5: Strip

My eyes caught a glimpse of the dress and I wondered what it was like. Gina hadn't called me when picking it out. She had in fact gone with the one person who wanted nothing good for me.

Sarah.

I stilled my mind as they began to move around and get my hair, make up and nails ready.

What made me open my eyes was the strong smell of mist in front of me.

“When your husband comes close to you tonight, at least he should smell something pleasant. Now, place your upper body closer to the dispenser and open your legs so I can place the other one.”

My legs? For…oh.

I felt myself turn red but I tried hard not to show it. I'd completely forgotten about that. Was I ready for it?

This was one of the many times I wished my mother was here. She would have been the one to tell me about what to expect.

She was presently too sick to talk and I didn't want to tell her about the marriage so it wouldn't upset her more.

I put on the dress and it fit like a glove..I wonder how she got my measurements correctly.

All of that didn't matter because by the time I looked in the mirror, I forgot all about it. I couldn't believe it was me staring at the mirror. I looked so beautiful.

The tiara on my head made it even better.

“Let's go. The guests are waiting downstairs.”

I grabbed my bouquet and went downstairs. My father was at the bottom of the stairs looking at me.

My heart began to beat fast because it had been a long time since he looked at me for this long. What if he didn't like what he saw?

When I got to him, I didn't know if I should put my arm around him or just walk by his side since he was the one walking me down the aisle.

He propped his elbow out and faced forward as the doors opened.

It was a whisper but I heard it.

“You look just like your mother did on that day. Beautiful.

My father walked me down the aisle as I tried not to look at the guests. Even though I'd been told it would be a private ceremony, this didn't look like a private ceremony.

There had to be over three hundred guests here and I didn't recognize a single face. Except for Gina's bitter face, Lily's face that had a major unhappy look since we had gone to Carlisle's house that day, and Ben's fake sad face.

I don't know if he wanted me to be sad because of what he had done to me. I'm sure he never expected me to move on so quickly and be happy with what had happened.

The huge smile on my face was hurting my cheeks but I maintained it and focused on Carlisle's form in front of me. He was facing away from me and I was nervous. What if he wasn't happy with what he saw? What if I wasn't as pretty as he wanted me to be?

I tapped on his back as I got to the aisle and he turned around with a huge smile on his face. When he looked at me, his smile got even wider and it made my heart warm.

He lifted the veil and sighed.

“You make my heart skip. I can't believe I'm marrying you.”

I couldn't believe I was marrying him too.

We turned towards the priest and I saw him wait for a nod before he proceeded.

“We are gathered here to witness the joining between two people who love each other very much.”

Love each other? I'm not sure of that.

“Do you, Lycan King Carlisle Evergreen take Elinna Martin as your wife, to have and to hold till death do you part?”

He looked at me for a moment before nodding.

“I do.”

Now that all the attention was on me, I couldn't stop my heart from beating fast.

“Do you, Elinna Martin, take Lycan King Carlisle Evergreen as your husband to respect and obey until the day you die?”

Why was it different? Why do I have the choice to love him? Why was I supposed to respect and obey him? It didn't seem fair.

And why didn't he correct the priest either?

“Elinna, you’re supposed to answer the question.”

I snapped out of it and realized that he was looking at me..

“Oh, yes. Yes I do.”

The priest nodded.

“Very well then. By the power vested in me by the Royal Priest of the Lycan Kingdom, I pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

My stomach sank as I heard that and he came closer to me and his lips only met with my cheek.

I was surprised but then at the same time, happy because at least, I didn't have to kiss in front of all these people.

The rest of the party passed in a breeze and a few hours later, I was in a car on my way to my husband's house. The car ride home was silent and his face was towards the window the entire time. I figured he was too tired so I let him be.

As the car slowed down, he got out of the car and walked right inside, leaving me behind. Did my father say something to piss him off?

I won't be surprised if he did.

I followed him inside in my flowy night dress and just stood behind him as he walked up the stairs.

“The butler would take you to your room and help you get settled in..meet him if you need anything.”

Then he walked away.

I just stood there wondering what exactly was wrong with him. Why was he mad all of a sudden? Did I say something wrong or did I do something wrong?

The butler came around and took me upstairs. All the whole I took my clothes off, it was like I was in a daze. The sweet man that I had seen just now was now gone and it was like he wasn't even there before.

Maybe I should give him some time. Maybe he will get better.

I remained in my room and thought about the entire thing that was happening.

It's not like I could go downstairs and tell him that he should come talk to me about it.

So I just sat there and waited for something. Anything.

Then just when my eyes were beginning to close, the door flung open and he walked in.

“Strip.”