Chapter 3

My grip on my gown tightened as I stared straight ahead.

Today was meant to be the happiest day of my life, yet still, I remained the unhappiest in the pack with a stiff smile on my face.

"Smile properly; you make it seem as if you're being forced," Father cautioned me, and I shifted my gaze to him.

But I was getting forced.

I didn't dare say this in front of him, though, I could walk down the path with a bruise on my face, and no one would bother.

Not even my supposed husband-to-be.

After all, everyone in the pack was already used to me getting hit.

His arm was linked through mine as we waited for the ceremony to start.

Please, goddess, I need a miracle to help me escape this wedding. I know you hate me, but just this one let something go in my favor.

I prayed, looking up at the moon, but I knew that no one was going to help me.

I had no choice but to go ahead with this wedding for the benefit of the pack.

A few days had passed since I was told of this wedding and all my efforts to run away ended pathetically.

Father made sure to lock me up after my first attempt and I wasn't even allowed to end my own life.

Alpha Kaiden had told me that it was best that Camille get married to Aiden while I ended up with Kael.

But maybe it was a good thing that I would be leaving this hellhole.

This was my fate and it was happening.

Alpha Kael stood right there, waiting for me with his back to me.

“Don't mess this up," Father's grip on my arm tightened and I gulped.

He was ready to use his daughter as some sort of bargaining chip for power.

This was the first time I would be seeing Kael and my heart dropped in fear.

I couldn't try to escape anymore because Kael would have my head for embarrassing him.

He had come from his pack to mine just for this wedding and we would be leaving the same day.

“Walk," Father hissed and I snapped out of my daze, putting my foot in front of the other.

‘Are we going to get married just for their benefit?’ Neela asked and I stopped the tears that threatened to fall.

It seems that this was going to happen.

The pack members formed a circle with Kael right in the middle, and I was supposed to walk right up to him.

Ignoring my fast-beating heart, I closed the distance between us, feeling the gaze of the people around us on me

Kael turned to me immediately. I stepped right beside him, and I gasped.

He was beautiful.

But he was also dangerous. A ticking bomb that would end me at any moment.

One I was going to spend the rest of my life with.

Kael’s eyes bore into mine, a silent command in them, but there was also something else.

Something dark

I swallowed hard, my hands trembling at my sides.

This was my fate now, the marriage that would bind me to the feared Alpha, the one who had destroyed so many lives.

The Alpha, Aiden's father, stepped forward, holding a blade fashioned from an old wolf's fang.

“Today, before the pack and under the eye of the moon, we witness the binding of two wolves, their blood and souls entwined for eternity,”

Kael stared at me as the Alpha spoke, his voice boring holes into me.

I couldn't look away no matter how much I wanted to. This was happening, whether I wanted it or not.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady the fear coursing through my veins.

My throat tightened.

Blood.

This was real. My blood. His blood.

The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and my stomach twisted.

I didn’t want this. Goddess, I didn’t want any of this.

“Tonight, we bind two wolves by blood and vow,” the Alpha’s voice rang out.

I froze.

My whole body screamed to run, but my feet stayed rooted to the ground.

His gaze never left mine, and the weight of it was crushing.

There was no warmth there, no kindness, just power.

Kael brought his palm out and with a shaky breath, I lifted my hand.

It felt like lead as I placed it in his.

I didn't want this.

I swallowed hard once more, trying to push down the rising panic I felt, but it was no use.

My heart raced in my chest and I could swear they all heard it.

The Alpha moved between us, his knife glinting as he took Kael’s hand first, dragging the blade across his palm.

He didn’t flinch.

I bit down on my lip, hard enough to taste blood as I stared at his palm.

The cut was swift but deep, and crimson dripped from his hand.

Then it was my turn.

I tried not to pull away as the blade sliced into my skin but a sharp sting shot up my arm, and I winced.

Saying some ancient vows under his breath, the Alpha pressed our palms together, mixing out blood.

I wanted to scream, to run, to disappear.

But instead, I stood frozen, my hand trembling in his grip.

My blood mingled with his, warm and sticky between our palms.

It's too late to escape, it already happened.

“By your blood, you are bound,” the Alpha said, his voice heavy with finality.