The Reason

Ilse Kastellan

"Do you, Ilse Varrow," The priest paused to see if he read that right, and I understood his hesitation because my family name was also backed by a lot of powerful people, but they had turned me away way before my marriage to Gareth. "...take this man as your husband, before the lack and the goddess, in sickness and in power?"

The priest's voice echoed all through the chapel that was nearly empty, and I stood there in a borrowed dress that once belonged to Malakai's late mother (it didn't quite fit, but it was manageable), and my hands were raw from the bath I barely finished before rushing into his carriage for this marriage... For a man I had barely known for less than a day.

I mean, we were together for three months during the war, but it was an insignificant amount of time to know him as we were always fighting against the humans attacking him and the beasts attacking every living werewolf within sight.

"I do," I said, because there was nothing else left to say.

Malakai's voice was steadier than mine when the priest asked him the same thing, and I couldn't wait to command the soldiers into Gareth's land and bring Winnow home. "I do."

There was no crowd, neither was there any form of celebration that had taken place after the exchange of rings and vows, but just two witnesses who were Malakai's Beta and Gamma.

"Then by the laws of this kingdom," the priest said, "I name you bound. Husband and wife."

And that was the end of the bland ceremony. As soon as we were back into the carriage, I started listing off the things that we would be needing to storm Gareth's pack.

"They have greatly improved in technology over these past few years, and it may seem hard for an invasion, but hear me out...." I was trying to explain to Malakai, and that was when I noticed that even though he was relieved, he seemed disinterested with what I was saying. "What is that look for?"

I looked between him and his men, and the somber expressions on their faces, and my heart sank to my stomach. Had I been so desperate to marry him without verifying the information?

"It's not that simple, Ilse." Malakai said softly. "We can discuss it when we get back to the estate, can't we?"

"No, Malakai! We will discuss it here and now!" I almost yelled, and he gave his men a look to which they nodded.

"We'll meet you at the estate." His Beta said after stopping the carriage to get down with the Gamma.

When the carriage started moving again, Malakai started, and I hated that I was slightly distracted by his looks when the light of the morning sun fell across his face and he blinked slightly with his long lashes and shifted away from there. His eyes were still on me, and I saw how deep his amber eyes were.

"I thought you had gotten quite a few facts from people around, but life isn't like it used to be when the war started." He said. "The only pack that has a large number of soldiers is Gareth's pack. It turns out that they have been receiving different forms of aid from the independent wealthy figures, and the rest of people in other packs have been dying, getting sick, with nothing to keep them going."

"So... you're telling me it's impossible to get my daughter back after getting married to you? Is that what you're saying?" I bit my bottom lips to keep my anger from rising.

"That's not..." His shoulders sagged. "I'm saying that.. the people would more likely be willing to fight for Gareth's pack because of the things he can promise them. Food, water, drugs, and anything they could ever hope for. The war destroyed trade routes, and everyone is on survival mode."

"Why, I will ask you again, did you marry me if that's the case? Why did you lie to me? Why did you take advantage of my desperation? Why, Malakai, why? At the expense of the life of my daughter?" I hated to seem weak. I hated that I was about to cry again with the way my mouth was trembling.

"For the prize money." He said plainly, and I was taken aback.

"What prize money?" I asked.

"You're the heroine of the war, aren't you?" He held my gaze. "The woman who killed most of the beasts and saved a lot of soldiers for seven years... And you killed the leader of the beasts a few weeks ago, and the rest of the beasts fled into hiding because their leader is gone. Aren't you the one who did that?"

"How did you—"

"You have the mark on your skin to show it. The little circles between your breasts." He said slowly. "I'm sorry I saw you naked today. I was in a hurry to come and get you, and I—" He shook his head. "But that's beside the point. There's an award ceremony coming up soon, and both the heroine and the pack the heroine comes from, will be heavily rewarded."

"Heavily rewarded..." I repeated. "By whom?"

"The international wealthy figures." He continued. "And it wouldn't be just one of them. All of them are pooling their resources together for the award ceremony, so you can see how much money we are talking about. More than enough money to even buy Gareth's pack two times if you wanted. More than enough money to command any soldiers of your choice. That way, I can feed my pack members and take care of my sick, while you get your daughter back."

A cold sensation washed over my entire body when he said that.

"I'm sorry for deceiving you, but I needed you bound to this pack so that the reward would come to us, and marriage was the only way. I am—"

"Malakai!" I stopped him at once. "If the packs demand I prove I'm the hero... If they ask me to show them what I'm capable of in front of a court full of witnesses because just these two marks on my skin may not hold water." I held my breath for a second. "because I know a lot of people will be aware of this mark as a sign, and some people may want to replicate it to get this prize money. A lot of people will be desperate enough..." I was still saying. "If it ever comes to a show of strength, I want you to know that we wouldn't get the prize because I have lost my strength. I have lost my wolf, and I can barely hold a sword or a spear again."