Tamed By The Lycan Prince

WEDDING PREPARATIONS

CHAPTER THREE - 3

-WILHELMINA-

I sat listlessly at my vanity, staring at the vase of red roses my soon-to-be husband had sent. The flowers stood tall and proud, their petals unfurling like a lover's promise, but they offered her no solace. The reality of my situation seeped further into my mind as the fresh scent of the roses tainted the air, reminding me of the prestigious life I would soon be entangled in. My heart throbbed within the cage of my ribs, akin to a bird desperately trying to escape its confines.

My mind wandered back to Severa, her face illuminated by the moonlight, fear seeping into her eyes as she started to understand the depth of my predicament. A feeling of resentment welled up within me, not at her, but at the world that put us in this situation.

As these thoughts weaved themselves into a toxic tapestry of despair, there was a light tapping at the door. With a clear look of annoyance and concern, Weldon walked into the room.

"I brought Mrs. Gravemaw here, at the Alpha's request, so you two discuss the wedding preparations," he said, his voice a dry monotone.

His words hung in the air like a delicate web. The mere mention of the impending ceremony was enough to tether me more firmly into the reality I wished to escape. My heart sank and a wave of disbelief washed over me.

"I am not in the mood, Weldon," I snapped, my voice coming out harsher than intended.

Weldon remained unfazed by my words, maintaining a steady gaze. "I understand that you're not exactly excited about this, Mina. However, the Alpha has emphasized the importance of this meeting."

Her words were meant to reassure me, but they only served to suffocate me more. The knot in my stomach tightened at the perceived inevitability of it all.

"He can emphasize whatever he pleases," I said, rising from my chair. "I refuse to willingly partake in my own downfall."

The room fell into uncomfortable silence. Weldon's eyes softened as they met mine. As the Beta of our pack and my older brother, he had a responsibility to fulfill. However, it was evident that he resented being ordered to push me into a marriage against my will.

"Mina," he began gently, breaking the silence that had settled between us. "I don't want this for you any more than you do. However, you rejected my and Dermon's plans for action, and Boris holds most of the political power. Your marriage is something we can't avoid."

His words echoed through the room, settling around my quivering shoulders like an unwelcome shawl. I turned away from him, not wanting to see the sympathy in his eyes. The roses seemed to leer at me, their crimson masks hideously mocking my predicament.

I approached them, feeling the velvety texture of their petals. The seeming delicate beauty hid their thorny underside well - much like my future husband. I turned back and found Weldon watching me with an expression that bordered on despair. "What am I supposed to do, Weldon?" My voice came out broken. "I cannot marry that... man."

Weldon remained silent for a moment, his face a hard mask trying to contain the emotions boiling underneath. "I don't know, Mina," he finally murmured. "Perhaps we can find another way." His words sounded hollow, even to himself.

I squeezed my eyes shut, the world spinning around me. The scent of roses was overwhelming, heavy with the promise of a future I had no desire to meet. A sense of despair washed over me, draining me of all energy.

"Weldon," I started hesitantly after a pause that seemed to span lifetimes. "Is it possible... could I run?"

Weldon looked taken aback at my words, his eyes widening slightly. He was silent for a minute, staring at me as if he was looking at a stranger. Any hope that had sparked in me died at his silence. I knew what he was going to say even before he opened his mouth.

"Mina..." He began carefully, his voice low. "You know as well as I that running is not an option."

"But why not?" I countered, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why can't I just... disappear?"

"You're Boris' bride," he said somberly, his gaze averting my desperate stare. "You are to be the Alpha's wife, Mina. You're not just anyone; running isn't a possibility. We cannot afford the chaos that would follow."

His words were like a bucket of ice-cold water on my fiery rebellion. Just when I thought I had found a glimmer of hope, it was cruelly snatched away by the sharp reality. My chest tightened, and my knees felt like they might give out under the weight of his words.

"I'm trapped then," I whispered, my gaze falling on the roses again. They seemed less like symbols of love and more like bright red specters of doom.

Weldon didn't reply. What else was there to say? We were both aware that there was no escape for me, but maybe there was a chance I could prevent Severa from tumbling into the same dark hole that I was trapped in.

"I cannot save myself," I began, a slight tremor in my voice as I turned to face him. "But I can still protect Severa?"

Weldon's eyes met mine, filled with an intense confusion. "What do you mean? Why would you have to protect Severa?" he inquired, his voice laced with concern as he already knew the answer to his own question.

