Chapter one:The dreadful wedding night.

Emerald Kent 

My father sold me out like a slave. 

He didn't even care that I was his daughter and confronted me to know if it would hurt my feelings before doing that.

Well I'm not surprised.

“She must marry him” 

“You may be powerful Alpha Kent but you are getting old”

“ Her husband will do a good job”

“We have the perfect candidate”

“That's the final verdict”

“She's a woman,she can't fulfill her duties as a ruler”

“She's only good for mating and matchmaking”

Papa drums his hands on his chair calculatively as he watches them argue. 

His white hair gelled and styled perfectly to the back to resonate with his stoic expression.

My chest tightened heavily.

I hate that I'm so powerless that I don't have a say in all these kinds of meetings, especially when they are talking about my own.

My own future.

These elders have no sense of reasoning.

The nonsense they were spitting out.

I snapped out suddenly and marched out to wait for him.

I don't know what's boosting my morale but I can't just get married to someone I've never met at all because of their selfishness.

After making sure that the elders left I went in and he looked at me and said nothing.

I gotta use the crying format for him to see how serious I am because I rarely show my emotions around him.

He's always so tight and intense.

“Papa, I am your heiress and I'm not eight anymore. I can make my own decisions.”

“Papa,no please”

“Don't forsake me Papa however I've wronged you”

“Don't sell me out to those blood-sucking elders,papa”

I begged him for the sixth time as I knelt down crying profusely. My heart is beating fast to see if he'll change his mind.

He gave me a blank stare as he watched me quietly.

He should say something already.

“Tell me what to do, anything. I can do anything rather than get into that prison called marriage, papa please”

“You promised never to hurt me”

“You can't force me into a loveless marriage”I began screaming tiresome of his silence.

“Papa please, don't –

“Get up you stupid girl, you're 20”

“I'm actually 23 years old,papa.”

“Aren’t you ashamed, you're getting married this night and that's final”

“Guards!!!”

“Take her away!”

“Lock her up and make sure she doesn't escape before the wedding”

I sobbed so hard,this time really hard. No, my tears can't go to waste.

He wants me to be dragged out.

He sometimes forgets that I'm the heiress of the Black Moon pack.

When I was little, my father and I were so close that he always read me bedtime stories every night. He did the work of both parents.

My mother died while birthing me.

Things changed when the war between the dragons and werewolves ended. He became an entirely different person.

“Papa,atleast tell me the reason. I deserve to know the reason”

He abruptly signaled to them to stop.

And then looked down at me.

“You are too young to rule,my dear.This throne is so cruel especially in this time.” 

“I knew what I did sacrifice to be here with you and I wouldn't want you to go through the same,my child” 

He said, his eyes tearing up.

“The world is evil my child, they'll do anything. Even a lot will plot to kill you.”

“I know you tried your best papa but if you bestow the wisdom and teachings to rule in this world. I'm a fast learner and I can improve within days. If only you stopped locking me up like a castle princess…”

“Emerald,this is the best I can do for you,for it will take you years to learn the dynamics of this world.”

“You don't need to bother yourself,you should rule the people in your own way;handle the women's affairs and give birth to lovely kids”

“Do what your mama couldn't do,be better than her. Make her proud and I will be proud of you” I sobbed at the mention of my mother. 

Although I'm not satisfied yet,I sniffed .

“But papa…”

“Go,go to your room Emerald!” He said pointing to the door with a straight face.

My face down, slightly dejected as I walked to my room.

I rushed to my ringing phone, anticipating for someone to bring me out this hell hole.

And it was no other person than my boyfriend,Derek.

Yeah I may be a locked-in castle princess but that doesn't mean I don't experience love.

We've been in a two year relationship.

He's an elite Knight in the alpha soldier and his father is one of the elders.

I really wish he's the one I was getting married to…

I couldn't call him for months due to his training.

He said it could put him in trouble.

I always sneak out to go meet him in our secret spot and was never caught.

That tells me our love is really strong.

He called.

The first time he called.

I picked up and tried to swallow my excitement.

“Hey babe, what's up, how're ya doing?”

“Waooh,slowdown Emerald”

“Babe, I need to see you right now. A lot…”

“Umm Emerald I'm kinda busy now” He said in a muffling tone.

“Babe please,can't you make out time for me,we-”

“I gotta train with my teammates,now” He said in the same tone, cutting me off again.

“We never have time for each other,babe” Truthfully dragged on because I didn't know how to break the news to him.

“I'll make it up to you Emerald” Already. He wants to slip away but I'm not having any of it.

“ I'm getting married,” I said coldly.

“You're…what. What did you just say?”

I sniffed in trying to hold my tears.

“I'm getting married tonight,Derek”

“You're breaking up with me” 

 Wait, did he miss the ‘... getting married’part.

I burst into tears,hurt that he said it that way.

“It's not like that… I really–”

“Emerald I have to go” He then hung up the call.

