CHAPTER NINE

“You look gorgeous,” Tobias says, as he walks into his hut.

My hands shake as I do the buttons.

I can’t believe this nightmare is my life. I can’t believe I’m about to go through with this.

I have to though. I have to for Kara. I have to for my pack.

If I get close enough to Tobias, I can get my revenge.

If I cause enough of a distraction, Kara can flee.

Yet as I look at myself in the mirror, I’m not sure I can go through with this.

“You’re shaking,” he says. That’s the only reason why he’s in here. So, he can see how much this is all bothering me.

He takes my hand in his big, warm hands. Mine are so small while tucked into his. He could crush my fingers if he wanted to.

“I’m excited,” I say, still trying to lean heavily on the lie. “This is all a lot. It’s a lot so quickly too. So, I’m nervous and excited.”

“As you should be,” Tobias says. “I’m glad to see you’re finally warming up to the idea. You’ll settle soon enough.”

And I am. I’m warming up to the idea that I’ll have the chance to kill him.

This dress is gorgeous. It’s the perfect dress to get revenge in.

“My sister will be doing your hair,” Tobias says. “I want you to look stunning. I want to show off my mate. I want them to see how great we look together; how powerful we are together.”

I give in to the process. I don’t protest as his sister does my hair. I don’t even try to get out of this.

I’ll get revenge when it’s my time. And he’ll regret every terrible thing he’s ever done. I’ll make sure of it.

*

Admittedly, some of that confidence fades as I walk down the petal strewn aisle. The area has been decorated with lavender, lilies, and blue roses.

It’s surprisingly tasteful, though I suspect his sister took control of this too. If I were marrying anyone else, I’d probably enjoy this. I’d probably love this.

But as I walk down the aisle, I lock eyes with my enemy.

I try to pretend that I’m happy to be with him. My life depends on it. Kara’s life depends on it. My ability to get revenge depends on it.

It’s difficult though and I can’t help but worry that he can see right through me. Still, I meet his gaze as I stand in front of him.

I hold his gaze as I say the words I never wanted to say to anyone but my true mate.

“I do,” I say.

“I do,” he says.

“You may kiss the bride.”

It’s the worst part of the ceremony. The last thing I’ve ever wanted to do is kiss the man who slaughtered my pack.

I remind myself this is for them and I lean forward.

His lips are hot against mine, horrible against mine. I want to run away.

I can’t though, so I return his rough kiss until he pulls away and the rest of the pack cheers.

It seems I’ve convinced them at least.

“It’s time to celebrate!” Tobias says.

*

As the day wears on with no chance of escape, I think about what lays ahead if I can’t manage to get away. The wedding was bad enough, but the mating is what comes next. And that’s one thing I can’t stand. I won’t stand for it.

Kissing him was bad enough, but feeling his hands on my body…

I throw the thought right out of my mind. I won’t even entertain it. Not for a second.

But all too soon…

“Now it’s time for some alone time with my bride,” Tobias says, as he winks at the others.

My stomach twists. I haven’t even had a single chance to try to get away.

I have no choice but to follow him though. I have less chains around me now than I did when I was first brought here, but they’re still here. They still weigh heavy on me.

To my surprise though, Tobias doesn’t lead me back to his hut. Rather, he leads me to a lake.

“We’re going on a little canoe ride,” Tobias explains, leading me to the canoe.

I don’t understand this at all. What kind of game is he playing?

“What do you mean?” I ask. “Where are we going.”

“There’s this island,” he explains. “It’s private, different, the perfect place to mate. I don’t want that ceremony to be in my hut. It has to be special.”

Special?

It surprises me that he cares. But I’ve realized this ceremony is a big thing to him.

“That’s kind of you to think of details like that,” I say.

He smiles. “Now you’re finally seeing what I can do for you,” he says.

“It’s kind of barren to be fair,” he says. “With dead trees to watch over us. But in that way, it marks the start of our union. It’s a show of where you might find yourself if you disobey me.”

Abandoned on a barren island. So, that’s what this is about. It’s one more way for him to display his dominance and scare me. But I refuse to let him see how it affects me.

“I won’t disobey you,” I say.

“Then you have nothing to worry about,” he replies.

Then, he takes out a harpoon from the canoe.

I panic.

What’s he going to do to me?

Instead of hurting me though, he goes to the water and watches it carefully.

Then, in one swift movement he stabs at the water and nabs a fish. He grabs a knife and guts it slowly, then drinks its blood before eating its flesh.

It’s so disgusting that I have to keep a tight grip on my composure to stop myself from throwing up.

“Figure I’d do some fishing while we’re out on the water,” Tobias says, tossing the fish aside.

I know it’s another show of his power though. He wants to scare me and it’s working. I’m terrified.

He settles me into the canoe then takes off, leaving the shore behind.

For a few minutes, we don’t speak.

“You know, we’re going to have a great life together,” he says. “You’ll be my mate forever and I’ll teach you to be obedient to me.

“You won’t ever have to bow down to the others, but we’ll mate all the time. You’ll keep our home neat and orderly. You’ll take care of me while I take care of the pack.”

It all sounds horrible as he drones on and on about this life I want nothing to do with.

I can’t stand it anymore.

I’m nervous but ready.

So, I find the key again. I slip it out, and I prepare to fight for my life.