Chapter 3

Lydia’s POV.

 

“ABSOLUTELY NOT!” I gasped as my tears flowed.

 

Why would he think it was okay to coerce me into marrying t..that…man! Just because of revenge!

 

Fear lanced through me as Wilson’s face grew cold and hardened in displeasure.

 

Oh no! I know that face.

 

He was going to do it! He was going to walk out of my life without a second thought if I didn’t do something!

 

I watched in horror as he adjusted the sleeves of his shirt, slid his hands into the pockets of his pants, and turned away from me silently to walk back into the meeting room.

 

Fear, anger, and desperation rose in me as my tears fell so fast that they temporarily blinded me.

 

“Wait! Wilson, please don’t go!” I yelled as I angrily swiped my hand across my face to clear my vision and went after him.

 

Because I had lost my pack, I had lost Mamma and the people who loved me, but I absolutely could not afford to lose Wilson too.

 

Wilson didn’t slow at my plea but kept on determinedly walking towards the meeting room. And I just knew that the moment he went behind those doors to face King Darwin, it'd all be over.

 

“Wait, please! FINE, I’LL MARRY HIM! Just please wait!” I yelled in panic as I ran after him and tugged on his hand.

 

The moment Wilson heard my promise, he stilled and turned to me with a look of pride on his face.

 

“Are you sure? You’ll accept him as your mate without making any childish fuss." He asked with his voice, so hopeful. So similar to the boy he had been before the attack.

 

I gave him a wordless nod as I sealed my fate.

 

“Thank you, Lydia. You’re such a good girl,” Wilson said, pleased as he threw his arms around me and hugged me tight.

 

 

I hugged Wilson back happily

Maybe, just maybe, marrying this King wouldn’t be so bad after all. I mean, if it makes Wilson this happy, then maybe I can do it.

 

“I’m proud of you for making this choice, Lydia. You’ve done right by our family."

 

Pleasure bloomed in me at those words, and I was about to reply when my wolf grew shifty, alerting me of his presence mere moments before Wilson pushed me away from him hurriedly and bowed to an unhappy-looking King Darwin.

 

Just great! Not only did I have to marry this man, but he had made spoiling my happiness with Wilson a priority.

 

Drusilla growled in pleasure at his presence and kept inching me to move closer to him. I ignored her with an eye roll and crossed my arms.

 

‘Go on then,” Wilson whispered behind me as he pushed me forward.

 

I stumbled and blushed crimson as King Darwin watched the interaction in amusement.

 

“Tell the king what you told me,” Wilson demanded with pride in his voice.

 

I cleared my throat, straightening Wilson’s coat, as I tried to figure out what to say.

 

“Come on, Ly. Apologize to King Darwin and tell him what you told me,” Wilson said, his voice more frantic this time.

 

A dislike for this so-called King Darwin rose in me. But I wanted to keep Wilson happy so I looked up at King Darwin to apologize, even though I didn’t feel sorry at all.

 

“Sorry for rejecting you,” I said through clenched teeth as I gave him the fakest smile I could muster.

“Are you?” He asked as he adjusted his wristwatch, although his entire attention was on me.

 

“Are you sorry? You don’t seem sorry,” He added in amusement.

 

He had a way of looking at me that sent shivers crawling through my skin. He focused on me like I was the only one in the room, and his attention unnerved me.

 

“I’m so sorry, King Darwin,” Wilson apologized immediately with a low bow.

 

And my stomach clenched slightly at the thought that maybe my little stunt had offended him.

 

“LYDIA,” Wilson called my name with barely concealed anger in his voice.

 

“Apologize properly to the King and tell him what you agreed to, Now,” Wilson commanded me one last time as he pushed me a bit roughly towards the King, and I stumbled on my feet.

 

I would have fallen had he not caught me. Heat stained my cheeks as I felt his hands on me.

 

“Wilson, I expect you to accord my mate the utmost respect from now on because not only is she your Queen, she is also your mother-in-law,” King Darwin hissed angrily as his hold on me tightened.

 

THE NERVE OF THIS MAN!

 

 I drew back from him instantly and folded my arms again in irritation.

 

“According to that rule, Since I’m your mate and Wilson is my family. I also demand that you speak to him with the utmost respect,” I said, mimicking his voice with an eye roll.

 

“You’re cute; I’ll give you that. Is that really what you think I sound like?” He chuckled in amusement as he focused his eyes on me again.

 

I shook my head to clear all of Drusilla’s traitorous, less-than-innocent thoughts from my head.

 

“Wilson, my daughter is waiting anxiously for you in the meeting room,” King Darwin said to Wilson, without taking his eyes from me.

 

Yes, my king. Of course,” Wilson replied in a slight panic as he sped away from us back to the meeting room.

 

With a resigned sigh, I made to follow him but bumped into a hard thing.

 

“Sorry,” I mumbled under my breath as I stepped to the right to avoid him and follow Wilson, but to my surprise and growing irritation, I bumped into him again.

 

I sidestepped but bumped into him again about two more times before I gave up.

He was so tall, it was almost impossible to look intimidatingly at his infuriating face, but I tried anyway.

 

I folded my arms and looked up at him.

 

“Is there a particular reason, you’ve decided to play like a child?” I hissed.

 

He gave me no reply. Just smiling and staring at me in that unnerving way of his.

 

Drusilla was howling and begging for me to throw my arms around him, and her shamelessness made me smile.

 I might have considered her request for one second. A small one. A very small one.

 

“You need to stop looking at me like that, with your arms crossed and your eyes looking at me if you want me to move,” he said softly as he bent low to look at me.

 

I gasped and stared down at Wilson’s coat, which had moved, and dropped my arms quickly.

 

He chuckled and said.

 

“You might also want to stop biting your mouth if you don’t want me to do it for you,”