Wedding gift

Elara's POV

I was expecting something grand.Or at least intimidating.Instead, when the heavy doors of the King’s castle opened and I was led inside, the place felt eerily empty.

Not abandoned—but quiet in a way that made my skin prickle.No crowd was there waiting to mock me.No curious nobles whispering behind my back. No hint of any ceremony.Just… silence.

“This way, my lady,” the servant muttered, not even bothering to look at me.

Lady?Yeah, right,my new title. I followed anyway. The weight of my bridal dress and jewellery suddenly started digging too deep into my skin,with every step. 

The corridors stretched endlessly—polished floors, towering pillars, expensive paintings—but not a soul in sight.“Where is everyone?” I finally asked.

The servant didn’t even slow down. “Preparations elsewhere.”

The answer was useless,too vague! What a great start. We stopped in front of a massive door. He pushed it open and stepped aside.“Your chamber.” And just like that, he left.

No husband in sight,no introduction,nothing at all.

Great!!! 

---

I stepped inside cautiously.The room was beautiful,annoyingly so.Soft candlelight flickered across velvet drapes.A massive four poster bed stood in the center like something out of fantasy, and the faint scent of sandalwood hung in the air.

But I was emotionally empty,completely unreceptive.I let out a sigh of relief.“Well… thank the Moon for small mercies,” I muttered.

I sat on the edge of the bed, waiting.

And waiting.

And waiting.

Hours passed.No footsteps.No knock.Still no “husband.”

I stared at the door for what felt like forever before finally groaning and dragging my hands over my face.“Oh, screw this.”

Carefully, I started removing the jewellery—one piece at a time. The heavy necklace came off first, then the earrings, then the bracelet.Each piece felt like shedding a layer of suffocation.By the time I was done, I could finally breathe again.“Much better,” I sighed out loud, flexing my neck.

I glanced at the door.Still nothing.“Alright then,” I muttered, standing up. “If my mighty husband isn’t showing up, I’m not going to just sit here like an idiot...let's explore…”

---

The palace corridors were just as empty as before.I walked aimlessly, my bare footsteps echoing softly, curiosity slowly replacing the primary tension.

That’s when my eyes stilled over a portrait.It was massive,dominating an entire wall.I stopped to stare.The man in the painting had sharp features, cold eyes, and an expression that screamed arrogance even through paint. He looked powerful.And dangerous.“Who’s that?” I asked aloud.

A maid passing by stopped. “That’s Prince Dustan.”

I blinked.“My husband?”

The maid nodded quickly. “Yes, my lady.”

I looked back at the portrait, frowning slightly.He didn’t look broken or crippled.He looked like someone who could ruin lives for fun.“Huh,” I murmured. “Interesting.”

I was about to move on when a sound cut through the silence.A soft breath.Then another.And then I heard a very unmistakable moan.

I froze.“You’ve got to be kidding me.” It came from a nearby room, the door slightly ajar.Curiosity got the better of me.I stepped closer, hesitating only for a second before pushing the door open just enough to peek inside.

And then—

Yeah.

Okay.

Not what I expected. Not at all.

—

A woman was draped over him—over my ‘husband’. 

And he was sitting on a damn wheelchair which looked more like a gaming chair- too sleek with hell lot of buttons than were supposed to be on a damn wheelchair. Very much not looking helpless.Very much preoccupied licking her tities.

I blinked once.Twice.“Well,” I muttered under my breath, “this is… something.”

The woman noticed me first. She froze, then turned her head sharply.“What the hell?!” she snapped.

I pushed the door open fully, stepping in. I had every right to be there.“Relax,” I said casually. “Didn’t mean to interrupt your… workout.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Who the hell are you?”

I tilted my head, completely unfazed.“I was about to ask you the same thing,” I shot back. Then, after a beat I added, “But since you asked—I’m his wife.”

Silence!

Then she laughed.Like actually laughed out loud.“Wife?” she repeated, amused. A low chuckle followed.

