CHAPTER 7
MARA’S POVHuh? Why does this place look so familiar?"Hey Mara, hurry up and go get the juice from the basement." Wasn't that Sam's voice? I thought he wasn't talking to me again.Suddenly, someone that was an exact copy except with shorter hair sprinted through me. Seeing the dress she was wearing, I realized that this was a recollection.I stood like a bystander and watched as my other self sprinted to the basement happily. I remember thinking at that time that the orphanage kids surely make it obvious that they wanted to surprise for my birthday.I waited in the basement for a little while to give them time before coming out with the juice. I had been all smiles as I walked into the hall we used for celebrations in the orphanage.What I had seen had shattered me.The banner that had been hung didn't say happy birthday. Instead it said, congratulations Talia on your successful Thesis.Talia stood amidst them with all smiles as they sang for her and celebrated while I watched on, forgotten and alone."There it is. What took you so long, Mara. The younger children were already clamoring for the juice." Sam asked loudly and that was when Talia's eyes met mine."Mara, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that they prepared all this for me. I thought it was for your birthday." Talia said guiltily.At this moment, a normal person would have lashed out but as I remembered how Talia had been the only person who wished me happy birthday, I toned down my anger.At this point, everyone was staring at me"It's alright. It's not that much of a big deal.""How is it not much of a big deal? Look at you all dressed up in your best gown. I'm sure you also thought that the celebration was for you. This is unfair to Mara guys. Come here Mara. Well celebrate your birthday instead."I hesitantly walked over to Talia and I could hear the snide remarks of the orphanage kids."There she goes again, ruining another nice event.""Is a birthday that important?""Talia is way too nice for this world.""Can't she see her plain face? Who would want to celebrate with her over Talia?""Party ruiner.""Her best dress? More like her worst rag. Look at that worn out piece of crap."The remarks that were only whispers began to get louder as I replaced myself in the recollection. They all began to surround me as they said degrading words over and over.I covered my ears, frantic to block their words but it was of no use as it resounded in my mind clearly."Her Mara." Talia called and I looked up at her in hopes she would relieve my pain like always."Don't have hopes. You'll always be in my shadow." She said, a sly smirk on her face that looked so foreign.I suddenly sprang up in fear only to find myself on my bed. Hit with relief and sadness, I bawled my eyes out till I had no tears left to shed.“It’s okay Mara, it’s all going to be okay. You’ll get someone who will love you more than you love yourself.” Gretel comforted me and I nodded as her words appeased my spirit a little bit.I looked out the window only to notice that it was still late at night. I sighed and laid back on my bed intending to force myself back to sleep because my wedding was the next day.Even if I wasn’t getting married on my own terms, I was sure as hell not doing it with a haggard face. Soon, sleep lulled me back into its embrace and by the time I woke again, it was the day of my wedding.I didn’t even get a chance to get my bearings before a multitude of people led by Mother stormed into my room and then began to fuss over me. I was dragged off my bed and then shoved into the bathroom to take a bath. From the other side of the door, mother kept urging me to be quick as they moved about doing god knows what in my room while chattering.I came out of the bathroom toweling down and donning my bathrobe only and then they dragged me to Talia’s room where I was instructed to sit on the chair before her dresser.I didn’t even get to comment about how they invaded Talia’s room as they didn’t even give me a chance to speak. Daniella, Talia’s friend who I heard was a stylist, walked in and then began to fret over me while wearing a cold expression.