In a crying mess, I stared at my phone.

I just wanted to see him one last time. 

But why did he act that way? I get he was angry but he would have just heard me out.

My chest felt suffocating. My heart is breaking into pieces. Is this how a breakup feels?

“Who I'm I going to run to?” I've no best friend,boyfriend,friends or even mentors. The only parent I have only used me for his greed.

I crawled into a corner and cried myself to sleep.

A few hours later…

“Wake up Emerald”Some rigorous tapping woke me up. How did I fall asleep?

Oh it's one of those rude maids.Bunch of them everywhere,so annoying?

“What do you want?” I asked as she rolled her eyes.

“Get out of here,you–”

“Come downstairs to prepare for your wedding right now”

“This order is from the court lady”

“ Leave,I'm coming”

“No,you must come with us”A maid spoke in the midst of three others. It then dawned on me that the wedding was gonna happen with or without my consent.

I reluctantly joined them because if I don't,I would hate what's gonna follow next.

The mating ceremony 

The dark red gown clung tightly to my waist,I've never gasped for air in my life hair like this before.

It made me feel like a sacrifice instead of a bride.

Most people give me side eyes as they slander me.

“What is she wearing”

“I told you right, she's a devil incarnate”

“Oh disgusting”

“No wonder her father treats her like garbage”

As I got closer to the altar,it turned out that the man I was going to marry was none other than Derek.

“Wait, what?” I almost screamed out of confusion, surprise and delight.

I turned and looked at papa. 

He still had that stoic expression.

This man is always full of surprises.

I got to the altar and he gave me a little smile.

He was looking so dashing and cute in his white and red tuxedo.

“Why didn't you tell me?” I mouthed.

“I didn't want to spoil the fun” He shrugged.

“But we spoke-”The elder in charge of the rite cleared his throat.

“It's time to take your oaths,couples”

We stood before the Moon Altar while the elders began the mating rites. A silver blade was passed to us, and we both cut our palms before pressing them together over the sacred basin.

The High Elder recited the ancient vows as moonlight fell over us, sealing our union before the entire pack.

Then we drank from the ceremonial wine cup together, completing the final rite of marriage.

“Now you may kiss the bride,” He declared.

I excitedly jumped closer as my breath hitched. Honestly,it felt awkward as I stared at him grinning and just stared looking unbothered.

I wonder if he ever gets nervous.

I watched him lean forward too,so I closed my eyes,only for the kiss to land on my cheeks as he covered the left side of my mouth making people think we kissed right.

The crowd cheered and booed.

I was a little bit in pain but I waved it off.

Maybe I'm not the only one receiving my first kiss.

I moved closer again trying to hold his hand but he dressed back avoiding eye contact.

I tried not to conclude but the man standing before me felt different. 

Although thank goodness that I'm not getting married to a stranger.

“You look different and amazing,” I said, trying to break the tension.

“You are not bad yourself” He said then faced his front.

“Cheers to the soon to be Alpha” Elder Grey said. 

We all raised our glasses “Cheers”

After the marriage rites, we left for the Ravencrest mansion gifted to us as a honeymoon present allegedly the elders, a massive estate located near the edge of the northern forest

The rest jollyed at the after party.

I was too exhausted to dance.

I was not surprised that Papa didn't even come and say some words to his only daughter who just got married. That pompous father of mine.

Inside the limousine,we sat next to each other, the mood was so sour.

We sat in silence.

After a long drive, I decided to say something,for he's not a stranger.

“Derek you would have given me heads up” I said, sighing heavily.

“I thought your father told you”,he said, his gaze elsewhere.

“Derek baby did I do something wrong?”

“No” He got down and left.

The Chauffeur opened the door and bowed. 

“Welcome Luna”

“Thank you Mr…”

“Peterson,Luna. Your luggage and everything has been set”

“Okay Mr Peterson”

The mansion looked breathtaking under the night sky, with towering black stone walls, floor-to-ceiling windows, and golden lights glowing from inside.

When I got inside, everything felt luxurious;crystal chandeliers, marble floors, curved staircases, and expensive silver decorations filling every corner.

Then I walked into my own bedroom.

Peeled off the gown in difficulty,since my husband is nowhere to be found.

How will I know what's going on if he refuses to communicate with me?

I showered and gave myself proper treatment in preparation for the long night.

I waited and waited for hours to see if Derek would walk through that door.

I laid down on the bed and turned repeatedly but not even the door creaked.

By 23:45, I felt restless due to the events of the day,the pressure and all that.

I walked around and crossed to the other hallway.

Got to the master

bedroom and 

“Arghhhh” My jaw dropped and my phone fell.

Derek on top of a slut in our matrimonial bed.

“Arghhhhhh”

“Do you want to join us,wifey?” Derek shamelessly said with a dirty smirk as the slut joined him. 

“Would you heiress?”

I squinted my eyes just to see it wasn't any slut but elder Melisande.