Chase and I stepped forward, ready to exchange tokens of our commitment.
I swallowed. “I don’t have a token for you. I’m sorry.”He chuckled, which made my stomach do numerous backflips. “Well, I didn’t expect you to have one. All of this has caught you by surprise.”“Oh, I might have something,” I started with a smile, an idea coming to mind. I reached for the pendant that sat on my neck, and one I’d worn since childhood.It was a precious keepsake that carried a lot of memories of love and laughter. I’d wanted to give it to Asher before the wedding, but I could see why I thought against it.“This may not be the grandest of tokens or a wedding band,” I began, my voice trembling with emotion. “But it carries the weight of a lot of love and memories in my life. The love of my mother. I’d like you to have it.”I pulled the pendant from my neck and pressed it into his palm.“Are you sure?”I nodded. “Yes, I am.”“Well, I don’t have a token here, so I guess we’ll just improvise.”He looked around, searching for something that could serve as an impromptu token for our marriage. Spotting the delicate blue ribbon that sat on his suit lapel, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.Chase plucked the ribbon from his lapel, holding it up between us; he met my gaze with a silent question,“May I?” he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper as he reached out to take my hand in his.I couldn’t stop my beating heart as I watched him loop the ribbon around my ring finger to make a makeshift ring. I glanced at his face, which was set in concentration, wondering what kind of person he was.I was so immersed in watching him that the crass words that Asher muttered startled me.“She’ll always be a whore and never a queen.”Chase and I both turned to face him, and I was about to lash at him and let him have it because I was sick and tired of listening to him spit insults at me all morning. He wasn’t a saint either if he had been having an affair with Lina behind my back.But before I could speak up for myself, Chase was already speaking.He turned to face Asher in anger, their eyes meeting as a ripple tore through the hall.. “Kneel before Zara.”“But-” Asher started, but Chase cut him off.“Chase…”“I said kneel!” His command boomed around the building, tension filling the air, cutting off both Asher and Clinton from speaking.All of a sudden, Asher began kneeling, albeit begrudgingly. It looked like something or someone was forcing him, and I couldn't help but think it had to be a power Chase commands. Just how powerful was he?He kneeled before me, head hanging down with his hands balled into fists.“Apologize to my wife.” Came Chase’s clear command. “Now!”“I…I…I’m sorry.”“Again!”“I am sorry!”“Good,” Chase had a small smirk on his face as he turned to me. “What do you think?”I felt a power course through me, and suddenly, I wasn’t the weak Zara getting married to Asher an hour ago. Not that I was ever weak, I was lycan myself, albeit not royal. Yet, there was something that Chase ignited in me, something I couldn’t quite place my finger on.“I think that’s fine for now.”Chase closed the little distance between he and Asher, lifted his head up and began to speak in a small controlled voice.“Next time, do well to remember who you are speaking to. She's a queen. A damn royal, and my fucking wife. Never ever forget that!”With a dismissive wave of his hand, Chase turned away from Asher, placed his hand by the small of my back, and led me out of the building. My heart was beating fast and wild, as though I had run a marathon. I was excited. Thrilled. Anxious. Scared.There was something entirely so sexy watching Chase put Asher in his place. While I had wanted to do that myself, I enjoyed knowing I now had someone on my side.We got to a black jeep waiting outside, and we both got in without a word.“Where to sir?” The chauffeur asked.“To the airport, please,” Chase responded, meeting my gaze.With a nod, the chauffeur shifted the vehicle into gear and began to drive. As the kingdom of Zakori blurred all around us, I felt a sense of relief, but I couldn’t help but be scared of what was to come.I was a wife, just like the day started out to be. But I wasn't just a wife now, but a queen.CHASE.The wedding had been chaotic, as chaotic as my whole day had been since I woke up. I had Zara’s pendant in my right pants pocket. I was still trying to contemplate what had happened and what I had even gotten myself into, but my mind couldn’t wrap around the fact that the gorgeous woman I’d yearned for was seated beside me on my private jet. As my wife. My queen. My mate.We had left the wedding and gotten to the airport hangar where my private jet was waiting, and now we were on our way back to Betnerd, the kingdom I’d inherited from my mother’s side.“It’s beautiful,” Zara said, dragging my attention back to reality. She was looking out of the window at the forests and landscapes the jet zoomed past.“It is,” I agreed, my eyes on her, taking her all in. She sighed and turned to look at me, and I tore my gaze away. “How are you…a king too?” She asked, and I knew she was trying to find a footing to discuss what really mattered.“Clinton and I do not share the same mother. My
ZARA.“Father, I want to marry Lina,” Asher said, squeezing Lina’s shoulder fondly. As I blinked away the remnants of the dream, or rather, the memory. I couldn't shake the queasy feeling that lingered in the pit of my stomach. But it wasn’t just a dream; it had happened, and I remembered it vividly. The events of that fateful night replayed in my mind like a haunting melody: the bachelorette party filled with laughter and tequila shots, the damning photographs that sealed my fate, the branding of my wrist with the mark of shame, and finally, the hasty marriage to Chase. All of it a whirlwind of confusion and chaos. And now, being here in his private jet, wrapped in his arms? I couldn’t deny that it was the best feeling ever, and it was the safest I’d felt in the past twenty-four hours. His embrace was warm and comforting. I’d probably fallen asleep in his arms, and for some reason, I didn’t want to leave. It felt like I belonged there. So I didn't move, even though I was already a