“Your skin is way too rough and tanned for my liking. If it had been Talia that was here, I wouldn’t have so much trouble finding the right shade of concealer for her.” She remarked for the umpteenth time as she worked my makeup. She had continuously made remarks comparing me to Talia which made me start second guessing if I should really go on with this marriage.The worst thing was that the other ladies in the room also agreed, making me feel even smaller than I felt before.Soon I was done and then I was fitted into a very beautiful wedding gown before I was towed into an equally expensive car then driven to the venue.Everything was going too fast for me but I couldn’t even protest.I soon reached the venue where I was sent to the waiting room. I had spotted Rhys talking to another man as soon as I entered and I had to admit, he looked dashing as hell. I tried to make small talk since we were about to start a life binding arrangement to see if he was as nervous as I was but he didn’t respond to me. He exuded a cold and distant aura, which made me upset.I felt intimidated so I stopped my attempt at getting through to him. I then focused on picking at the flower adorning my dress.I could hear him step out as he was called to walk the aisle. Then soon, I was also summoned.Mother helped me walk down the aisle that had mostly strangers on both sides. The ceremony was almost mechanical at this point but I tried to keep a radiant smile like Mother told me and pretend like I was the happiest bride in the world.It was all a blur from then.The preacher talking, the vows, I do.“… and now, you may kiss the bride.”I didn’t get to fully process that sentence before Rhys’s mouth came crashing down on mine in a ferocious kiss. My mind blanked as pain and dare I say pleasure shot through me. At this point, I didn’t know where I stopped or began as I was kissed senseless.Eventually, his mouth parted from mine as we both painted. I could vaguely hear cheers from the crowd as they celebrated the passionate couple.I was still in my headspace unable to fully comprehend anything around me, until he bent and whispered in a voice only he and I could hear.“I know what you did to Talia. You think marrying me equals happiness ever after in riches and power? No! I’ll let you realize that saying I do to me was the biggest mistake you ever made in your life. Brace yourself dear Mara because I’ll let you know what true suffering is.”Chapter 8Mara POV His words fell on my ears like a bombshell, and I knew right then that this whole thing was a very bad idea. Hell. Could I probably get myself out of this? I found myself scanning the halI for an escape route.The door and the window were a capital no way because I would be caught before I could even take three steps away from the altar.I could feel tears flooding my eyes. My hands gripped the bouquet tighter then a thorn pricked my finger. "Don't cry, don't cry," I repeated to myself over and over again, but my mind kept thinking of how I was getting married to a cruel man who seemed bent on punishing me for what I didn't do.My heart pounded in my chest as I stood at the center of the grand hall, surrounded by the extravagance of the whole wedding affair. I felt like I couldn't breathe as the realization that I was now bound to this marriage, to this pack, whether I liked it or not, dawned on me. I glanced around, my eyes sweeping the faces of the people from
Chapter 9Mara's POVI just stared at the ground, looking at the pieces of the white flimsy material of my veil on the ground. Tears were threatening to fall again. It's like a never-ending cycle of me being weak and pathetic."You don't even deserve to wear that dress on your wretched body. I could strip you of that dress if I wished to. Because in case you don't know or you don't know yet, I have the power to do whatever I want with you," he said quietly in my ears. He turned to leave, leaving me ashamed and embarrassed of myself. That was when I snapped."Well, I didn't ask for all of this. I didn't ask for you to get married to me, so if you think for one minute that you own me just because you forcefully made me marry you, then you are wrong!"I stepped closer to him, my tears brimming close, but I refused to let them fall. "You want to strip me?" I stretched out my hands. "Come on, what are you waiting for?” I didn't really know what I was saying, but when he looked at me wit
Chapter 10Rhys POV When she talked back to me, I smiled inside. She was quite intriguing. She always had that meek, pathetic look on her face, but seeing her with such fire in her eyes stirred something within me. My pulse quickened in excitement. I felt tempted to carry out my threat and take her right there, to see if she would display such fire underneath me."Seems like the little kitty has a bit of claw,” I smiled, “I am going to have a great time removing the fire in you.""I look forward to it, Alpha Rhys." She replied, not scared of me.My wolf grunted about bun approval. She had courage and he liked that. There was something undeniably captivating about her. This girl was going to be an interesting one to break.Then I finally remembered who she was. She was the girl who slept murmuring due to nightmares. That morning, I kissed her forehead before I could realize it. So I showed her my soft side?My scowl was back on my face.I turned to Alfred, disapproval was written
