Mated to the Pack's Biggest Liar

Nine

MORGANA'S POV

The Alpha King spared no expense for the royal wedding banquet. Even though he had never shared a close relationship with Zack, he still ordered the palace servants to prepare a ceremony worthy of a prince of Crestwood.

The entire palace glowed beneath thousands of enchanted lanterns. Silver wolf banners embroidered with royal crests hung from towering pillars while crimson silk carpets stretched across the marble halls.

Musicians played elegant melodies from the upper balconies as noble guests filled the palace like flowing rivers of gold and jewels.

Outside, enormous braziers burned with blue wolf-fire blessed beneath the full moon. The scent of roasted meat, wine, flowers, and incense filled the air.

To outsiders,It looked like a perfect royal mating ceremony. And perhaps it truly was. After all, the groom was breathtakingly handsome. Even I had to admit it.

Dressed in black ceremonial robes embroidered with silver wolves, Zack looked less like a prince and more like a dangerous spirit wandering out of an ancient legend. His dark hair was tied neatly behind him, exposing sharp features capable of making noblewomen lose their minds. And judging from the endless stares surrounding him–Many already had.

Every unmarried noblewoman in the banquet hall looked at me with jealousy hidden behind their polite smiles.

Some whispered behind their fans. Others openly sighed while admiring Zack. Unfortunately for them, that smiling wolf already belonged to me. Though honestly, I wasn't sure whether that counted as good luck or a lifelong curse.

Still…Most guests eventually comforted themselves with one shared thought–Both Zack and I were unfavored children within our families. A forgotten prince and a neglected daughter.

In their eyes, we truly were the perfect pair.

Meanwhile, the political factions within the palace secretly celebrated. The Prince Mark's supporters relaxed knowing Zack had married a woman without powerful royal connections.

Prince David's supporters felt equally relieved.

After all, Zack repeatedly claimed he had no interest in becoming the next Alpha King.

And marrying me only reinforced that belief.

No one considered us a threat. Which was exactly how dangerous wolves preferred things.

Of course… There was still one matter confusing the wedding guests greatly. The bruise on Zack's forehead.

Countless curious eyes kept drifting toward the faint swell hidden near his hairline. Finally, one noble elder asked carefully.

“Ninth Prince, what happened to your forehead?”

Zack sighed softly. Then smiled beautifully.

“I was too excited about marrying Lady Anderson,” he said smoothly, “and accidentally walked into a door.”

The guests immediately burst into understanding laughter. Several older women even praised how deeply he loved his bride.

Meanwhile, underneath my red bridal veil, my mouth twitched violently.

What a shameless liar. That bruise came from my slipper.

—-----

The mating ceremony officially began beneath the Moon Goddess' blessing.

Firecrackers exploded throughout the palace like thunder while drums echoed powerfully across Crestwood territory.

The sounds stirred every wolf within the palace grounds. Even the wolves beneath noble skins became restless beneath the ceremonial atmosphere.

Zack and I stood before the ancestral altar together. The scent of sacred moon incense curled around us while elders chanted ancient vows in the werewolf tongue.

Then–We bowed before the heavens. Before our parents. And finally…Before each other.

The moment Zack lowered his head toward me, I briefly caught his gaze beneath the veil. My heartbeat skipped unexpectedly. I immediately looked away.

After the ceremony ended, I was escorted toward the bridal chamber by palace servants.

My heavy phoenix crown nearly broke my neck before we even arrived.

Honestly, royal weddings were designed specifically to torture brides.

Once inside the bridal chamber, I finally sat carefully upon the ceremonial marriage bed.

The bed was covered entirely in crimson silk embroidered with golden wolves beneath the moon. Candles burned softly throughout the chamber while fresh flower petals filled the air with sweet fragrance.

Everything looked romantic. Unfortunately…I wasn't romantic at all. I was nervous. Extremely nervous.

According to tradition, Zack should have immediately left the bridal chamber afterward to entertain the wedding guests with wine. Instead, he remained standing directly before me. Silent. Motionless and suspicious.

My instincts sharpened immediately beneath the veil.

What was he scheming now?

I desperately wanted to lift the veil and glare at him properly. But several palace servants still remained inside the chamber. I couldn't destroy my carefully built image of gentleness now.

Meanwhile, Zack stared at the faint silhouette beneath the veil thoughtfully.

Truthfully, he simply wanted to see my face.

But he also wanted an excuse that wouldn't expose his impatience before the servants.

Then suddenly, the shameless wolf smiled.

“Something fell!” he suddenly exclaimed.

Before anyone reacted, he crouched dramatically near the bed. And somehow, completely by accident, My bridal veil slipped off.

Gasps filled the chamber instantly.

