Chapter 1: The red wedding

Davina's POV

A smile lit up my face as my father walked me down the aisle to meet the love of my life, my father's Gamma— Lucien Bryant.

I had dreamt of this moment for as long as I could remember. As a child, I always had my eyes on him, and I had always been vocal about it. He never entertained my childish crush, not until I was done with the university.

Now at nineteen— almost twenty, I was a grown woman with a degree. No longer the Alpha's daughter tagging along. And Lucien was mine.

Well, almost.

I had done the chasing. Took him on walks, cornered him into long talks, even planned our first date. Slowly, he let me in. And Goddess knew how much I cherished the times with him. He gave the warmest hugs and the softest kisses. His touches— even a graze of his fingers on my skin set my body on fire. But for some reason, he never went further.

I blushed, knowing that would end tonight. He would be mine completely, and I would claim him in every way.

My heart raced as I raised my head and locked eyes with him. Tall, composed, devastatingly handsome in his custom made tuxedo. His dark hair was slicked back, jaws clean shaken, and those pair of beautiful gray orbs pierced my soul. His smile made me melt.

Two of his top warriors and most trusted men were stationed beside him— Rowan and Kane, but they blurred at his presence.

'Are you happy?' Dad's voice was soft as he sent a mindlink to me.

I nodded. 'Very happy, dyad. Thank you for letting this happen. It is all I ever wanted.'

Dad looked at Lucien, his eyes soft.

Dad had always had a soft spot for him. He was dedicated and fiercely loyal. He was also too young to be my father's Gamma, but Dad didn't mind at all. While Dad and his Beta were in their fifties, Lucien was twenty four, and he became Gamma at fifteen.

'All I want is for you to be happy, Davina Rose.'

I smiled, blinking back tears. 'I am, Dad. I truly am.'

We finally got to Lucien, and my father carefully handed me to him, placing my hand gently on his. I smiled, loving the contrast his tan skin and my much fairer one created.

"She's yours now, Gamma. Take care of her."

Lucien gave me one of those heart stopping smiles. Then he sighed and answered my father. "I have no choice. Davina is my life."

My blushed deepened, and my heart sang. Could this day get any better?

"You are so beautiful, Princess." Lucien stated as Dad moved away, his eyes not holding back for a second the admiration he had for me. I felt special, cherished and loved.

This was too perfect. I knew that nothing could ruin this day.

'I love you.' I could not help myself. I told him how I felt.

Lucien smiled. 'I know. And I love you too, my Rose.'

Before I could respond to that, the shaman of the pack stepped forward, draped in traditional robes woven with silver thread. The courtyard went completely still, as everyone shifted all their attention to us.

He walked to the podium in front of us and opened the ancient wolf book. He then began to read things from it that I didn't care to listen to. It was boring, and Lucien was right here. I'd rather stare at him.

"We are gathered to witness the joining of Gamma Lucien Bryant and Lady Davina Rose Carson, our own Alpha's daughter."

His words resulted in a small cheer that made me giggle.

Looking back at Lucien, I noticed how his eyes subtly swept the crowd, and I wondered if he was searching for someone. But then, returned his attention to me.

"You may say your vows now." The shaman said.

"Ladies first." Lucien prompted, and I bit my lips shyly.

My lips quivered slightly as my smile faltered. "Lucien," I began, my voice shaky. "I have known you since I was a little girl and you have always protected me. I have loved you since I knew what love was and..." I trailed off when I noticed him glance away again. I wanted to ask if something was wrong, but I was in the middle of my vows. "I..."

Dad got up suddenly, eyes wide in something close to horror. I turned back to Lucien, wanting to ask questions, but he wasn't looking at me now. He was staring at Dad.

The warmth and love in those eyes were gone, replaced by something cold, something merciless and murderous.

"Lucien, talk to me. What is wrong?"

"Davina, run!" Dad yelled at me, making my heart rate fly up, but I didn't. I stood there, rooted in confusion.

Until Lucien grabbed me. Not by my arms, but by my throat.

I gasped, my mind still reeling from confusion.

He pulled me close, my back against his chest. While Rowan and Kane walked up to Dad.

The wedding guests, the shaman, they didn't seem fazed at all. What the hell was happening?

"Lucien... Lucien, you are hurting me."

He ignored me like my words meant nothing, before he turned to Dad.

"Should I kill you first, or should I kill your daughter and make you watch?" Lucien asked, his fingers trailing my skin.

This wasn't a wedding. It was an ambush.

"If you lay a finger on my daughter—" Dad's threat was rudely interrupted by a sharp smack at the back of his head by Kane.

"Stop, he is your Alpha!" I yelled in panic and fear.

"Shut up, princess!" Lucien's voice sent a chill through my spine, and I froze. He had never risen his voice at me.

I turned to the shaman, wanting to beg, but the look I saw in his eyes made me eat my words. His eyes were steel, as they stared at my father.

"Hands up, Alpha Gideon." Lucien commanded, his voice now smug, and it made my heart ached.

"I am your Alpha. You cannot command—" He was interrupted again by a slap from Kane.

I gasped in horror.

"Don't... Don't touch my daughter." Dad's voice came out smaller, strangled as he begged. His eyes were flitting with fear.

"And why would I grant you such mercy?" Lucien asked, his familiar tone gone.

This was another person, a different man. Nothing like the Lucien I had known all my life and grew to love. This one sounded like the devil.

"Because... Because you love her."

Lucien's dark laugh behind me was a sharp knife twisting my gut.

I managed a small turn of my head to see the look in his eyes, and when I did, my heart bled.

"Love?" Lucien said the word like a bile was smeared on his tongue. It was cruel, too cruel. "You think I love your daughter, Gideon?"

My whole body stiffened, breath caught in my throat. The ache in my heart bloomed like wildfire, threatening to consume me.

"You're lying..." A strangled whisper escaped. I could not help myself.

"You were a means to an end, Davina. You should blame yourself for being so easy. I didn't even need to put in any work."

The words hit me harder than any slap could, the whole world spinning before me.

The words, the hugs, the kisses, those long nights spent together— were they all a lie?

"Lucien..." I tried again, my voice filled with disbelief.

A part of me was hoping that this was all a dream. That I would wake up, and he would tell me how much he loved me.

"Enough of the chit-chat." Lucien said coldly. "Seize him."

Rowan and Kane grabbed my father, and roughly began to drag him out.

"What are you doing? He is your Alpha! Let him go right now!" I yelled, but no one was listening to me. No one was even looking at me, like I was some irrelevant thing not to be bothered with.

I tried to run to him, but Lucien's hand around my neck stopped me. "Where do you think you are going, Princess?"

That nickname now made me sick to my stomach. "What are they going to do to him?" I asked instead, even though a part of me already knew.

"They?" He leaned in, his lips against my skin made me shiver— in fear and revulsion. "They will do nothing to him. But me?" He taunted me. "I will kill him."