The wedding night

Chapter 3

SERAPHINA

I stood in front of the mirror, staring right at my reflection. The wedding gown I wore felt heavy. Not just on my body, but on my heart. The fabric was soft, but I couldn’t feel anything. I just stood there, staring at the girl in the mirror. She looked like me, but she wasn’t smiling. She seemed like someone who was about to lose everything. She seemed like someone who was walking into a cage. She looked like a helpless and powerless person.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” I stared in complete disbelief. The look on the girl's face in the mirror is equally scared and skeptical.

I pressed my hands to the table near me as I tried to breathe. I shook my head and furiously blinked my eyes. I won't cry.

The door opened, and my cousin Clarissa walked in with a big smile. “You look so beautiful, Sera,” she said, a smile slipping onto her lips as she walked to me.

I forced a small smile. “Do I?” I questioned. “I feel like I’m wearing chains.”

Clarissa touched my shoulder. “It’s going to be okay,” she promised. “Just breathe. You’re doing this for the pack and family.”

I snorted, wrinkled my nose and narrowed my eyes. “I know. But it doesn’t feel right. He won't like me. And I don't like them either."

Clarissa looked down, toying with her fingers, and she struggled for the right words to tell me. “He’s a lycan, Sera. We have been bound to hate each other since centuries ago. It's not your fault, neither is it there's. But maybe he’ll change. He might be different. You haven't met him.”

“I don’t believe in maybes anymore,” I spun around and threw my arms vaguely in the air. “But thank you for being here.”

Clarissa smiled and hugged me. “Let’s get through today. One step at a time.”

When it was time, my father came in. He looked at me, his eyes soft but firm. “It’s time,” he pushed through the door. “Are you ready?” 

“Does it make any difference?” I retorted.

He sighed, but didn't offer me any more words. And I liked it that way.

I followed him out. My legs felt stiff. Each step felt like I was walking toward a cage. We got into the car and drove to the registry. The ride was quiet. No one said anything. Not my father. Not me.

When we arrived, there were people waiting. Werewolves on one side. Lycans on the other hand. They didn’t mix, talk, all they did was stare at each other with cold eyes. What were both parties expecting when they're arranging the marriage? That the hostility between both species would be reduced? I saw the king, Leone, standing there, tall and distant.

My father led me inside the room. The walls were plain. The man who would register our marriage sat with a pen, waiting. We stood beside each other – me and Leone – but we didn’t spare each other a glance to talk more of exchanging words. 

“Sign here,” the man snapped gruffly, shooting me a non-too-pleasant-look, and I knew instantly he was a Lycan.

Leone took the pen first without a word. He scribbled his name fast like he didn’t care. Then I took the pen. My hand trembled, but I signed slowly. My name felt strange on the paper.

“There. It’s done,” the man announced, bitter dripping all over his voice. “You’re now legally husband and wife.”

I didn’t feel married. I felt like I had been sold. I felt like this was a transaction, but what kind of marriage exchange is this? My gaze settled on Leone beside me, but he didn't even glance at me.

.....

Subsequently, they drove us to his estate. It was huge, cold, beautiful, but lifeless. The garden was wide. The lycans stood around, watching with cold and uncertain looks in their eyes. Father had gone back with the pack as soon as we signed the papers and left me alone. Their faces were blank, no one cheered, not even a clap. It was just silence and cold air.

We stood there like statues until a man called out, “the Ceremony’s over.”

Later, after I had eaten my fill in the kitchen, I was taken to a bedroom. I stepped inside and saw Leone already lying on the bed. His shirt was open. His arm was over his eyes. He reeked of alcohol.

I stood there, frozen. “Are you okay?” I asked, even though I knew I shouldn't care.

“Don't you dare talk to me, filthy werewolf.” He sneered at me. The weight of his voice made me step back, horrified.

But I recovered immediately. “The feeling is mutual, Lycan.” I gritted out.

He chuckled, but didn't say any more words.

Will I be spending the night with a drunken-out-for-my-blood-lycan-monster-in-form-of-a-king-and-husband?

I spruced up hurriedly and changed into a simple nightdress and quietly lay on the other side of the bed. I stared at the ceiling. I couldn’t sleep.

