Semua Bab Guarding His Forbidden Mate: Bab 1 - Bab 8

Every time the seamstress tugged at the corset, I felt another bit of my breath leave me. "Stop fidgeting, Jess," my mother murmured, smoothing a stray hair from my forehead. The smile on her face made me want to smack it off so badly. "You’re the luckiest girl in the territory. Nathan is a prince among wolves. Do you realize the number of ladies that wish for a man like him?"Lucky? I rolled my eyes, already faded up from her constant reminders. How is that supposed to be my problem? Not like I fancy him to say. He’s handsome, don’t get me wrong. Only that I don’t see that ‘much perfection’ in him as everyone claims. In fact, he was everything a girl was supposed to have, not just me."I can't breathe," I whispered, my hand going to the hollow of my throat. "It’s just nerves, darling," my father’s voice boomed from the doorway. He walked in, his Alpha presence filling the room, pushing out the scent of lilies and lavender. "Every bride feels the weight of the moon before her cerem

Morning came quicker than I thought.I woke up wrapping my arms so tight against my chest. Thinking about Kaelen—the way he’d breathed me in, the way his heart had hammered against mine—was the only thing giving me a sense of peace. It was a secret, dangerous anchor in a sea of lies.A soft knock at the door shattered the quiet."Lady Jessica? It’s Anne. Everyone is waiting.""Coming," I croaked.Anne walked in, already holding out a dress that looked like a summer sky. It was beautiful, expensive, and I hated it. As she brushed my hair and pinned it back, she kept chirping about the breakfast menu. "The King and Queen are already seated, and Prince Nathan arrived early. They’re in the grand dining hall."My heart did a hopeful little skip. If Kaelen was my protector, he’d be right outside my door, wouldn't he? I finished dressing and practically threw the door open, my eyes searching the hallway. Empty. There was a guard at the end of the corridor, but it was just some boy from the

I stood by the window, my forehead pressed against the cold glass. I felt like a prisoner in my own room. Nathan had stationed two guards right outside my door, and it was impossible for a lady like me to jump from the balcony. There was no way out, not for me. I looked at the wedding dress hanging at the corner, everything about it pissed me off the more. I was so angry I wanted to rip it off until it was rags.A soft click at the door made me turn.My mother walked inside, closing the door quietly behind her. She looked tired."I wanted to check on the bride," she said softly, walking toward me. She reached out to touch my cheek, but I pulled away. "The bride is a prisoner, Mom," I said. "Is this how it’s supposed to be? Am I supposed to feel like I’m waiting for my execution?""It’s just nerves, Jess," she whispered, though she wouldn't meet my eyes. "Being a Luna is a heavy burden. You have to think of the pack. Nathan will provide stability. He will provide safety."I looked at

I could feel the silence of the room press down on me, like it was eating up the remaining oxygen left. If I said I had healed from Kaelen's reaction, then call me a liar.I forced myself to sleep. Despite the cold night breeze and the air from the air conditioner, nature decided to be cruel to me. I had been staring at the ceiling for the past... I don't know. Hours?Meanwhile, the bond was screaming at me. It didn't seem to care about that crazy attitude Kaelen had displayed, it only cared that he was hurting. The fact that he was silently bleeding while trying to act professional was what bothered me."Not on my watch," I whispered.I grabbed a basin of warm water, some clean linen strips, and a jar of healing salve my mother kept for emergencies. My heart was hammering against my ribs as I walked to the door and pulled it open.Kaelen snapped to attention instantly. He looked exhausted no matter how active he tried to appear. "Lady Jessica? It is late. Do you need something?""Ins