Chapter 4

The whole world felt like it had frozen in place. Everything moved in slow motion, my vision blurry except for the one person standing right in front of me.

This powerful alpha... No, he wasn’t just any ordinary alpha. The raw power rolling off him screamed Lycan. I’d never felt anything like it before. Who the hell was he?

With every step he took toward my parents’ tombstone, my heart hammered harder in my chest. Then I felt him the person I hated most step up behind me. Zephyros placed his left hand on my shoulder, and I couldn’t stop staring at the ring on his finger.

“Don’t disgrace me or yourself right now, Nyra. Come with me.” I took a slow, shaky breath.

“He’s the Lycan Alpha. Be respectful and keep your mouth shut. A lot of people are already pissed off by your presence.” I know that better than anyone, Zephyros. You’re the one who put me in this mess. What am I supposed to do now?

He pushed me gently by the small of my back, chuckling as he announced our arrival.

Oh Goddess…

The pressure hit me like a wave. It felt like every muscle in my body was being crushed under three times normal gravity the closer we got to the Lycan Alpha. Wait… he was the same man who had insisted on keeping me company for that dance last night at the party. Shit, I felt like such an idiot.

He was tall, with black hair, looking like he’d stepped straight out of some fantasy novel. Even under the suit, you could tell his body was fit and strong. I noticed the way his arms flexed as he laid the wreath carefully on my parents’ tombstone.

I respected him for that taking time out of his obviously busy life as the Lycan Alpha just to show up for their funeral.

“Ahem. Prince of Lycans…” the man beside me started. I glanced down and saw how Zephyros had intertwined our fingers. His ring dug painfully into my palm because he kept squeezing tighter as he spoke to someone so far above him in power and status.

Until now, I’d only seen the Alpha’s side profile. When he finally turned to face us, I almost gasped out loud.

His irises were this ghostly grey, his pupils so dark they almost swallowed the whole eye. Then, as the clouds shifted and sunlight hit him, the deep grey softened into a warm hazel.

“Call me Vaerith, Lupus. I prefer to stay humble today.” The last part he said while looking straight at me. I furrowed my brows, confused.

“Are you feeling alright?” he mouthed softly in my direction. I nodded. I kept blinking at him, trying to figure out why someone of his status would even bother coming to my parents’ funeral. I didn’t remember my parents ever having any real connections legal or powerful with the Lycan Alpha.

“Very well, Lycan Alpha. As you wish, Vaerith. I’d like to let you know in fact, let everyone here today know that I’ll never leave Nyra’s side. Sure, she was upset last night and said a lot of terrible things to all of us. Especially the elders. I’ve heard it all, sweetheart.” Disgust rose up in my throat so fast I couldn’t control my face. But when I saw Zephyros’s jaw clench in warning, I quickly dropped my gaze to my feet.

Vaerith the incredibly important figure in our werewolf and lycan society stood there calmly, just watching Zephyros put on his little show.

“You are a wonderful woman, Nyra. I want everyone to know I won’t be breaking off our marriage anytime soon. I worry about the Darkforest pack. This place has become my second home! With Papa and Mama gone now, it doesn’t feel the same in here.” Zephyros patted his chest dramatically. Oh Goddess, please make this stop. I couldn’t take his acting anymore.

“You’re being a real bitch right now, Zephyros,” I whispered under my breath. But I’d forgotten the Lycan Alpha had senses far beyond anything I could imagine. He must have heard me. Still, it probably didn’t matter to him. Someone who dealt with international pack affairs wouldn’t give a damn about my small, messy drama. I was completely on my own in Zephyros’s scripted nightmare.

Someone started clapping in appreciation for Zephyros’s words. We all turned to see Beta Dravok sorry, Interim Alpha Dravok now.

“Look at him,” Zephyros said, slipping back into his usual confident stance. But his grip on my hand tightened even more. A soft whimper of pain escaped my lips, and he squeezed harder in response.

“This is what I call maturity. This is a man who knows how to take responsibility. Whatever happened last night with Lady Nyra can be forgiven… forgiven once she accepts that she will continue being Zephyros Virellion’s decorated fiancée.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The disorientation hit me like a slap. I scoffed, finally fed up with all of it.

Right in front of one of the most powerful people here, no less.

How low could Zephyros actually go?

“Princess… don’t,” Zephyros warned, his eyes threatening me. But I didn’t care anymore.

“You’re all waiting for my decision, right? Here it is!

I will… NOT marry Zephyros Virellion. Never!” Anger took complete control. I shoved him in the chest with everything I had, but the strong alpha didn’t even move an inch from my push.

“I don’t care what any of you say or think about me! Have you ever stopped to wonder WHY I want to break off this engagement in the first place?! Huh?! Did any of you ever think about me!?” The words poured out before I could stop them.

“…Not everything is about you, Lady Nyra…” A deep male voice cut through the crowd. When I saw who it was, I took a sharp breath. It was the third elder the one who seemed to hate me the most out of this entire crowd.

“You think it’s always about me?! Did any of you even consider what I went through last night?! No one absolutely no one gave real condolences for my parents! No one wanted to find out who caused that accident! What… what is happening to my pack…?”

“…This calls for a decision by force. Zephyros Virellion, Alpha of Frostmoon pack…” the elder continued as I fought back my tears.

“Yes, elder.” Zephyros stepped forward.

“Do you take Nyra Virellion as your wife, in all care and respect?”

“In the present, and in the future, Elder.” Zephyros answered smoothly. It took me a second to realize what was actually happening.

This was a fucking patriarchal society even among werewolves.

“W-Wait. Wait, please… no!” I protested as Zephyros started dragging me toward the elder.

“The Moon Goddess observes your marriage for the rest of your”

Out of nowhere, a strong hand pulled me back just as I was being dragged forward.

I slowly turned around… Vaerith was holding my hand!

Even the elder had frozen in place. Zephyros just stared at my wrist wrapped in Vaerith’s large palm. And then the words that came out of his mouth changed everything:

“She is not going to marry you, Alpha Zephyros Virellion.”