Chapter 11Mara pov It was too late to reach for the towel or anything so I could cover my body. I felt naked under Rhys's steady gaze, but I probably felt that because I was naked. What was I thinking when I didn't lock the door? I groaned inside my head. What was he thinking when he busted into my room? Yes, this whole situation wasn't my fault. Why was he here in the first place?Don't tell me he was here too..? I laughed nervously.‘Nah! That wasn't it. This man practically hated me, he couldn't come here and demanded I sleep with him because it was our wedding night. Can he?’‘He should be, I would gladly say yes.’ Gretel said. ‘Oh shut up! You would do anything for him. Why didn't you say anything when he was disgracing us earlier?’‘He probably had a good reason to do that, maybe he was protecting us from a dangerous spy that is living with us.’‘Just hear yourself, Gretel, you sound delusional.’‘You asked for my opinion.’ She huffed.I was so busy arguing with my wolf i
Chapter 12Mara’s POV Gretel smirked at the sight of Rhys’ wolf coming to the surface.Maybe she had forgotten the fact that I was naked and Rhys was soaking wet, that’s why she closed up any distance between us.She did it intentionally, of course. She had been making her opinion of sleeping with him again since day one.Gretel, please don’t say anything that is going to get our neck snapped.Rhys’ eye slit dilated at the touch of our body on his and it was obvious that it wanted us even if Rhys was behaving quite the opposite.“What’s your name, little wolf?” it said, using a finger to lift our chin forward towards him.We couldn’t suppress the shiver of desire that went down our spine. Wait a minute, why was I also shivering? I was supposed to be nonchalant about this whole thing.“That’s because you also want him”Well, fuck me.“If only you could say those words it loud to Rhys”She looked at him and replied “Gretel”“Gretel” he whispered, his head bent to us. His eyes flashed
Chapter 13Rhys’s pov“So many darn files! Rowen can never do anything reasonable!” I kept sorting through the files on my desk, they seemed to be never-ending, but it was a good way to distract myself from what had happened a few days back. The wedding, seeing Mara naked. As much as I didn't want to admit, she had one of the most beautiful bodies I have ever seen.And her skin, she was so soft. I lost control and I blame my wolf for that.‘You should have just let me have her.’ he never stopped talking about it, he had been awfully quiet but when he found out I was thinking about her, he decided to speak up. I ignored him, it was no use talking to him as he never listened. Thank goodness I got control again, what would have happened if I didn't?I would have kissed her, licked her, pinned her, and made love to her all night. I wouldn't have stopped, she would have kept screaming my name all night.My eyes widened in retaliation, I let my thoughts go too far. My desk was still covered
Chapter 14Rhys’s pov“Why are you so obsessed with me bringing an heir? You don't expect me to start raining pups, even after you forced me to get married to Mara.'' I pointed it out to them.In the corner of my eye, I could see Rowen trying not to break out into a fit of laughter, as it was a serious discussion.“Your ancestors had many heirs to the throne, your father wasn't able to, but he gave us you, you need to continue the traditions of your ancestors Rhys.” my uncle spoke, everyone was against me at this point.“It is dangerous for an alpha not to have an heir, and if anything happens to you? Then what do we do?” Grandpa asked. My eyes turned to Rowen, and he turned to me. We looked at each other and with our gestures.Grandpa got infuriated, “The throne cannot be given to anyone else unless they carry our blood!” He slammed his hand on the table, for an old man he sure had the temper.It made sense where I got my anger issues from.And even though he was right, I still had
Chapter 15Mara’s pov“Is this how it is going to be now?” I asked myself as I turned from side to side. It was crazy how my life turned from regular Mara to Mara, the forced Luna of the pack. As if marrying Rhys was enough, I have to bear his heir, how disgusting!I turned again to my side. I always woke up early to go to work. I watched from the window how the sun rose and brought everything to light. I was tired of being in here, I wanted to go out. My mind traced back to when Rhys saw me naked, how he looked at me like I was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. The desire in his eyes was very evident until his wolf took over.Gretel was so happy when she got the opportunity to be with him, even though it was for a few short moments. It felt divine how he showered us with so much love and affection, something Rhys could not do even if the moon goddess came down herself and taught him how to love on his mate properly.I heaved an exasperated sigh. Gretel had been very qu