The Wicked Wolf

Four

*four hours before being taken*

I knew I was going to marry Hugo Bastian since I was two years old, but our marriage was planned long before that.

All members of the Rhys family had marriages planned and negotiated while we were all still in the womb. My father has eight children. Four boys, four girls. And all of us were strategically betrothed or married to all the powerful Alphas in the world to maintain the family’s position at the top.

My sister that came before me, Venus, is famously known as the most expensive bride in the history of werewolves. Her Alpha mate gave my father an entire paradise island for her hand and a diamond mine just because he could. But also because he thought it was fitting that he gave diamonds to a family that is represented by the particular gem. On top of all that, my sister’s mate promised all their pack’s additional resources to us.

The look of pride on my father’s face was something else that day.

I knew I wanted him to have that pride for me too. After all, I’m the youngest. The last bargaining chip for my father.

My mother tells me that before I was even born, not even big enough to know if I was a girl or a boy yet, there was already a line of Alphas begging for my hand for their sons or daughters. My father had his pick of the lot. There were big and bigger offers. All of it just for me, a small bump in my mother’s belly.

Our family might be wealthy and influential, but our pack is not as strong. We didn’t have the numbers. At least not the numbers my father was satisfied with.

That’s where Hugo Bastian comes in.

“What if I don’t like him?” I asked my father when Venus was married off a few years ago.

My father laughed, it was a sound that often brings a chill down the spines of the people he governs. “You don’t need to like him. Liking him is not the point.“

My lips parted. “But father—“

“Your feelings are unnecessary in this.”

And I’m supposed to be my father’s favorite.

At the appalled expression I gave my father, he waved me away. “Remember, emotions are a weakness, and we don’t possess such imperfections.”

Thankfully, Hugo is a great man. Handsome and strong and kind. I’ve known him all my life, spent many hours of many days with him. I memorized that lopsided smile of his like it was mine, knew the freckles on his face so well I could map them out with my fingers, my eyes closed.

I know I am luckier than most. Hugo is the type of guy that adores his family, loves his mom’s spaghetti, follows the rules to the letter, is responsible when it comes to his duties and is considered by all as an incredible guy.

But most importantly, and probably the only thing that mattered to my family, his father is the Alpha of the biggest and strongest pack in the world. Their pack has ten thousand battle ready werewolves.

And he’s to inherit everything, giving my father half of that strength.

Just to marry me.

A Rhys.

“Are you excited?” Freya, my eldest sister asked, humming a soft tune quietly as she fixed my hair for Hugo’s ascension to Alpha which was happening tonight.

“Of course she’s excited.” Venus says, smiling brightly up at me. “Look at her, she’s beaming. A blushing bride.”

Aurora, the second to the oldest, nodded proudly while inspecting my face. “You’re so pretty that you should be dumb, but you’re not.”

I scrunched up my nose at her words. “Thanks? I guess?”

Freya’s eyes started to water then, blinking away tears. It wasn’t like her at all. The perfectly indifferent expression on her face melted away just for me. “You’re luckier than us, Vasi. You actually like Hugo and he likes you back. I’m really happy for you.”

“I remember when you were still an infant in a crib and Hugo had just started walking. He’d waddle up to your crib just to hold your hand through the bars.” Venus gushed sweetly, fanning herself with her hands. It wasn’t hard to see why she is the family’s biggest accomplishment. “He has always been sweet to you.”

Freya squeals, accidentally pulling my hair in the process. “Oh, I remember that! He would even sleep on the floor just to stay close to you. So adorable!”

Sniffles ensue as they coddle me.

Sometimes, my sisters forget I’m not a little baby anymore.

But I loved them for it.

“At least one of us…” Aurora didn’t finish her sentence, but we all knew what she meant. "One of us, you know,"

It didn’t need to be said.

Not when we know better than anyone.

