Chapter 2
Ava's POV
My eyes snapped back into the crowd to where Thane had been seated at the far end as a guest, but he was nowhere to be found, and his seat was now empty.
I took a swallow of my saliva as my Lycan shivered with anxiety, sensing my father's approach.
"You look breathtaking in this dress." He stated as he stopped in front of me, his hand outstretched to me for a dance.
After taking a deep breath, I placed my hand in his, and he led me to the dance floor, the soft music filling the hall up with a warm spirit.
"It wasn't so hard to get married now, was it?" He continued as we both moved to the tune of the low, slow music in the background, and I watched as the dance floor slowly cleared, leaving just the two of us swaying to the rhythm.
"Don't hurt Thane." Was all I could say as my eyes hardened and my back straightened, as I remembered to keep my voice even lower than a whisper.
"You should focus on finishing the marking ceremony with your husband by the full moon." My father said as the song slowly came to a stop, and I bowed my head in obedience.
"I will do what's best for the kingdom." I replied stiffly, my voice devoid of emotion.
As my father leaned in to brush off a lone leaf that had come to settle on my arm from the wedding decorations, he whispered, "Hmmm, now put a lovely smile on those lips of yours, your mother would think you're being forced to do this." My father ended with a smile as he turned around and took a glass of wine from the tray before walking off into the crowd, leaving me feeling suffocated.
"You owe me a dance, my bride." I heard Prince Allude say just as another song started, and he came closer to me, his hand winding around my waist to pull me closer.
"Ummm, I think I feel dizzy, give me a moment." I said hastily as I pushed out a fake smile and rushed out of his hold, even as I felt his gaze on the back of my head as I rushed into the crowd and down the corridor leading to the restroom.
"Ahhhhh." I let out a heavy breath I didn't realize I was holding all the while as I fell forward, my hands landing on my knees to support my weight as the restroom door slammed shut behind me, the sound echoing through the empty stalls.
"I would gladly trade this stupid crown for an apron anytime." I whispered as my eyes took in my appearance in the mirror, where I looked as ethereal as ever, my skin looking glossy in the mirror, but all of it was just depressing to me.
"Congratulations on your wedding, Princess Ava." I heard the husky voice of Thane say from behind me, just as his reflection came into the mirror from behind me, his piercing blue eyes seeming to bore into my very soul.
"Thane!" I cried out his name in longing as I turned around to rush into his arms, but his hand held up stopped me in my tracks, his palm facing me like a shield and his action had me feeling a stab of pain but I couldn't blame him.
That was when I noticed the cold, freezing look on his face, and his jaw clenched in anger. "You are married now, it's not right to be hopping into the arms of other men." Thane said slowly, with a cold smile now slipping onto his lips as he snapped at the lighter in his hand, the sound echoing through the silence.
"I didn't want to marry Prince Allude, Thane, believe me." I stammered as I tried to explain to him, feeling my hands get sweaty with anxiety.
"You are just like the rest of them, aren't you?" Thane said, and I felt my heart drop at his words, they seemed to strike even further into my heart as I watched him lean away from the wall, dropping his hands into his pockets, his gaze no longer holding that soft look that spoke of his timeless love for me.
"What do you mean, Thane? It's you who owns my heart!" I whispered to him, trying to stop my tears, my feet taking a step towards him as all I wanted at this point was a warm hug from him, to feel safe and loved.
"And another owns your body? No, Ava, I don't share." Thane tsked as he walked around me and towards the sink to push the tap open, the sound of water filling the silence as he washed his hands without a care in the world.
"Why do you make this hurt more than it already has to? I never wanted any of this to happen!" I snapped out in frustration and pain as I turned back around to face him, my chest heaving with pain.
"Then run away with me, forget your life as a princess and come with me, I will give you more than this cage with a crown." Thane suddenly spoke up, and at that point, even if a pin fell, you would have heard the sound, the silence was that thick.
My eyes locked on his as he turned around, his eyebrows raised as he watched me, and his hand stretched out in front of me as he waited for me to make a decision, his blue eyes burning with intensity.