Chapter 4: The Wedding
SERAPHINA
Loud melodic songs played in the distance.
My entire life, I had been preparing for this day—the day I would get married to whomever my father deemed fit to be the best.
I stared at myself in the long mirror as my personal maid, along with three other maids, arranged my wedding dress, which flowed across the ground enough to cover three large tents.
"You look so beautiful, and I can't wait for you to be Luna."
Greta whispered, giving me a gentle smile, but I only nodded.
I knew I looked beautiful, but it wasn't my beauty that mattered. It was the fact that I kept having these strange dreams.
These strange dreams of seeing ravens and blood, and those same strange eyes. For some reason, I felt I knew who they belonged to, even though I had never seen him.
I shuddered again, closing my eyes as I took in a sharp breath.
"Everything will be fine."
I whispered. Suddenly, the door opened and someone walked in—it was my aunt, my mother's younger sister.
"Oh, my lovely Seraphina…you remind me of her every day…but today, you look so much like her. She would be so happy to see you getting married."
Celeste said, quickly wiping the tears from her eyes as she stared at me with newfound hope, but I only gave her a smile.
"Thank you, Aunt Celeste."
"Now let's get you married, niece."
She whispered, her hands curling around my arms as she led me down to the chariots.
The cold air washed over my body as we drove to the Celestial Septry—a place located within the castle that was heavily guarded and used for ceremonial activities.
The air quaked with a guttural howl that sent shivers through my body. It was the sound of my dragons.
A smile parted my lips as I stared outside, watching the dragons fly through the air.
An honor which I cherished so much.
The sound of melodic music grew increasingly louder.
As we approached the Celestial Septry, I found my father standing by the large door entrance, waiting to have the honor of leading me to my nemesis—to our nemesis.
"You remind me of her so much…Too bad she died when you were so young."
My father said, grinning at me as he stared down at my wedding gown, a look of pride settling within his eyes. I tried my best not to roll my eyes.
"We shall throw you a huge party tonight and celebrate you for being a true Queen."
My father said, but I shrugged. The last thing I wanted was to see another gruesome sight of slaves being tortured.
For a second, I imagined being a slave and being abused.
I snapped the thoughts shut.
The wide doors opened, and I stared into the Celestial Septry. There were about two hundred people in the building, with slaves kneeling beside them, bound in chains.
I grimaced. Even at my own wedding, they still allowed their atrocities to thrive.
I stared at the alphas and the witches, ignoring the looks in their eyes.
Slowly, my gaze lifted to stare at my betrothed. The moment his eyes found mine, he smirked.
I shuddered as I allowed my father to lead me to the royal priest, whose hands held a scepter topped with a golden wolf head.
I stood facing Adrian as the priest began his ceremonial words.
"Today…I bring together two great people, ones who will bring about the union of two great packs. This isn't just marriage—this is the coming together of two powerful rulers to form a union. Today, they shall honor the goddess and protect what has been given to us from the start. From our enemies."
The priest stopped, turning to stare at Adrian, but Adrian's face remained focused on me, my black veil covering my face.
"Do you, Adrian, son of the Silver Crest Pack, accept Seraphina, with the blessing of the moon goddess, to be your wife, honored until death?"
Adrian stared at me, his face twisting into something that looked like satisfaction, his eyes predatory as he smiled.
"Yes! I accept."
The priest nodded, turning to look at me, his eyes scanning my face, which made my hands instantly clammy.
"Do you, Seraphina, first of her name, seventh in line to the throne of Lancaster, accept Adrian to be your husband, to rule beside you, and to rule over the people you have sworn to protect?"
My heart decided to use that moment to speed up, my pulse accelerating as I clenched my hands into fists.
I took a slow turn to stare at my father…and my heart froze.
My father was clutching my aunt's hands. They were holding hands so tightly as they sat together. Upon seeing that I had noticed them, my father quickly removed his hands from hers.
I didn't know what betrayal hit deeper at that moment—knowing Adrian would plan a coup once we got married, or knowing my father had been fucking my aunt this whole time. For how long had this been going on?
"Seraphina…"
"Yes! I accept Adrian to be my lawfully wedded husband and King. Until DEATH do us part."
I whispered, emphasizing the last words.
I saw his eyes darken when he recognized what I had done.
"Now you may mark your queen."
The royal priest said.
I watched Adrian nod.
I knew this was the beginning of my downfall. The second I had his disgusting mark on my neck, I would be his pet forever.
Adrian walked toward me, and I took everything in me not to step back.
He stopped an inch away from me, then slowly bent down, his lips grazing my ear as he whispered, his hands curling tightly against my waist.
"I have always wished for this day to come, Seraphina Lancaster. And today is the start of your misery. Your suffering will be my greatest pleasure."
My heart froze, my knees instantly becoming weak as he positioned himself to kiss my neck. But instead, that same vision flashed in my eyes—this time it became clearer, and cold chills ran through my body.
The moment his lips came to graze my neck, I whispered, loud enough for him to hear.
"No!"
Adrian's face pulled back to stare at me, his expression looking confused at first before slowly morphing into something else—shock…slow shock, and then realization…
I watched his hands drop from my body slowly before he fell to the ground with a loud thud.
Gasps echoed throughout the Celestial Septry as every eye turned to witness what had just unfolded before them.