I looked up in shock. Zack froze for exactly half a second. Then his golden eyes slowly darkened while staring directly at me.

The candlelight reflected softly across my face while the red wedding robes contrasted against my pale skin.

His gaze lingered longer than expected. Far too long. Then the devil leaned closer and whispered near my ear.

“Little kitten looks beautiful tonight.”

Warm breath brushed against my skin.

“Wait for me,” he murmured softly. “I'll return soon.”

I narrowed my eyes instantly. That fake apologetic expression on his face nearly made me bite him. Still…

The servants merely laughed softly while praising how affectionate the Ninth Prince was toward his bride.

Meanwhile, Zack finally looked satisfied after seeing my face and happily left the chamber.

The moment the door closed, ny body collapsed backward onto the bed in exhaustion.

Then immediately–

Crunch.

I blinked.

Reaching beneath the blankets, I discovered countless red dates, peanuts, and lotus seeds hidden beneath the bedding for fertility blessings.

My stomach growled loudly.

I hadn't eaten properly all day because of the ceremony. Without hesitation, I grabbed several dates and began eating quickly. At least something inside this room wasn't troublesome.

Surprisingly Zack returned much faster than expected.

I barely finished chewing before footsteps and loud voices approached outside the bridal chamber.

Quickly, I shoved the remaining dates beneath the blankets, fixed my veil back into place, and sat upright properly again.

Outside the chamber, Chaos erupted.

“No one needs to support me!” Zack's voice declared loudly. “I'm not drunk!”

Several guests laughed helplessly.

“Ninth Prince—”

“Who is Ninth Prince?” Zack interrupted dramatically. “I'm not Ninth Prince.”

A pause.

“Are you Crown Prince Mark?” someone teased.

“No.”

“Then who are you?”

Long silence followed. Then Zack answered solemnly.

“Perhaps… Seventh Brother?”

The guests burst into laughter.

“Forgive me,” Zack continued drunkenly. “Today is too happy. I drank too much wine.” His voice slurred beautifully. “But you don't need to support me. I can walk myself. Everyone continue drinking…”

A loud crash followed.

“Where's the door?” Zack asked.

“Ninth Prince,” someone said helplessly, “that's a window.”

I sighed deeply beneath the veil.

Of course he recognized windows better than doors. That shameless wolf practically specialized in climbing through them.

Honestly, If I hadn't personally seen him consume entire jars of wine years ago while remaining perfectly sober afterward, I might have believed this ridiculous act. Unfortunately, I knew better.

And right on cue–The chamber door closed.

Silence fell instantly.

Then suddenly, the "drunk" prince rushed toward the bed with frightening speed.

“Wife!” Zack declared brightly. “Did you wait long?”

Before I could react, he lifted my veil completely..Our eyes met beneath the red candlelight.

For a moment, he simply stared at me quietly. The teasing vanished briefly from his face. And strangely…The intense look in his eyes made my heart beat faster.

“Done pretending?” I asked irritably to hide my nervousness. “And what exactly are you staring at?”

Without answering immediately, Zack raised his hand slowly toward my face.

My entire body stiffened.

His fingers brushed softly against my lips. Dangerously gentle.

My heartbeat instantly lost control.

He stared at my mouth with an unreadable expression while I remained frozen completely beneath his touch.

Then suddenly–He laughed.

The tension shattered instantly.

“Look how nervous you became,” he teased.

Then he held up something between his fingers.

A small piece of date skin.

My soul nearly left my body.

Heavens. I thought he was….Never mind.

Heat flooded my face immediately.

“Someone was clearly imagining strange things,” Zack teased shamelessly.

I glared murderously at him.

Meanwhile, he casually sat beside me and removed his shoes.

“It's alright though,” he continued lazily. “Sooner or later those strange thoughts will happen anyway.” Then he looked toward me meaningfully. “Wife,” he said smoothly, “come here. We should perform the main event together.”

My heart stopped.

“What main event?” I asked cautiously.

Zack slowly untied the outer layer of his robe.

“What do you think?”

The words wedding night exploded inside my mind instantly. My entire body stiffened.

Zack looked at my terrified expression, and burst into loud laughter.

“What other main event exists?” he asked between laughs. “Bathing and sleeping, obviously.”

I nearly strangled him on the spot.

—--------

A while later, several wedding guests still lingered shamelessly outside the bridal chamber, hoping to overhear romantic wedding-night noises.

Unfortunately for me…Zack discovered this immediately. Which meant disaster was inevitable.

Inside the chamber, he deliberately grabbed my feet, offering me a free massage.

“Wife, does this feel better?”

“Zack, be gentle!” I cried out.

“Is this spot more comfortable?” he asked.

"It hurts!' I said.

Outside the chamber, the guests immediately exchanged knowing smiles.

Fools!!!!!!