Wedding Bells

{ Jae }

For a month, I chose to stay away from my family after I told them I was going to actually marry that girl. I decided to play their game, but I wanted to make them feel like shit anyway.

I stayed away from all the wedding preparations too, so I didn't know what to expect, that's why it takes me by surprise to see such a huge ceremony when I arrive in my tuxedo.

I haven't worn one of these in about five years so I feel extremely uncomfortable and, even though I look like a million bucks, I can't wait to take it off.

"You look so handsome," my mom says when I get to her, before giving me a tight hug. She's wearing a long pink dress and her red hair is up in an eccentric knot, "Please don't do anything to ruin this day. For me."

I sigh and nod l. If there's one person I'd surrender for, it's her.

"I've already given in to this shit. I understand my father's reasons now, even if I don't like them. I'll play along, don't worry," I assure with a smile, trying to look like a good boy. My mother laughs and raises her hands to grab my face.

"I know this isn't real, but I think it's the only wedding you'll ever have. Please make it sweet for me, it's always been my dream to see you get married," she says. I want to roll my eyes again, but I don't. She's a big romantic and I know it.

"Who knows? Maybe I would have found my fated mate or something, but now I won't be able to because I have to mark that girl," I say with a fake pout. My mom hits my chest.

"Don't say that, I'm going to be sad," she says, with a voice crack that makes me laugh, "My dream was to see you find your fated mate... or anyone you love and loves you back, but your father is right. You need this."

"Don’t be sad, Mom. Finding love wasn't in my plans anyway," I shrug to reassure her, but we can't talk anymore because a little woman comes to us and tells us it's time to get started. We get ready and I walk down the aisle next to her.

All my friends are here but, other than Rogan, no one knows this is fake. They all texted me completely confused when they got the invitation, especially Sophie. I had to come up with a crazy story about how I ‘fell in love’.

There’s also a bunch of people I don't know in here, they must be Anya's family and friends... yeah, those little kids are totally her friends.

Pff, this is embarrassing. Having to marry a fucking kid. I know no one would dare say anything about it to my face, but they'll definitely talk behind my back and I hate knowing that.

I stay in my place for a couple of minutes until a new song starts playing and my child bride appears next to an older guy.

I only know a few things about my wife after this month of digging around: Her name is Anya Morgan, she just turned seventeen. She's still in school, of course, and apparently she's a star over there. She's popular, which is to be expected. I also know that her father died just a few months ago and apparently that's what got her and her bitch of a mother to let my dad buy her.

And that's about it.

Well… I also know she's pretty, of course. She's a natural redhead like most Red Wolves and has big gray eyes. She's not that short for a girl her age and she has a slender body that is probably still developing. She could be an attractive woman someday, but as she walks towards me all I see is a damn kid in a white dress.

When she finally stops and plants herself in front of me, I can see the defiance in her eyes.

I don't like it when people challenge me. It just makes me want to win even more.

{ Anya }

The day has come. My wedding day.

Alpha Riku’s money came through a couple of weeks ago, so my dress is extremely expensive and exquisite. However, it was not my dream dress, because this is not my dream wedding and he is not my dream man and this is not dreamy at all.

This man in front of me is not someone I love or will love at some point… but this is happening anyway. Right now.

He looks different today. His tuxedo is pristine and his hair is perfectly made up... and he's looking at me with defiance in his eyes and a slight smile, unlike last time, when he was just growling at me like an angry ogre.

It's like he's excited. Probably excited to keep treating me like he did that day.

But I'm a strong bitch, stronger than I look. I know I can take it. For the money.

I got two point five million dollars up front, but I'll get another two and a half million after the first year of being married to him. And then I'll continue to get five million for every year I'm still married to him. So... I have great motivation not to let him win.

I'm sure he'll get used to me at some point and maybe he'll just avoid me, that would be the best outcome.

I listen as Healer Ruby begins the ceremony, talking about love and responsibility, but my eyes are fixed on Jae's. I can't look away because I know that's what he wants. He just wants me to submit, but I won't. If I submit, I know he'll take advantage of that somehow and I can't let that happen.