I looked at him.He was watching me now, eyes sharp, amused, like this was some kind of an opening act. “Oh,” he said lazily, “so this is the gold digger.”

My brows shot up.“Excuse me?” I crossed my arms, irritation finally creeping in.“Your uncle forced this arrangement,” I said sharply. “Don’t flatter yourself into thinking I chased this disaster.”

He didn’t even bother responding properly.Just smirked.Then, like I wasn’t even worth another second of his time, he pulled the woman closer again.“Get out,” he said flatly. “Go find something else to do.”

I stared at him for a moment then scoffed.“Wow,” I muttered. “Charming.” No anger,no heartbreak,just… disappointment,and a hint of disbelief at how ridiculous this whole situation was.I shook my head, turning on my heel.

“Enjoy your evening,” I tossed over my shoulder.And with that I walked out.I wasn’t about to stand there and watch that circus any longer.

For a split second—just before I turned—our eyes locked.It wasn’t long.Barely a heartbeat.

But something in his gaze shifted.Behind that arrogance, that lazy amusement…there was something… something sharper,darker.Like recognition.

Like—No! I broke the eye contact first, scoffing under my breath as I turned and walked out, shutting the door behind me with more force than was necessary.

“Unbelievable,” I muttered, striding down the corridor.

But I had barely taken a few steps when it hit.A sharp, searing pain exploded in my chest.

I stopped dead.“What the—”

My hand flew to my heart as the pain twisted, deeper, almost suffocating. It wasn’t physical. Not exactly. It felt like something clawing from the inside out—burning, pulsing—alive.

My breath hitched.“No… no, no, no—”

I staggered back. My shoulder hit the cold stone wall as realization crashed over me like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.This pain…I knew this pain.Every werewolf did.It was the bond.The mate bond.My eyes widened in pure horror. “…You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

A strangled laugh escaped me, but there was no humor in it. Just disbelief and panic.

Him?

This man?

Out of everyone—

The universe had the audacity to make this man my fated mate? My stomach churned violently.

I pressed my palm harder against my chest, trying to steady the erratic rhythm, but the ache only deepened— it was raw, emotional and humiliating.And then the worst thought hit me.

If I felt it,then he too must have… 

My head snapped towards the direction of the room I had just left.Silence stretched in the corridor, but the echo of what I had just seen replayed in my mind like a cruel joke.

He felt it.He had to have felt it.And yet—He didn’t stop,didn’t hesitate,didn’t even look conflicted.

He just—continued.

Something inside me cracked.Not loudly.Just… quietly.A sharp, bitter edge settled in my chest, replacing the shock.“Wow,” I whispered, my voice hollow. “That’s… impressive.” 

There wasn’t even a second of pause.Did he not even have any curiosity?Just complete disregard?! My lips curled, but there was no real smile there.“Good to know where I stand.”

The pain lingered, duller now but still there—like a bruise forming under the surface.I closed my eyes for a moment, forcing myself to breathe,forcing myself to think!There had to be an explanation.There had to be—And then it clicked.His “disability.”

My eyes slowly opened.“…Right.”

If his body was impaired, if something in him was broken enough,maybe he couldn’t feel it.Maybe the bond didn’t reach him the way it did me.Maybe—He didn’t know.

A strange sense of relief washed over me, mixing with the lingering ache.“That… actually works out,” I muttered.Because if he didn’t feel it,then I didn’t have to deal with it.I didn't have to explain anything.Didn’t have to acknowledge this twisted, ridiculous connection fate had decided to shove down my throat.

My jaw tightened.“Yeah,” I said under my breath, straightening up. “We’re not doing this.”

No mate bond.No emotional bullshit.No expectations.He had made his stance very clear.

And I would match it.Perfectly.

I took one last steadying breath, rolling my shoulders back as the last traces of shock hardened. “This ends here,” I whispered.

And just like that—I decided.He would never know.