Prologue/chapter 1

A Kingdom Of Roses And Iron.

Prologue.

At the end of the altar stands the groom, the man I’m meant to marry beside the groom stood my mate.

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Today Is my twentieth birthday. My mom took care of the DJ and the invitations with the help from Ginger. I only asked my parents for one favor and that one favor meant so much to me because if they were invited maybe he’d come and finally step out from the shadows. I asked them to invite the Mortaga's. They were shocked that I wanted them at the party after signing the merger agreement only a day before.

My great great grandfather Victor Caputo signed a blood oath to merge the neighboring Kingdom with his own, for the merger to happen one daughter must marry the other son once married the kingdoms would become one. Victor was a vile man and would sentence twenty strikes for those who disobeyed him.

“Let me help you with your hair,” Ginger says, grabbing the curling iron.

Ginger is my rock! She stands by me when I’m sad, happy. Once I’m Queen she’s going to be my right hand girl. I trust her with my life. We have each other’s backs, always.

The deep blue mermaid dress hugs my curvy body like a glove, the back vees down exposing most of my back. The straps are wide and vee shaped front exposes some cleavage enough so I couldn’t wear a bra because it could be seen. The rhinestones and sparkles were a darker shade of blue. At the bottom of the dress where it flares out around my heels swirled from dark blue to darker and darker to a beautiful shade of dark green.

“Whoa,” Ginger steps back further and eyes me one last time. The party has already started. My father wants me to make a grand entrance. It's most likely because this will be the last party they throw before I become a married woman.

“You’re so beautiful Jazz,” Ginger says, her eyes glossing over. “You’re going to be a beautiful bride,” She adds, a tear slips down her cheek and I rush over to her and wrap my arms around her.

“Gg,” I whispered. My heart starts beating fast.

“Please don’t cry, I’m sorry,” I tell her feeling so hopeless, because it is hopeless. I’m being forced to marry my best friends mate, how fucked up is that?

She shakes her head and pulls back to look at me, forcing a smile on her face like she always does. She knows I don’t have any say over this marriage.

“Not tonight,” Sniffles. “Tonight is about us having fun, so let’s go,” She drags me out of my bedroom and down the stairs. Ginger doesn’t see it but she’s beautiful with her auburn hair and green eyes that she gets from her grandmother. She’s taller than me at five foot five inches and her body is slim unlike mine. Cato is crazy for not seeing her beauty, instead he only sees this merger.

The party is being held in the ballroom. Ginger wanted it outdoors but I couldn't. What if he showed up? He wouldn’t like the idea of a crowd.

The double doors open and I step into the grand ballroom. All eyes were on me and the murmurs from the crowd grew as I walked toward the stage to my parents. The palpitations start, and I try to steady my breathing.

“Breathe Jasmine,” I tell myself and step onto the stage.

“Happy twentieth birthday baby girl,” My father said and hugged me.

My father Dominic took after my grandma Brinley. The love he has for this kingdom and his people is beyond amazing, he can be tough and ruthless at times. That's when I can see my grandpa Xander. I can only hope to share that same passion as my father when it comes time for me to take over.

“Happy birthday Jazz,” My mom kisses my cheek and gives me a bone breaking hug and For her not being a werewolf that’s something.

I thanked them both as I turned to leave the stage to join up with Ginger, there he was.

Cato Mortaga, my soon to be husband and Ginger's mate. Cato isn’t a bad looking guy. His light blonde hair is cut short and he spikes it up. He's about six foot, he’s in good shape I’ll give him that. His brown eyes are fixed on mine. I purse my lips debating on whether or not I should just pretend I don’t see him standing at the bottom of the steps and join Ginger anyway?

“Jasmine and her fiancé would like to share a dance,” My father announced and the DJ played a soft melody.

Damn it. Not only do I have to acknowledge his presence but now I have to dance with him.

Cato extends his hand and I place mine in his as he leads me to the middle of the dance floor, what’s with these kings and always dancing in the middle of the floor? He pulled me close and his hot breath fanned my skin and I cringed.

“The key is to make everyone believe we’re the perfect couple,” my eyes met his gaze. The damn thing smirks before he pushes me back and spins me back into him.

Smart ass.

Cato swirls me once more and my eyes land on Ginger. She’s standing in the corner with this sadness in her eyes as she watches the way Cato’s finger slid down my forearm. My heart sank.

“She’s watching,” I told Cato and he glanced in her direction for a brief second.

“Not much I can do about it,” He looked down at me and said. Pain crosses his brown eyes and he looks down at the floor when he realizes I saw it.

“I got you a glass of wine,” I handed her the glass and she smiled.

“Thanks,”

Some of the kids we went to school with showed up, others were from other kingdoms and some were friends of my fathers.

Glancing around the room I saw my mom and Sofia. They were having a heated discussion about something.

“They’ve been at it for hours,” Ginger said, and I frowned at her and she nodded toward my mom and sister.

I sighed. Last time I interfered in their conversation I was the one hurt by their words so I try to stay clear of their arguments.

Both my parents are in deep conversations now’s my chance to escape for a while without them noticing.

“Ginger, I’ll be back. Will you cover for me?”

Without asking me any questions she nods and I sneak out of the ballroom. The night air was crisp and my skin bubbled from the goosebumps but that didn’t stop me. I made my way to the forest line ignoring the cold chills.

My mom has warned me about how dangerous the forest can be with so many unmated males and rogue wolves that belong to no pack or kingdoms around and since I don’t have a wolf I’m basically defenseless against them. Sixteen for a wolf is when everything happens, your wolf comes and you're able to shift for the first time and you're able to find your mate. When I didn’t get my wolf at sixteen my father said I was a late bloomer. I believed him but the next year came and still no wolf. He never gave up hope even now he believes I’ll get my wolf, I gave up all hope of ever getting a wolf. The moon goddess never granted me one and I’ve come to terms with what it is and I’ve accepted it. My parents however have not accepted it and they still believe tonight’s the night I’ll finally get my wolf.

My head snaps to the left when the sound of branches snapping beneath someone’s feet.

“Dimitrius?”

I took steps back when I got no reply. Dimitrius would have answered me if that was him.

This doesn’t feel right. Something’s wrong…

“Get out of here, it’s not safe,” That voice in the back of mind kept chanting.

I turned on my heels and took off running for the palace. Running in heels isn’t easy and jumping over the falling tree branches is a killer. How far from the palace have I walked? It didn’t seem that far but I was so caught up in my head that I wasn’t paying attention. The sound of the footsteps running behind me are getting closer.

My heart is pounding erratically against my chest, the air is burning my lungs from how cold it is.

A gasp left my lips when I was drugged to the ground. I was flipped over roughly the tall goon straddles me and pins my hands to my side.

“Look who we’ve got here,” I was thrashing and bucking trying to get him off me but he wouldn’t budge.