Reject her or Die

CHAPTER 4 : THEY ARE HERE

(NATASHA'S POV)

As I awoke this morning, a surge of excitement and anticipation coursed through my veins.

I couldn't believe that the day had finally arrived—the day of my marriage ceremony with Alexander. It was a beautiful sunny morning, and the air felt crisp and refreshing.

As tradition dictated, Alexander had left the house before I even woke up. The warriors, too, must have been on duty, protecting the kingdom from any potential attacks.

And just like the marriage ritual, today was also a special day.

In accordance with the ritual, I would be escorted to the venue by Alexander's mother. I needed to get ready and wait for her to arrive.

I got out of bed, stretched, and made my way to the bathroom for a refreshing bath. After bathing, I stepped out of the bathroom and put on my clothes.

I knew it wouldn't be the outfit I would wear to the wedding venue, but rather the one I would wear to the place where I would be dressed up for the wedding.

Finally, I finished preparing myself and sat on the bed, waiting for Queen Seraphina to arrive. I was still waiting for her when I heard the sound of a car pulling into the palace compound. Curiosity got the better of me, so I rushed to my room window to see who it was, even though I already knew. I just needed confirmation.

I saw Queen Seraphina's car park, and she gracefully stepped out and made her way to the palace building entrance after closing her car door. I was filled with so much joy that I couldn't help the huge smile that spread across my face. I even found myself laughing and chuckling. I was truly happy.

After a few seconds, I heard her footsteps on the stairs, so I ran away from the window and went to sit on my bed. I tried to wipe the excessive smile off my face and make my expression neutral, but I failed.

A knock sounded on my door, and I walked toward it and opened it. I bowed and made way for Queen Seraphina to enter the room.

"Good morning, my Queen," I greeted, still bowing.

"Morning, my dear. Rise. I can see you're already ready for us to go to the salon," she replied.

I stood upright and then replied, "I'm ready."

Our eyes met, and she too was smiling, although not as broadly as I was. She had her hair in an updo and was wearing a golden clouded gown adorned with sparkles, making it shimmer. Her gown was so long that it would touch the ground if she didn't hold it up with her hand.

She affectionately touched my cheeks, still smiling. "I'm happy that you are my son's fated mate. I apologize for once being against your union with my son."

"It's okay, my Queen. I'm also happy to have you as my mother-in-law," I said, and we hugged each other. After a few seconds, we broke the embrace.

"Let's go now, we're running late," she said, turning her back and leaving the room. I followed behind her, closing the door as I exited. We made our way to her car and drove out of the palace compound.

After a few minutes of driving, we arrived at a luxurious salon. The moment we walked in, I was greeted by a team of talented makeup artists and hairstylists dedicated to making me look like the most radiant bride. They carefully chose the perfect dress for me, one that accentuated my figure and made me feel like the queen I was.

After hours of being pampered and having my hair and makeup done by the skilled artists, I looked in the mirror and couldn't help but gasp. I could hardly recognize myself. The makeup highlighted my natural beauty, and my hair cascaded down in soft waves, elegantly framing my face. I felt like the most beautiful woman in the world.

With my heart pounding in my chest, I made my way to the venue where the wedding ceremony would take place, accompanied by Queen Seraphina in her car. Finally, we arrived at the venue, and she parked her car in a designated spot.

The moment we stepped out of the car, I was struck by the sight of a crowd of people gathered there. The number of people who had come for my marriage ritual paled in comparison to those who had come for the ceremony. It seemed like the entire vampire kingdom had come to celebrate with us.

I felt a mix of emotions—excitement, joy, and a touch of nervousness. As I walked towards the entrance, the onlookers parted like a sea, making way for me. Not only did they part ways for me, but they also bowed. They stood up as soon as I passed, and I walked slowly with Queen Seraphina at my side towards Alexander. They showered me with smiles, cheers, and well wishes, and I couldn't help but blush and feel overwhelmed by the love and support surrounding me.

