BRIDE OF GRAVES

Aurora's POV

"Oh goddess, will you stop crying Aurora?" Aunt Celeste snapped at me, "You are 16 already and more than old enough to be married! You're lucky that you even have somebody who wants you even with all your…issues…"

The other women in the room whispered amongst themselves as my aunt aggressively combed my hair into a bun while the tears gathered in pools at the corners of my eyes.

Today was my mating ceremony.

And my future mate? Well, he was closer to a living artifact than a man but everyone was hollering about how lucky I was and wouldn't stop.

I had no say in the matter.

My mother had fallen into a coma a few months back, the accident triggered my wolf and I finally was able to transform.

I thought that my family would finally accept me, that they would appreciate me.

Sadly that wasn't the case.

Instead, I was displayed like an item at an auction to be toast to the highest bidder. Within a few weeks, he appeared to be already one foot in the grave with the creepiest smile that gave me nightmares.

Nobody in my family thought this was wrong.

"He's a good man. He's only been divorced twice and won't bother making you have kids since he is already all grown up. Not only that but he has connections with the alpha family as a gamma family we could not wish for a greater honor!" My aunt said dramatically, slapping her palm on my shoulders and then sinking her fingers in. I stared at the mirror in front of me, feeling every strand of hair on my head being dragged over to the bun.

"Aurora, this is the real world, not some cheesy tale, there are no prince charmings…" her face reflected in moments of sadness and it was gone sooner than it came.

"We'll have to go out and prepare some things to stay here and not cause any trouble! Remember this is the alpha pack house.. don't go wandering around!"

I went wandering around the second they were out of the door.

As I placed one foot in front of the other I imagined coming to an exit and fleeing forever.

But I couldn't do that.

My mom was here.

And my family had hinted more than once so twice how her there was where racking up in the pack hospital and making life inconvenient for them.

I wasn't a child.

I knew what they were trying to tell me.

Either I married this man and became the family's money bag.

Or I say goodbye to my mom.

My heart burned with rage and overwhelming sadness that made me tremble down to my toes and fingertips. I hated this…I despised feeling like a cornered rat.

There was a door in front of me, unlocked out of curiosity, and I pushed it open.

And the most appealing sense of musk and cedar wood came straight at me. I looked ahead and seated on the bed with a book on his lap and his scowl on his face was a boy I had only seen from afar but never thought I would see face-to-face like this.

"Are you done gawking yet or do I need to mind-link the guards?"

He slowly looked up as I stood in his eyes running over me and the bridal attire that I wore.

His scowl deepened.

"Ha, so it's you…the bride everyone keeps talking about…"

He slipped off his bed and approached me.

"You're younger than I was told,"

And he was even taller once he approached, we ought to be around the same age but he easily towered over me.

His scent, there was something so appealing about it I had never been close enough to smell it before and nothing had ever smelled so good even after I awakened my wolf and my senses got sharper.

"Are you also mute?" He was sharp too.

I remembered my aunt's strict lessons about how to approach a member of the alpha family, they were the highest-ranking wolves in the pack and all were to be greeted by their title.

"May the moon's light shine on you, Young Alpha i–"

He waved his hand dismissively.

"Lucian," he said looking me straight in the eyes

"What?" I blurted rather stupidly.

"I have a feeling you might not be the brightest tool in the shed," he commented and it was more annoying because he sounded like he was concerned rather than being simply condescending.

"I'll have you know that I'm at the top of my class," I blasted out through gritted teeth.

Immediately I was washed over with a wave of regret, have I lost my mind? This was the future alpha of the thornblade pack? How could I speak so casually to him?

"Ah, so you are the reason why I came second this year around," he deduced.

The Alpha son did not attend school like other regular kids, he was given special privileges so have his class at home and even his tests and such. He did come to school from time to time but those were only on special occasions and he was surrounded by so many admirers that getting close to him was next to impossible.

"I guess you could say so…" I thought he would be upset that he got beaten by a girl but instead he said.

"Then why are you getting married now? Seems like a waste.." he came closer, "...kind of irresponsible for you to give me competition and then take it away,"

For a moment I wanted to just spill my guts to him, something told me I could trust him.

But for some reason the words couldn't go past my throat and instead gathered, forming a huge lump, when I did finally open my mouth, anything I had to say next was swallowed back down.

"It's not a waste, school's hard and I want to settle down early,"

Just then the door burst open.

"Aurora border Nightshade!"