The Reluctant Prince and His Substitute Bride

Chapter 4

Ryder was still recovering from the defeat which he had received from the race with Nathan earlier that night ,that he sat for almost an hour in the hot tub, thinking about how it was possible for Nathan to beat him when he had a full 30 seconds head start.

“ What made him freeze" Ryder thought as he took a sip of brandy next to the jacuzzi.

After soaking off the forest scent, he walked into the kitchen and began to cook.

Yeah I know it sounds weird.

When he was thirteen, he took private cooking classes with the Head Chef of the Royal Kitchen who was like a second mother to him. She was presently on vacation to a cooking convention and even thought she was retired, she still managed to find time and come inspect things in the Royal Kitchen and even in his suite. She was the only person who knew his passcode to his house and came and left when ever she wanted.

He smiled at the thought of that as he diced a huge piece of beef.

“Hey I got the groceries which you asked for” Nathan said as he walked in with a handful of plastics bags

“Thanks ”Ryder said as he began to deep fry the beef .

“Well look who is cooking tonight” Nathan said in a dry tone.

“Its a one man food dude, go get yourself a pan and fix for yourself dinner”

“Cheeky bastard” Nathan hissed.

“Language!! Nathan”Ryder roared

“Yeah it went missing together with your defeat today” Nathan smirked as he fixed a few bread in the toaster.

“Huh...”Ryder scoffed

“ I just wasn't in the mood to whoop your ass" Ryder defended

“Yeah and yet you left me to whoop yours” Nathan smiled as he fixed himself a cup of coffee.

“Dont let the little victory of tonight get into your head”

Nathan did nothing but kept stirring the cup of coffee

“How did you do it ” Ryder asked.

“Do what?”

“Beat me even when you were 30 seconds behind me ”Ryder asked as he remembered what had happened in the race a few hours ago.

After the alarm had gone off and he had mention the name of his bride to be, he took off as fast as his huge paws to take him. He was almost at the rocky path when he realized that Nathan was far behind him.

Piece of cake.

He kept running and just as he was getting to the river a black and gray stained fur blurred pass him at a speed he had never expected. He was shocked for a brief second as he watched Nightclaws race through the rocky path as he jumped and landed in the river and took off again

Jesus Christ.

“How did you do it Nat” He asked again

“I don't know I mean I am a born hunter it's natural for me to be fast” Nathan said taking a small bite of toast.

“Dont fool me dude ,I have been with you for over 18 years now and I have never known you to run that fast.” Ryder pressed on

“Good night Prince” Nathan said as he took his coffee and toast and strolled off to his room.

“Dont you dare turn your back on your King and future Alpha” Ryder growled and he tried to hold back Eclipse raging anger as his voice distorted

“ You really wanna do this now cause I am also not in my best moods” Nathan signed as he shoulders sagged and he turned to stare at Ryder.

Ryder grasped at the bloodshot black and purple glowing eyeballs that stared at him and screamed death. He had been taught a lot of caution processes and one of them was never to cross mad Northern wolves. Even the raging Eclipse knew that and went calm as Nathan stared at him ,flexing his jaws and taking calm breaths.

“I'll see you tomorrow” Ryder growled and went back to his dinner.

After their little drama ,days ago, Ryder was at the Royal tailor shop and was taking measurements for the suit which was meant for his wedding which was just in three days. His parents and the Duncans thought the earlier, the wedding the better.

After he was through with the tailor he had Nathan drive him to the Central Park were he sat for over an hour sitted and staring at the citizens of his kingdom.

“The King wants us back, he wish to discuss a few wedding ideas ” Nathan growled in a low voice.

Ever since that night ,he had said nothing much to the Prince excepts for orders which he were to pass to him.

“Hey ..I ..ah... I'm sorry about that night,I must have gone too far and I'm sorry” Ryder whispered.

“You've done nothing wrong Ryder. I'm just behaving imature ,it's alright.” Nathan smiled.

“You wanna talk about it” Ryder smiled

“No, never mind, I'll be fine” Nathan smiled back

“You sure?”

“Yeah ,we need to go now”Nathan said as he walked back to the car.

Great, I hate weddings. Ryder thought as walked to the Ranger Rover.

On the day of his so called wedding, Nathan acted quite normal and even pretended to be excited for the wedding

Bastard.

