Stefan’s Captive Bride

A Web of secrets

As Prince Stefan walked out of the room, Sofia felt a mix of emotions. She was relieved that the initial meeting with the royal family was over, but she was also anxious about what lay ahead.

Just as she was about to sit down and gather her thoughts, there was a knock on the door. ”Come in!” She said and she was met with a guy who was probably about 6’4 feet tall. He stood tall with his muscular build, his imposing figure commanding attention. His build and appearance gave up the fact that he was definitely a warrior of some sort.

She stared at him with a questioning look confused as to who he was.

“I’m Captain Ryker, the palace guard who has been assigned to watch over you” He introduced himself bowing

Sofia’s eyes narrowed slightly

“Watch over me?” She asked

“Why would I need a guard to watch over me?” She questioned further

“For your safety. Prince Stefan sent me here” He responded

Safety? What danger could she be needing safety from? She thought.

“Oh okay” She said still skeptical

"Thanks, Aurora," he said with a smile. "I mean, Sofia. I heard that's your real name."

Sofia's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know?" she asked.

Ryker chuckled. "Let's just say I have my ways. But don't worry, your secret is safe with me."

“What else do you know about me?” She asked him, her mind reeling with the secrets she wanted to keep from this palace

“Only that…chill..” He said amidst a chuckle

“I overheard it when you were talking with the prince” He added

“Or..do you have other secrets?” He asked squinting his eyes jokingly and they both laughed over it

Sofia felt a sense of relief wash over her. Maybe having Ryker as an ally wouldn't be so bad after all.

But just as she was starting to feel more at ease, Ryker's expression turned serious. "Sofia, I mean Aurora, I need to warn you about something. There are people in the palace who are not happy about your engagement to Prince Stefan."

Sofia's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Ryker hesitated before speaking. "Lady Victoria. She was supposed to marry Prince Stefan. His parents chose her for him but he chose you instead. She's not going to take this lightly”

“So Lady Victoria for one doesn’t want you in this palace..and others” he added.

Sofia's eyes narrowed. ”And others?” What did he mean by others? She thought but didn’t bother to ask him. So this was the reason why Prince Stefan bought her from the slave trade and presented her to his parents as a wife? She thought. So he did all this just to escape the arranged marriage which his parents had planned for him.

Sofia's eyes softened, her expression understanding. She felt a slight pang of discomfort, knowing that she had been used as a means to an end, but she couldn't help but relate to Prince Stefan's desire to escape an arranged marriage.

She had done the same thing, after all. She had run away from her own parents to avoid being married off to someone she didn't love. She knew the desperation, the feeling of being trapped, and the willingness to do whatever it took to escape.

"It makes sense," Sofia said, her voice calm and measured. "I can understand why Prince Stefan would want to avoid an arranged marriage. I've been in similar shoes myself." She mumbled to herself

"Don't worry, I'll protect you," Ryker said, his voice filled with conviction. "But you need to be careful” He added

So this was why she needed a bodyguard Sofia thought nodding, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Ryker. She knew that she could trust him, and that feeling was a welcome respite in the midst of all the chaos.

She knew that she had to be careful, because she didn't know what the future held, and she didn't want to complicate things further.

Sofia jolted at the sound of the grand pendulum as she sat facing the dressing mirror. It indicated to her that it was time for the dinner with the Alpha and Luna. The maids had dressed her up in a stunning silk gown in a soft, ivory hue, with delicate lace trim and intricate embroidery that sparkled in the candlelight which complimented her skin. The gown was fitted at the waist, with a full skirt that fell in soft folds to the floor. Around her neck, the maids had fastened a delicate silver necklace with a small, shimmering diamond pendant. Her hair had been styled in loose, flowing waves, and her eyes had been accentuated with a subtle touch of makeup.

She didn’t know if to wait or head to the dinner on her own. After a while of thinking, she got up and headed out. Just as she was about to reach for the knob, the door swung open and she was met with Prince Stefan who was looking stunningly handsome in his formal attire. He wore a tailored black suit with a crisp white shirt and a black tie, perfectly knotted. His dark brown hair was styled perfectly, and his piercing blue eyes sparkled as he smiled at Sofia.

For a moment as their eyes met, he got lost in the sight of her beauty but he shook it off not wanting to look vulnerable.

“Are you ready?” He managed to voice out asking the obvious

Sofia felt her heart skip a beat as she took in the sight of Prince Stefan. He looked so handsome and charming. She nodded, still feeling a little awestruck, and Prince Stefan offered her his arm.

Together, they walked to the dining room, where the king and queen were already seated. The dinner was a formal affair, with multiple courses and fine wine. As she took her seat besides Prince Stefan, her eyes landed on a figure sitting across from her. He was a young man with dark colored eyes and black hair. His features and appearance gave up the fact that he was Stefan’s brother. She couldn’t bring herself to ask but it was obvious. She never knew he had a brother, she said to herself, coupled with the fact that they behaved like strangers.

She decided to focus on the conversation and did her best to keep up trying to go in line with the lies they had concocted earlier.

“I know you’ll make a great Luna” The queen said to Sophia. Being that Queen Camila was also a human like Sophia, she related so well with her. She saw herself in Sophia’s shoes being a human marrying a hybrid.

As they ate, the king had explained to Sofia that in their kingdom, humans and werewolves coexisted peacefully. He told her that they had learned to live together in harmony, and that many humans had even formed close bonds with werewolves.

The queen had smiled and nodded in agreement, sharing stories of her own experiences as a human in a werewolf-dominated kingdom. Sofia had listened intently, fascinated by the queen's stories and the dynamics of the royal family even though these were things she knew of. She had once imagined getting married to a werewolf but she never for once thought it would be her reality considering the fact that her father was not a fan of the werewolves.

As the dinner drew to a close, the king pushed back his chair and stood up. "I think it's time we made a toast to this union," he said, his eyes depicting a glint of excitement.

Sofia's heart skipped a beat as she realized that the wedding plans were already underway. She glanced at Prince Stefan, whose face was just neutral. They made a toast and wrapped up the dinner.

Just as she finished freshening up after the dinner, She came out of the bathroom in her bathrobe and wet hair.

She went ahead to pick up a note which she saw on her bed, not knowing who left it.

It read, “WAIT TILL YOU FIND OUT ABOUT HIS TRUE NATURE”