Chapter 11: THE CEREMONY

Chapter NINE

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

"I am taking my wife."

Cassian’s words echoed through the hall as everyone stared at him.

My wife.

The words made my stomach twist.

I looked at Trent, hoping he would say something, anything that would stop this.

But he didn’t.

He looked terrified.

Cassian tightened his grip around my hand.

"Complete the ceremony."

The priest quickly stepped forward.

I felt numb.

Everything was happening too fast.

Just hours ago, I had been trying to figure out how Amy and I could escape this pack.

Now I was standing beside the most feared Alpha in the land, the same man I had met earlier that morning.

The same man who had kissed me.

The same man who had marked me.

And now I was going to marry him.

I looked at his face.

His expression was cold.

There was no happiness in his eyes.

He looked as though this marriage was nothing but an obligation.

Perhaps it was.

The priest cleared his throat.

"Alpha Cassian, do you accept Alex as your wife?"

Cassian didn’t even hesitate.

"I do."

My heart skipped.

The priest turned toward me.

"And do you, Alex, accept Cassian as your husband?"

My throat tightened.

I thought about Amy.

Her little face.

Her tiny voice.

The way she had looked at me when Trent threatened to send her away.

I considered saying no.

My eyes made contact with Luna Elizabeth.

She looked like she would murder Amy if I dare say no.

I had no choice.

"I do."

The priest continued with the ceremony, but I barely heard a word.

My mind was everywhere.

I kept wondering what would happen to me when I left this place.

Would Cassian hurt me?

Would he punish me for what happened earlier?

Would he ever believe that I had no idea who he was?

I looked at him again.

He was staring straight ahead.

The priest finally raised his voice.

"By the authority granted to me, I pronounce you husband and wife."

My heart stopped.

Husband and wife.

It was done.

I was married.

The priest looked at Cassian.

"You may seal the marriage."

My eyes widened.

Cassian turned toward me.

His blue eyes met mine.

For one terrifying moment, I forgot how to breathe.

His gaze dropped to my lips.

My mind immediately went back to the woods.

His lips against mine.

The mark.

Then his eyes returned to mine.

He leaned closer.

My heart raced.

But instead of kissing me, his lips moved close to my ear.

"You have no idea what you have gotten yourself into."

A shiver ran through me as he pulled away.

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause.

I wanted to disappear into the ground

I looked across the hall and saw Luna Elizabeth smiling with tears in her eyes.

She looked like a proud mother giving away her daughter. It almost made me sick.

She had called me a human bastard earlier. She had told me she wasn’t my mother.

And now she was standing there pretending she loved me.

I looked away.

The ceremony was over.

I was now the wife of the Alpha of the Night Pack.

Everyone continued celebrating around us.

I couldn’t breathe.

The hall suddenly felt too crowded.

Too loud.

I needed to get away.

I looked toward the entrance and then back at Cassian.

He was talking to one of his men, but I could still feel his presence.

I didn’t know what would happen if I tried to leave.

I didn’t know what he would do to me.

But I needed a moment alone.

Even if it was only for a few minutes.

I slowly stepped away.

Cassian’s eyes immediately found me.

My heart stopped.

He was watching me.

I froze.

If I tried to run, would he kill me?

The thought made my stomach twist.

I quickly looked away and walked faster.

I didn’t run

I kept walking until I was far enough from the hall.

The moment I turned the corner, I broke into a run.

I lifted my dress slightly as I hurried down the corridor.

I just needed to get somewhere private.

Somewhere I could breathe.

Somewhere I could be alone for a moment.

I reached the back of the pack house and slowed down.

My heart was pounding.

I took a deep breath.

I was about to continue when someone suddenly grabbed my arm.

I gasped and turned around.

My eyes widened.

Leon.

"What are you doing?"

He didn’t let go.

"Alex, wait."

I tried to pull my arm free.

"Let me go."

"I need to talk to you."

"I don’t want to talk to you."

His eyes searched my face.

"Is this because of what I did?"

I frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

"I know you’re angry."

"Angry?"

I almost laughed.

"You abandoned me."

"I didn’t want to."

"You still did."

He stepped closer.

"My parents pressured me."

"And that was supposed to make everything okay?"

"No."

His jaw tightened.

"But I still love you."

I stared at him.

"You still love me?"

"Yes."

I couldn’t believe the audacity.

"You have some nerve coming to me after everything you did."

"You don’t understand."

"I understand perfectly."

"You think I wanted to leave you?"

"You chose to."

"I had no choice."

"You always had a choice."

His face hardened.

"And now you’re married to him?"

I stared at him.

"I was forced to marry him."

"You could have refused."

I laughed bitterly.

"And what would you have done? Saved me?"

He said nothing.

"Exactly."

I tried to pull my arm away again.

Leon tightened his grip.

"You’re acting like you wanted this."

My anger rose.

"What the hell does that mean?"

"You always wanted more."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"You think this was my plan?"

"Wasn’t it?"

I shook my head.

"You’re unbelievable."

"You knew you would end up with him."

"I didn’t even know who he was!"

Leon scoffed.

"Stop lying to me."

"I am not lying!"

He grabbed my arm harder.

"Let me go!"

I struggled against him.

"Alex!"

"Don’t touch me!"

I tried to kick him, but he caught my leg and pushed me back.

I stumbled.

"Let me go!"

He held me tighter.

And then a cold voice came from behind us.

"Take your hands off my wife."