I murmured softly, my voice barely audible, "Boris asked Severa to be his second wife. I fear he will force her just as he forced me during his proposal."

Weldon's face paled, the gravity of my words sinking in. "That...he wouldn't dare!" he spluttered, shocked beyond belief. Yet, his eyes betrayed the knowledge that Boris was indeed capable of such a thing.

I nodded solemnly, my eyes brimming with tears. "Tell me there's something we can do to protect her, Weldon!"

We were startled by a gentle knock at the door. It swung open, revealing Trisha with a glowing expression of anticipation and a hint of malice on her face.

"Ah, I hope I'm not disturbing anything," she purred, leaning against the doorframe with a wicked smile playing on her lips. "It's just that my son has requested that we begin the wedding preparations."

Fear gripped my heart; if Trisha suspected anything, she was sure to inform Boris. A cold sweat broke out on my forehead, my heartbeat thundering in my ears. "We were just about to join you, mother," I forced a smile, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Excellent!" Trisha clapped her hands together, her eyes lighting up as she turned on her heel, expecting us to follow. She was completely unaware of the dread that churned within me.

"Weldon," I whispered as we trailed behind her, "Promise me you will look after Severa." My plea was desperate and filled with a helplessness that tugged at Weldon's heartstrings.

"Of course," he reassured me. "I swear to you, Mina. I'll protect her." His voice was firm, yet carried an undertone of dread, mirroring my own emotions.

I let out a shaky breath, feeling slightly relieved. Knowing that Severa had Weldon on her side gave me a small glimmer of hope in this pit of despair.

"But for now," I brushed away an errant tear, "let's prepare for this wedding." My voice held a hint of resignation that was not lost on Weldon. He nodded mournfully as we trailed behind Trisha, our hearts heavy with the dread of impending doom.

I spend the rest of the day at the pack mansion with Trisha and a group of other women who seemed hell-bent on making this wedding the spectacle of the decade. The grandeur of their plans stunned me into silence, and I found myself nodding along to their whims and fancies, barely registering the extravagant ideas being thrown around.

Trisha especially seemed to thrive in this environment. She reveled in every detail, greedily soaking up the admiration and respect that the others bestowed upon her. It was as if my misery added an extra glow to her already radiant self. However, Weldon remained by my side, offering silent support and serving as my rock amidst this turbulent sea.

As the sun began its descent, a few of the tasks were completed, and we were eager to head home. But just as we were getting ready to leave, Trisha called out to us and halted us in our tracks.

"Why not stay the night?" Trisha suggested, her voice honey sweet yet laced with an undercurrent of command. The prospect of staying at the pack mansion filled me with unease.

I looked at Weldon, hoping he would find a plausible excuse for us to return home. But his face was impassive; it was clear he too was trapped by Trisha's clever maneuvering. Just as he opened his mouth to respond, Trisha interrupted him.

"Really, it would be much more practical," she insisted, sweeping a grand hand around the elaborately decorated mansion. "There is so much left to do, and we wouldn't want our families to think we were ill-prepared, would we?"

I swallowed hard, trapped in her cunning web. "Of course not," I choked out, my mind racing. The last thing I wanted was to be under Boris' roof for longer than necessary, but Trisha seemed determined for us to stay. I mustered up a smile as believable as I could manage. "Staying the night makes sense."

"Marvelous," Trisha declared, her eyes sparkling with triumph as she clapped her hands together in delight.

We followed her lead through the grand hallways of the mansion, past exquisite oil paintings and ornate statues that seemed almost lifelike; each step echoing amidst the eerie silence that consumed the mansion at night. The moonlight streaming into the mansion through the tall, glass windows cast an ominous shadow on the elaborate decor, adding to my growing sense of unease.

Our footsteps reverberated against the walls as we were escorted to two spacious suites side by side. One belonged to the Alpha, and the other to the Luna.

"Here you are," Trisha announced, opening the door to the Luna suite grandly. "I had it cleaned and prepared just for you, Mina." Her voice dripped with false sweetness.

I barely glanced at the luxurious room, my mind too preoccupied with worry. Nevertheless, I murmured my thanks while casting a sidelong glance at Weldon. His expression was equally grave as Trisha ushered him toward the Alpha suite.

"Make yourself comfortable, dear," she said to me with a sly smile before guiding him away.

Alone in the room, I let out a heavy sigh; the reality of the situation pressing down on me. I was trapped under Boris’s roof, with a wedding looming over us like an executioner's axe. The luxurious suite felt more like a gilded cage than a sanctuary.