I moved swiftly and silently through the castle's corridors. It was dark which wasn't a surprise. It was midnight after all.
My heart pounded in my chest.
I kept to a path that wasn't frequently used as I made my way to his bedroom.
I had to fix it.
I couldn't be the reason Avalon falls to her knees. One little girl for an entire nation suddenly seemed like a fair price.
I had to find Prince Kincade, and I had to convince him to reconsider his decision. I couldn't let my family's reputation and our country's future be ruined because of me.
I stopped in front of a large wooden door, adorned with intricate carvings of the Everhart family crest - my family had spent thousands of dollars, decorating and adorning that room for him…money we didn't have.
The wretched old castle we reside in was in dire need of renovations but all the money we could spare went to this room.
Anything for my future contracted husband.
For a minute, I stopped to think. I can do this, right?
I can convince one of the richest Alpha wolf in the world to marry a human girl with a speech impairment, right?
I have to, I was born for this. I meant that literally.
My parents intentionally fucked each other to have me for the sole purpose of entering into a marriage contract with Alpha Kincade of Essex.
It wasn't a well guarded secret.
Everyone knows that I exist for him, there is a virginity clause in our marriage contract, it should have been the first clue. I live for Kincade Everhart.
Before I was born, my country, the Island of Avalon, went bankrupt due to a natural disaster and quite frankly, my father's international gambling habits.
My parents in bid to keep the country afloat asked for help from the neighboring countries, only Essex came to our aid but it wasn't without demands.
Thus, the nightmare that was called my life.
In exchange for keeping Avalon afloat, Essex wanted the two countries to merge to gain access to the island's natural resource - a silver white metal used to make jewelry very shiny called Rhodium.
But since the treaty of 1818 prevents werewolves from invading a human country or kingdom, they went by the diplomatic root - a contract marriage between Avalon's heir and their heir, with the first born offspring of the marriage having legal claims to both kingdom countries.
Except there was a hitch to that plan, my parents had three boys and Essex had two sons.
And with that, someone had to go into the bedroom and produce a daughter.
Thus me, Noah and my shit-show life of enormous responsibilities and little thanks.
I took a deep breath, smoothing out my dress and steadying my nerves. This was it. This was my chance to fix things.
I raised my hand, hesitating for a moment before knocking softly on the door.
It swung open, revealing a tall body but I couldn't make out his features. It was too dark.
Don't stutter.
Don't stutter...take a deep breath.
"Your highness?" I asked, almost jumping up in triumph over my small victory as I tried to hide the tremble in my voice.
"M-may I have a w-word with you?"
My victory was short-lived.
I didn't wait for an invitation. Our introduction was twenty one years overdue. I walked in.
"I'm s-sorry to have b-barged in on you, but I have to…"
"It's you" His voice was deep and it took me by surprise. "You are Nicolette"
"Y-yes." I answered. "I have come to s-speak to you about…"
I wanted to get it over with while I couldn't see his face, while it was still dark…while I still had courage to speak to such a powerful man.
"Hold on, Honey. It's too dark" He said and moved away from me and he clicked on a switch and the whole room lit up.
He turned around and we came face to face. I couldn't form a word afterwards.
Prince Kincade's rugged good looks took my breath away. His chiseled features were accentuated by a strong jawline and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through me. His dark hair was slightly tousled, as if he'd just rolled out of bed... Which technically he did.
I rolled him out of bed…I mean, he rolled out of bed for me.
He had a raw, masculine energy that was both captivating and intimidating.
I felt a flutter in my chest as he took a step closer to me. "You were saying…"
"Y-you are built like a m-machine" I gasped without even knowing that I did and like usual, I said the first thing I thought of.
He chuckled like he was amused. "Thanks. I think"
He was bare chested. Only wearing a black pants, the rest of him was so tan and so perfect.
I should have agreed to this contract marriage a very long time ago. A lot of mishaps could have been avoided… he would have taken me away from their abuse.
Someone like him had enough real power to make the rest of my family disappear like a bad dream.
"Nicolette" he said and picked up a white shirt from the chair and started buttoning it up. "You wanted a word with me?"
I was grossly disappointed.
"Of c-course, I do. I'm s-supposed to be your wife, sir"