The Neglected Newly Wedded

Chapter 2.

The Neglected Newly Wedded.

They won't let me see him.

The journey to the Alpha’s clan was long and quiet. As the carriage rolled through the dense forest, I felt the weight of my new reality settle heavily on my shoulders. I was about to enter a world where I didn’t belong, to live among people who would see me as nothing more than the daughter of a poor man, a girl who didn’t deserve the title of the Alpha’s wife.

When we finally arrived, the pack house loomed before me, a grand and imposing structure surrounded by lush greenery. It was beautiful, but it felt cold, unwelcoming. I was greeted by a group of wolves—Zayn’s family and some of the pack members. They offered polite smiles and brief nods, but there was no warmth in their eyes.

Zayn, however, was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is he?" I asked one of the guards who had escorted me.

He simply shrugged. "The Alpha is busy," he said, his tone indifferent. "He’ll come when he’s ready."

I tried to hide my disappointment as I was led into the house. The interior was just as grand as the exterior—marble floors, high ceilings, and luxurious furnishings. But it all felt empty, lifeless. They showed me to my room, a spacious chamber with a large bed and a view of the forest. It was more than I had ever had, but it felt more like a gilded cage than a home.

“ Won't I be sharing a room with the Alpha,I mean we are married right?” I murmured and the maids couldn't hide their laughter.

“ That should be the case but the Alpha ordered that he never wants to run into you in the palace…”

“ He said that ?”

“ Yes and lot more , I'm sure you wouldn't want to hear it…Come let's get you something to eat “

Days passed, then weeks. Zayn remained distant, avoiding me at every turn. I would see him sometimes, passing through the hallways or speaking with his guards, but he never acknowledged me. Every time I tried to approach him, his guards would block my way.

"The Alpha doesn’t wish to be disturbed," they would say, their faces expressionless.

I spent my days wandering the pack house, trying to learn my new surroundings. The other members of the clan were polite, but I could feel their judgment, their disdain. I was an outsider, a poor girl who had no place in their world.

After a month of silence, an invitation came for dinner with Zayn’s family. I hoped this would be the moment we could finally speak, where I could make him remember me. Maybe, just maybe, we could start anew.

The dining hall was just as grand as the rest of the house. A long table was set with silverware that gleamed under the soft candlelight. Zayn’s family was already seated when I arrived. His parents, stern and regal, sat at the head of the table. His sister, who had the same piercing blue eyes as Zayn, gave me a calm look as I took my seat.

Zayn entered last, his expression as unreadable as ever. He sat across from me, not even glancing in my direction. My heart sank.

Dinner was a formal affair, the clinking of silverware the only sound in the room at first. But soon, the conversation turned to me.

"So, Aurora," Zayn’s mother began, her voice dripping with condescension, "how does it feel to be in a real home for a change?"

I swallowed hard, trying to maintain my composure. "It’s... very different," I replied carefully. "But I’m grateful to be here."

His sister snickered, and his father smirked. "I suppose it’s quite an upgrade from the little shack you grew up in," he said with a sneer.

I looked at Zayn, hoping he would say something to defend me, to show any sign of the boy I met five years ago. But he remained silent, his eyes focused on his plate as if I wasn’t even there.

Zayn’s mother continued, her voice cutting. "We’ve never had anyone of your... background in the family before. It’s quite the adjustment for all of us."

“ Well she wouldn't be here if you guys had just done your job and band that stupid law,Now I'm stuck with that…” He said referring to me as what? That.

“ My son, it's just for a year…Just understand the dynamics of your marriage”

“ Can we at least let her enjoy her food” His sister spoke up for the first time, she was actually defending me..

I could feel the sting of their words, the humiliation burning in my chest. I wanted to speak up, to defend myself, but the words wouldn’t come. I felt small, insignificant.

After dinner, I waited for everyone to leave before approaching Zayn. My heart pounded in my chest as I finally stood in front of him, determined to make him see me.

"Zayn, we need to talk," I began, my voice shaking slightly. "Do you not remember me at all? That night at the ... do you not—"

He cut me off with a harsh laugh, the sound cold and devoid of any warmth. "Remember you?" he repeated, his eyes narrowing. “ This is literally our first meeting…Did you drink too much in that table?”

His words hit me like a physical blow. My breath caught in my throat, and I felt tears welling up in my eyes. "But... you promised... you said—"

He waved his hand dismissively. "I do not know what you are on,I have never met you before and you know that,The only reason you’re here is because of a debt. This marriage isn’t real. It’s just an arrangement to settle your father’s dues."

I felt my heart shatter at his words, the last bit of hope I had held onto slipping away. "But... what about us? We could at least try to—"

He interrupted me again, his tone growing colder. "There is no ‘us,’ Aurora. You’re here for 365 days, and then it’s over. We stay out of each other’s way until then. Do you understand?"

I nodded slowly, unable to speak. His words were like ice, freezing any remaining feelings I had for him.

"Good," he said, turning away. "And don’t try to talk to me again. Just keep to yourself and this will be over before you know it."

I stood there, rooted to the spot, as he walked away. My mind was blank, my heart numb. This was the man I had loved from afar, the man I had dreamed about for years. And now, I was nothing to him—less than nothing.

As I made my way back to my room, the reality of my situation settled in. This was the beginning of my 365 days of torment, trapped in a loveless, empty marriage.