Five: Here Comes The Werewolf Bride

SOFIA

As soon as I awake, I’m being rushed into the bathroom to get ready for a wedding I never wanted to have. I woke up disappointed, but not because I was getting married to someone who isn’t the love of my life, but because I had a dream that I was getting married to the actual love of my life.

It felt so real walking down the aisle to meet Simon in his nice suit and his nice smile I was glad I was going to be waking up to that every morning.

I felt loved and happy. That’s until his face morphed into that of a wicked enemy I have had since I was sixteen, Victor and then I awoke to face reality.

I’m not getting married to Simon, but I am getting married to my high school bully. I died, and this is hell.

I keep a frown all the way throughout the preparation. While they bath me, scrubbing the werewolf filth that’s on my body, they don’t have to do much when it comes to me because I’m basically human, that’s what someone called me in high school, and I cried for hours. They wash my hair, scrub every part of me. They dry my hair up, applying some hair products and skin care products on my face.

I’m currently in a dark robe as they pamper me with different kinds of products. I just stand there with a scowl on my face.

This is supposed to be the happiest day of my life, but my parents traded my happiness for power and titles.

And I really don’t understand why, because I thought they loved Simon, they really did, at least they were happy there was a man who looked like he could spend the rest of his life with me, as other men in our community did not want to be associated with someone like me because I can’t shift.

Simon never cared about that; he loved me for me. And apparently, the King doesn’t care about that fact about me either. Which is so fucking confusing.

Ugh, I just want to scream right now!

They’ve started applying makeup on my face, and I relax a bit. Makeup gives me some kind of happiness; it calms my nerves. That and playing the piano. I just like finding ways to get lost in another world because my reality sucks.

I just hope this is the first and last time these people do my makeup because I want to be doing it on my own. I love doing my own makeup.

Not that these people are bad at makeup, they’re done, and I look at myself in the mirror with a little smile on my face. They actually did well. I don’t look like a werewolf; I look like a vampire, with smoky eyes and super red lips.

But still, I’d like to do my own makeup, thank you very much.

Next up is the wedding dress.

And I cannot believe this dress sizes me. This is proof that my parents have been conspiring with the king for weeks now, and I’ve been oblivious. I feel so betrayed by them right now. By my own parents. What the hell?

The wedding dress is stunning, though. I look stunning.

I really do hate wearing nice things and looking fancy for a boring and stupid day. This is a stupid day.

But yeah, I look good right now. I’m not dressed like a werewolf but a vampire. Now I look like a full vampire.

It’s a floor-length dress with a dramatic, voluminous skirt that flows outward in layers. The base colour is a rich, deep wine red, overlaid with intricate black lace embroidery that creates a striking, almost shadow-like pattern across the entire dress.

The bodice is fitted and structured, cinching tightly at the waist to emphasise an hourglass silhouette. It has a high neckline and long, sheer sleeves, both covered in delicate black lace, giving it a regal, slightly mysterious vibe.

It’s pretty, but what’s pretty when you’re only allowed to put it on for a day you dread with your whole life?

Two maids distract me by bowing down, and I look away from the looking glass to them.

“They’re ready for you your highness.”

Your highness.

Damn, I forgot that as soon as I get married to Victor, I’m going to be a princess. Crazy.

I nod my head with a smile on my face because these women aren’t the ones who forced me to be here. They’re not the ones who want me to get married to someone I hate. So I have to treat them with kindness, like how I do with the maids back home.

I follow them downstairs.

And that’s where I spot my father in a purple suit waiting for me, so he’d walk me down the aisle.

“Oh, Gods, you look beautiful, my love.”

I smile. This is probably the best day of his life; he’s always wanted to do this, give me off to the man who will take care of me.

But in this case, he’s not giving me to the person who is going to take care of me, he’s giving me away to someone who’s going to kill me. But does he care? Of course not.

“Thanks, Dad,” I say, because there’s no point in arguing at all. Let’s just get this over with.

Dad brings out his hand for me to link with his, and I do just that.

The guards open the doors, and everyone rises to their feet, and they all put their eyes on me. Wow, vampires and werewolves in one room. The last time I saw something like this was in high school, I went to an art school for college full of werewolves, I didn’t really make  friends, and that was fine.

But yeah, vampires and werewolves are here. The vampires sit on the right and the werewolves to the left. Only prominent people attend this wedding. The ones who have a direct link to royalty from both kingdoms.

Even the king and Queen of Monteluna are here, and they’re smiling like I’m their daughter and they’re at her wedding. I know for a fact they know the real reason why I’m getting married to Victor. I feel like almost everyone here knows about this but they’re all hiding it from me.

It’s itching me to know what that thing is.

There he is. My husband-to-be, looking all… well, I wanted to say something very insulting, but that would be a lie because he actually looks great in his outfit.

He’s dressed in an elegant black outfit with deep red accents. The shirt is silky and slightly open at the chest, detailed with red embroidery that gives it a luxurious, almost aristocratic feel. He’s also wearing layered necklaces with dark gemstones, which adds to that regal, supernatural aesthetic. The rings and accessories make him look powerful and intentional, like every detail was chosen to intimidate and attract at the same time.

But I shouldn’t let his appearance fool me because I know exactly who he is, he’s a menace, he’s cruel, and he’s very hateful.

He’s probably going to continue from where he left off when we were in high school.

Look at him, I hate him so fucking much. He looks at me with a smug smile on his face. He just wants to see me miserable. Well, two can play that game. If he wants to make my life miserable, then I’ll gladly return the favour and make his life even more miserable.

When we were in school, I didn’t just sit down to take his and his friends’ bullshit. I fought, sometimes I won, sometimes I didn’t, but the truth of the matter is that I didn’t let this asshole bully me then, and I’m not going to let him bully me now.

He’s probably thinking of all the ways he’s going to make my life hell in this castle.

Well, I’m ready for him.

VICTOR

Gods, she’s so fucking beautiful. So fucking beautiful. I try my best not to show how extremely happy I am that I’m going to marry the woman I’ve been in love with for years.

She’s always been stunning, but today she looks even more stunning in that wedding dress. I’ve imagined this day countlessly, but I’ve thought of being happy to get married to her and her being happy to marry me. But she’s not happy at all, and this isn’t a romantic wedding; it’s all political.

It’s all because of me.

I know she probably thinks I want this to make her life miserable, but that’s far from the truth. Yes, I did make her life miserable back in school but that was in the past. I was just a mere school boy then, but I’m mature now.

I can show her that I’ve changed and I’m not the person she used to know.

“You may kiss the bride,” the priest says after we reluctantly say our vows. I would so want to kiss her badly right now, but she obviously doesn’t want that because she’s looking away from me.

So I bring out my right hand.

I clear my throat.

“At least let's shake hands to seal the deal,” I say in a serious tone, and she looks at my hand in so much disgust.

Damn, she hates me that much. I don’t blame her though. I did make her life a living hell back in high school.

She looks at me with so much rage in her eyes. This isn’t fair. This is supposed to be the best day of her life, but it happens to be the worst because marrying me is just that bad.

“Come on, Santos, let’s just do it for the sake of everyone here,” I say, feigning impatience. But then again, I can’t keep calling her Santos because she’s no longer a Santos, she’s now a Dragomire.

She rolls her eyes in that sassy way of hers that almost makes me smile, and she takes my hand, and we shake it. The whole room erupts in laughter.

“Your move,” she says, and I look at her, and this time I don’t hide my smile.