The wedding that broke me

Natalie POV

Soft chuckles echoed faintly, but I knew there was no escape for me.

A heavy lump formed in my throat with all eyes laid on me as the air stiffened around me amidst the dazzling golden light.

I glanced around with tears streaming down my face, my hands trembling as the priest stared directly into my eyes, searching for answers.

“Do you, Natalie Hill, take Richard as your lawfully wedded husband and promise to cherish him forever? “He asked, his tone flat, and an awkward silence fell as his words cut through me.

I pursed my lips, trying not to glare at the man who stood before me.

I hesitated for a moment, my nail digging into my palm with knots tightening in my tummy.

“Yes, I do," I let out a whisper, my tone faltering, shaking my head, and gasps filled the air.

My heart thundered, and my chest heaved as those words escaped from my lips.

The words felt like ice shards ripping my flesh apart.

I sucked in a hard breath, swallowing my saliva as the priest flashed a stoic expression on his face that sent a chill down my spine.

A confused frown creased my brows with his gaze resting on me.

I watched him silently with undefinable emotions coursing through my body as he reached out for the blade, which lay on the table beside him, curling his fingers around it.

The sharp metal shimmered under the glowing lights, and before I could prepare myself, the blade sliced my palm.

A searing pain struck my flesh, but I chose to ignore the pain with a wounded look in my eyes.

I gritted my teeth, kneading my chest to ease the growing agony I felt inside of me.

Blood prickled slowly with soft thuds from my palm, sliding across my fingers.

His face remained blank as he leaned closer, placing my palm gently against Richard's palm.

His palm was cold like ice, but I suppressed my gasp immediately; our skin made contact.

When our skin made contact, a golden light encircled us with cheers filling the hall, which erupted from the crowd, but I felt nothing.

My eyes landed on Darren, who shot a dangerous look at me with his girlfriend wrapping her arms around his neck.

My stomach dropped, and I tried to suppress the burning rage inside of me.

He blinked his eyelids at me, and I shrieked under his stare, quivering like a little cat.

I broke our gaze, my mouth dry as I snapped back to my senses, trying to keep myself under control.

As the golden light vanished into thin air, an elegant woman stood up from her seat among the nobles, striding towards me.

She was stunning, a rare beauty crafted by the moon goddess herself.

Her heels clicked sharply against the ground, her footsteps echoing in my ears.

Her gaze was sharp as she walked magnificently towards me, and I felt a sensation run through me.

“This should be Richard's mother, the matriarch of the Harrison family," I thought to myself, knowing I had only seen her in pictures.

Heat rose from my stomach, and sweat formed on my head as she brushed her hand against my naked skin.

I drew a deep breath of her fresh scent, which smelled like honey, as she forced a smile at me.

Her piercing blue eyes examined my face carefully before curving into a slight smile.

“Child, this is the Blackwood ring," she whispered, her tone soft, lifting the ring, which sparkled like diamonds, onto my index finger with her hands on mine anchoring me.

I smiled faintly at her as she patted my hand, and my heart skipped a beat.

The weight of it felt much heavier than steel.

“Welcome to the family," she said with a faux smile, and my eyelashes quivered.

I lifted my eyes and looked at her calmly with a straight face as she glanced at me, timidly rolling her eyes at me.

“The ceremony is complete," the priest declared in a cold, detached voice with applause rippling through the hall.

My head shoots up, and I know the beginning had just started.

(In The Night)

“Natalie, meet your husband," Richard's mother said, her tone soft as she sat on the stool with a smile curving on her lips.

My husband, Alpha Richard, lay on the bed with a blanket covering his body and a golden mask on his face.

I hesitated for a second, my arms trembling with my hair falling at shoulder length, dressed in my nightgown.

I swallowed hard, gently loosening the edges of the mask before it fell on the marble floor.

I looked at the man before me, and my lips parted in surprise with no sound coming out.

I was stunned to speak for a moment as he had full lips and creamy skin surrounded by long thick eyelashes that most girls would kill for.

Sparks ignited my body, and his scent smelled like cinnamon mixed with chocolate, which made me weak.

I felt myself drawn to the man before me; my breath hitched as I couldn't stop myself from staring.

“He is so beautiful," I whispered, as he was the most good-looking man I had ever seen.

My mother-in-law cleared her throat, snapping me back to my senses.

“This is the gold card; only members of the family can have it,” she said, clasping the card into my little palm.

“No, Luna, I don't need it," I retorted back, and she chuckled as I flashed her a nervous smile.

“Once we give things, we don't take them back," she said, cutting me short.

“Thank you, Mother." I lowered my head, appreciating her gesture, clutching the gold card tightly with a smile curving on my lips.

“I will leave Richard in your care. Goodnight, dear," she replied, placing a kiss on my forehead before shutting the door behind her.

“Hi Alpha Richard, I'm Natalie Hill. From now on we are husband and wife." I sat on the bed with my attention focused on him.

“Strange, huh?" I spoke, reaching for his face, caressing it, and squinting my eyes at his body.

I stood up and loosened the edges of my robes, and before I could finish, strong arms grabbed my waist from behind, and the grip tightened over me with a hand over my mouth.