Chapter 7 (The Strange Pull)

Isabella As I stood by the window, gripping the window frame, a sad smile escaped my lips as I gazed up at the sky. The sight was truly mesmerizing, with an abundance of stars that shimmered like diamonds against the velvety darkness. The chilly air brushed against my skin as the rhythmic beat of the drum and distant howling filled the background, signaling that the ceremony had long started. And suddenly, memories flooded my mind, reminding me of the times I attended this very ceremony as a young child, hand in hand with my parents. Swallowing hard, a wave of emotions washed over me, threatening to bring tears to my eyes. Shaking my head, I blinked them away before tearing my gaze from the night sky. "Ma'am," Aurora called, joining me from behind, "Is there anything I can fetch for you to keep you occupied during the night?" With a smile on my face, I shake my head in disapproval, releasing a frustrated sigh. Alpha Lucius has issued a menacing threat, forbidding me from attending the ceremony or stepping outside. I am just his mistress, a fact that is no longer a secret to Aurora. It has become a whispered rumor within the pack ever since the wedding night, yet no one has the courage to confront the truth. Flashback….. “From now on, you are declared husband and wife,” “Now you may kiss the groom,” “.....” An awkward silence filled the ceremony area as one of the elders announced it. Immediately my lowered head snapped up to look at him with glassy animated eyes, only to be met with a snarl and a piercing glare. Like all things that I dread, the wedding night came too fast for me. I couldn't think well as my mind was busy ruminating over all the horrible possibilities of this marriage, leaving my mind in a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty. My eyes were swollen, even though my makeup was flawlessly applied. The sorrow in my eyes was unmistakable. There was little I could do except accept my circumstances and obediently repeat Stefano's words. With my hands cuffed behind me, a guard pressed a sword against my throat, sending terrifying shivers down my spine. This was humiliating! Every member of the pack was in attendance, their eyes fixed on me with a combination of curiosity and confusion. The rumors of me being his potential second-chance mate faded away as they observed the scene before them. At that moment, I felt more like a chained slave than a bride. Indeed, it was meant to be a marriage, wasn't it? Yet, here I stand, surrounded by the bustling pack members, feeling utterly alone. Instead of the groom himself, Alpha Lucius Ravenwood has sent a sword as his representative. With solemnity and under the pitiful gaze of some pack members, I found myself taking the vows with a sword as the groom. However, as Stefano cleared his throat, the sharp edge of the sword pressed against my throat, serving as a chilling reminder. "With that, the marriage is solemnized in the presence of the benevolent moon, and we bestow our blessings upon the newlywed couple," he continued. Whispers filled the air once again, and a bitter smile involuntarily formed on my lips. After a few more minutes, the wedding came to a close, and I was forcefully escorted out of the premises by the guards, with Stefano by my side. The sound of murmurs filled the air, but the weight of humiliation and embarrassment was too heavy for me to look back and face it. I am nothing different from before, now it seems worse. As we walked, our steps came to a halt in front of a foreboding black door. Stefano's gaze, icy and piercing, swept over me before he opened the door and thrust me inside with a forceful push. "Ah," I exclaimed as I lost my balance and tumbled to the ground. With a resounding thud, the door slammed shut behind me, leaving me trapped inside. Nervously, I glanced upwards, my fists tightly gripping the sides of my wedding dress as a faint scent of cigarette smoke wafted through the air, adding to the sense of unease that enveloped me. “The wedding was so fast,” There he was, the demon lounging on a couch, cigarette in hand. I couldn't help but snarl, my gaze filled with intense disdain as I glared at him. "Wife," he chuckled, a sarcastic smile playing on his lips. "Surely you know what's expected after a wedding," he paused, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "To please your husband," he added, his tone dripping with mockery. My eyes widened in alarm, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around my body, a wave of fear coursing through me. "Never!" I snarled, my voice