~Two years later~
ARTEMISIAI squinted whilst glaring at my parents across the dining hall. What were they thinking by dropping an announcement in front of thousands of people without my consent?It should be illegal to do things without your child's consent. Maybe, I would set it as a law to abide by when I become a president.But right now, it seems freaking impossible. Because I was freaking getting married to god knows who tomorrow!Despite the dilemma I was in, I tossed my head back and let out a peal of laughter. Possibly, at how ridiculous the situation I was in seemed.“It's great to know you are fine with it. I thought you would throw a tantrum.” My mom smiled.Okay with it?I was freaking not okay, and the urge to yell surged through me. I wanted to throw a freaking tantrum as she had said, but I couldn't because of the guests.If I had known today was going to be the day, my parents would announce my being auctioned away, I would have maybe prevented it by running away.Although it didn't seem like they were selling me away to the feasters due to how they had announced it spicily. Also, the feasters had even congratulated me because they were oblivious.Knowing my parents, I was sure they had met with the stranger to discuss the price at which I was worth and had agreed on the one that interests them.I know I wouldn't run forever even if I wanted to because my dad was a powerful man and had informants all over the state. However, I was sure I would hide before they got to find me.“I'm still astounded,” I murmured.I trembled with fury as I remembered what they had done. I snatched a napkin from the table and cleaned my mouth before glaring at both of them.“You are doing this without my consent. It is unacceptable!”“We are your parents. We have the right to do whatever we desire, whether it's your wish or not.” Father said.His words didn't stun me. He had always searched for the opportunity to get me a husband since I finished high school. He was looking for every means to discard me and get a lot of funds in return. The money he would squander away in no time because of his excessive way of life.My dad comes from a family of old wealth. He had inherited his father's- the third Earl of Thorns' estates after his demise. That means he was wealthy and didn't need anyone's help. Yet, he chose to connive with mom.“Excuse me? You are my parents and, of course, I have every right to do what I desire because I am of age!”“Careful, young lady.” Father cautioned.“As long as you are under this roof, my darling, we will do what we want with you,” Mom added.“Why are you doing this to me? I have always been an exceptional child and didn't break any rules you laid down. Why do you want to sell me off?” I questioned, sniffling.“It is not selling off, and God forbid we do that to any of our children.” Mother stated, glaring at me at my choice of word.“It's practically the same thing, mom.” I pointed out. “What I don't understand is why you are doing this.”“Because that is the best thing for you. It's better you get married now and bore children instead of waiting until you are older when men don't find you desirable any more.”My eyes went wide at what she had said. I should get married to bear an heir to the stranger I was being sold to?That was the most absurd thing I had ever heard, and a sorry excuse for selling their child to get enough wealth.Yet, it seemed they made up their minds already because nothing I was saying seemed to affect them. Not even the plea for me to wait for at least a year more.“I wish I was adopted! At least I will be fine with this, your silly excuse to make more wealth from me.”“Young Lad…” Father began.“Excuse me,” I mumbled, stalking out of the room.I paced around my bedroom for a while. Then plopped on my bed whilst glaring at the white ceiling as I got tired of standing.I grabbed my pillow and punched it before yelling into it.“Why me?!”I was always at the receiving end of it all. They said I was older and got to do a lot of things. Especially if my little sister, Emma, had wronged anyone. I was the one cleaning up her mess.We were practically only two years apart. So, each time they wanted me to do things in place of her stating she was too young, even if she was at fault, seemed awful.I groaned, rolling to my side. I shook my head as several thoughts of how to escape invaded my mind.I couldn't run away. Nor could I change my parents' already made-up minds because I was freaking trapped.I thought of how tomorrow would be.“Tomorrow.” I grimaced. I was going to be given off to a man by my father.He was going to lead me down the altar towards a stranger I hadn't met before.I thought of the man they were forcing me to marry. I couldn't come up with an image of him, since I hadn't seen him before.The only information I had got from him so far from my parents during the announcement was that he was stinkingly rich.A stinkingly rich man?Surely, he was going to be an old man. I hadn't seen any young man that had been described that way before.I gagged as the image of a pot-bellied man of average height with a receding hairline and sunken eyes standing in front of the priest at the altar flashed in my mind.Furthermore, I recalled watching a film in which the parents of the major lead forced her into marrying a man because they were on the verge of bankruptcy.The man, she was getting married to would supposedly pay them an immense sum of money for marrying their daughter.I was now in the same situation. Never in my life had I thought such a thing would happen to me.I had often thought of a charming prince that would sweep me off my feet. A charming prince that would be my husband and the man I would bore all my children for.Now, the vision seems vague because I was going to get married tomorrow.A marriage without love. Worst still, a marriage to a man that was old enough to be my father!I remembered laughing at the main lead's horrified face the moment she saw her groom as she got to the altar.Maybe I should not have laughed at the situation. Now, I was in something similar, and I was sure someone was enjoying a good laugh about me currently.ARTEMISIAI sighed, then sat on the chair that was in front of the vanity.I stood again and paced around the room.I walked to the window and noticed a few cars parked in front of the cathedral building, which was not far from our house.The cathedral, I was going to be married off today to a total stranger. The place, might I say, I was going to detest for the rest of my life because it was sealing my fate.I walked back to my chair without paying attention to the new arrival that came in a limo.I knew all of them were my parent's friends. My mom, especially.We were part of an aristocratic family. Technically, I was a lady since my dad was an Earl, even though he chose to live elsewhere instead of the estate I had been told was part of his inheritance.Anyway, I didn't mind where he picked to live since we were doing fine, and I didn't like being called any title.They had teased me a lot in Lone Oaks High because most of the students believed I was lying and couldn't be part of a
