I awoke to a jarring pain coursing through my entire body, struggling to pry my eyes open as I squinted against the harsh brightness surrounding me.
A sharp throb pulsed in my head, and when I touched it, I realized it was wrapped in a bandage.
Faint voices buzzed in my ears, and confusion washed over me as I tried to piece together my surroundings.
Finally managing to open my eyes, I was met with the tear-streaked face of my mother, and I gasped in disbelief. I attempted to rise, but the pain held me firmly in place.
“M…mother, are you okay?” I stammered, my voice shaky as I felt her warm hand grasp mine.
“Yes, the Lycan king saved me,” she replied, and just then, he entered the room, causing my breath to catch in my throat. He was clad in a sharp suit.
“How…did you bring her back? I thought she was gone,” I asked, locking eyes with his cold golden gaze, which was slowly shifting to crimson.
“And you thought it was wise to put yourself in danger? I’m a vampire, so I performed a soul exchange to revive your mother. But that’s beside the point; it’s good to see you awake. I’ll notify the nurses to discharge you.”
“What? You can’t do that! She just woke up; she needs time to heal!” my mother exclaimed in distress.
“One more word from you, and I swear I’ll send you back to the afterlife from which I rescued you!” he shouted, his anger evident as the veins in his neck bulged.
I fought to sit up, tearing the IV from my hand. The last thing I wanted was for my mother to bear the brunt of his fury because of me.
“Don’t worry, mother. I’ll go with him; he’s my mate now,” I said, my voice wavering as tears continued to fall.
“Good, aside from accompanying me, today marks our mating ceremony, and you’ll be joining me at the mating court.”
“Seriously? How can I possibly marry you with a bandage on my head? That’s just cruel!” I exclaimed, tears streaming down my cheeks as he smirked wickedly.
“Just a reminder, I’m the Lycan king, and cruelty is part of my nature. This isn’t a fashion show; you just need to sign a few papers, and then we’re done. I won’t take any chances. Meet me in the car,” he said, glaring at my mother before storming out.
Once he left, I wrapped my arms around my mom, comforting her and promising that everything would turn out alright.
A few hours later, we found ourselves at the Lycans' wedding court.
To my surprise, King Charles had arranged a stunning wedding dress for me. While this wasn’t the wedding I had dreamed of, it would suffice; I was doing this for my pack.
We exchanged our mating vows and rings, and just like that, we were declared king and queen, receiving our marriage certificate.
When we finally returned to the kingdom, it was late, and I braced myself for King Charles to pounce on me, given the rumors I had heard.
Instead, he grabbed a blanket and settled down on the couch, leaving me in disbelief.
“Astrid, in case you haven’t realized, we’re officially mated, and I can hear your thoughts. I’m not a monster; I would never force a woman into bed without her consent,” he said.
I wiped my eyes as I listened to him speak. This had to be a prank. The fierce demeanor I was accustomed to had vanished, replaced by a surprising calmness.
“I’ve been celibate for the last five years since you left. Those other women… I’ve been waiting for you, Astrid,” he confessed.
My breath caught in my throat, and just as I was about to ask him what he meant, my phone rang.
The caller ID showed an unknown number. I answered, and it was Kaid. The moment I heard his voice, I struggled to catch my breath.
“Astrid, it’s Kaid. You’ve hurt me, but I’ll only forgive you if you attend my wedding tomorrow. Lylah wants you there too, so don’t say no.”
He spoke with a hint of arrogance, and I clenched my fists, biting my lip to suppress my furious breaths.
“I won’t be at your wedding, Kaid. You chose my maid over me; it’s done.”
His reply was sharp and filled with irritation.
“It’s not done until I decide it is! I have no feelings for Lylah! I’m merely using her for my pack. In two years, I’ll cast her aside, and you’ll be mine again. I’m the one who gets to end this.”
Just as I was about to respond, Charles snatched the phone from my hand in a fit of anger.
I had completely forgotten the call was on speaker.
“This is King Charles Spaniel speaking, and I’m sure that name sounds familiar. Why are you calling my wife at this hour? Do you have a death wish?”