filled with disgust, as I shot him a look of utter contempt. Just the idea of having this ruthless old asshole touch me, causes me to feel dizzy. My body trembled with fear as I noticed him deliberately snuff out his cigarette in the ashtray before rising to his feet. His icy gray eyes bore into mine, and he uttered in a chilling tone, "If that's how you want it, we'll do it the hard way then." End of flashback I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut as those haunting memories flooded back, a single tear escaping as I tightly gripped the frame. Thankfully, he didn't sleep with me that night, but the torment and beatings were so severe that I eventually lost consciousness. It was a heart-wrenching experience, and when I finally regained consciousness, I discovered that I had been grounded. "Ma'am, are you alright?" Aurora's voice pierced through my thoughts, causing me to let out a heavy sigh. I struggled to compose myself, swallowing the lump in my throat. With a determined effort, I blinked back the tears and turned to face her. "You should be at the ceremony," I uttered, making my way to the bed and taking a seat. “But ma'am,” "Go and have fun," I managed to say, forcing a smile despite the ache in my heart. “I will be fine,” I swallowed hard, trying to suppress the pain that threatened to overwhelm me. “I can't,” "Aurora..." I turned my head abruptly, my gaze meeting her tear-filled eyes. “I know you want to go,” I could feel a bitter lump forming in my throat, and I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Don't push this, Aurora," I stammered, my voice filled with a mix of sadness and pain. "Just have a peek, he won't know," she insisted, her voice cracking with desperation. "Don't worry about the guards," she added, trying to reassure me. I slowly turned to glare at her, my eyes filled with concern. "He will hurt you if he finds out," I warned, my voice laced with worry. Is she that dump? That old man is a monster in human form! "Will you tell him?" Her next question caught me off guard. I couldn't help but feel a surge of frustration. Am I stupid? Of course not but the idea she was proposing seemed insane to me. Turning my head, I almost flinched as I saw her squatted in front of me, taking my hands in hers, her gaze pleading. "I know you want to go, you can't deny it. It's clearly written in your eyes," she insisted, her words tugging at my heart. "Just a few minutes, and you'll be back here," she added, her voice filled with hope. I shook my head in disapproval, unwilling to entertain the idea any further. But she didn't give up; instead, she kept pushing. "The guards are not around, everyone is already downstairs, so no one will know," she pleaded. Honestly, I wanted to go, but again, fear gripped me. The memories of that monster and the torture from the other night still haunt me, and I haven't even fully recovered. But then again, a minute of peeking won't be that bad, considering it has been a long time since I last attended that ceremony. "Fine," I finally said, her eyes glowing with excitement. "But just a minute," “No problem,” her smile widened. I swiftly changed my clothes, feeling a rush of adrenaline as we sneaked outside. Just as she had said, there were no guards in sight, indicating that everyone was gathered outside. As we approached the ceremonial ground, the air was filled with a cacophony of noise and excitement. "Everywhere is crowded," Aurora whispers beside me. I hum softly, acknowledging her observation. I can't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder. The smooth atmosphere adds to the beauty, creating a tranquil ambiance. Suddenly, my gaze fell upon that monstrous figure... Oh no! I quickly ducked behind the pillar, hoping to remain unnoticed. Aurora was too engrossed in admiring the scene to even notice anything amiss. Alpha Lucius seemed to be engaged in a heated argument with a young huge man. Judging by his commanding presence, it was evident that he possessed a strong aura….. Perhaps an Alpha. And at that very moment, our eyes met, and I found myself captivated by his piercing blue eyes, reminiscent of glistening sapphires. But as he averted his gaze, I couldn't help but notice him mutter something to Alpha Lucius. In an instant, Alpha Lucius began to turn around, and I quickly pulled my gaze away and hid behind the pillar. "Ma'am," I heard Aurora's voice, filled with confusion, as I hastily made my way out of the area. Rushing upstairs, I noticed heavy footsteps from behind me. The hairs on my back were suddenly erect, making my heart race in panic.