My three sisters squeezed me in a tight embrace, allowing this small moment for our emotions to show as shameful as it was. Within the room where there was no one else but us, we let ourselves show that love for each other as if it would be our last chance to do so.

“Is it so bad that I hope we’ll have a good marriage?” I whispered quietly, ashamed to say it out loud. If father or any of my brothers hear— “Will we have a good marriage? Will we be happy?”

“He’ll love you.” Venus reassured, almost automatically and confidently. It was the answer of a well versed and well practiced woman who had gone through all this and more. “Everyone loves a Rhys.”

But that wasn’t my question. “Do you think Hugo and I will have a happy life at least?”

All three of my sisters forced a smile that didn’t quite show happiness. With their ‘successful’ marriages and mating… they looked more like it was torture. And it looked like it would be torture for me too if their death grip on my arm was any indication.

“Everyone loves a Rhys.” They assured in unison, a broken record of an answer, but it was the only answer I was going to get. “Everyone.”

Like a wealthy man who loves his expensive car.

A knock on the door springs the four of us apart. Guilty of being caught doing something bad, we turn away to different corners of the room and force back that mask of indifference on our faces like nothing happened.

Adonis, the eldest of the eight and my father’s prodigy, walked in giving us all a look that meant he knew we were being ‘emotional’ again. “Father wants Vasi at the party now. He wants to show her off one last time.”

“And Hugo?” I glanced at the mirror quickly, my reflection showing a Rhys that my father would be proud of. My sisters chose my wedding dress, opting for a gown that looked like giant white rose petals were sewn together. A slit sliced through the dress around my thigh to expose my legs. The far too tall stiletto heels that I was wearing brought me up a few more inches, the big white bow on it a pretty combination to the dress. My honey colored hair was curled in voluminous waves that cascaded down my back, carefully and methodically complimenting my face, which was peppered with shimmering glitter and a rosy blush on my cheeks.

It was over the top.

Just like how father liked it.

He shrugs, already walking away. “He’s not there yet.”

“I’ll find him.” Against everything we stand for, I gave my sisters one last look and the biggest smile. “I’ll make you proud. I promise.”

Adonis scrunches his nose up in disapproval. “Just because you feel it, doesn’t mean you have to show it. Master your emotions. School your expressions.”

I rolled my eyes. “No one’s here.”

“You’re better than them, Vasi.” My brother lectures, staring at my face. “You're father’s favorite. Time to act like it.”

I would have punched him, but Freya did it for me, getting him right on the stomach.

“Shut up.” She seethes before shooting me a wide smile. “You’re in the presence of the new Luna.”

“The strongest Luna of the strongest pack.” Aurora added with equal happiness. “Meaning she outranks all of us.”

Venus nodded, gently touching my chin with her soft fingers. “Five thousand warriors. All for you.”

“The last thing father needs,” Adonis murmurs to himself. “Before…”

Freya whirled around to face him, eyes suspicious and narrowed. “Before what?”

“Before a new day,” He says vaguely, his jaw clenched with determination. Remembering that we were all watching him, he waved us away. “Hurry, Vasi, you mustn’t let father wait. Find your Alpha and come to the party immediately.”

With one last glance, I walked away from them and headed towards where Hugo’s room is.

The halls of Hugo's home are wide and spacious, painted black like the rest of the mansion and decorated with the glory of his ancestors, with paintings of strong Alphas right next to their beautiful mates on the walls. This family I’m marrying into is known for its opulence and strength, and they showed it well.

I was about halfway to Hugo, walking through a maze of softly lit hallways when I noticed him in the distance. At the end of the hall, leaning against a door frame and blocking me from passing, watching me with the eyes of a predator staring at his next meal, was the Wicked Wolf.

Dressed in a thick black cloak that framed his large build, he looked like a king and a warrior combined. He is a d e a d l y and powerful masterpiece of a man.

What’s worse?

He looked like he was expecting me… waiting in the halls just for me.

But that can’t be true.