04.

ERENDINA.

“Princess. Princess.” I groan and turn on my other side to dismiss the voice that’s calling to me but it follows. “Princess Erendina. Princess!”

“What?!” I snap as I sit up, glaring at the woman standing by my bed and Mia bows her head with her hands before her. “I apologize, Princess. I didn’t mean to wake up. It’s just getting late and you have to prepare for the ceremony.”

Ceremony. Today has come after all.

“It’s okay. Morning, Mia.” I say and she raises her head, a small smile falling on her face. “Morning, Princess. I have prepared your bath.”

“Is everyone else ready?”

“The King and the groom are welcoming the guests. You’re to be there soon.” She provides and I sigh as I nod. I move out of bed and Mia keeps her head bowed as I step into the bathroom.

I gaze at the bath she’s made before looking to the mirror by the sink, my throat drying as realization sets in yet again.

Dominic is getting married. He’s truly… getting married. And there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

I hate him. I hate him so much for doing this to me.

I sniff and remove my nightgown. I step into the tub and hope the water relaxes me enough to be able to get through the day.

•

The ballroom is full with guests when I arrive. As expected. As the chosen head ruler for all the four kingdoms, any ceremony that takes place in my father’s castle is meant to be grand.

Dad is speaking to one of the Alphas when I finally find him and Dominic is by his side. As if he can sense my gaze, Dominic’s head turns and my breath catches when our eyes meet.

He looks even more breathtaking today. He’s in a white suit that’s fitted to his body. The color compliments his eyes and his short brown hair is slicked back. He looks absolutely mouthwatering and my heart starts to thump louder when he makes his way to me.

“Look at you.” He utters when he reaches me. “You look like a princess, darling. Absolutely beautiful.”

“Well I am a princess.” I lift my shoulder in a casual shrug as I try to hide the things his praise does to my insides and Dom cackles. “I love the dress on you. Purple is your color.” He mutters as he holds out his hand and heat crawls up my skin when he twirls me as I take it.

Here he goes again. Doing things that only makes me want him more.

“Thank you.” I say in a small voice when he drops his hand and his smile widens. He looks to the sides before his gaze falls back on mine and he closes the space between us to whisper in my ear, “You’ve got eyes on you.”

I look around at his words and truly there are Alphas looking our way. Their gazes are lustful as their eyes roams me and some are shameless with the way they lick their mouths. I’m used to getting the attention that it doesn’t flatter me. More so it isn’t the attention I want. The only eyes I want on me are… the rest of that thought goes down the drain when I look back to Dom and he’s walked away.

I gulp and proceed to walk to my father but my steps falter when I feel a gaze on me. The gaze burns stronger than every other’s and I turn my head out of curiosity to see who it belongs to. All I see are backs and my brows creases before I continue my movement.

The ceremony starts after a while. Dom is standing on the altar with his eyes on his to be wife who’s walking down the aisle while my eyes are on him.

His smile is blinding as he goes down to take Wendy’s hand, guiding her onto the altar. My chest tightens till it gets difficult to breathe as I watch him rest a hand on the small of her back while the man on the altar with them starts to speak.

“Do you, Dominic Arden, take Wendy Monroe as your woman and your wife?”

I hold my breath.

“I do.”

And everything shatters with those words. With that promise.

“Do you, Wendy Monroe…”

I don’t wait to hear anything else. It suddenly feels too small and too hot in here. I move out of my seat, not caring for the eyes that follows me as I make for the exit.

“Princess, is everything—“

“Don’t. Don’t follow me, Mia. That’s a command. “ I say before rushing out of the room.

When I finally move out with no watching eyes in sight, I let the tears in my eyes fall as I push against the wall and clutch my hurting heart.

It’s done. He’s married. He’s actually married. He’s…

I wipe my tears at the sound of nearing footsteps and push from the wall. I jog down the hallway in search of an empty room and I’m about to take a corner when someone appears.

I gasp at almost bumping into the body and step back. When my eyes traces up the broad chest in my face to the face, my lips parts at the eyes. At how grey they look. At how long his lashes are. At each feature that makes up his face.

I’ve never seen this man before. And he’s gorgeous. It’s not often I look at another man twice—especially after Dominic stole my heart and body—but this man… goddess, this man. I can’t look away. From the way the black suit is hugging his body. From the black ink etching the skin that’s barely covered by his sleeves. From the undone fly.

And as if catching onto that, his lips curl back. “Are you done staring, princess?”

And my heart skips a beat.

Not because of his words. But his voice. That voice. It’s the same voice.