At My Lycan Captor's Mercy

Catherine Welsh's Point Of View. "At this moment, I truly believe I have everything I ever wanted, and nothing in this world could ruin my happiness today." I whispered, a warm smile spread across my face. My fingers tightened gently around my father's arm while we walked down the grand aisle of the royal cathedral together. "You deserve to be happy, Catherine, more than you ever thought you could be." My father said, before looking down at me and letting out a quiet chuckle. The music grew louder as we moved closer toward the altar, and finally, my eyes lifted toward the man standing there, waiting for me. He looked handsome standing beneath the cathedral lights in his black royal attire embroidered with gold. His dark hair was perfectly styled while the royal sword rested proudly against his side. After years of loving Alpha Vincent Bernadotte, I was finally going to become his luna. Ever since we were children, everyone around us believed we were destined to end up together one day, and honestly, I believed it too. He had been my first love, my closest companion, and the man I trusted more than anyone else in this world. He stepped forward, his blue eyes remained fixed on me with such an affection that my heart melted in overwhelming joy. "Take care of her," My father said in a calm voice, though I could still feel the sadness hidden beneath it as he placed my hand into his. "With everything I have, Sir" Vincent replied with a smile, looking directly at my father while his fingers wrapped gently around mine. "For everyone you are a future Luna, but for me, you are still my little girl who used to run through the palace gardens and hide behind my legs whenever she got into trouble." My father said, as he closed his eyes briefly before resting his hand softly against the side of my face. "Dad," I whispered as I blinked rapidly, fighting back the tears threatening to fall, across my face and ruin my makeup. "You have made me proud every single day of your life," He mumbled, trying to speak past the emotion choking his throat. "No title, no crown, and no ceremony could ever make me prouder than simply being your father." Before I could embarrass myself by crying in front of the entire pack, Vincent gently squeezed my hand and guided me the rest of the way toward the altar beside him. "You look breathtakingly beautiful," He whispered, barely enough for me to hear as he leaned a little closer toward me. Heat instantly rushed toward my cheeks. "You are not supposed to say that," I whispered back shyly, while trying not to smile too much. "No," He said, while shaking his head slowly. His gaze moved across my face as though he was trying to memorize every single detail about me before finally settling back on my eyes again. "I do not think you understand how difficult it was for me to breathe the moment you walked into this cathedral." "You are being dramatic," I mumbled while shaking my head lightly at him. Despite my words, I could still feel my face growing warmer beneath his intense stare. "I am being honest," He said, while brushing his thumb against the back of my hand. For a second, I could do nothing except stare back at him while trying to ignore the nervous flutter coursing through my chest. "Shall we begin the wedding?" The royal elderly priest asked while smiling warmly at both of us. The entire cathedral fell quiet except for the soft sound of music still playing in the background as Vincent and I both nodded in agreement. "Today," He began while glancing at both of us before opening his large ceremonial book in his hand. "We gather before the moon goddess to witness the union of Alpha Vincent Bernadotte and Catherine Welsh, a union the pack has awaited for many years and one that will forever change the future of Bloodhound Pack." "Alpha Vincent Bernadotte," He continued, as he looked toward Vincent. "Do you take Catherine Welsh to be your wife, to be luna, stand beside her in peace and war, in happiness and sorrow, for as long as you both shall live?" "I do," Vincent answered, as he tightened his hold around my hand, never once looking away from me. "Catherine Welsh," The priest continued, as he glanced at me. "Do you take Alpha Vincent Bernadotte to be your husband, to stand beside him in peace and war, in happiness and sorrow, for as long as you both shall live?" "I do," I whispered, though my voice was clear enough through the quiet cathedral while a small smile appeared on my face. "I now ask both of you to speak your vows that will bind your hearts before the moon goddess and the wolves of bloodhound." The priest said while stepping slightly aside for us. Vincent stepped closer toward me while still holding both of my hands carefully in his. For a second, he simply looked at me. "Catherine, you have been part of my life for so long that I cannot even remember a time without you anymore," He began, his voice carried the intense emotion, and it was enough for my heart to ache. "You were my closest friend long before you became the woman I loved. No matter what happens in the future, I promise to stand beside you, protect you, and love you with everything I have." ".....and I swear before everyone here today," He continued, emphasizing each and every word while his eyes were fixed on me, "that I will spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret choosing me." A small laugh escaped me while tears slipped from my eyes, across my face. The priest then, looked toward me expectantly. I took a long, deep breath and tightened my fingers gently around Vincent's hands. "You have always felt like home to me, no matter where life takes us, you are the person I trust more than anyone else in this world." I said, through happy tears while staring directly into his eyes. " I do not know what the future holds for us, but I know that I want to face every part of it beside you, and I promise to love you for the rest of my life." The faintest smile appeared on his face, while his eyes looked brighter than ever and somehow, in that moment, I fell in love with him all over again. "Now, by the power vested in me and the blessing of the moon goddess, before the wolves of Bloodhound, I now pronounce Alpha Vincent Bernadotte and Catherine Welsh, husband and...." The priest halted, all of a sudden in the middle of his sentence by a black dagger, straight into his neck. A horrified gasp escaped my lips as warm blood splattered across my face and the front of my wedding gown, while the priest's body collapsed lifelessly onto the marble floor right in front of us. People started screaming almost immediately. Nobles stood up from their seats in terror and ran towards the entrance, few of them stumbled and fell while few of them pushed through the other people. The royal guards immediately drew their swords and rushed in front of Vincent and me, forming a protective wall around us. Their eyes scanned every corner of the cathedral as panic slowly spread across their faces. "Who dares interrupt the wedding of the Alpha and his Luna?" Vincent cursed under his breath as he stepped in front of me protectively and reached for the sword hanging at his side. A strange, suffocating silence settled across the room as the cold wind that had been blowing quitely moments ago, grew stronger, sweeping with enough force to extinguish rows of candles one after another. After a minute, a low growl echoed through the cathedral, followed by another growl, louder and closer this time. The sound seemed to come from everywhere at once, my heart began pounding violently against my ribs as a terrible feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. One by one, the royal guards dropped to their knees. Agonized cries tore from their throats as their bodies began to twist and crack violently, bones snapped beneath their skin, while their muscles expanded. Fingers stretched into deadly claws while thick fur burst through their flesh. They lowered themselves into defensive positions, deep growls rumbled from their throats. Every pair of eyes remained fixed on the cathedral entrance, waiting. A tall figure appeared in the doorway, terrified gasp escaped my lips as recognition crashed into me. Silas Bishop. He was supposed to be dead, yet there he stood, wearing that same arrogant smirk I remembered from years ago. The moment his eyes locked with mine, a chill raced down my spine. His chest was bare, revealing scars scattered across his skin, his shoulders were wide, his arms were thick and the sharp lines of his abdomen were visible beneath the blood stained white cloth, hung low around his waist, covering his lower body. "Miss me, Luna?" He asked, his eyes were fixed on me relentlessly, making me feel like prey caught in a predator's sights.