Chapter 5

RUBY

I stood before the doors to the great hall, where the wedding guests were seated and waiting for the ceremony to commence. There was nothing I could do now, except go through with the wedding. My secret weapon, the recording of Harper’s confession, hid heavily in my bouquet.

I rehearsed my moves in my head. Before we were asked to recite our vows, I would play the audio in front of both of our families and Lucas’s political backing. Harper’s words would surely convince the guests in the pews, I would finally be safe from Lucas and his plots against my parents.

I looked down at my dress, the one my mother and I had chosen together. I had managed to get rid of the hideous one Harper had tried to force on me earlier. Now, I looked like I always had in my dreams, like a woman who was going to marry the love of her life. I cringed to remember how blindly in love I had been.

The massive oak doors creaked open, revealing Lucas with his arm outstretched to walk me down the aisle.

“Are you ready, darling?” He asked.

He was wearing a crisply pressed black suit, his hair slicked back neatly. It was too clean, too perfect and camera-ready, no wonder he was the favorite amongst the politicians.

“Are you?” I retorted, letting him lead me out onto the scarlet carpet.

“I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. I’ve never been more ready.”

He had said something similar to me before, on the evening of our past wedding. I had believed then he meant he was ready to join me, his mate, for the rest of his life. But now, looking at the maniacal gleam in his eye, I was sure he was only seeing me as a pawn to power.

There were dozens of rows of seats, all packed with guests in their most expensive finery. The walls were lined with media and reporters who waved silver microphones, trying to catch bits of drama and intrigue.

Oh, I would give them a show they would never forget.

I felt a tug on my veil from Harper, who smiled and fluffed my train like a sweet, obedient bridesmaid. Lucas had insisted she participate as a member of the wedding party, even though she wasn’t related to either of us. It had broken my heart I couldn’t include any of my cousins or friends, and had stung even more later when I found out my fiance had been fucking my bridesmaid.

At least she kept the media at bay, who seemed to be encroaching on us like the inevitable tide.

In my past life, this had been the start of the end for me. I had never been popular, but Harper’s behavior at our wedding solidified public dislike for me.

I had sincerely tried to be kind to her, offering her cake and a glass of champagne at the party afterwards. She reached out to take it, and fell flailing to the ground, crying out that I had tripped her. Lucas picked her up at the first sob, carrying her to safety like a knight in shining armor.

The reporters went crazy with the news, writing articles and pushing the story that I was a jealous, manipulative bumpkin who had taken advantage of Lucas in order to get closer to the throne.

Now, however, as Lucas led me towards the altar, with a fake, sparkling grin plastered to his face, I refused to succumb to the same fate. Their cameras were rolling, and the videos would prove just who the villain was.

“You look beautiful, sweetheart.” I heard from a familiar voice, murmuring just to my left.

I stopped walking, the rush of memories and emotion were too much. My parents were seated just beside me, my mother in her blue gown and father with his neatly trimmed beard, both gazing at me with adoring eyes.

Daniel, my squire, was seated just beside them, smiling brilliantly in a gold-trimmed waistcoat. I reached out for them, suddenly longing for the comfort of my mother’s touch, but Lucas tugged me back to reality.

“Later, my love.” He whispered, pulling me forcefully back to his side. “You can see your family when we’ve finished.”

“Aren’t you sad not to have yours?”

“Who, Caleb?” Lucas sighed, becoming irritated with my stalling. “He’s a dog who is too busy entertaining himself, you saw him and his women.”

“At least he knows what it means to be brothers, as much as you hate him, he had nothing bad to say about you.”

He yanked me onwards.

I let the pull throw me off balance, just to spite him and the perfect image he was desperate to portray. Everything he had put together for this wedding, from the elaborate flowers to the chandeliers was meant to give an air of wealth and strength. When the time came, he needed all the people in attendance to support his rise to Lycan King.

But even if it was a small rebellion, I was determined to undermine that perfect image however I could. I could already hear some whispers about his harshness as we reached the front of the hall.

At the altar, we took our position side by side, the officiant glancing amiably between us in his thick, black robes. In his hands, he held a massive, leather bound book with beautifully illuminated pages. Harper adjusted my train one last time, and took her spot behind Lucas.

I took one final look at the guests behind us, Daniel and my parents, but startled when I noticed a pair of brilliantly green eyes in the front pew. Caleb? He was wearing his full, royal costume, with his dark hair neatly combed through. What on earth is he doing here?

”We are gathered here today, to witness the union of Lucas and Ruby, fated mates who have chosen to make the sacred vow that their connection will be their first and last devotion.” He spoke with a slightly raspy voice, and coughed twice after this first speech.

“Lucas, Second Prince, are you prepared to care for and love your wife, Ruby, with all the respect, honor and grace which you owe her as your mate?”

“I am,” Lucas responded, squeezing my hand uncomfortably. I seethed silently at how easily he could lie.

“Ruby, are you prepared to care for and love your husband, Lucas, with all the respect, honor and grace which you owe him as your mate?”

I wrenched my hand from his grasp, just about to pull out the recorder, when a man cleared his throat loudly.

The attention of the entire room zoned in on Caleb, who stood up and strolled to the altar, nudging Lucas out of the way and wrapping a casual arm around my waist. I blushed at the close contact and his fingers lightly touching my hips.

“I think that’s enough of that. Thank you for bringing my bride down the aisle, but I’ll take it from here.”

Lucas stared at him, too stunned to speak.