Chapter 6.

OLIVIA

The girls straightened up, some more than others. My girls looked at each other, a deep-seated disgust piercing each glare.

One step was all it took for my heart to stop.

Don’t come here, go to the siren…please. A pair of blue eyes that would’ve pulled any man under the surface of the water to touch her skin was flirting with the beast from the line. Go to her for fucks sake.

The way her eyes captured you, her melodious voice lured you in; it wouldn’t surprise me if she were, in fact, a siren. But based on the smell, she was a werewolf, like everyone else in here.

Another step. He was dragging this out— stalking like a predator about to pounce.

With a few steps left before he reached me, Nathaniel turned, stepped up to the siren, leaned down, and placed a kiss on her lips. I drew a breath so deep that my breast rose to my chin. My shoulders fell, and I allowed myself a second to close my eyes and thank the gods.

”We had a lovely conversation. You’re clever,” he said. ”You would make a wonderful wife,” he lifted his head, pressed another kiss on her cheeks, whilst his eyes found mine. ”Just not my wife.” Shallow gasps vibrated in the ballroom.

The siren, whose name I couldn’t remember for the life of me, dropped her gaze to her feet.

What a fucking asshole. There’s a girl who genuinely liked him, and he fucked her over.

”The one I choose to be my wife,” he said and walked past the girls between the siren and me.

Nathaniel stopped, close enough for me to feel the heat exuding from his body as he hooked a finger under my chin, lifting my head. ”Is you. Olivia Sav,”

The girl next to me tensed. The others leaned out to turn their heads. This wasn’t happening.

I dreaded turning my head to see Charity watching me, so I didn’t. keeping my eyes locked on Nathaniel’s, adamant on not letting an ounce of fear show on my face, I gently lowered his hand.

Lady Lockheart smiled behind him. As though this was the proudest moment of her life.

”Thank you for your interest in me. However, I can not accept,” when the silence choked me, I quickly added. ”Sorry.”

On my life, this was the most powerful I’d ever felt. Nathaniel thought he could have anything he wanted because of the name he bore. Little did he know a girl would turn him down. But why was he still smiling?

Shouldn’t he be offended or running to his mother, throwing a tantrum because, for once in his life, he didn’t get what he wanted?

”Uhm,” Lady Lockheart’s heels clicked when she took a cautious step. ”Actually, the girl chosen by my son may not turn him down. It’s stated clearly in the rules that if a Lockheart is ever to participate in the Ruby Ball, he will have a definite bond with his chosen girl. One that can not be refuted.”

You’re fucking kidding me.

This wasn’t happening. No, no, no…

The sinister joy in Nathaniels’ eyes sparked an anger in the marrow of my bones.

”You’re telling me that I don’t have a choice?” I asked.

”It’s not like it’s a nuisance, you’re marrying a Lockheart,” she said.

That was the problem; I wasn’t marrying a devoted, loving man. I didn’t even have a say in this.

”This was not what I signed up for,” I said under my breath.

Nathaniel cupped my cheek and bent my neck as he forced my head up.

”I made you a promise last time we met. I’m a man of my word,” a feigned devotion in his voice forced a wrinkle to deepen between my brows.

”What?” Charity snapped.

Fuck…

Nathaniel’s gaze snapped to her, a glare so fierce I wouldn’t dare to meet it myself, but I had to. Watching the betrayal drip on her face was more than I could take, but I deserved it. Not only had I slept with the enemy, but I had lied to her about it.

”Has she not told you? You were there that night, at the bar. The night Olivia and I snuck out,”

Someone cleared their throat. Another gulped the rest of the champagne, shaking the last drop free from the bottom of the glass.

Others stepped back as though preparing for a crash out.

Nobody here was naive enough to look past the fact that we were in the Lockheart pack. Surrounded by their people. Their leaders. The very reason for the ruin of our lands. Though most of the guests here benefited from the Lockheart’s ruthlessness.

”Olivia?” Charity breathed.

”I’m- I’m sorry,” I whispered. Nathaniel’s hand, still with an iron grip on my face, turned me back.

”Now that that’s been sorted, it’s nice to meet you, wife.” He leaned down; his lips brushed against my ear as he whispered,” Take a good look at everything you’re leaving behind.” he turned my head to lock eyes with Charity. ”You’re mine now.”