As we stepped off the plane, my senses were assaulted by the flurry of activity and all the confetti being thrown into the air around us. “All hail the queen!” they called out, their voices ringing with a solemnity that caused me to wince.I hadn’t expected anything grand and big like what I was currently experiencing. I had not even thought of expecting a welcome. And then, as if on cue, they all bowed before me, their gestures a show of respect that left me speechless. “All hail the queen!” They chorused again, head bowed down with one hand pressed to the chest.. I stood there, frozen in place, my mind struggling to process what had just happened. I’d thought Betnerd was just a small kingdom in the north, but I was shocked by the turn of events. Even when Chase told me about being a king here; I never thought it was something so grand. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine myself being greeted with such reverence? It was even worse because now, more than ever, I knew I did n
I slowly opened my eyes to the rays of sunlight streaming in through the large windows located at the corner of my room. The events of the past day filled my head, giving me a slight migraine. It all felt like a dream, but it wasn’t, and I hated that. I also had no idea that I’d slept that long. It was probably because I was so tired.As I slowly emerged from the depths of sleep, the unfamiliar surroundings of the lavish bedroom came into focus. I was in Chase’s mansion, and I hadn’t even taken it in the previous day because I had a lot to think about. ‘Oh, he’s rich,’ Nia mused as we took in the ornate curtains and the very expensive furniture that adorned the room. It was like I’d been teleported into another dimension filled with wealth and luxury, and then suddenly at that thought I felt a pang of guilt in my chest. Did I really deserve all this? It didn’t feel like I did, especially with the brand sitting on my wrist for everyone to see. Blinking away the remnants of slumber,
It was almost instantaneous, the change in their behavior and movement. The warmth and kindness that they’d shown toward me when the day started evaporated immediately, and it was replaced by an icy coldness that chilled me to the bone.It was as if the air itself had turned frigid, and I felt exposed. Without another word, Pamela and Darcy hurried to finish dressing me, their movements frantic and disjointed. It was clear that they couldn't wait to be rid of me, to escape the presence of someone marked by such a symbol of shame and disgrace. And I could see firsthand how everyone who was to come in contact with me from this point would react. It was something I had to carry everywhere with me, and I completely hated it. They quickly excused themselves and practically ran out of the room. I looked down at the branding on my wrist. What would happen now? Is this the same reaction I would get from everyone I came across? I knew that I was already married to Chase, and he assured me
“… that building has been around since Chase, Shane, and I were children. We made a bet that it’d collapse ten years ago, and yet, here it is still standing,” Ryan said, pointing at the rickety building in front of us. The building looked like it was going to collapse at any moment, and I wondered how it was still standing. The brick wall was crumbling in on itself, and the sagging roof spoke of how the building had weathered through the time that passed.Ryan had taken me around the pack house to give me a much-needed tour, and I didn’t know if it was because he noticed I looked a bit sad after hearing that I was going to see the elders tomorrow or if he just wanted to do something nice for me. Either way, I really appreciated it. “It's hard to believe this building is still standing. It looks like it’s going to fall at any given moment," I said. Ryan nodded in agreement. “I remembered when we used to dare each other to go inside.”I chuckled, feeling a little bit lighter. “Really
CHASE.It's been more than six hours since she fainted, and the sun had already dipped below the horizon, casting a soft glow of the moonlight peeking through the window blind.I watched Zara sleep; her features softened in the gentle glow of the moonlight. Watching her be in indescribable pain before slumping on the floor of the garden filled me with a rage I didn’t think was possible. I was even more angry that I couldn’t do anything about it, nor did I know why or how it happened. Her chest rose and fell rhythmically with each breath, her hair spilling across the pillow in a sea of black, thick curls. Gently, I reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from her face, my fingers lingering against her skin for a moment longer than necessary. The longer I sat there, I noticed there seemed to be something that pulled me to her, a feeling I couldn’t explain or control. And just like the last few times I’ve touched her in this state I could feel subtle tingles of the mate bond whe
It was late evening now, and the sky was blue with shades of dusky pink and purple, and we all watched as the sun set into the horizon. “How do you think the meeting with the elders will go?” Pearl asked me. I sighed for the millionth time today. Pearl's question pulled me from my thoughts, and I turned to face her with a heavy sigh. “I wish I could say,” I admitted, frustration lacing my words. “But honestly, I have no idea how the meeting with the elders will go.” Pearl nodded understandingly, her expression mirroring my apprehension. “It’s scary knowing that your future queen was branded,” she agreed, her voice soft with sympathy. “But whatever happens, know that we're here for you.” I managed a weak smile, grateful for Pearl's unwavering support. “Thank you,” I murmured, the words a quiet reassurance in the face of uncertainty.“I'll need all the support I can get.”“Absolutely,” she said, a smile on her face. “You’ve proven time and time again that you’re a good leader in so