2. Have Many Mistresses

A deep, quiet sigh escaped Tiana’s lips when everyone started to quickly move and disperse. She couldn't believe how quickly the hall became empty.

Her husband offered his hand to her again. Of course, Tiana already prepared herself for this. She was going to the silver moon pack in the northern region, the strongest pack in the land of werewolf land, right after the wedding.

A little shaky, Tiana placed her hand in his. Her eyes were hot but she swore not to tear up. She looked at her mother as the werewolf prince led her towards the door.

Tiana looked away, focusing on the path before her instead. As the newlyweds reached the door, she halted and looked back one last time. She subconsciously gripped her husband's hand before she turned to him and finally stepped forward. This was all she could do from here on out; to bravely walk into her future, one step at a time, to find out what destiny had in store for her.

They rode home in silence. She hated it because it made her nervous and it gave her time to think about what was waiting for her in her new home. The wedding consummation. She had never even touched a guy before, her father made sure of that, and now she would....

Tiana shook her head. ‘You're scaring yourself’, she scolded herself.

"Your Highness?" 

"Yes?" 

"Do you have another wife, Your Highness?" Tiana asked. She shouldn't have. It was none of her business.

Her mother had told her to be careful not to ask a prince such questions, but she didn't care. She needed to know what was waiting for her once she arrived. He looked at her with a narrowed gaze. Now he would get angry, she thought.

"No, I don't," he answered slowly. Tiana felt relief. Why? Just because he didn't have one now, didn't mean that he wouldn't get one. 

"But I have many mistresses," he finished.

Of course. He was attractive, and a prince, and a man. Tiana wanted to curse, but he suddenly laughed. 

"You don't seem to like that," he said. Why would she? But she couldn't say that.

"It's not for me to like or dislike, Your Highness," Tiana said. He said nothing to that. She wondered what his name would be.

"Your Highness?"

"You may call me Nicklaus when we are alone". Nicklaus said.

The inside of the carriage was enveloped with silence. The prince simply remained still, closing his eyes as if he had shut himself down.

The night was getting deeper and Tiana could now feel the fatigue and dizziness from the rollercoaster of emotions from the day that even though she wanted to ponder her situation more, her mind began to float like clouds drifting aimlessly. She had been unable to sleep the few days before her wedding because of thoughts about her wedding and the werewolf she was going to marry so she felt a little like a zombie.

She felt lightheaded and dizzy and she tried to find the right position for her to sleep, but to her dismay, whenever she did manage to nod off, the carriage bounced on the rough patches on the road and she was awakened again. At times, it was so bad that she nearly bumped her head against the wall.

This was the first time she had travelled by night, but Tiana knew she had to endure this. Her wedding was not happy thing as she was just a human and she was marrying the enemy of the human, werewolf. That was why their wedding happened mid-day but they had to wait till nightfall to travel back.

So, she couldn't complain. This, too, was part of her duty, a duty she needed to endure.

The carriage rolled on and on, until suddenly, the carriage bounced and Tiana nearly fell on the floor. She was instantly startled and she lifted her face, just to find out that strong large hands held her shoulders, steadying her. Nicklaus had kept her from tumbling to the floor.

Still, she flinched and stiffened the moment their eyes met. His face darkened and he immediately let go of her.

"How many hours would it take you to reach the silver moon pack if I wasn't with you?"

"Just a couple of hours."

Tiana’s eyes widened. She heard that it would take two days to reach the silver moon empire. For a moment, her eyes flickered with amazement. She thought that to be able to travel like that would be amazing! She would not need to endure the uncomfortable and tedious carriage rides. Looking at him, she wondered if he was dying with impatience because he was forced to endure travelling at such a slow pace because of her. He would have been in to his territory right now, resting.

"You really don't need to accompany me –"

"Do I disgust you so much that you don't even want me inside the same carriage as you?" His eyes narrowed. Though his expression remained calm, Tiana felt chills as soon as she looked into his eyes.

Shaking her head, she spoke. "No. That's not what I meant. I just thought it must be very uncomfortable for you to… stay in a carriage because you're not used to it."

The displeasure in his eyes was quick to disappear causing Tiana to sigh in relief. Nicklaus looked so calm and still, literally like a harmless, perfect statue. His appearance, Tiana thought, must be the sole reason why she can speak to him like this without trembling in fear.

Silence reigned between them once more because Tiana’s eyes began to become heavy again. It was already cold as it was and now it was raining too! She drew her cloak closer against her chest as she began to feel the dropping temperature when...

