed on my chin, each of my muscles ached, but I kept running, trying to outrun this life they forced on me.

Then– heavy footsteps behind me.

“Lady Carmilla, stop!” a guard's voice echoed behind me.

No, no, no, no.

I couldn’t be caught. I had to move faster. I moved faster, kept running.

The gates were right in front of me. I was almost there. My heart fluttered, hope coiling around my chest. 

This was it. I was free.

Then a strong arm wrapped around me, pulling me back.

I kicked and struggled but his grip was strong.

I was caught. 

“Let go of me.” I screamed, my voice sharp with panic. 

“Please don't make this harder ma'am!” He still didn't loose his hold.

Harder? My life had already crumbled before me.

I still struggled and twisted in vain.

“Carmilla just stop all this already.” 

My stomach rolled as tears stung my eyes but I refused to let them fall. My chest heaved as I gasped for air. 

I had lost again.

He carried me back to the estate like I weighed nothing.The estate gate was opened and I was taken inside. The warm caressed my skin, but I still felt cold.

I didn't look at anyone as we passed through the hall. I could feel the stares, the whispers. The girl who ran away. The bride who didn’t her Alpha. I already pictured Aunt Freya's disappointed look. 

The guard didn't put me down till we got to a large bedroom. He pushed the door open before letting me step on my feet.

I took a step backwards as soon as he let me go.

He left, then Alpha Evans came in.

He sighed and leaned against the wall, carefully observing me with his poignant hazel eyes. It was as if he expected all this to happen.

“Are you done?” he asked 

I didn't answer. I was filled with frustration and my breathing was still uneven.

“You didn't have to run.” his voice calm.

I glared at him “You think I want all this? I have been limited to the four corners of this estate for 6 years, suddenly I'm getting married to you. ” 

“They could have let me go” I crossed my arm.

Evans tilted his head slightly “And what could you have done? You have no pack or protection. You would have been dead before sunrise.” 

I swallowed hard. I hate to admit that he was right.

I slowly lifted up my chin. “ Maybe that would have been better.” 

For the first time I saw Evan’s expression wavering but it was gone in an instant.

Silence stretched between us. My heart pounded but I refused to break it first.

Finally he pushed off from the door and shove his hands in his pocket. “Get some rest, we will be leaving in the evening.”

Then without another word he reached for the door to leave then I noticed Aunt Freya leaning against the wall.

“Please let her be.” he said to Aunt Freya. 

I rolled my eyes and turned to face the wall. Everything slowly replayed in my mind. I was so close to escaping then he had ruin everything.

“Only if you were here.” I said stroking the necklace I had on. I let out a deep sigh and went to sleep.