AND BLISSFUL

red's

right. Too loud. T

and Alphas sat in silence, their gazes fixed on me with excitement in their eyes. Laughter hummed faintly at the side, mu

wn someone else was meant to wear. I had dreamt once, as a foolish little girl, of walking down an aisle l

Goddess, please. Tell

it

man who had cruelly rejected me. My mate. My

t. "My Lord, do you take

d and his cold silver eyes didn't blink. T

se only minutes ago, this same man had spat in my face that I was useless, weak, unworthy o

line, my shoulders stiff a

ena, take Alpha Hayde

hroat closed. My tong

.I..

ests shifted in their seats. Every eye

ce sharper this time. "Do you, Lady Xime

possible or tear myself free from his grip, then run down the aisle and

m. I forced the word pas

" I b

t even feel lik

hands. We exchanged them, cold metal slipping against m

now kiss

o. No, no, no. Not th

I couldn't move at

er to him like he owned me. He leaned closer, a

ever

ly. Deliberately. Then he lifted that same thumb to

pted in appla

mantic. But to me, it was a blade carvi

n't even

words he could have spoken. My hea

him; my hear

ed. And the crowd clapped and chewed excitedly but

Servants carried trays piled high with roasted meats, glistening fruits, and pastries

er, accepting bows. His every gesture radiated authority, his every word sharpened with c

hough the feast looked fit for gods. My stomach was twi

of familiar f

fam

Nevaeh...

ly wore that dress, wow! There was a needle at home yet they sent me out? My an

ed Hayden first, voices dip

Qu

n, bowed to me, and my stepmother, who saw me as her worst nightmare, lower

," she giggled, her eyes flicking over m

es nar

.. Mi

art l

ll me. I was still struggling with what

to mine and pulled

smoothly. "You should g

He tugged me away, leaving

h, his voice dropped,

family," I

her. He's

ok my

pression darken

y. "From this moment on, you are Xim

Mildred, not her. I can't be her. But the

.. maybe I can use this. Maybe,

dded curtly. "Change your hair. Chan

Your H

e off, pressing a glass

ng my fingers. I hadn't realized how par

you," I

y more, a new voi

ng towards us and staring at me as

teased, grinning at him. Then

ed under

ed the ceremony,"

replied, his voice

was

o me. "Mind if I borrow

itated, th

me by the hand and gently

ripped me tighter. She dragged me to a

etness

o fury. "What the hel

low, venomous,

tumbled. I didn't

fore she shoved me back. "I told you to disappear. To sta

, Ximena? Or should I say..." She leaned closer,

evi

idly, confusi

ell are you people? And why

words came. My chest he

harpened. "Well? Ca

tonight, the fear wasn't just of Hayden. It was

obviously

it out soon... I might

!!" She yelled and

idea about her name or identity, and Hayden, who was supposed to

ngs." She scoffed as she

lan and get out of here. You have just 72 hours to do so, or I'm going to tell Ha

he uttered with pure sar

could see it in her eyes and

in threatening Ximena, who I think was hiding somet

ht in the midd

slowly walked to Hayden, who had

e asked, and I immediately guesse

slowly rubbed my sore arm

ealed so slowly. Sometimes,

and the people around me," he informed me as I slowly shook my head while I contem

like Ximena?" I fo

s their daughter, and Molly barely recognized me, r

between you two is your featur

iled off as he held himself

aised a b

from me and took a sip fr

d in my room wa

prepared me for him

s going to happen as

ty, unsure of what would happen next. I had no idea what to expect from my new husba

houghts when the door op

quickly stood up to greet hi

d not chang

or does your hearing not work well

.." I mutt

, running his hands through his hair as he walked

arette, which he lit

llshit called marriage," he deadpan

w that you're no

I replied in

sma was exceptional. He was a do

r family. Don't get close to any of them to avoid su

f going near those pe

" I asked curiously. That

do what you are asked!" He fired at me, obviously

whenever we're around them. Act like things are cool between us

really wanted to get rid of them, If he could go

this marriage, but I hadn't realized how deep the tension between Hayden and the elders went. What was t

I responded, trying to

oo

would have believed the moon goddess would curse me with a mate like you? Am I that terrib

I replied

he bitter scent filling the room. "As long as yo

e done here..

astically, walking out of the room as he slammed the door