Chapter 4

"My prince! We are here with your bride; Ashley Oscar," one of the eunuchs announced.

"Let her in!" a cold voice ordered with authority. The door opened and closed almost immediately as the eunuchs took their leave.

Right inside the room, I felt the strong aura I had felt while I was with the king. Although it wasn't as intense as the king's, it was strong enough to make me shrink.

My head remained bowed as I waited for my fate.

"How dare you make a prince wait! I waited for your arrival for days," An angry voice emanated from a corner of the room.

Silence fell and I remained in my position. How could I tell him that I am not the original but a substitute. Revealing as much as that could jeopardize my effort.

Suddenly, a low and muffled sound of pleasure hit the room. It was followed by a loud smacking of lips, chuckles and moans.

"Lift up your head," the prince said in between moans.

I lifted up my head and staggered backwards in shock as I beheld the prince. On his lap was a red haired girl who wrapped her arms around his neck and was kissing him hard.

My blood boiled but I kept my peace.

"What a piece of garbage!" Skylar yelled and whimpered.

"Let me attend to this intruder, baby," the prince said and kissed the blonde one more time before breaking away.

The girl moaned loudly and rolled her eyes at me before letting him go, kissing him on the forehead she rose up from his lap

For the first time since my entry, the prince looked at me. The hatred written all over him made me shiver.

 His gaze traveled down my length and he scoffed before trying to get out of his wheelchair. 

He picked up his crutches and limped towards me.

 As he drew closer, his scent and aura became so strong and my legs buckled. I have never been amidst the royals before, I was only used to my Alpha's aura but this was stronger.

I fell into the ground and the prince chuckled, looking at me sprawled on the floor.

Slowly, I rose to my feet and looked straight into his eyes. 

"What effrontery! How dare you look me in the eyes!?" He yelled and lifted up his hand to strike me but what I least expected happened.

The Blondie whom he was kissing earlier held his arm from behind and shook her head.

The anger in Regan's eyes dissipated immediately, and I felt jealous. For the blonde to have such an effect on him, it means he loved her. 

Why did I bring myself into this mess? I yelled in my head.

Regan pranced towards me, he closed the distance between us and buried his face in my neck. He sniffled my scent loudly and I shivered

"Mmm!!! hazelnut…" He slurred and sniffled repeatedly. "You smell nice, but while you tarried, I got another," he said as he lingered and continued to sniff my scent.

"How dare you despise me!?" He yelled suddenly. Breaking away from my neck, he dragged up my chin. His sapphire eyes had turned dark and I couldn't look into them. 

"I hate those who despised me with passion!" He growled and I could see him trying to restrain his wolf.

I winced in pain as he tightened his grip on my chin.

 "I! Prince Regan, reject you, Ashley Oscar as my mate, and today you are cursed by my rejection," he thundered, pouring out all his hatred in his words.

My eyes shone in horror and I shook violently.

 Since this was supposed to be an arranged marriage, I did not share any mate bond with him and I wasn't in any pain like I felt when Stanley rejected me but the consequence of the prince's rejection hit me hard, it's like a curse.

His bride walked up to him and held him in the middle. He kissed her fully on the lips, relieving his anger. 

She kissed him back and moaned as she looked at me over his shoulders.

" My prince, don't be too harsh on her… you can take her in as one of your concubines… I don't mind sharing," she said mischievously and rolled her eyes at me.

"No way! I can't take a bitch who despised me as my concubine." Prince Regan broke away from her like he hadn't been clinging to her.

"You! You know what a royal rejection means, don't you?" He said and began to walk back towards me.

"I am supposed to mark you!" He said in between his teeth. And with a single swipe of his hand, he flipped my head aside to reveal my neck.

I swallowed hard as he bared his fangs, slamming his face into my neck.

My whole body trembled. It's a different thing to be marked by a mate who accepted you, and it is another thing to be marked as a sign of a curse.

 I shut my eyes tightly and shivered. I knew I was doomed. I steeled myself and waited for the pain but when it didn't come, I slowly opened my eyes.

Surprisingly, he did nothing but his face was still buried in my neck.

 "By tradition, you are supposed to be marked and confined here in the palace. No man will ever touch or claim you again…" he said as he lifted up his head slowly.

 "Didn't you see it coming? I made the King bring you down to humiliate you. He even sent you a regalia! Oh King Muna!" He said in ecstasy and clapped his hands derisively.

"Since you despised me, I wanted to humiliate you, but I will set you free. I will not mark you, but no man will ever claim you. That will be your curse…. If you play pranks, you will die by my hands… Go!!!"

I scampered around not knowing what to do nor where to go. 

"I wasn't the one who despised you…. I am just a substitute," I wanted to spill it out but my lips wouldn't move.

"Go!" He roared and this time I staggered towards the door. The door opened on its own accord and I walked out like a mad woman.

My heart burned, it felt like I was hit by a hurricane. This time no one helped me with my regalia, it seemed heavier than it was.

 I staggered my way through. There were different chambers along my way and I wasn't even sure of the direction that leads to the gate. While I staggered around in delirium, I stepped on the helm of my regalia and I fell.

I tried severally to stand back on my feet but I kept falling as I kept standing on the helm of my gown.

 After several trials, I gave up and remained sprawled in the dirt. Tears trickled down my face and I howled. I was rejected by my own mate and now I suffered a royal rejection with a curse.

Scornful laughter permeated my ears as palace workers laughed at me. I hit my chest in pain and covered my face in shame. I have never suffered such humiliation in my life.

 I was becoming tired and weak. Darkness stole in and I gave no damn. How I wished it could swallow me up.

I heard delicate footsteps approaching from behind and with my senses, I didn't need to be told that whoever it was was coming for me. How I wish someone could just stab a sword through my god-damned heart.

 With the strong aura that took over me, I knew instantly that it was one of the royals. 

I turned around swiftly and I saw his frame. His arm was stretched out and he waited for me to hold onto it. 

It's not like I had any choice, I grabbed his hand and he helped me up.

Without saying a word, he made me lean on his shoulder and led me towards the palace's gates.

 To my uttermost surprise, a carriage was waiting for me.

 I climbed into the carriage and glanced back at him. A tight smile played about his lips and without saying a word he walked away.

The pain in my heart did not make me think straight. I did not thank him nor ask for his name.

I only watched his back as he disappeared into the night.

The journey before me was a dangerous one. I was sent back home in the bowels of darkness.

Hot tears burned down my cheeks and I wept. I wasn't someone who cried easily but this time I couldn't hold back.

Skylar remained silent all through the ride and I dozed off at some point.

 When I woke up, I caught a faint glimpse of the pack house in the dark night. 

The carriage stopped and I wiggled my way out. I was weak and my heavy regalia did not help matters.

Thankfully, it was the dead of the night. Only the pack guards witnessed my shame. They confirmed my Identity and let me in.