"How could you do that?" Sophia ran to her daughter forgetting her mannerisms and slapped her. "Did you know what you did?"
Marilyn looked at her mother, her hand placed on her red cheek. Her mother did not even bother to control her strength. Though she would heal soon, it still hurt more to be slapped by her mother.
Cristiano stood in the silence, his heart breaking from suffering and his partner's rejection. Her rejections inflicted wounds inside him that only he could see, each one deeper than the last. And yet there he was, standing unwavering with his mask intact, as if the burden of his feelings were just feathers on his shoulders.
He was a picture of dignity at that very moment, his expressions were as icy and uncompromising as winter's frost.Though his eyes hid the chaos inside but a tempest was brewing under the tranquil surface. His heart burned with fury and anger.
He balled his hands into fists as his knuckles were white from the struggle to contain the storm inside of him. He refused to let his fury define who he was at the moment because he understood that giving in to it would only lead to disaster.
"I demand an explanation," The King said to the prime minister who left with his family from the similar room after.
"Yes, your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, I need to exchange a few words with you," The priest said, assessing the situation.
The king nodded his head and went to talk alone with the priest.
"What is it that His Eminence wishes to speak to the King," The King addressed the priest with his title.
"Your Majesty, when Prince Cristiano came of age and shifted for the first time, I informed you that he inherited the legendary wolf of Christian Lockwood, the founding father of the Moonhaven," The priest began saying.
"Prince Cristiano's life shares many similarities with him. Prince Cristiano's life is taking a tragic turn like him. King Christian Lockwood lived a lonely life as he was rejected by his mate too. If His Majesty doesn't intervene now, Prince Cristiano's life will take a turn that will affect everyone."
"What does it mean?" King Christopher asked, slightly scared inside for the cruel fate that his son might have to withstand.
"Prince Cristiano needs a bride," The priest said, firmly. "Only a bride can keep him away from having a miserable fate."
The king stood in the middle of the temple after having a conversation with the priest and demanded an audience from everyone present in the room.
Seeing the king standing angry and proud, everyone stood up in respect.
"Any willing woman mastering beauty, Grace and wisdom can come to the front and marry the Crown Prince," The King declared, much to the audience's shock.
"My king!" Queen Charlotte cried in shock. "Please! Take your words back. Our son is not some commoner who lacks a woman."
"It's my decree, dear queen," The King said, looking at her blankly. "I will never bear the disrespect of royalty. If Marilyn Sinclair doesn't marry my son, it doesn't mean he will remain a bachelor."
"Father–" Cristiano tried to talk but in front of the King, the real Alpha of the entire country, but his power was limited.
The kind said, "Going against me is going against a royal decree at this time. Cristiano, you will do as I order."
"Yes, Your Majesty," The Crown Prince spoke without a hint of emotion in his voice. He did not address the man as his father at the moment but as his king.
Cristiano knew that nobody would come forward as everyone knew that he was no longer capable of loving anyone after he was humiliated and rejected by his mate.
No woman in her sane mind would marry such a man who could never love her, especially when they had a chance of finding their mates.
Once rejected by his mate, he no longer possessed the feelings that he once did to fall in love or feel anything for any other woman. It would not be wrong to say that his heart was dead with Marilyn's rejection.
Moreover, he had a reputation as a monster. Nobody would like to live a life full of torments that he might inflict on her.
It was hard for him to fall in love again as the left side of his chest where a throbbing organ used to exist was empty now.
For a few minutes, nobody came forward.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed in the room as everyone turned their head to find a tall woman dressed in a grey mermaid gown, walking towards the king.
Everyone began to whisper if they had seen her somewhere before but could not pinpoint where. Also, nobody noticed from bthe eginning till now that she was in the same room as them. Then, she removed her hat as she curtsied to the king and the queen.
Her long wavy silver-coloured hair came cascading down her back like a waterfall when she curtised.
Her obsidian eyes were so big that it felt as if holding the secrets of the universe.
Her slender figure gracefully carries an air of allure that doesn't go unnoticeable by any naked eye.
"His Majesty, I wish to marry Prince Cristiano Lockwood," She spoke softly as if feeling the touch of every alphabet at her lips.
"Introduce yourself, " The King said, narrowing his eyes at the women. Even the king did not recognise who she was.
"I'm Portia Hawthorne, daughter of Kane Hawthorne and Evelyn Hawthorne," Portia made the introduction. And the introduction was enough for everyone to know who she was.
The woman standing in front of them was nobody but the infamous Portia Hawthorne of the house Hawthorne.
Kane Hawthorne was an Alpha of one of the big ten families. He had a son who was declared to be his heir and a daughter who was rumoured to be good for nothing since she could never shift.
The people began whispering about her audacity to marry the crown prince. He was not just a crown prince at the moment but the most dangerous and powerful man on the earth. How dare she think that she was worthy of marrying someone like him?
They laughed at her audacity.
Did she really think that she, a women who could never be accepted as a werewolf, would marry the crown prince?
Certainly, nobody thought that the king would agree to this bizarre union.
The other reason why people did not like Portia was because of Kane Hawthorne who made a fortune by establishing contact with the outside world. The people of the country frown upon having any contact with humans or other creatures. They considered themselves to be superior to all races and creatures.
Kane Hawthorne and his obsession with the country opening the gates to other Werewolf populations of the world was not liked by the people here. There was a narrative set in the country that Kane Hawthorne wanted to challenge the royal supremacy in the country and bring the stupid concepts of equality in the country.
How could they be equal to humans or other werewolves who lived with humans?
The king looked at her bitterly. "Fair enough."
Everyone knew that without a mate, a werewolf was nothing. Only the fated ones met their mates. And one rejected by the mate suffers a great tragedy. Thus, he had to accept that Portia was probably the only choice his son was left with.
Even though she was the last person he would choose for his son. Having no option at the moment, he accepted his son's poor fate.
"Call your parents and the wedding will start in some time," The King ordered and left the room while Queen Charlotte went behind him to convince him to change his mind as she could not see her only son marrying such a nonsense woman who had nothing to offer.
Everyone was left shocked at the king's sudden announcement.
Cristiano looked at the bravely absurd woman who dared to come in the front to marry him.
Her silver hair framed her face as she seemed to exude a witchy touch and he silently made a vow in his heart. He would never let this woman have a life of peace since she took advantage of him when he was at his weakest point. He would hit when she had least expected it.
Portia Hawthorne, I will make your life hell.
In the stillness of the night sky, Portia and Cristiano exchanged vows. The brilliant light of the moon was falling on them through the window as if blessing them for their unfateful union.
"I declare you as man and wife," The priest declared. "You may kiss the bride."
When it was time for Cristiano to kiss his wife, he left the church, leaving everyone along with his unwanted wife.