Minutes passed. Maybe hours.

Leone suddenly got up and walked out. And where was he heading to in his drunken state? I waited for what felt like forever for any sounds but didn't get any.

Curiosity got the better part of me as I slid down the bed and slipped my feet into my flip-flop, and prowled after him. My feet made no sound on the marble floor, the hall was long and the lights were dim and everywhere was quiet. I walked slowly, my heart beating hard. What was I thinking following the king? What if he got mad at me? And does the unthinkable?

At the thought of all the things Leone could do to me, I decided to turn around and head back to the room. But then I heard something that made me stop. A woman moaning and a man whispering words. I moved closer to the half-open door at the end of the hallway.

I peeked in and my heart stopped.

There he was. Leone. In bed with another woman. Her legs wrapped around him and his hands on her waist. The woman's face was turned away, so I couldn't get a better picture. But I saw Leone’s face, calm and focused. He wasn’t drunk now. He was present with her.

I stepped back. My hand flew to my mouth. My whole body shook. My heart shattered into pieces I was unable to pick up.

He cheated on our wedding night. He didn’t care.

“I love you so fucking much, dirty girl,” Leone groaned against her lips – shocking me the more – and as he pushed his fingers into her again, she came for him, her pussy gripping him tightly and her moans of pleasure coloring the air.  

While her body was still pulsing with pleasure, Leone yanked her upright, forcing her shaky legs to hold her in her heels as he pushed her face down over the bed 

That was my chance, but I didn't see the face of the woman. I was supposed to leave immediately, but my feet felt rooted there as I watched them with widened eyes.

He yanked her panties down, not even bothering to remove them completely and leaving them around her ankles as he rolled his zipper open to free his solid length. He slid his cock into her still throbbing pussy.  

The woman had the audacity to groan some garbled version of his name as he seated himself fully inside her. 

“Do you like that?” he asked her roughly, his fingertips digging in as he took a firmer grip of her hips, and I knew at that moment that he was going to destroy her.  

  

“Yes,” the woman gasped, feeling so full of him that it was difficult to get the word out.  

“Good girl.” He spanked her again and I sucked in a sharp breath as he tugged his cock back out of her before slamming it in so hard that her hips smacked against the edge of the bed and a bite of pain reached her.

“Yes,” the woman moaned loudly, rolling her eyes to the back of her head in pleasure.

Leone grunted as he thrust in and out of her like a savage. 

“I love you, Leone,” She mumbled, turning her head to seek his lips, and he gave them to me with a low growl.  

“You'd better. Because there's no way in hell that I'm ever letting you go.”  

That was it! That was my sign! I turned around with a broken heart and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind me gently.

“Let's go for another ride, and Leone, I'm riding you.” The woman called happily as I walked down the hallway.

And I swore that voice sounded familiar. Like someone I knew in my family, I knew. But with that haze in my mind, I couldn't think of anyone the voice belonged to.

I ran back to our room, shut the door and leaned against it. My knees gave out, and I slid down to the floor.

I wanted to scream. But I didn’t. I didn’t want anyone to hear. I would rather not be weak.

I crawled into the bed and pulled the blanket over my head. I closed my eyes and let the tears pour as I cried silently. The tears burned. My whole body trembled.

I felt tempted to interrupt them there and ask him why. My throat was itching to shout and rain curses at them. But what was the use?

Leone didn’t marry me for love. This was a deal between father and Grandfather Lucien. It was an arranged marriage. Nothing more.

I stared at the wall.

Tomorrow, I will wake up and pretend nothing happened. I would smile in front of his people. And probably play the role of his wife. Because that’s what I had agreed to do.

But in my heart, something had broken. And I didn’t know if it could be fixed.

“I hope she was worth it,” I whispered into the darkness.

“I hate this,” I whispered. “I hate him.”

But deep down, I didn’t hate him. I hated myself more…for hoping. How stupid of me to think this marriage would turn into something. For thinking maybe he’d see me. For believing in my hopeless hope.

I cried until my throat hurt. The tears kept on pouring freely until my eyes got swollen. Then I stopped abruptly. I stared into the darkness swirling around me. 

This was my life now. A wife to a man who didn’t want me. A woman trapped in a house where love didn’t live.