Chapter One
Anaya's POV
"You look beautiful." A masculine voice complimented.
I chuckled softly and turned around to see Caspian staring at me in admiration, which made me blush uncontrollably. He stepped forward and held my waist, drew me closer to him and planted a soft kiss on my lips, Winter; my wolf growled, craving for more.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"After tonight, you'll be mine forever, mine to claim, and I can't wait to rip off this gorgeous garment and layers of undergarments you wore and have you." He said hoarsely.
My cheeks turned pink at the thought of what he'd do to me, we simply stood there staring at each other like nothing else in the world mattered. This reverie was cut short by a cough. We laughed softly and turned to see Olivia eyeing us playfully.
"If you two lovebirds are done with your drama, can we go back to dressing you up, Anaya? The ceremony is in two hours, and I'm not done with your hair!" Olivia complained.
Caspian chuckled and gave her an acknowledging nod.
"Alright, just make sure my mate looks the brightest of all tonight, and I'll give you anything you ask for," Caspian promised.
"I ask that you take your hands off her waist, Caspian, you're ruining the shape of the bodice, and it wasn't easy to have it fit her." Olivia cried.
I laughed as Caspian let go of me. Olivia was dramatic, she heaved a sigh of relief seeing this, and she got between us and shooed him away playfully.
"Off you go, Your Highness, your mate will be the most beautiful creature you'll ever set your eyes on tonight and I promise you a taste of heaven as you rip off this bodice, but be gentle with the silk, it's expensive and hard to come by. I embroidered the flowery patterns on it myself, and I'll murder you if it gets ruined." Olivia threatened.
I shook my head in disbelief.
"She's just joking," I said.
"I guess I have to go and stare at nothing for the next two hours until you're done," Caspian said sadly.
"Off you go, go speak to the elders, your guards or something." Olivia joked.
Caspian gave me one final loving look and walked away. I turned to face my dramatic sister who couldn't stop talking about how she'd murder the entire pack if the dress was ruined because of the hug. I laughed softly and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"What was that for?" She asked curiously.
"For being the most wonderful sister and best friend in the whole world!" I raised.
She scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"You're a pain in my ass, I'm happy to get rid of you." She lied.
I snickered and she dragged me to take my seat and began to make my hair. Olivia is my only sister and she's been my friend, sister and mother ever since our mother died years back, though she was the younger one she acted like the mother. Caspian is the alpha of the pack and my mate, tonight is the mating ceremony and the day he would announce me as his mate and Luna to the entire pack and I couldn't wait.
Half an hour later, Olivia was done with dressing me up and Father came into the room.
"You look beautiful." He exclaimed, his eyes teary.
"Here's the hairpin your mother wore on the day of our mating ceremony, I want you to have it." He added.
He handed over the pin to me, I took it and Olivia put it in my hair.
"It's beautiful, thank you," I said emotionally.
"I can't believe you're finally getting mated, I wish your mother could see how beautiful you look tonight." He reminisced, tears sliding down his face.
"What's this? A crying competition?" Olivia teased as tears rolled down her eyes as well.
"You should get going, a carriage is waiting on you outside," Father said, trying to hide his tears.
I nodded and he planted a kiss on my forehead before leaving the room, Olivia made last-minute adjustments to my look.
"Shall we? Your royal highness?" She said with a fake accent.
I stood up and walked past away, laughing. We went outside and the chauffeurs bowed to me in respect and helped me get into the carriage, Olivia sat beside me beautifully dressed as well and we took off to the alpha's residence. We arrived there ten minutes later and were received with dignity and honour, I couldn't stop blushing as people couldn't hide their amazement and awe at seeing such a beauty.
Caspian received me and planted a soft kiss on my hands.
"You look like the goddess of beauty." He complimented.
I chuckled and flushed red.
Olivia tugged at my hand.
"Let's meet other people before you both r****h one another on this spot." She teased and dragged me away. I spoke to some of my friends and politely turned down some men who asked for my hand or wanted to woo me.
My eyes wandered around searching for any signs of my Father, he was supposed to be here already but he wasn't anywhere around. I sighed and decided to take a little walk or probably ask the guards to personally escort my father here since he was a prestigious individual and I saw from afar, my Father approaching and I hurried to meet him.
I threw myself into his embrace as I stood before him.
"Father, I am so happy," I exclaimed.
He looked around and chuckled at me.
"It's great to see that you're happy." He uttered.
"I was beginning to get worried since you're running late, I almost dispatched guards to come to find you." I joked.
He smiled widely and I saw Caspian approach us as well, I waved at him and he came over, he greeted Father briefly and excused himself for some important business, father was eerily quiet and it bothered me but I was too happy to ask him about it, he averted his gaze and didn't want to look me in the eye.
"I'll be right back father, mingle with your people." I suggested, turning to leave to attend to other guests.
He grabbed my arm and gave me an apologetic look, it was getting weird but I guessed it was him being emotional that his daughter was getting married.
"I'm sorry." He apologized.
I laughed and gently patted his shoulders.
"Father.." I drawled.
He fished out an item from his pocket and placed it in my hands, I opened my palm to see a dagger and before I could react, he grabbed my hand causing me to lodge the dagger into his abdomen and he yelled out in pain, right in front of everyone, I had stabbed him.