The wedding

Evelyn

Two things happened at once. A deafening silence descended and I started hyperventilating. My father only smiled tightly and motioned for my mother to bring me out. It was funny and ridiculous, considering I was in the same room as them.

“Breathe princess. You'll be fine.” My mother leaned down and whispered into my ears. 

Those were the most useless piece of advice that could be given to anyone on the verge of panic attack like I was. It was like my lungs had totally forgotten how to go about breathing and my heart stopped for a full minute before picking up at a double rate. 

His scrutiny was worse. Much more worse than his passing glare. He unleashed the full intensity of those blue eyes on me. 

He stared at me like I was something funny. 

His mouth kicked up by the side, smiling a little at his own amusement. 

Heat of embarrassment climbed up my neck and I flushed an ugly shade of scarlet. I heard a few people snickering from his side. 

His eyes roamed over my face, I wondered what he saw there. 

He held my gaze for a minute or so before subtly flicking his jaws away from me. 

Dismissing me. 

Hurt flared in my sternum and I gritted my teeth to keep the rebellious tears at bay.

We were locked in our own bubble, assessing each other. I tried so hard not to flinch from his burning and condescending stare. 

I might not be the princess he bargained for, but I was all he was getting now. 

“What's this? Some kind of joke?” The man with the silver beard sitting next to Israel snorted. 

Israel said nothing though, he only waved in my father's general direction, expecting some sort of explanation surely. 

“This is princess Evelyn. My second daughter. She's your intended bride.” My father announced, his voice sharp as razor. Yet I could detect a hint of desperation in his voice. 

I straightened my back, and nodded regally. As regally as my wild curls would allow anyway. My heart had lost all control as it stops and kicks up again at the most random time. 

Like now, while I was waiting for any type of acknowledgement from him. 

His blue eyes raked over my face once again with an intensity that threatened to set me on fire. It was like he was trying to commit my facial features into his memories. 

I have an inkling it wouldn't be that hard for him.

“Nice to meet you princess,” he drawled out the words, ending them on a lilt. “I'm Israel. Alpha of Aurora pack.” 

I nodded once again, because my tongue had gotten stuck at the back of my throat. The official title sounded so much like an endearment spoken with that elite drawl of his. 

I must be running mad. 

“What's all this Israel? What's this cripple doing here?” That silver beard said again. His voice was dripping with I'll concealed disgust. 

“Enough!” My father's voice boomed. “That's princess Evelyn to you. Your alpha's bride.” 

A loud laughter bursted from Israel causing pain to spear open my midriff. 

Of course, I was just being stupid. It was a fact that I'm crippled and near invalid.

So why did his laugh hurt so damn much?

My eyes stung again but I swallowed hard. I wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of crying in front of them.

“Israel, you surely can't be considering going through with this?” The man that was introduced as Jacob asked with doubt. 

“She's a cripple for God sake!” Said silver beard. 

“That's enough Keith!” Keith spluttered an answer but he was already facing my father, “care to explain what this is all about? What about Seraphina?” 

I scoffed. He didn't he know my sister's name. 

He narrowed his eyes at me but said nothing, waiting patiently for my father's answer.

My father withdrew a sheaf of paper from seemingly nowhere and handed to Israel. 

“The clause never started which of my daughters you'll be marrying.” He cleared his throat and looked away. 

Israel forehead creased as he studied the paper with such an intensity that I now think was his way and nodded once. Twice. 

“I see. Well played, Roman.” He smiled at my father.

It was the kind of smile that your brain instantly remits as danger. His full white teeth was on display. 

Silver beard_keith_started to speak again but Israel shut him up with a raised palm, “it doesn't matter anyway. They're all the same.” 

I should be disgusted that he was so objective about my person but I was too stunned. 

This was it! I was getting married!!. 

A scream of hysteria bubbled inside my throat and I bit the inside of my cheeks so hard until it hurts, to trap the scream in. 

A marriage certificate was produced and now all that's left to seal my faith forever is my signature. 

All that was left to condemn me to a future of which I could see nothing but fog and unhappiness was just a tiny signature. 

I took the pen from my father's hand, trying to curb the trembling of my fingers by gripping the pen hard.

“You'll break the pen, princess,” his amused voice floated up to me. 

I stared at him with my jaws slacked. Didn't he get it? Did nobody get it? This was my life!! 

“I'll sign now.” I said softly, resignation wearing me down. 

Three swipe of the pen against the paper and he was done. He finished with a flourish. 

Silver beard was seething so much I thought his neck was going to burst. He looked so red in the face. 

“Congratulations. You're now husband and wife.” My father announced once the witnesses signatures had been obtained from both sides.

That sounds ominous, I thought inwardly. 

“Welcome to the family Israel.” My father's voice held a hint of relief and admiration as he shook my husband's hand. 

“Welcome to the family,” Jacob smiled at me. It was so oily I could probably fry chicken off it. 

I smiled back, though mine was wobbly at the corner.

“Wife.” Was the single word he said to me. 

It carried so much weight I could only hope I wouldn't buckle underneath it. 

My mother's eyes were shining with tears and I could see pity and love in my father's. 

Too late now. 

“Husband,” I said softly, testing the weight of the word

on my tongue. 

His eyes darkened considerably as he stared at me with that intensity that makes me feel like I was going to combust.