Chapter 3 Esmerelda #2
My steps falter, and Min squeezes my arm as the wave of insurmountable grief washes over me, drowning me like a tidal wave, suffocating me like a noose around my neck.
The room spins as it really hits me that I’m about to marry my enemy.
As I get closer to facing him, my anger is replaced with unbridled fury.
Fuck him. Here I am, going to all this effort to look the emotional, blushing bride, and this turd-waffle can’t even look at me as I walk down the aisle.
I’ll never have the opportunity to have my husband stare back at me with love and reverence as I walk toward him on my journey to become his life partner.
His wife. A word that should be held sacred.
The mixed emotions sap every ounce of energy, and it feels like I’m walking through quicksand.
As I’d done when I was a child and couldn’t deal with my emotions, I seek my father out.
I find him on the seat in the front right, and his broken expression nearly brings me to my knees.
It snaps me right out of this emotional rollercoaster I’m experiencing, and a sense of resolve hits me.
I need to stop this shit. My pack is counting on me, and I will not let them down.
Marcus might be prepared for himself and whoever he loves to be exiled, but that’s not how I roll.
I shouldn’t be surprised, though, since loyalty isn’t one of his core values. Clearly.
I lift my chin. I drag my feet out of the quicksand, and I march to my new life. Nothing about this is about me anymore. It’s about ensuring the safety and security for those I love.
The next however long it takes the alpha to go through the greetings and everything that goes with it go by in a blur. All I know is my cheeks hurt from the fake smile I have plastered on my face.
“I believe the happy couple have prepared their own vows.”
Panicking, I turn to Minerva. What? Why the hell didn’t I know about this? If I could, I’d glare at Marcus right now, but all eyes are on us. I’m sure the no-good fucker set me up. Ugh, if I could just let my wolf free for ten seconds, I could clamp my jaws around his throat.
Marcus takes my hands, and I have to fight the urge to snap them away as if I’ve unknowingly placed them in lava.
He rubs my fingers with his thumb, his gaze fixed on them as if studying every line of my hand.
His thumb traces softly, deliberately, over the engagement ring he had delivered to my room this morning so we could keep up appearances.
Then, his eyes meet mine, and he smiles—a smile so intense it knocks the breath right out of my lungs.
My lips betray me and curl up, and I’m sure I’m staring at him like a fool.
When Marcus doesn’t proceed with his vows, the alpha clears his throat. A warning perhaps, but to anyone else it would seem he is encouraging Marcus to begin.
Marcus turns and smiles sheepishly at the alpha.
“My apologies. I’m caught up in my bride’s beauty.
” He turns and faces the guests. “Isn’t she stunning?
” The room erupts with cheers and stomping feet, and Marcus dips his head.
Just like that, the glamour his smile put me under is shattered, and I bristle.
Min gives me a warning look, and I force my face into a neutral expression.
Marcus releases a hand and raises it to quieten the guests.
“If I may, I’d like to say my vows. I can no longer contain the urgency to make this beautiful woman my wife. ”
Another round of cheers explodes through the room, and the alpha taps his staff against the floor.
Everyone immediately falls silent, and the alpha smiles.
“Let’s allow this couple to commit their lives to each other.
The reception will be the time for celebrating. ” He turns back to us. “You may begin.”
Marcus captures my hand in his once more and stares lovingly at me.
This time, I’m not enamored by the show he’s putting on; I know he’s laying it on thick for his adoring fans.
But I’m proud of the fact that, instead of rolling my eyes, I’m able to smile.
However, I dig my thumbnail into the soft flesh between his thumb and forefinger.
His brief flinch gives me immense pleasure.
“Esmerelda, as heirs to our respective tribes, we understand the weight of sacrifice and the complexity of choices that are not always easy.
Today, I stand before you, making the ultimate choice and embracing the greatest sacrifice—marriage.
It is the profound commitment to set aside our individual desires and prioritize each other above all else.
“While it may seem a sacrifice, it is one I make willingly.