When I finally reached the spot where Alexander was standing, I locked eyes with him. His eyes gleamed with happiness, and I could see the love and adoration he held for me. He extended his hand, and as Queen Seraphina handed my hand to him, a sense of calm washed over me. He pulled me into a deep hug and kissed me passionately.

The music began to play, and we started dancing. We swayed together, our steps perfectly synchronized. We danced and danced. The hall was filled with loud music, and everyone was dancing too. It was a joyous celebration.

As we continued dancing, drinks were being carried about on trays by maids. Anyone who wanted a drink would pick a glass from the tray or order one. There was also plenty of food to eat and drink. People continued to enjoy the festivities.

We kept celebrating, and I was filled with joy and happiness.

But then, I suddenly caught a scent—a scent I had been running away from. It was a scent I despised, a scent associated with the people who had murdered my mother and ex-husband.

How was it possible?

No, it couldn't be. My nose must be deceiving me.

But wait, my nose wasn't deceiving me. I was truly perceiving that scent, and it was so intense.

They were here, the warriors of Damien had arrived.

But how could they be here? The warriors of this kingdom were supposed to be on duty, protecting the kingdom. How did they manage to infiltrate this place? How?

My happy mood suddenly vanished, replaced by fear and confusion.

"Is there a problem?" Alexander asked, shouting over the loud music so I could hear him. He had surely noticed the change in my mood.

"They're here," I managed to say, fear evident in my voice as I raised it to be heard over the music.

"Who's here?"

"Damien's warriors," I replied, my voice trembling.

"Who is Dami—" he was about to ask when a roar interrupted him. The roar was so loud that even the loud music couldn't drown it out.

Fuck! I was right, they were here.

I noticed how everyone in the hall became shocked. The dancing came to a gradual stop, and the music ceased immediately. The hall fell into silence.

The roar sounded again, followed by the howl of wolves.

"We're under attack!" one of the warriors rushed into the hall, shouting at the top of his voice. He repeated his words multiple times.

The whole hall erupted into chaos. Nobody knew exactly what was happening.

"Tell our mate who you are," my wolf said to me.

I had been planning to tell him after the marriage ceremony, and I hadn't had the chance yet. I had my reasons, but now...

Fuck!

"But you can still tell him now. It's not too late," my inner wolf urged me. She was sad, wanting me to reveal the truth to our mate.

"Alexander, I have a confession to—" I began, but he cut me off.

"Not now, Nat. We're under attack," he said, moving away from my side.

The warrior who had burst into the hall finally reached his side and knelt down. "Lord, we're under attack by werewolves," he said, his voice loud enough for some people closer to hear.

A collective gasp of fear swept through the hall. Murmurs spread as people relayed the news to those who hadn't heard.

I was still gripped by fear. The warrior who had delivered the news was severely wounded.

"Damn it," Alexander cursed, walking back towards me.

The roars and howls continued outside the hall, growing closer.

"Desmond," Alexander called out.

"Yes," Desmond answered.

Alexander finally reached my side, took my hand, and Desmond approached us.

"Take her to the secret room in my palace. Both of you should stay there until I finish dealing with these motherfuckers," he said, handing me over to Desmond.

"I'll take her to the secret room, but I'll return afterward. I can't let you fight alone. We are one kingdom, and I'm your second-in-command," Desmond said.

"Desmond, you have to stay in the room with her. Please protect her. That's all I want you to do," Alexander said, pleading with Desmond. He nodded in agreement, and then Alexander transformed into his vampire form, letting out a mighty roar that surpassed the wolves' howls. The hall trembled at the sound, powerful enough to bring down more than just the hall itself.

With incredible speed, he charged out of the hall, accompanied by the warrior who had entered to inform him. The other warriors who were present in the hall before the incident also followed suit.

Desmond led me out of the hall through the back door.