Chapter 7: Royal Engagement
1729 Words
One Week Later
Sophia
I was sitting on the bed as my omegas were running around getting my dress ready, and my hair and makeup being done, I felt lost and empty. Noelle hasn't returned, processing everything, losing your mate and your pup was hard enough on her so I didn't fight it, I hated my parents and I would never forgive them for this. Issy cried with me last night but that was all that was left, just sadness and I only have my siblings left that supported me. Kyan tried everything to get our father to change his mind but they ended up in a heated argument until Kyan finally left. Kyan came into the room and I smiled because I thought that he wasn't going to come, he hugged me kissing my forehead apologizing for not fighting harder and I told him, "It's okay, just keep in touch," he left so I could finish getting ready.
I looked at myself in the mirror, I didn't recognize the woman looking back at me, I was indeed a beautiful bride but I didn't feel beautiful. I felt for the first time that I didn't belong and I should have run away when I had the chance, only problem was that it would have started a war. A war my former mate won't win and I couldn't have that, I loved him too much to jeopardize his safety and now our daughter's. I know this sacrifice won't be in vain but I will miss them and saw my father standing behind with a smile on his face. I didn't even sense him when he came into the room with my mother, "Noelle had abandoned me," I thought, I turned around and said, "I guess it's time." My father said, "See, now she looks like the Princess I know she could be and will make our Kingdom proud," he kissed my cheek saying, "Congratulations pumpkin," I felt sick but smiled.
He left the room saying, "Be down in ten minutes and show gratitude," my mother said, "You look beautiful," touching my veil. I said, "Don't touch me," she looked at me confused, I said, "I may not be able to defy a King but you, I hope he ends up killing you, I hope you burn in hell, you just go along with everything, sleeping with the enemy when you are close enough to end all of this." She looked furious, I said, "Go ahead, slap me again for saying the truth, you love him and as long as he pleases you, your children suffer." She said, "I know that I seem like a bad mother and I fail all of you but what do you want me to do? What is it that you think I could do?" I said, "Do you know the pain I am going through, or do you even know that I lost, Noelle?" She looked at me shocked but I didn't care, I hated her as much as I hated my father and she said, "I am so sorry Sophie, I became so submissive to him after all these years..."
I cut her off, "No, you became his favorite w***e," before I walked out not caring this time who I hurt because I was hurt also. I was escorted to the great hall where the wedding would be, I was nervous because I didn't know what to expect being mated with Seth. I saw his men bow at me and I turned away, if not I would cry, the wedding music started and I was announced, my brother escorted me down the aisle because I requested it and my father went along with it because he didn't want me to make a scene. I saw Seth smile and my stomach turned, I didn't love him nor was I attracted to him even now that the bond was broken with my mate, I just hated him and everyone involved in this sham of a marriage. The closer I got to alter, the more my legs got heavy, the more they froze and Kyan sensed my fear, he mind-linked me, "Say the word and I will take you away from here."
I said, "Unless you can guarantee my daughter's and former mate's safety, I must do this," he said, "Once I am King, I will reverse this, just stay strong and hang on," and I believed him. We reached the altar and my father mind-linked me, "About time," the Elder started to proceed. Seth took my hand and looked at me saying his vows, I imagine that it was Barron and I couldn't stop the waterworks this time. When it was my turn, I said my vows quickly to get it over with, he kissed my lips but I didn't return the kiss and the crowd cheered, and then it was time to crown him. They made us kneel as they performed the ritual where we merged our blood and put his crown on his head as I was already wearing my tiara, giving him the title of Crown Prince. We were led to the balcony for the public marking and I knew this was it, I waved my hand at the spectators as we were announced as husband and wife.
Seth turned to me pulling me to him as the crowd cheered, he whispered, "The honeymoon will be special," before I felt his fangs in my neck marking me and I closed my eyes seeing a sad Barron with our daughter saying, "I love you," a vision forever embedded in my brain. After he released me, an omega wiped the blood from soiling my dress and he licked it to heal and then it was my turn. However, my wolf was not back and everyone waited, my father mind-linked me in anger, "What is the matter?" I said, "Noelle has not returned since the rejection," so he mind-linked a witch and she chanted a spell forcing me to mark Seth. Noelle came forward in anger and bit him hard as he screamed in pain before I pulled away refusing to lick the bite, she disappeared again, we turned to the people as the Elders announced, "Mr. and Mrs. Bordeaux, the Crown Prince and Princess of Dartmouth Kingdom."
*******
Lily
I watched as my daughter walked with her chosen mate and husband back to the reception area for the celebration, she wasn't happy and I failed her as a mother. Everything she said in the room was true, I got complacent and forgot my purpose in avenging Aidan, I fell in love with my rapist as she said, he was my abuser and I couldn't deny it. I didn't want this life for my children but Roman broke his word and forced Sophie into this marriage losing a grandchild. I love all my kids but right now, I could feel their disappointment in the situation and Sophie did not hide her feelings either from me or Roman. I know he feels it but he still went ahead with this, using our daughter as a bargaining chip with Seth. Alpha Seth checked out, he wasn't a bad Alpha which was unheard of because most of Roman allies are bad people.
Sophie was not making eye contact with me or her father, she tried to avoid Seth touching her but it was in vain since it was time for their first dance. After everything was winding down, it was time for them to leave for their honeymoon, she had already changed out of her wedding dress and we watched them as she hugged Issy and Kyan with his girlfriend. Roman waited as he shook Seth's hand but Sophie got in the limo avoiding me and her father, she never looked in our direction. Roman had her stuff shipped to Seth's pack a few days ago, what stayed was what she didn't want and she left every jewel me, or her father ever gave her. She left her cell phone and took the one her brother gave her, Sophie blocked us as soon as she left the gate and I felt my heart break, and because of my husband once again, I lost someone that I loved.
Sophie will never forgive me and I don't blame her, I don't know how I ended up like this dragging my kids in the middle. I tried to protect them so much growing up and still, I failed them, I turned to head back to the reception when Roman held my hand and said, "She will get over it, you baby them too much, they need to stand up on their own and take control of their life." I said, "She did and you took it from her," trying to walk away before he said, "It was beyond my control," I looked at him confused saying, "You are King, nothing is beyond your control," he smiled and said, "Dance with me, Lily," changing the subject. Although I wasn't in the mood, I did it anyway because Sophie was right about everything, I am a w***e for him and he will never let me go.
*****
Barron
I was in Dartmouth Kingdom in disguise to see the wedding for myself, Nolix had joined me with Rowe, and we stood out in the courtyard because we were not invited to be inside with the Elites. We waited as the service was shown on the monitor in the courtyard and my heart was breaking but I needed to see her happy. When she came onto the balcony for the public marking, I closed my eyes giving her a vision of our daughter and telling her that I loved her and always will. I was letting her go and she cried with me, when I saw that she marked him, I turned to Rowe and said, "Let's go home." We walked out to an isolated area, opened a portal with Emile's crystals, and went home. Polly was waiting for me and said, "Sorry Barron, we will raise her daughter to be a strong woman and tell her about her mother." I agreed with her and I went home where I saw my fiance feeding my daughter in the nursery and I knew it was just us now, I hope that Sophie will have a wonderful life.
- Writer