Jae and I recite the generic vows as we look at each other... and then the healer asks the most important question of the evening.

"Anya Morgan, do you take Jae Hyung as your mate?"

"I do."

"Jae Kyung, do you take Anya Morgan as your mate?" she asks and I think there's a collective silence, or maybe it's just me.

Jae stays quiet longer than necessary and my heart starts pounding with fear, especially when he gives me that wicked smile.

"I do," he finally says a few beats of my crazy heart later and my eyes close with relief for a second, "Of course. "

Our guests cheer as we exchange gold rings, completely unaware of what's actually going on here. Jae scoffs a laugh when he sees the huge diamond ring I bought myself.

"Now, please share a kiss in front of the Moon Goddess and your loved ones to seal the deal," Healer Ruby says with a playful, joyful tone.

Oh, no.

I completely forgot about this part. And I think Jae did too, I guess, because his calm face twists again with a snarl.

“It's just a kiss," I whisper and reach a hand out to grab his arm and beg him with my eyes to just do this. He holds my gaze for a couple of seconds but then rolls his eyes and grabs me like a brute, pulling me to him. I gasp as I slam into his chest, hard as a fucking rock.

My now husband grabs my face and kisses me like he's being paid to do it. He devours my lips in an almost animalistic way... but that somehow doesn't completely disgust me. In fact, at some point I start to enjoy his full lips claiming mine and the way he gives me his tongue for just a second, but just then he decides to end the kiss, as all of our guests celebrate.

"Count yourself lucky," he whispers in my ear while I’m still stunned, before pulling away from me. He looks like he wants to leave on his own, but I don't let him. I grab his hand before he can escape, making him scowl at me.

"We still have to go to the reception together," I mutter under my breath and I start walking down the aisle between everyone, still squeezing Jae's rough hand to keep him from running away.

My friends are the ones making the most noise and cheering like the annoying teenagers they are, but I smile at them anyway. The only one who isn’t smiling is Remy, my best friend. He's the only one who knows the truth about Jae and the way he treated me that day at his house, so this is not fun to him. At all.

Still, I smile at him.

"Move faster," Jae grunts and picks up the pace, smiling half-heartedly at some people who congratulate him as we walk. Mary is waiting at the end for us, "What now?"

"Please follow me. The reception is ready," she says and so we do. We walk through the woods for a couple of minutes until we reach the Grand Ballroom. It's absolutely gorgeous and opulent, but before I can study if everything is okay, Mary continues to lead us up the stairs and into a small room, "You'll have to wait here for a couple of minutes while the guests take their seats. I'll be back for you when everything is ready."

I nod because I already knew that, but Jae just rolls his eyes as Mary walks away, leaving me alone with him.

I swallow and look at him as he heads straight for the couch to plop there, sitting with his legs spread wide and his arms crossed.

I want to ask him: why did you kiss me like that? What was the need for you to stick your tongue in me like that? But I'm smart enough not to.

"Sit down and stop looking at me," he growls before I can say anything, "I agreed to stay for at least three hours, I don't need you to give me any speech. In fact, I don't want you to say anything at all."

"Why?" I ask, immediately challenging him because... I don't know why. His eyes lift to me, angry, "I'm sorry."

"I'll tell you why, Anya. You're not really my wife, or my girlfriend, or even my friend. You're just my plaything to show off in public. That's all," he says, making me swallow to calm down, "You don't have a voice. In our house, you won't even talk to me unless I ask you something. You will limit yourself to looking pretty and be ready in case I need to take you out and show you off. But most importantly, you will show me your submission both in public and in private and that is for your own good. I don't think you want to piss me off, do you?"

"No." Asshole.

"No, Alpha," he corrects me. I have to take a deep breath, but I repeat it anyway, making him smile, "Good. That's all I want to hear from you: 'No, Alpha,' 'Yes, Alpha,' and that's it. I don't need to hear any other words. And then you can collect your yearly pay, like a good whore. "

I nod then, so he just winks at me and folds his arms. He stays like that for another ten minutes until we hear them introduce our names and Mary arrives for us.

Jae gets up and takes my hand again so we can go out to greet our guests.

I give them the biggest smile I can.