SEVEN: That's Not Him

SAGE

Why did I wake?

The knock on the door made me flinch.

“No—” mouthing, I realized it was time to meet the ugly Lycan Prince, my husband to be. “No—” Once more, the word ran out of my mouth and I jumped to my feet.

“Are you in there, my lady?”

Unlocking the door, I walked back to the bed and took my seat. “You're disturbing my sleep.”

“The door to your room shouldn't be locked, Lady Sage. We have to get you ready to meet the prince,” One of them said with a bow.

The ugly prince, I thought dreadfully.

“Good morning, Lady Sage. I'll be the one to bathe you this morning," the other maid said, stepping forward.

“What? I can bathe myself the last time I checked.”

“The Alpha has given his order,” she explained, shutting the door behind her while both of them walked closer. “Let's get to it already, Lady Sage.”

Before the end of the next hour, I was seated on the dressing chair with a towel wrapped around my body.

I didn't want to do this.

I wasn't ready to.

Not to an ugly man. A man as ugly as the Lycan Prince. How could my own family do a thing like this to me?

Looking into the mirror, I struggled so hard to hold back tears from falling off my face.

Was it going to be worth it?

What would it even change? Listening to the other lady hail the wedding dress, I maintained a wicked look.

“You should smile.”

Why would I want to?

“So many wolves are looking forward to seeing you, you know. Alpha Sage has announced to them how beautiful you look and this look on your face would prove him wrong if you keep it longer than this very moment.”

What does she know?

I let them get me ready.

At the end of the session, I looked more than good.

All my life, I had never looked this way.

Not even in the Pack of my parents.

Maybe my parents and siblings, who were on their way would consider taking me with them when they set their eyes on me. And what if they don't?

They wouldn't. I didn't need to ask before knowing. Father, especially, hates me with all of his life.

“You're ready, my lady,” one of them cut short my thoughts. “You're to be at the hall before the Prince. You shall eat in the hall after you exchange your vows.”

The sound of that made me angry.

What vows?

To be by his side all the days of his life?

To love and cherish him in health and sickness? For richer for poorer? No. I didn't want to do this, but what choice did my parents leave me with?

If I attempted to run away, the Lycan Alpha would come for not just my family, but the members of the Moonclaw Pack who have done nothing to him.

This wasn't the time to run away.

Standing on my feet, I let one of the maids take my hand.

The other lady took hold of my garment from behind while I shut my eyes, wishing that the ground would open and swallow us three.

In a short while, we caught up with the entrance of the hall. I took my time to look around, admiring how adorned the walls were, including the seats I suspected were for myself and the man I would be married to.

So where was he?

Looking around, there were handsome men in the hall. Some talked while some arranged more seats and some were seated, staring at me as though they had seen a ghost.

“She's so beautiful.” I heard someone say.

What more?

The Prince didn't deserve me, or did he?

“Here, my lady.”

“Thank you—” I settled on the seat I suspected was mine from the onset. “Can I at least get a bottle of water? Or am I not allowed to drink water before my wedding?”

One of them looked at the other who bowed and walked away. The next time I saw her, she was with a bottle of water. In a hurry, I sipped from it, my gaze fixed on the door while in wait for the Lycan Prince to step in.

“When shall your Prince finally make it to this hall?”

“In a short while.”

While one of the maids left my side, the other took a seat behind me. “Let me know if you need anything. But not food because you cannot eat until vows have been exchanged. I'm here to assist you all through.”

“Thank you.”

I relaxed my back on the seat, shutting my eyes while I waited. What kind of groom kept his bride waiting? The ugly kind who was scared to reveal his face. Who else? How ugly was he? Fear engulfed me as I realized I was about to become a laughingstock.

Especially to Eleanor who wouldn't cease to make a fool of me. Even in the presence of so many people.

How did I get here?

A young wolf mounted the stage.

“The family of our bride has finally arrived for the wedding. They are here to celebrate with us the new connection we share. Shall we be on our feet to welcome Alpha Arden and his entire family?”

Everyone was on their feet, except me.

Why should I be on my feet to welcome the same set of people who did nothing but push me away from their homes and lives?

I looked at the gate from where I was seated, watching them all, especially Eleanor who walked in with pride.

The same look the maid complained about, appeared on my countenance once more.

How could it not?

The way Eleanor looked at me with mockery on her countenance, was making me lose it.

If only I still had access to Silver, I would rip her heart off her chest the way I wished to. But how could I when she's done something to me and my wolf?

“Do you need something, my lady?”

“No—” I shook my head from where I was seated.

“I'm fine. I just can't wait to be done with the vow. I need to eat something before fainting. I didn't have a thing to eat last night if I recall correctly.”

“The Prince will be here soon.”

Again, the gate opened.

It was none other than Alpha Knox, the Lycan Alpha.

The same man who I was attracted to in a way I couldn't explain. With a charming smile that was planted on his face, he walked to the table where my family settled, saying something to Father who let out a laugh.

“The Prince shall make it in a moment.” He announced when he caught up with the stage, his gaze fixed on the gate with the smile still plastered on his countenance.

The gate opened, once again.

At this point, I had become tired of looking at it.

Especially when I knew it was an ugly man making his way through this time around. But what choice was I left with? One way or the other, I would end up looking at him.

Summoning more than enough courage, I looked at the gate. Many men surrounded the so-called Prince, even to the extent that I could not see him. How much longer?

Finally, the man let go.

One after the other I saw a part of the Prince's expensive clothing.

When they had all gone, I could now see his face.

No way.

Was this—the Lycan Prince?

Or was he another person?

How—? I looked around, forced to stand on my feet with a smile that came alive on my countenance.

“My Lady—” he called, his voice a balm to my heart.

“You look so beautiful in your wedding attire, I must confess I can't believe my eyes—.” He let out, looking in a direction before facing me once again.

“I'm sorry it took me so long to appear at our wedding. I needed to look good for my wife.”

Didn't they say the Lycan Prince was an ugly man?

Why was a man as handsome as this man standing in front of me? Why was he calling me his lady and even addressing this as our wedding?

I had become lost.

So lost that I looked around the hall in search of an ugly man. The kind of man Eleanor described.

“I—” I had become speechless.

“I am not mad at you for making it late to our wedding. Shall we take a seat already? I waited so long and now that you're here, I'm more than ready to be married to you.”

We were settled in moments, while I spent the next minute reminiscing. I had become more than happy, and even willing to be married to this man.

Just about that time, Eleanor got on her feet.

“Wolves of this Pack! I would love to have a moment with my sister before the wedding begins.”