SINI sighed as I glanced at my golden wristwatch again.She was an hour late. I have not seen a bride or anyone arrive that late to their ceremony before.It was annoying as I got to stand in front of the damned altar, waiting for my supposed bride-to-be.I tugged the tie on my neck and let out a deep breath as I felt it constricting my airflow.My eyes darted to my mom, Queen Ada. She sat a few meters away from where I stood, and I noticed her eyes kept on flickering from my face to the entrance.I couldn't figure out what she was thinking, even though I could hear the thoughts of the others, which were giving me a terrible headache.I believe she was good at concealing her thoughts. Also, now I know she wasn't joking when she said she had got a new power, which meant blocking others from trying to penetrate her mind.She was that strong.As the daughter of an Alpha herself, she was beta to her brother, who was voted as the new Alpha of their pack.My mom had the grace of a warrior a
SINI tugged at my tie again as she stepped closer to me.I clenched my hands into a fist and gritted my teeth as my body reacted to her.I wanted to get this over with. The ceremony and all. But the priest and everything seemed slow suddenly.If given the opportunity, I would dart out of the cathedral without a second thought. I didn't care if I would get my mother mad in the process. At least, it would be better than staying next to her.I was aware werewolves couldn't control whom they mate with. Or worst, imprint on.But, I believed I should be able to control mine because I had spent years practising how to control my heightened emotion especially when the full moon was out since I triggered my curse on my eighteenth birthday.The memory was still fresh in my mind, and I was sure it was one of the things I would never forget because it was a part of me now.“You may kiss the bride.”My head snapped towards the priest as the word slipped out of his mouth.I glanced at my bride whil
ARTEMISIAThere were a lot of things I would not wish to happen to me. I had made a bucket list full of them.But, not in my wildest dreams would I have thought I was going to be the bride of the stranger I often fantasize about.Since the first day we met, which was two years ago, I hadn't seen him again until today.Yet, it didn't stop me from thinking about him regularly.Being wedded to him was nothing like I had imagined.I had thought him to be a sweet and caring man. Someone that would be my knight in shining armour whenever I was distressed.Someone that would comfort me whilst wrapping his muscular arm around me.It was absurd!I should not have thought of all that because I realized now that they were all wishful thinking.The man beside me, the freaking hunk that the minister had joined with me, was an obnoxious jerk.He wasn't like the man I had envisaged. Rather, the opposite.Although he hadn't made a lot of nasty comments with the ones I had heard him say, I wished I was
ARTEMISIAI was alone again when Julie left to take care of some stuff.Although she didn't tell me what it was, I guessed it was about boys.I had noticed she was staring at one of the guests in a somewhat sexy way and she had excused herself to go attend to him.I gagged as I imagined what they could be doing right now.Sighing whilst shaking my head to clear the thoughts of Julie and her maybe newfound sexual partner out of my mind, I sat on the chair quietly whilst observing my surroundings for the first time.The decoration had been done in my favourite colour which was lavender.Even though I was a girly girl, I wasn't quite interested in the colour pink.Rather, I found it overly revolting. At first, it didn't disgust me, until people began to think I was an airhead due to the colour I chose to wear often. Also, the colour of my hair might have contributed to it.I let in a deep breath as the cool wind caressed my face. I wonder if my parents had go
ARTEMISIA I let out a breath and watched Sin walk away from me, towards a room. Also, I was disappointed. He hadn't kissed me as I had thought he would. Maybe I was insane to have imagined he would, after shoving him the way I did.Sin looked to be in control more than I was. If he hadn't halted, I was sure I would have gripped his face and pressed my lips to his. "Ugh, crazy thoughts." I groaned, whilst fixing the strap of my dress he had pushed down. I walked towards the door he had gone into, twisted the knob, and peeked before entering the room. I hesitated at the doorpost whilst gazing around. It was a master bedroom with a large four-poster bed at the end. A mahogany walk-in closet was at the left corner of the room and an exquisite-looking vanity was at the side of the bed.Sin stood in front of the vanity. His back was to me, and I blushed as I stared at his unclothed body. His muscles ripped when he lifted his arm, and he swirled, gazing at me.His lips quirked whilst hi
ARTEMISIAI awoke with a start.My eyes darted around the room as I tried to recall the reason my heart was thumping fast.I was aware I had a nightmare. But, just like every other night, I couldn't remember what I had dreamt about.Sighing, I gripped my phone that was underneath my pillow and checked what the time was.I noticed it was only a few minutes past 10 which meant, I had slept after lying on the bed and it was only for a few minutes."Geez." I groaned whilst rubbing my tummy as it grumbled. I realized I hadn't eaten anything since after the wedding was done today.I had been thinking of what to do to get me out of the situation I was in, to think about food.I stepped out of the room to the kitchen which was together with the living room. My hand found the switch on the wall, light flooded into the room as I clicked on it.My eyes dimmed and I blinked several times before they got accustomed to the brightness.
SINI sighed whilst tossing on the bed. Standing up yet again for the umpteenth time tonight, I glanced at the sleeping figure of my wife curled up on the couch.I grimaced at the term. I doubt if I would get used to seeing her as one.The blanket she had taken from the wardrobe was wrapped around her small frame and she pulled it up to her face. So, I could only make out only her forehead as the moonlight streamed into the room. I knew I was rude and mean to her since we arrived in my glasshouse, but I didn't careMore so, I don't know why I was acting cold towards her. Because I could remember, no girl not even Adrina, my ex had ever made me feel so bothersome before.Perhaps, it was her scent. The intoxicating strawberry and grape perfume that she wore.Even her hair smelt similar because I had caught a whiff of it whilst at the cathedral when I tugged the veil covering her face away.My gaze snapped towards her a