He stood as he waited for his so called bride to walk in with her father and begin the vows.

What was funny was that ever since they had met at the family dinner they had not had a proper conversation with each other except for the times when they had a few family get togethers and they pretended to be couples with their parents.

At the vows ,just before he started ,his father gave him the don't-you-dare-embrass-me-and-make-things-look-good look.

Fine you guys wanna see a great wedding right ,I'll give you one he said.

When it was his time to give the vows he began with heartfelt words from the note which the Royal speech writers had drafted for the wedding. He decided to make it look good as he wiped off some imaginary tears. He saw Veronica scoff and stared at him with a killer look.

She's cute. He thought

He was quite surprised when she outflanked him in the play when it was her turn to give her vows . He was quite shocked at the tears she shed.

Ok she is really good.

He laughed deep within him.

When the priest recited the vows, he realized that if he don't get this over and do with soon he was going miss in on tonight's Moto Gp race ,so with all the inpatient mustered in him,he shouted "I do" without the priest concluding. His bride seemed lost as she forgot when it was her turn to reply the vows.

“You may now kiss the bride”.

Nice ,now that's something I have been waiting to hear. Ryder smiled as he came closer to Veronica who looked as though she was lost and didn't know that this was a normal procedure in every wedding.

“If you kiss me I swear I will break those well arranged teeth of your” she whispered harshly and gave the priest a cute smile before glaring at him

Ok she is feisty.

He smirked and kissed her cheeks and held her hands as they waved the crowd

“It seems you forget to whom you are married to woman” he growled as he tighten his grip around her little fingers

“Does it f*****g matters” she said in a low daring voice as she waved on.

They got into his Rolls and were taking to reception venue and there Ryder felt bored to death. He only felt excited when he pulled the little prank with his bride who stared at him with a killer look throughout the reception.

They were done by almost midnight which was almost same time for their plane to leave.

Veronica sat with a tired face as she stared at the crowd with a look that screamed "Where the hell am I ".

She is kinda cute putting aside the bitchy look and act.

“Are you ok” he asked in his deep baritone voice which shook her a bit and she quickly switched on the bitchy act

“ And why do you care?” she said

“Well I don't know You have been acting weird since you came back from the toilet” He said as he stared at her blue eyes .

She seemed to stiffen for a second and suddenly a frown came on her face

“Go f**k your self” she whispered just enough for him to hear.

Ok I take back what I said before she is just downright rude and has an extremely bad mouth.

After the wedding they got into a limo and were taken to the airport as a thick sheet of silence hung in the car.

“Your Majesty, the private jet awaits ” A sexy curvy air hostess said with a voice filled with flirt

“Thank you ” Ryder replied in a business like tone as he glanced sideways and saw Veronica staring at the airhostess with the most funny look

“ Let's go ” he said as he grabbed her arms and directed her toward the airfield

“Let go of me you dickhead” she struggled.

“Hey wildcub we are married now and we need to put up a show for them, so will you just stop moving for a second and walk with me to the jet. Trust me I have no intention of all the ruckus” Ryder snarled in her ear as she smiled at the people who awaited they at the runway.

“I am going to kill you for holding me like you own me” She whispered back as she stopped moving and filled him to the private jet

“ You seem to forget buttercup, I do own you . I mean for goodness sake you are my wife”

“ Stop calling me sweet names you douchbag and a I'm not a f*****g property for you to own ” She snarled.

“ Enough of the curses you have soiled my ears enough " Ryder growled.

“Go f**k yourself” She smirked and walked into the jet before him.

Great what have I gotten myself into.

In the jet , he sat far from her and went straight to work as he went online and keep on inviting investors to Calliopis.

He turned after an hour and saw that his bride was peaceful asleep and snoring in such an unladylike manner.

Oh great she snores alot.

This is gonna be a long flight.

He took a break and walked over to the kitchen and ordered a glass of brandy. As he sipped his drink ,he stopped and starred at Veronica.

Wow she is hot I gotta admit.

Without knowing what came over him he bent over her and kept staring at her as he wondered how he was going to spend the rest of his life with this beautiful and hot woman.

He got so lost starring at her that he didn't know when she blinked her eyes open and they both locked eyes to each other .

“What the f**k are you doing”.

Great.