Forced to marry the powerful Lycan

Chapter Three..The carriage ride

Weddings were supposed to be joyful occasions

times when people gathered to laugh, feast, dance, and celebrate love. In Valen, marriage was held in such high regard that a typical wedding lasted two full days. For royalty, the celebrations usually stretched on for an entire week.

I had always imagined my wedding would be colorful and filled with laughter. Even though I knew my father and most of my siblings didn't love me, I foolishly held onto a naive hope that my wedding day might be different.

How foolish I was.

Now, I stood in a hollow, empty cathedral. The guests had vanished, fleeing as if chased by a ghost including my new husband, who had abandoned me at the altar.

The only people left near me were my mother, my sister, and my brother Rovan the only two siblings who actually cared about me.

A few yards away, my father was deep in conversation with the red-haired Lycan who had accompanied the prince. My hands tightened around my mother's as she held me close, tears pooling in her eyes as she whispered her goodbyes. My siblings did their best to offer comfort, Rovan leaning in close to whisper that he would find a way to bring me back home.

The red-haired man glanced in our direction, offering my father a brief nod and a slight, almost casual bow.

I blinked in surprise. A guard giving a king such a careless bow? Was he even just a guard?

My father didn't seem to mind, but the royal human guards standing around him frowned in deep offense. The red haired Lycan merely smirked at their cold glares, and before I could even blink, he vanished from his spot—reappearing right beside me.

He lowered himself into a bow far deeper and more respectful than the one he had given my father.

I furrowed my brow, taking a half-step back.

"Princess," he spoke, his voice smooth, deep, and laced with quiet amusement. "His Highness has instructed me to escort you to the awaiting carriage."

My mother offered me a sad, encouraging smile.

"You should go now, dear."

I fought back the tears threatening to spill over my lashes. My siblings pulled me into one last tight embrace. I turned to follow the red-haired man, but at the last second, I spun back and threw my arms around my mother one final time, burying my face in her shoulder. I was going to miss her so much.

"Ariella, do not keep your new husband waiting," my father’s cold, sharp voice boomed across the hall. "Show some manners."

I pulled away from my mother, my heart heavy, and turned back to the Lycan. He gestured politely for me to lead the way.

As I walked toward the cathedral doors, I had to pass directly by my father. Out of sheer habit, I started to bend my knees to bow... but the guard's earlier warning echoed in my mind:

The future Queen of Eldoria bows to no one.

Instead of kneeling, I gave my father a stiff, barely noticeable nod of my head and kept walking past him.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the

red-haired Lycan smirking at my defiance.

As we stepped out into the crisp air, he fell into step beside me, his blue eyes glinting with mischief.

"Good to see you adapting to the rules of Eldoria so quickly, Princess."

We walked in silence toward the awaiting carriage. I couldn't resist the urge to glance back, holding out a foolish hope that my parents might come outside to see me off just like they had done two years ago when my older sister, Aurora, married a mere lord.

I was marrying a prince the crown prince and yet, they couldn't even be bothered to step onto the courtyard to watch me leave.

The only person standing at a distance was Gloria. She offered me a small, tight smile and a gentle wave. I waved back, swallowing down the lump forming in my throat.

Flanking the path to the carriage stood twenty Lycan guards. As I passed, they snapped to attention and bowed in unison. The red-haired man stepped ahead to open the door, carefully holding the long train of my heavy dress as I climbed inside.

"Thank you," I murmured.

"You don't have to thank me, Princess," he replied with a warm smile, before shutting the heavy wooden door behind me.

I sank into the leather seat, exhaling a breath I didn't realize I was holding, ready to finally collapse into relief until a sharp chill swept across the exposed skin of my arms.

I turned my head. There, sitting across from me, was my husband.

He sat with one leg crossed over the other, a deep frown set into his features. His long, silver hair cascaded over his shoulders, a few loose strands falling over his face and veiling his dark eyes in shadow. His expression was completely indecipherable.

My heart hammered against my ribs. Was I supposed to say something? Greet him? Introduce myself?

I swallowed hard, nervously shifting in my seat to smooth down my gown. Before I could say a word, the carriage lurched forward.

The sudden jerk threw me off balance. I gasped, slipping off the seat, but before I could crash onto the floor, a hand shot out with terrifying speed, catching me firmly by the arm and holding me in place.

I froze, staring at him wide eyed and breathless.

Without a word, he released his grip and drew his hand back.

"Sit properly."

Those were the very first words my husband ever spoke to me. Cold. Commandive.

"Thank... thank you," I stammered, my voice barely a whisper.

He didn't even bother to look at me.

We rode in suffocating silence.l I sat up straight, turning my gaze to the window as the carriage cleared the heavy iron gates of the castle. A tight ache filled my throat. I was leaving the only home I had ever known, heading toward an unfamiliar realm I had only ever heard of through terrifying bedtime stories.

I was terrified. We were only a few hours into our marriage, and my husband already seemed to despise me.

Did he act like this because I smelled bad to him?

Did humans carry a scent that offended Lycans?

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as he raised his hand, resting his knuckles against his nose to block out the air between us.

I let out a quiet, defeated sigh, turning back to the window as the carriage carried us deeper into the unknown.