emony had begun, but there was no warmth in their exchanges, only a bitter cold. The words they spoke see

ction. "I take this woman as my wife, for better or for worse..." Adrian murmured, his neutral tone suggesting that he saw in her only a duty to fulfill. Sh

med to be there to observe, to judge, and she could feel the weight of their gazes on her. She grabbed the bouquet of white

re relaxed slightly, but Katherine knew it was only a reprieve. As the guests filed into the reception,

hed him walk away, her heart sinking a little more with each step he took. She would have liked him to give her a mo

f this celebration, Katherine felt a growing unease. She moved to a corner of the room, hoping to blend into the background and give he

hispered, nodding toward Katherine. "She doesn't know wh

visibly interested. "That's what they say

nd was in turmoil, remembering what Niamh had said to him, trying to keep his composure. Everything she had h

to them," Niamh whispered, appearing at his side. "It's just chatter. You ha

words were not enough to erase the doubt that inhabited her. "I know, b

to listen to them. What matters is your relationship with Adrian.

expression on his face as closed as usual. "I'm sorry I left,

n accessory to his life, a decorative element in a painting that was not

r him. "I need to tell you about some rules you will have to

faster. "What rules? » she asked, a s

ties, gatherings... it is essential that you are by my side, or that I k

ed. "I understand, but does that mean I ca

is gaze hardening. "I just want to protect y

revented her. He was the Alpha, and she was the one who had to adapt to this new world

to Katherine, these rules only reinforced the barrier between them. She wanted to know hi

wing feeling of loneliness. Katherine tried to join in on the conversations, but the ot

other woman said mockingly, raising a glass of w

with a group of men, his face impassive, but she could see the slight tens

Katherine found herself in a corner, lost in thought. Ad

he observed, his eyes se

mitted, her eyes shifting. "I thought

t? he asked, his tone of

d understand what it means to be with an Alpha," she replied, h

heavily. "It's hard for me too, Katherine. I don't know how to navig

asn't as relentless as he seemed. "I just want you to be honest with me," sh

ll do my best, I promise." But you have to understa

e path ahead of them would be strewn with pitfalls, that their mar

o build something

ge, despite its restrictions, could prove to be the start of a new story. She promised herself to never give up, even wh