Klaus
The birds were chirping, singing a melodic song which only made my heart feel miserable as if they were also singing in pain. I sat in the armchair beside the window and stared at the trees of our backyard garden which my mother adored. She was enamored of the gardens and flowers.
I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn’t realize it when my mother came into my room. When her hand caressed my shoulder, I felt her presence in my room.
“You look handsome as always,” she fidgeted with my tie before meeting my gaze. “I know that you’re going to hate me forever but Amber is a good person, she’ll love you with all her heart and you should know that she didn’t choose her fate herself so you should treat her well unlike your father who never loved me.”
She kissed my forehead, engraving her pain. My father never treated her the way she deserved to be treated but it wasn’t my father’s fault entirely.
He was forced to reject his mate and for a one-night stand, they both were responsible. I didn’t want to question anyone because I didn’t have the right to do so while I was trapped just like my father though some things were different and I was grateful for that.
My mate was with me, I won’t sleep with Amber or any other girl ever. We should learn from others’ mistakes and my father’s story taught me many things including that I should never lose my mate at any cost.
“I don’t hate you, mum.” I managed to utter, feeling smothered by her words. “I’m not dad, of course. I have my mate’s support and I’ll be glad if you accept my mate. I will not end up like dad caught up in a forced marriage. I won’t treat Amber like trash for sure but no one should expect me to treat her like my wife.”
Making my point of view clear to my mother, I threw a last glance in the mirror at my shadow and walked out of my room.
Jenny was standing in the hallway, holding a bouquet in her hands and carrying an elegant peach gown. My sister looked like a real princess. She smiled at me before waddling toward me. “The groom is finally ready with the heavy black bags under his eyes,” she remarked, handing me the bouquet.
I sighed and shrugged with my pursed lips. “The disadvantage of being the center of attention. You’re lucky.”
Remembering her words that she last spoke to me when our mother had made a trap for me made me feel sorry for her. Jenny deserved all the happiness this world had to offer.
First, our father didn’t treat her the way he should have, and then, our mom refused to talk to her. All the things must have hurt her, it wasn’t her fault to feel ignored.
Her eyes flickered with a hint of remorse before she draped her arms around my neck tightly, jumping on me as a kid and the hall echoed with the waves of laughter as Marcus came along with my father and grandfather in the hall.
“Grow up, Jenny,” Marcus jeered. “You’re wearing a gown. At least, respect your outfit and behave like a lady.”
“No one is allowed to make fun of my lovely granddaughter,” my grandpa shot a death glare at Marcus and after a second, they burst out into laughter.
I felt the coat of my suit getting wet. “Jenny, are you crying, princess?”
“I’m sorry, brother. I shouldn’t have behaved so rudely with you. If I would have talked with you, you would have never attempted…” she sobbed and I made her face me, putting her down. I knew that she was feeling too guilty to show her face last night after I gained consciousness.
“Forget it, it’s not your fault. Your makeup will be ruined if you keep crying,” I mocked, wiping her tears. “Let’s do this. I’ll be the groom today and the Alpha tonight.” I said, more to myself than her in condolence.
My parents and grandpa blazed a small smile at me with pathetic glances before we walked to our packhouse where the wedding would take place.
“Is she coming?” I looked at Marcus, mind-linking him.
“Trust me, it would be better if she doesn’t come,” he responded to my link.
“I know that it’s tough to see the person you love with someone else,” I affirmed in my mind, chatting with Marcus as we walked to the hallway.
“Marrying someone else,” he corrected me. “I don’t want the Dark Moon pack’s people to see her. They are dangerous for her.”
I halted in my steps and fixated my eyes on him. “I’ll never ever let anything bad happen to her.”
“Here,” my father gestured to me to greet Xavier and his family. Their faces had victorious smirks and grimaces on their faces including their Beta and Gamma.
Amber walked down the aisle with the Alpha King wearing a stunning white dress and I visualized Scarlett strolling toward me with a gorgeous smile on her face which made me smile, too.
“It’s not her,” Todd wailed and I came back to my senses to find Amber blushing while looking at me.
“Why not her?” I whined in my mind. “Is there any way we can skip it or change it?”
I was feeling too much pain in my chest to bear. The waistcoat, shirt, and coat didn’t help my wound either.
“We will have to do this for our pack because we aren’t ordinary werewolves. We’re the Alpha so we have the responsibilities, the whole pack looks at us with the hope of getting safety,” Todd reasoned which was absolutely right.
“Remember to breathe,” Jenna muttered in my ear as I was panting for the air.
I stood in the front of the hall which looked so lovely with balloons, glitters, ribbons, the food stalls, and all the decor items. Everything seemed perfect and elegant, the only thing that needed to be amended was the bride.
“Scarlett,” I tried to connect the link with her.
“Do it, Klaus. We’ll fight later,” she replied as if she was seeing me from somewhere and grasped the reason behind my calling for her.
Lowering my gaze to the floor, I took Amber’s hand to kiss it and I was glad that she had worn gloves. I made sure not to touch her hand with my lips, I managed to maintain distance whilst pretending to kiss and smile.
“Klaus,” Scarlett’s raspy voice rang in my mind.
“Don’t worry, my mate. I love you, Scarlett. Only you,” I reassured her, understanding her concern. If I would have been in her place, I would have ended up killing the person who was going to marry my mate. I was utterly grateful for her support.
The priest started the rituals and I felt the immense pain surfacing in my heart. “Let’s begin the vows,” the priest said, gaining my attention as everyone stood up from their seats.
The feeling of betraying my mate submerged in my brain and I hated myself for that. How could I marry someone else when I loved my mate?
“Klaus, son, please…” my mother pleaded with mind-link. “Focus on the rituals, repeat after the priest.”
Her words made me realize that I wasn’t paying attention to the vows or anything else at all. I was absorbed in the thoughts of my mate, her smile, her sweet voice…
The priest cleared his throat before asking loudly, “Klaus Todd Nelson, do you accept Amber Lily Forbes as your wife willingly?”
Willingly?
No. Never.
“Please, say yes, brother. They have circled our pack borders, our patrols have reported that if anything wrong happens, they will attack our pack the next second,” Jenna informed me as I gawked at her.
Every present werewolf’s eyes were on me as I was taking time to answer. My eyes blurred due to the tears that emerged and I couldn’t breathe.
“Yes, I…I do,” I stuttered and exhaled heavily.
“I hereby announce Klaus Nelson and Amber Nelson as a couple. The groom may kiss the bride, now,” he endorsed, making me go haywire.
They were tasting my limits and patience for sure. I’ll never do that.
“People are watching, Klaus. Don’t embarrass me,” I heard Amber’s voice through gritted teeth as she pretended to smile.
Bestowing a curt nod at her, I looked at my father whom I could see in tears for the first time. The pain and struggle were real.
“It’s the last ritual, please,” my mum again requested me to kiss my forced bride.
Inhaling a long breath, I palmed her face and put my thumb between our lips before kissing her and wrapping my hand around her left cheek to hide our faces from the public.
Amber kissed my thumb which surprised me and made me furious. I just rested my lips on my thumb for a second and the hall reverberated with applause.
Letting go of her face, I walked to her family first and uttered coldly, “I’ll take my leave, then.” Their lips split to utter congratulations but I shut their mouths up.
I had married their daughter, now, they would see my worst side, and their word was kept so they couldn't blame me for anything.
"You can't do that," one of them complained but I didn't give a damn about anyone. I had fulfilled my grandfather's promise. Everyone should know that the wedding was just an obligatory and forced predicament.