WEDDED AT LAST

The day progressed, despite all hopes and prayers that it wouldn't. And just before the sunset, I was married to Alpha Gwen of the Moonlight pack. 

My new husband was a feeble-minded man who slept through the entire service and half through the feast that took place after. 

I sat beside him, watching him as he gummed the cheese he was forced to eat because of his lack of teeth. I was certain that I would throw up if I tried to eat anything, but graciously, or perversely, since he saw that I wasn't eating, he drew my plate closer to him and began to pick the grain. 

My half-uncle was in the highest spirits. He had achieved his aim, so nothing could sour his mood. Not even my silence anytime he spoke to me. 

I could see him from the corner of my eyes, eating and drinking with gusto, and then bragging about how he would run Baron and the rest of his pack members out of their home. 

I was not the least interested in his talk of war. I hate him enough and hope he fails and gets killed on the battlefield. 

Darkness soon arrived against my desire, and I was grave with dread as I was at last ushered to my chamber. I know I'm going to fall sick. My skin was as pasty white as my husband's skin, and my eyes hurt from fighting back tears all day. 

I was sobbing as I ran to the bed, and had just covered myself with a blanket when the groom arrived, carried in by some of his Betas who are yet to return to their various home. But as soon as they see me in bed, their crude laughter and jest end immediately, and they all ogle at me before stepping out of the room. 

Alpha Gwen was prepared. He wore a black nightgown that made his skin look even whiter.

Even as I closed my eyes, that image of his body could not leave my head. Legs whittled down to mere bones, ribs protruding, sunken belly, and that tiny thing between his legs. 

I would have laughed if I weren't too close to tears. Out of despair, I began to pray silently, that I could bear this, that it would be over quickly, and that I would not become mad when he was done with me. 

"Well, where are you, my love?" He asked peevishly. "Come over here, I'm too old to be chasing you all over the bed. "

"Here, my Lord."

Apart from being partly blind, Alpha Gwen was also partly deaf. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been looking for me on the left side of the bed while I just spoke to him from the right side. 

"What the hell are you still searching for while I'm here?"

My statement was a near shout, and this made him start crawling on the bed towards me. 

"Well...well. What are you waiting for? He asked in the same peevish tone. "Can't you see my warrior here requires your service? Come over here to play with it."

Is that tiny thing supposed to be a warrior? Quite doubtful! 

I made an awful sound but he didn't hear. He was busy chuckling to himself. 

"My warrior asked for a kiss, Bella. You aren't going to fail in your responsibility, will you?"

My mouth flew to my mouth as the mere thought made me gag. If he could have seen my expression, he would not have been laughing. But he was nearly blind as well as deaf. And I must kill Damon for this. 

"Where are you?" He was demanding again. His eyes roamed all over the bed in search of me. 

I was just a few steps away from him, but I just didn't want to talk. 

"Silly girl. Do I need to call my right-hand man, John, to find you? You will meet him soon enough if you do not give me an heir in nine months. I'm too old to go through this again. You are the last. I will have a son from you one way or the other. So, what do you say?"

"You sound like a desperate man, my Lord. Do I understand you correctly, you would give me to this man called John if I failed to become pregnant in a few months?"

"Yes. I would. I have a fondness for John and would not mind calling his son mine."

"And why don't you claim John's son as your heir then?"

"Don't be stupid, girl. No one would believe he is mine. But it won't be doubted if he gets you pregnant in place of me."

I sighed. This man was worse than I had imagined. I was his wife, yet he meant to give me to another man. Breed me the way he breeds his cows and pigs. 

God in heaven, do I have to go through this again? He was so feeble and I knew I could fight him off without shedding a sweat. But what would happen to my mother if I did? And, he was my husband. A husband was all-powerful, right? He owes my life and nobody will ask him if he chooses to end it. 

"Have I married the wrong woman here?" Alpha Gwen's voice rose in anger. "Come here and lie beside me."

His orders were direct and I had no choice but to obey. But how can I? I would faint if he dared touch me. "I cannot," I said. "If you want to make love to me, then do. But I won't help you."

My face was furiously red. The worst he could do is to beat me or call the right-hand man. Maybe he won't even be as horrible as him. 

"You-you-."

Alpha Gwen paused his speech, his eyes got bigger, and he looked like it's about to pop out of his head. One of his hands pressed so hard to his chest and he swayed backward and then landed with a soft thud without making a sound.

I scrambled towards him and gawked at his face. His hand still clutched his chest but he wasn't breathing. 

Is he dead? Could I be that lucky?