Chapter 1

Sorrel’s pov

No…no…no

I stumbled back, hands on the wall as I tried to find my way back to my fitting room. Noise hummed in my head and their moans floated at the back of my mind.

*It’s normal. It’s okay after all this is all just formalities* I told myself repeatedly as I crept down the cold hallways.

My vision became blurry and I sniffed. Was this what I would be putting up with? Was this how it was going to be?

The image of him behind his bodyguard barreled through my mind causing me to freeze once again. His grunt, his growl, and the red glow in his eyes like he was possessed from being inside him almost brought me to my knees.

What was I going to do?

“My lady.” A maid quickly caught my arm. “We were looking all over for you. Where did you go?”

Her words were merely comprehensible to me. All I kept seeing or hearing was Nathaniel’s body coiled from tension as he pounded into the other man. His hands wrapped around his throat possessively.

“Ma’am? Miss Sorrel?” The maid called. “Are you okay? You look sick. Oh no!” She was beginning to panic and I had to hold myself together. Quickly.

I grabbed her hand. “I’m fine,” I said. “I’m fine… I…umm.. I needed some air. Marriage blues you know.” 

I forced a smile and she nodded, seemingly understanding.

“It’s okay.” She wrapped her arms around my shoulder and led me back to my fitting room. “It can be liked that sometimes. But the Alpha loves you.”

To everyone, they believed this union was blessed by the moon goddess. We were fated mates but it was just an elaborate plan by the ruling council, his and mine for us to marry. 

From the day I was born, my duties as Alpha Princess had been made known to me. Marrying Alpha Nathaniel of the Wolffang pack was my sole responsibility and the reason for my birth.

They fixed my veil, tightened the corset, so tight the bone almost snapped and pierced my skin.

But that was nothing compared to what I was feeling. The heat inside me when I realized that this corset was almost snatching the life force from me was how I would be leaving my life when I married Nathaniel.

Caged.

*Run, Sorrel, run away* my wolf, Nadia said.

*I can't run away, Nadia,” I told her. 

*Yes, you can. Do it now* she persisted. *he doesn’t even love you*

But I didn’t have the luxury to marry for love and she knew that.

*Our pack, what are we going to do if I abandon my duty* She went silent.

Hot tears pooled in my eyes. Every day we faced attacks as the smallest pack in the province. Marrying Nathaniel would offer alimony and protection and I knew that and yet it still hurt.

*There has to be another way* she tried again. 

*There is not* I let her know and then I gave a noncommittal shrug. *Who knows maybe he’ll come to love us someday*

“It’s time,” my maid of honor said beside me breaking my interaction with my wolf. “Your father is waiting for you.”

I nodded and then she took me to my father. She left and joined the others. When it was just us two, my father and I, he spoke.

“Remember why you are doing this, Sorrel.” He linked his arms with mine and stared at me. “It’s for the good of our pack and your mother.”

 I dragged in a deep breath as the door swung open to the grand hall. A bright smile made its way to my face as all heads turned in our direction.

“Yes, father.” I tightened my grip on him. “I know my duty.”

He rubbed my knuckles and then we walked out arms in arms down the aisle where Nathaniel stood awaiting me with thinly veiled irritation. 

With every step, I made a conscious effort not to look at the werewolves present, nor to feed my eyes with the room because the moment I do, I might bolt through the closest window.

My father let me go as he took his seat beside my mother. I climbed the stage slowly, careful not to move haphazardly and impale myself on my corset bone.

*some husband he is* Nadia scoffed. *he couldn’t even help you up.”

I blocked Nadia and turned to the oracle that was when my breath caught— His hazel eyes pierced mine with precision and slowly took a descent down my body.

My throat thickened and heat, hot and intense, rushed down my spine.

I quickly looked away with a racing heart.

What the hell was that?

“We are here to witness the union between Princess Sorrel of the BlueMoon pack and Alpha Nathaniel of the Wolffang pack,” the oracle began as if nothing had happened.

I gasped at him, had I imagined that? 

“As we join this union and we all bear witness to it, may their beds and hearts flourish.”

I watched as the oracle raised the blade and my breath hitched. I heard my wolf saying we should have run away when we had the chance and I couldn’t agree more.

I should have run away.

“Palm,” the oracle’s voice was deep and rich like timber, it rattled my spine and I swallowed as my throat suddenly went dry.

I stretched my hand and he took it. I didn’t register the cut when our skins made contact. It was like a match to a forest. Pure ravaging fire that threatened to consume everything in its path.

When I lifted my head and our eyes met. 

I knew then that he felt what I was feeling.

This fire between us, the pull and the undeniable spark between us.

*We should have married him instead* Nadia rolled her eyes as we stared at the oracle. *his face definitely makes the eye grateful to stare at*

There was this thrum in my veins that I couldn’t explain and it was happening because of him.

I jerked back as if burned, Nathaniel caught me in time before I could embarrass myself.  He smiled at the frightened crowd and waved his hand that all was okay.

“There.” He stroked my back and leaned close as if to check if I was alright and said through clenched teeth.

“Behave.”

I nodded and mouthed an apology at him.

I peeled my eyes from the oracle and watched as the blade sliced through Nathaniel’s palm as well. The bowl of coal was pushed forward and we clasped our hands over the burning coal, our blood mixing and dripping into the fire to solidify our bond.

Lifting my head once again, I saw the oracle staring at me. His eyes seemed to harden as they roamed my face and his nose flared.

I tried to read the look in his eyes when suddenly the world around me melted away save for two of us. Our eyes locked and time came to an abrupt stop, my skin flushed hot as my body came to life.

“Declare us, Brother.” I heard Nathaniel say and I blinked back to focus.

Wait, what?

Brother?

I looked between them

Was the Oracle Nathaniel’s brother?

I darted my eyes once more to the oracle—Nathaniel’s brother and every fire I had seen in his eyes was replaced with that of cool indifference.

Like he once again didn’t feel anything.

“I declare Princess Sorrel and Alpha Nathaniel Ceraveaux husband and wife, Alpha and Luna to the Wolffang pack.” The oracle lifted his hand and the people cheered. 

“You may kiss.” That came like a whip and I stilled, conscious of every eye on me. On us.

Nadia was at the back of my mind violently against it, shaking her head and telling me to look at the oracle.

Nathaniel didn’t give me time to react. He pulled me close and crashed his lips on me. I’ve never tasted dust, but if I were to describe it, it would be this—Nathaniel’s kiss.

It went on longer than I could have anticipated or liked while something violent along with my wolf thrashed relentlessly, bringing me dangerously close to the edge.

We pulled apart and the second we did, every sense in me sharpened as the edge of a sword, the fine hairs on my arms and neck stood erect and the word left me.

“MATE!”

The crowd erupted into cheers while my eyes locked on the hazel green of the oracle.

Nathaniel’s brother.

He was my mate.