"Come here," the werewolf prince said suddenly, causing Tiana’s head to whip towards him. "Lean on me and sleep."

She blinked. She didn't expect his offer at all. And her shocked expression sold her out. His words made her swallow and her heart pounded, but she eventually nodded, and he moved away and ran his fingers through his hair.

He looked at her again and spoke. This time, his voice was gentler and there was a welcoming expression in his eyes. "Come, wife. Don't worry, I don't have any plans to eat you."

"No one's allowed to hurt you, not even me. You have nothing to be scared about," he added gently and before Tiana realized it, as though he had cast a bewitching spell on her, she obeyed.

He shifted and made room for her and then she found herself half lying on him with her back to his chest and his arm wrapped around her, holding her, keeping her tucked against him as the carriage lurched forward. It seemed her fatigue and dizziness had given her away because of how little resistance she had against his irresistible offer of comfort. The back of her head settled on his solid and hard chest, which suddenly felt like a cushion, as she relaxed comfortably.

This was the first time she had experienced anything like this. She had never let any man hold her this way before. She found it overwhelming because, even in her lightheaded state, her body reacted in a strange way as he held her. And the most surprising thing was she didn't hate it. She had thought she would despise any physical closeness with a werewolf so this was surprising.

However, she brushed it off. She thought that she was feeling this way because of the strange situation she was in. She was perhaps just really exhausted.

***

The caravan stopped, and then a guard informed them that they had arrived. Nicklaus stepped out of the caravan and offered Tiana his hand. Which she took and he helped her down.

The castle was grand, and the garden was even more luxurious, with green bushes and colorful flowers. "Nicklaus?" Someone called, and Tiana turned her head to see who.

Five men in royal robes approached them.

"We came to welcome you and your bride," one of them said.

"Is that so?" Nicklaus asked.

"Of course. We are brothers after all!" The other behind him smirked.

Are these men his brothers? 

"Why don't you and your bride join us for dinner?" Ethan suggested. "We would like to take a closer look at your bride," he stated insinuatingly, shooting Tiana a glance.

Nicklaus walked up and stood in front of him. He was a few inches taller. The guards behind his brother started changing their appearance as if to attack any time. Would they really attack him? Why would they? Looking at Nicklaus guards they also started changing. What was all this about? They didn't seem like brothers to me.

"Thank you brother, but I must decline," Nicklaus said in a polite tone that didn't match the menacing look in his eyes. Turning his back to his brother, he took Tiana’s hand, gripping it hard as he dragged her through the halls of the castle. He was angry.

"Won't we greet your parents, Your Highness?" He came to a halt. His grip on my hand loosened. "My mother is dead," he said with no emotion. "And the King, do not worry about him, he does not matter," he said with finality and started walking again. This time he didn't drag me. 

Two maids appeared in front of us. "Your Highness, My Lady," they greeted with a bow. "Your Highness, shall we prepare Her Highness?" They inquired. 

Prepare me for what? Preparing is what she has been doing her entire life. At first he didn't let go of Tiana’s hand, but when the maids gave him a pleading look, he only then released her.

Tiana was led to a dressing room, where the maids helped her get out of her wedding dress and slip into a beautiful white nightgown and its matching robe, both made of silk. They took out the pins in her hair and let it fall down in waves. After putting some perfume onto her skin, they served her tea.

"What's this?" she asked. 

"It's an herb tea that will help you relax, and it will decrease the pain, My Lady."

"What pain?" Tiana was confused, but then she realized what they were talking about.

They must have seen the horror on her face because there was pity on their own faces. Why did they pity me? Was he going to be rough with me? He didn't seem like the gentle type from the way he gripped my wrist earlier. It was as if his hand was made of steel. Many question run to Tiana’s mind but she had no answer to any of it.

"I don't need it," she affirmed and stood up straight. "Just take me to the chamber."

They led her to their private chamber and sat her down on the bed. Adjusting her hair and gown, they took one last look at her to see if everything was perfect. 

"We will tell His Highness that you are ready," they said, and left.

The worst scenarios appeared in her head and her heart pounded so hard in her chest she was afraid it was going to explode.

Her hands started sweating and it was getting hard to breathe. She waited for what seemed like hours, but was likely just minutes. Suddenly, the door to the room opened and he stepped inside. He had changed into more comfortable clothes and walked toward the bed where Tiana was sitting. 

"Aren't you tired?" He asked. 

"I am Your Highness." 

"Nicklaus," he corrected.

"Nicklaus," she repeated in barely a whisper.

"Then we should go to sleep," he said and lay down on the bed. "I am tired too."