Adrian's POV
I nodded, still gasping for air. My damn hands wouldn't stop shaking, and cold sweat was dripping down my face like I'd just run a marathon.
Sebastian looked up at the second floor, worry creasing his features. "Is she dead?"
"No," I managed to choke out. "I snapped out of it."
Sebastian's eyes went wide. Then, like someone had flipped a switch, this huge grin spread across his face. "Holy shit! Do you realize what this means?"
He grabbed my shoulders, practically vibrating with excitement. "She actually pulled you back! I told you she could be the key to breaking this fucking curse!"
I stared at him like he'd lost his mind. "Sebastian, I nearly strangled her to death."
His grin got even wider, which was disturbing as hell. "Yeah, so? Wasn't that the whole point? Kill her, get your revenge, blah blah blah?" He tilted his head, studying my face. "Unless... wait, are you actually starting to feel something for your little enemy?"
Mine! Mate is alive. Mate is fine. Blake's voice burst through my consciousness, practically purring with satisfaction. We didn't kill, mate. Mate is alive. Good. We didn't kill her like we....
"Shut up," I growled aloud, making Sebastian raise his brows. "Not you. Blake," I told him.
"Ah." Sebastian's smirk turned knowing. "Let me guess—your wolf is happy his mate is still breathing?"
I clenched my fists, hating how transparent I'd become. "She's an Ashford. The enemy. I hate everything about her and her entire bloodline." My voice got harsher, "Once this curse is broken, I'm going to kill her myself, and I will enjoy every second of it."
No killing mate! Blake snarled in my head. We keep mate happy and safe!
"The hell we will," I muttered.
Meanwhile, Sebastian crossed his arms, looking thoroughly entertained. "Nobody knows the future, brother. Maybe, this time, something good will come out of this."
"No," I hissed, wanting to punch his smug face. "The only good thing will be me killing her..."
Sebastian laughed, like he didn't believe my words. "She's your mate. You can do whatever you want—torture her, protect her, make cubs with her..." His grin widened. "Kill her. But first, you need to finish this wedding. Your pack is getting restless, and we both know what happens when wolves get impatient."
I nodded stiffly and walked back upstairs. Blake was practically bouncing and singing in my head.
MATE! MATE! MATE! MATE WILL BE OURS FOREVER! MATE! MATE! MATE!
I frowned slightly, forcing myself to ignore his happiness. When I walked into her room, she was exactly where I'd left her—sprawled on the bed like a broken marionette. Her eyes were glazed over, staring at absolutely nothing.
Mate... Blake's voice purred in my head. She's beautiful.. I want to touch her again...
"Shut the hell up," I growled in my mind. "You already got your kiss. That's all you're getting. She's the enemy, remember?"
You didn't seem to mind when we were kissing her, Blake shot back smugly.
I didn't have an answer for that, mostly because the bastard was right.
I walked over to the bed and looked down at her neck. My handprint was already darkening into a bruise against her pale skin. Looking at it should have made me feel satisfied. But instead, something twisted uncomfortably in my gut.
This was what I wanted, right? To hurt her? To see her broken? So why did seeing her like this make me feel wrong?
I found myself reaching out to touch the bruise with surprising gentleness. Her whole body flinched at the contact, a sharp intake of breath that made Blake whimper in distress.
We hurt mate! We didn't mean to....
"We meant to hurt her," I said firmly in my mind, but my thumb was already tracing the edge of the bruise with careful softness that contradicted my words.
Realizing what I was doing, I pulled my hand away abruptly and scooped her up. "Come on, princess. Time for your royal wedding."
She didn't respond verbally, but I felt her body tense in my arms, her hands gripping my shirt with white knuckles. She was fighting against the drug, fighting to reject me. Some part of me respected that strength, even as I tried to ignore it.
Mate is strong, Blake observed proudly. Good mate. Strong mate.
I carried her downstairs and out of the guest house. The moment we stepped outside, I was greeted by the sight of the pack territory decorated in red and gold. But the atmosphere was far from celebratory.
I could feel everyone's hostile energy. They were gathered around, but nobody looked happy about it. In fact, they all looked like they were attending a funeral.
Different voices rose from the crowd as we passed:
"Finally," muttered James, one of the senior warriors. "Let's get this nightmare over with."
"Can't believe Alpha Adrian is actually going through with this," whispered another woman from the Moonveil pack, shaking her head. "There has to be another way."
"Look at her," sneered Derek, his face twisted with disgust. "Pathetic little Ashford princess. She can't even stand up straight."
"Why is he marrying her?" demanded Old Henrik, his voice carrying the authority of his years. "He should simply end her bloodline here and now!"
"Ashford scum," spat someone from the back.
Many such comments, each worse than the previous ones, followed us as I walked through the crowd. I ignored them mostly and looked at her to see her reaction. But, she didn't seem to care. Or, maybe this was normal for her.
Pack is being mean to mate, Blake observed, his happiness dimming. Don't like it. Want to protect mate.
"She doesn't need protecting," I replied quickly, but I found myself holding her a little tighter anyway.
Elder Marcus was standing by a makeshift altar, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else. "Adrian," he said grimly, his weathered face lined with concern. "Are you absolutely certain you want to do this? Once you're mated—"
"I know what it means," I cut him off. "Yes."
Marcus's eyes flicked to Seraphina, taking in her glassy stare and the bruises on her neck. "Very well. But I'm keeping this short. For everyone's sake."
I set Seraphina down next to me, keeping one arm wrapped around her waist to keep her upright. She didn't react much, though her body remained tensed.
Elder Marcus looked around at the hostile faces surrounding us. "I think we can all agree we want to keep this brief and efficient."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd. Normally, a werewolf wedding would involve multiple rituals—the Sharing of Blood, the Moon Goddess's Blessing, the Pack's Welcome, the Hunt of Unity. But this wasn't about love or celebration.
"Good," Marcus said loudly.
Blake was starting to protest in my mind, but I quickly cut the connection. Meanwhile, Elder Marcus pulled out a simple sheet of paper—the mating contract. No fancy parchment, no ceremonial seal. Just a basic legal document that would bind us by pack law.
"Sign this, and you're legally bound as mates," he said, setting it down on the altar. "The union will be recognized by all supernatural courts."
I grabbed a pen and signed my name in sharp, aggressive strokes. Then I turned to Seraphina, who was staring at the paper with so much hatred in her eyes as if she wanted to burn it.
"Sign it," I ordered.
Her lips slowly forming a word, "No..."