Chapter 4
Nina's POV
I watched as the stranger from the bar walked toward me with the rest of the visitors from the lycan kingdom. He stood out from the crowd. He was just as handsome as I remembered him, if not more handsome as the soft glow from the moonlight illuminated his features.
His defined jaw was shaved clean, and his intense gray eyes seemed to conceal mysteries I couldn't even begin to comprehend. His dark hair was neatly styled, although a few loose strands brushed against his forehead, giving him a charming yet mischievous vibe. He loomed over everyone around him, his broad shoulders seeming to fill the entire space.
My father cleared his throat, bringing me back to reality but my eyes was still locked in with his.
"This is my daughter, Nina Simms," he said, placing his hands behind my back as he nudged me foward. I froze once my name was called out, suddenly feeling exposed.
"And this," he continued, turning to the man from the bar, "is Dwayne Thorne, heir to the Lycan Kingdom."
The words hit me like a moving train. Dwayne Thorne. Heir to the Lycan Kingdom.
I blinked rapidly as the words echoed in my ears. The man from the bar, the one I had spent an unforgettable night with, was my future husband?
Before I could process the shock, Sheila's sultry voice broke through the moment.
"Dwayne," she purred, her perfectly manicured hands reaching to rest on his arm. "You must be tired from your journey, if you don't mind I could give you a tour of the pack house."
My jaw clenched as I watched her disgusting act. Typical Sheila. She was always trying to take what wasn't hers, and now she was making a pass for Dwayne, my future husband, right in front of me.
Dwayne didn't even spare her a glance. "No, thank you," he said coldly. He then turned to my father. "Alpha Thompson, if you could show us the way instead."
I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped my lips once I saw Sheila's embarrassed face. That served her right. At least Sheila couldn't steal him away. Not this time.
Dinner was mostly filled with chatters of the elders talking pack matters and ways the Union of both kingdoms could bring prosperity. I stole a few glances at Dwayne but for some odd reason, he didn't look my way. Not even once.
I also didn't get a chance to talk to him after dinner as he suddenly disappeared. Days went by without us getting a chance to talk and soon it was the day of the wedding.
I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. The white dress hugged my figure perfectly, the intricate lace catching the light in a way that made me look almost ethereal.
Today, I would marry Dwayne Thorne.
Ever since I learned that he was the man from the bar, I hadn't been entirely opposed to the idea of this arrangement. My mate, Richard, had betrayed me in the worst possible way by sleeping with Sheila. If anything, marrying Dwayne felt like reclaiming a piece of my dignity. I would be the future Luna of the lycan kingdom. The perfect revenge.
Despite the days we'd spent in the same house since that dinner, Dwayne and I hadn't spoken. Not once.
A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. When I opened it, Richard stood there, his face a mixture of desperation and regret.
"Nina, please," he said, stepping into the room uninvited. "You don't have to go through with this. You're not some bargaining chip for the Lycan Kingdom. Let's run away. We can still be together."
I laughed bitterly. "Together? After what you did with Sheila?"
"It was a mistake," he pleaded, grabbing my hands. "She meant nothing to me. You're the one I love."
I yanked my hands away, glaring at him. "Love? You call betraying me with my stepsister love? Sheila has always tried to ruin my life, and you handed her the perfect weapon to do it. I could never forgive you, Richard. Not ever."
"Nina—"
I cut him off with a sharp glare. "I Nina Simms, reject you Richard Hayes as my mate."
My heart constricted as I felt the mate bond between us snap into two. It was over. I had nothing tying me to Richard. My wolf howled in pain and I felt so sorry for her but it was necessary.
"Now get out! Go back to Sheila or wherever it is you belong. I'm done with you."
I turned my back on him, and when I heard the door close behind him, I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding. It was now completely over between me and Richard.
The wedding ceremony was held in the town square, and as I approached, I could feel the tension in the air. The disdain from the people of the lycan kingdom was evident. They didn't bother to hide their disgust, their whispered insults reaching my ears as I walked past.
"Is that the bride?" one of them sneered. "A werewolf? How disgraceful."
It was no secret that werewolves and lycans never went along. It was a history of hatred, wars and the desire to dominate one another. The werewolves grew in number while the lycans grew in strength.
Their declining population was the major reason the agreed to this alliance, so that I could give them an heir which the female lycan counterparts where unable to give the lycan prince and in turn my father gave me up out of fear for them.
Refusing their offer will anger them and getting the lycans angry was a wish to be targeted by them.
My father didn't want to risk a war with them and have them capture our females for their breeding.
I held my head high, refusing to let them see how their words affected me. But when I spotted Dwayne, I felt relieved. Surely, he would be on my side just like he protected me from that assaulter at the bar.
Except he wasn't.
He didn't look at me with care or reassurance, in fact, he didn't even look at me. Whenever our eyes met, his face was always contorted mix of disgust and irritation.
The ceremony dragged on, and soon we were pronounced husband and wife. Dwayne barely looked at me as we exchanged vows, and as soon as it was over, he left my side to mingle with other Lycans.
By the time the wedding ended, I was emotionally and physically tired. We were shown to the room prepared for us, and I couldn't help but feel anxious . Maybe now we could talk. Maybe we could clear the air about what had happened at the bar.
But as soon as we were alone, Dwayne's face turned cold as he leered at me.
"Let's get one thing straight," he said, his voice sharp and unyielding. "This marriage is on paper only. You will never have my love."
His words cut deeper than I expected. Did I do something wrong to offend him?
"Did I do something wrong?" I asked, very puzzled.
"I detest werewolves," he said plainly, his gray eyes narrowing. "And if you want to ensure peace, you'll stay out of my way."
I opened my mouth but
before I could speak, he had slam the door shut at my face leaving me shocked to my core.