Chapter Thirteen
1197 Words
"You may now lift your bride's veil, and please raise your wrists. A traditional blood-letting has been requested for this ceremony."
Eric stepped in and raised the veil from my head, placing it over the back of my hair.
His look made my insides swirl, and not in a good way.
I was as good as property to him. Taking his place across from me once more, he lifted his wrist to place it on the bowl, the elder revealing a dangerous-looking silver dagger.
Silver, to leave the scar.
I didn't want to do this; suddenly, the garden seemed too small, as if it were closing in on me.
My father was looking at me now, commanding me to raise my arm for the slice. I couldn't do it; I physically could not will my arm to move; it was clenched at my side.
Seeing my resistance, he marched round the elder and grabbed my wrist, holding it down on the bowl. No one moved to stop him. I watched almost in slow motion as that horrible dagger sliced along the skin of my wrist, leaving a burning like I had never felt before.
I couldn't stop the scream that followed.
The sick bastards just smirked as the blood dripped into the bowl, freely flowing from my wrist. Eric was next, never even flinched as the blade cut his skin. The elder lowered the knife. He was placing the bowl on the altar before us.
"Are there any objections before these two are mated for life?"
Of course, no one was there to object.
No one was here to save me.
As the elder raised the bowl to my lips, I pushed back with whatever strength I had left. My father took hold of my head, forcing it forward. I closed my eyes; I couldn't see this part.
"Serina Redmoon, you shall take this blood and become …"
I opened my eyes to the elder face masked in pain, his heart now lying in the bowl, collapsing to the ground, and the blood staining my white dress.
My father and Eric jumped back as Hunter stood in the elder's place. That stupid smirk on his face while he licked his bloodied hands, staining his lips.
What was happening?
My father moved, slicing Eric's wrist and attempting to force it into my mouth.
I was helpless.
But Hunter was quicker. Kicking my father firmly in the chest and sending them both flying down the stairs to the awaiting Royal guards.
Hunter grabbed me round the waist, his golden eyes bearing down on me as he leaned me back, and before I knew what happened, he had bitten his wrist and thrust it into my mouth, biting my wrist in turn.
He was marking me as his for life.
I felt the connection instantly, my wolf collapsing in my mind.
My head was spinning as so many emotions slammed into me; I was seeing stars.
It was my father's shout that pierced the air.
"What is the meaning of this? How dare you! She is as good as ruined!"
I swayed on the spot, covered in a mix of my, elder's, and Hunter's blood.
"Marcus Redmoon, you are charged with high treason towards the crown, conspiring and amassing an army against the royal guards; you are charged with the kidnapping of young males and now the forcing of your daughter's marriage."
If looks could kill my father, he would be dead. I had never seen Hunter so angry; I could feel his rage.
Wait, I can feel Hunter's emotions now?
My father struggled from his hold, where the royal guards had him on his knees.
"That is preposterous! You have no proof! I deny all charges, and Serina is none of your concern! You permitted the marriage between them!"
There was again that familiar smirk, his face light up as he raised my wrist and licked along the cut sealing it. My blood caught fire, and I saw my breath at the feeling of his touch on me. His hands tightened, and I felt his desire racing down the bond.
"I did permit for Serina to marry. You are right, but I did not say who she would marry."
My father stood gaping, Eric looked ready to kill, and as Hunter turned on me, giving me his full attention, the world faded to black.
I woke to Cassy shaking me up again. I was in my room.
Thank God, it had all been a bad dream.
Though Cassy's worried face wasn't quite normal.
"Oh, thank God, I thought that royal prick had done a number on you. Here, sit up, drink this."
Royal prick?
I had the sinking feeling this wasn't quite the dream I thought it had been.
Sitting up, I noticed I had been changed. A scarlet red gown of fine silk now covered my body, and my dark hair was down in soft waves.
"Don't worry, I changed you, he's not touched you."
He?
The world seemed brighter. I could count the freckles on Cassy's tanned face and see the specks of blue in her green eyes. I felt funny like I could crush a mountain with my fingertips or run the entire coastline.
"Cassy, what happened?"
She stopped fretting and sat beside me on the large bed, stroking my hair and looking at me with her green eyes. Something about her smelled funny as if her scent had mixed with someone else's.
"You don't remember?"
She looked more concerned now.
"I don't trust my memory. I can't quite believe it."
"You'd better; you're as good as our princess now. Hunter crashed the wedding. One second, all the women of the pack were crammed into the dining space. The next, Luke and his soldiers came crashing in, telling us we were all free. The prick would hardly let me go, but by the time I had got to you, your father was being led away in chains, and Hunter had you in his arms."
Her expression at that moment was so cold.
"What is it, Cas?"
"Hunter, I had never seen him like that, the way he held you. It was like he would fight the gods for you. Kill for you."
I had flashbacks of him ripping that elder's heart out, wearing that smirk, and fully believed her.
"Your father has been sentenced for treason. He was amassing an army – no one will tell me why, but Luke showed me there were wolves I'd never seen before camping out in the western forests. Readying for war."
"Where's Eric?"
She huffed.
"That prick? He's in the dungeons of Crescent Castle. Awaiting trial for the murder of his father."
My mind started to fuzz again.
That's a lot to deal with.
"Hunter is downstairs, talking to the betas about the pack, deciding who is next in line."
As the pack's sole heir, the pack now belonged to me.
Swinging my feet off my bed, I walked to the door.
"If he has any ideas about MY pack, he can talk to me."
Cassy bit her lip. Clearly, this was a fight she wouldn't get involved in.
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