Today, I vow to make a future with you, to protect you, and walk beside you through every step of the journey.
Today, two seemingly unlikely people are uniting, bound by a shared goal: to see people thrive—not as separate entities, but as one united tribe.
“I vow to support you, to stand by your side, and to grow with you. I look forward to discovering the layers of who you are and learning more with each passing day. As we age, I vow to grow in understanding, compassion, and respect.
“I could speak of love and devotion, but the sanctity of those words should only be uttered in private. So, for now, I will save those promises for the moments shared between just us. But here, in front of those who matter most, I vow to give my life to you—from this day forward, and for all the days to come.”
Well, shit! I don’t know where Marcus pulled that from, but it is actually quite…
nice. He also did a great job of acting like we have feelings for each other.
I suppose, if you’re a master of manipulation, it’s easy to whip heartfelt vows out of your ass.
Now I have to come up with something equally good. Asshole. A heads-up would’ve been nice.
The alpha clears his throat, and while it sounds like he’s trying to move things along, to me it sounds like the warning it is.
I follow my soon-to-be husband’s lead and turn to the guests.
“My apologies, I’m rather blown away by my husband’s vows.
” I turn back to Marcus and wrangle a shy smile.
“I’m afraid I’m not quite the wordsmith as you, my love.
I guess I should stop teasing you about how much stronger I am.
It seems spending all your time with your nose in a book does have its advantages. ”
The guests laugh, and although they think I’m kidding, I find immense satisfaction at getting the dig in.
Marcus squeezes my hand tight, the ring he placed on my finger digging into my skin, but his face doesn’t give anything away.
The sooner we get this facade over, the better.
I take a deep breath. “Marcus, you are right to keep our true feelings about each other private. The true depths of our feelings are something we should only share with each other. And you know more than anyone that I’m not the type of person to wax lyrical about how I feel.
That said, I stand before you and those most important to us, and I vow to forever keep you on your toes.
I vow to spend the rest of my life showing you exactly how I feel about you.
” A growl hits my ears in painful waves.
Without even looking, I know it’s the alpha telepathically giving me my final warning.
But then the guests all start laughing and cheering, and Marcus joins in with the laughter, so the alpha’s warning subsides.
“Very well done, Esmerelda. You got away with that. I would be remiss if I didn’t warn you that you are skating on the edge of trouble, dear.” Athene’s words hit me.
Well, fuck this shit.
“I’m sure you didn’t expect me to stand here and lie, did you?”
“Indeed not. However, your husband handled the situation with rather more tact than you.”
“I am not my husband. Nor am I a manipulator.”
Before Athene can retort, Marcus turns to the alpha. “I humbly request to kiss my bride. I’m sure you can appreciate my urgency. One, because I’ve been dying to kiss her since she walked up the aisle, and two, I’m rather afraid of what might come out of her mouth next.”
You’d swear this was a comedy show rather than a wedding with the way the guests have been chortling throughout the ceremony, but before I can give it much more thought, Marcus steps forward and wraps his arms around me.
With a flourish, he dips me low and away from the guests’ line of sight.
He leans in, his breath teasing my lips.
My tongue darts out my mouth to wet my lips in anticipation of his kiss.
My pulse starts racing as he leans in ever closer. My body hums.
And then…
Nothing.
What the hell? Is he so intolerant of me that he can’t even kiss me?
Well, I’ll show his pompous ass something.
I bridge the minuscule gap until my lips press against his.
The moment our mouths touch, heat flashes through me, and I’m flooded with attraction for the man I despise.
Oh no. Absolutely not. I yank my lips from his, dousing the flames that just engulfed me.
Marcus’s eyes burn with desire, and I wonder if he experienced what I just felt.
He stands, pulling me upright, and I’m unsteady on my feet. What the hell was that? Through the humming in my ears, I hear the alpha’s voice.
“With that, I pronounce you husband and wife.”
Ice fills my veins.
Goodbye, freedom.