Chapter 7

~Sara~

We walked outside the house, passing through the foyer that led to the backyard. Surprisingly, my husband-to-be already had this place designed like a happy wedding would be. And to be honest, the decorations were great and maybe perfect.

The entire backyard was adorned with elegant lights, lamps, and flowers. Even the aisle runner we walked on was decorated with flowers and softly glowing lights, creating a magical aura.

The weather had even become cloudy, enhancing the thematic theme of the wedding. Although it seemed like it would rain soon, in contrast to how bright the sun was a few hours ago.

I shifted my attention back to my surroundings, and that was when I noticed the audience sitting around us. They were few, just my family and a few of my husband-to-be associates—maybe—who weren't even smiling. They looked as if they wanted this to be over as soon as possible.

And the alpha himself stood at the arch dressed in a tuxedo and somebody who looked like a coordinator or priest—or whatever they called them—of the wedding standing at the arch with him. There's also a small band playing violins and piano at the front of the audience, making this look and sound like a true love marriage.

How lovely!

We reached the arch and father formally handed me over to my husband-to-be, while some lady collected the bouquet for me. He holds both of my hands as the music stops and the priest starts speaking. Possibly starting the normal procedures of a proper wedding, while I tried not to cuss loudly at how long this was taking and the heel I wore beneath my dress was starting to hurt badly.

I settled my gaze on our intertwined fingers, trying as much as possible to avoid his penetrating gaze. I would rather not look into them to see what kind of secret information he had in them. Perhaps, it could be something like, 'I own you, you're stuck with me forever, and you will suffer', or, 'We'll try to make this work, and I'll forever love and cherish you. Either of them sounded silly because if this doesn't turn out to be a nightmare, it doesn't mean it would have a good end.

I mean, I still have my mate waiting for me somewhere. So whether he treats me like a trash can or a priceless gem, this marriage remains a torture and a threat to my future.

I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard him speak. "I, Alpha Rhett Carter, take you, Sara Hastings, to be my wife. I promise to love, honor and cherish you, to stand by you and make my life forever yours. I give you the best of me, my heart, my soul, forever. Till death do us part." With these concluding words, he gently slid a ring onto my finger and, for the first time since I came up to this arch, our eyes met. Those soothing eyes, that made me almost believe everything he said now. They sounded so genuine and his gaze on me so affectionate that I could almost dream of all these working fine.

But then, we both know it's a play pretend. And I'm a weakling that falls easily for a slightest display of affection.

I took a shallow breath, realizing it was my turn to say the vows. "I, Sara Hastings, accept you, Rhett Carter, as my husband. I promise to support you and love you always. As long as we live, I will be by your side, for better or worse, in sickness and in health. Till death do us part." I slid the ring given to me by the man standing beside us on his finger, taking in one deep breath.

I don't know where those words came from, but it felt kind of stupid to recite the long essay given to me by Adam. And I didn't want it to seem like I was overly obsessed with him.

The wedding proceeded in a blur. Or maybe I just zoned out a lot, trying to keep my mind on something else than the kiss we both shared at the arch. Although it was more of a peck, yet it felt strange. I mean, getting kissed by someone you don't even love was undoubtedly the worst thing ever.

Fortunately, after exchanging greetings with a handful of the guests, my 'husband' must've noticed I was exhausted and uncomfortable in this dress, so he let me go. I mean, he called a maid to lead to my room, out of my wedding. I was led down a different corridor on the top floor of the house, into an unfamiliar room.

"Uhm, this isn't my room," I told the maid, staring around the larger room in confusion.

"Oh, Ma'am, the alpha instructed me to bring you here. It's the master's bedroom." She explained, looking away nervously. "Your belongings are in the closet already." She added.

"Okay, thanks." I nod, and she bows before exiting the room.

Oh, shit! How could I have not thought about this? Getting married to him also means sharing the same bed! Just when I thought this couldn't get any worse.

I rushed to the door and locked it, realizing I was lucky enough to have a little private time to shower and change out of the dress before the wedding was over.

Rushing to the walk-in closet, I recognised my stuff at the right end of the room. Thankfully, she didn't try to help me arrange my clothes in it. I unzipped the bag to bring out my pajamas but paused upon seeing a red lace sticking out of it and a white folded sheet of paper slipping out of it.

I picked the paper up, unfolding it to see a letter written in a familiar handwriting I immediately recognised as the Luna's. She had often written me a lot of short letters, particularly on occasions like this, that I didn't have to think twice to know the contents were likely something ridiculous. Hopefully, it isn't a task to kill my husband and take half his wealth for their selfish gains.