Rodrigo stared at the woman in front of him.
Her shoulders were squared as she stared back at him. She looked certain. Absolutely certain that he wasn't going to touch her.
He didn't kiss his brides, everyone knew that.
That meant someone had tampered with the rite of mates. His eyes glanced at the congregation, scanning the faces of the people present.
Who dared to do that?
The Matriarch wouldn't, she didn't play dirty games. Was it Charlotte? Or Dominic?
His eyes turned back to Nina, and his gaze flickered down to her lips.
They were slightly parted, her body rigid as she watched him wide-eyed.
Fine. If they wanted a show, he would give them one.
Rodrigo exhaled sharply and crossed the distance between them in two strides.
Nina's eyes widened.
No.
No way.
Before the thought could fully register, Rodrigo's hand cupped her jaw, tilting her face toward his.
And then his lips met hers.
The hall went completely silent.
Nina's mind went blank as her eyes widened so much she thought they would pop from their sockets.
The Alpha was kissing her?
His lips were warm. Softer than she expected. The kiss was firm but not harsh—nothing like she had expected of him.
She couldn't move. Couldn't think. Couldn't breathe.
Her eyes were wide open, staring at nothing, her body frozen in shock.
This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening.
But his hand was on her face. His mouth was on hers. And the entire hall was watching.
Then Rodrigo pulled back.
His grey eyes met hers, unreadable and cold. There was nothing in them.
Nina stood pale-faced as she watched him, breathing fast, her eyes wide as though she'd just seen a ghost.
She wanted to melt into a puddle.
What in the world just happened?
Without a word, he turned and walked down the aisle, leaving her standing at the altar. Flabbergasted.
Nina stood frozen, her lips still tingling from the kiss.
What just happened?
Her mind couldn't process it. One moment he was standing there, cold and distant. The next, he was kissing her.
The Alpha—the same man who had almost killed her that morning—had just kissed her.
What the hell was going on?
She watched his back as he walked down the aisle, his stride unhurried, unbothered, like he hadn't just done something unbelievable.
Why did he do that?
Only when he turned the corner and disappeared did she realize the hall had erupted into chaos.
Voices overlapped as the guests buzzed with shock, wondering what had happened.
Charlotte sat at the corner, her jaw clenched as she watched the scene unfold, her palms folding into fists on her thighs.
"Mother?"
She blinked when she heard Dominic call her, and then she turned to him, putting on her mask as she smiled brightly. "Yes, dear."
"Let's go."
Charlotte stared at his outstretched hand and she took it, standing up.
She cast one look at Nina before she turned to the doors.
Nina's legs felt weak. She wanted to sit down. She wanted to disappear.
But before she could move, someone stepped in front of her.
Dante.
"Sabrina."
Nina's heart skipped. Then she exhaled slowly with relief.
He had called her Sabrina. He didn't recognize her.
She cleared her throat. "Dante," she called, forcing a smile to her lips.
Dante smiled faintly, but his eyes were filled with something that looked like pity.
"I'm sorry about all this," he said quietly. "I only heard the news yesterday. I didn't know it would be your family."
Nina drew a breath. "It's fine. Someone had to do it anyway."
She tried to keep her voice light. Casual.
She turned to descend the altar steps, but Dante caught her hand, stopping her.
"Sabrina."
His grip was warm. Gentle.
Nina's chest tightened. She didn't turn around.
"Have you heard from Nina?" he asked. "She didn't reply to my letter. Is she okay?"
His words hit her like a punch to the gut. She bit her lower lip tightly as she blinked back the tears gathering in her eyes, and then slowly turned to look at him.
She never had the chance to reply to the letter he'd sent. She'd never had the chance to tell him that she felt the same way he did.
She never got to say goodbye.
Nina slowly pulled her hand from his grip.
"Why are you asking me?" Her voice came out harsher than she intended. "You know where to find her."
Dante frowned. "I've tried. She's not at the house. The servants say she left, but no one will tell me where. I thought since you were her sister, maybe she told you something. Or maybe she'd come to the wedding to see you off—"
"She didn't."
Nina cut him off. Her jaw was tight. Her eyes were burning. She drew a breath, holding back the tears.
"She didn't come," Nina repeated. "And I would suggest you stop asking about her. If she didn't reply to you, it means isn't interested, don't you get that?"
The words tasted like bile in her mouth.
God, she didn't want to hurt him. She really didn't.
Dante stared at her, confusion flickering across his face. Nina couldn't bear to stare at his face a second longer, she immediately turned on her heel and walked away, her fingers gripping the sides of her dress so hard she thought the fabric might tear.
It was for the best.
Nina thought to herself.
Yes, this was for the best.
"Sabrina!"
A bright voice called out from behind her as she stepped down from the Altar.
Nina's steps faltered. She exhaled slowly and turned around.
A girl about her age stood there with short auburn hair framing her round face. Large brown eyes sparkled as if she hadn't a care in the world, and a wide smile stretched across her lips.
"I'm Ruri. The Alpha's favorite cousin." She extended her hand cheerfully.
Nina looked at the outstretched hand but didn't take it.
She wasn't in the mood to make friends with anyone in this family. Not today. Not ever.
"Nice to meet you," she said flatly, then lifted her dress with both hands and began walking away.
Ruri blinked, clearly not expecting the cold reception. But instead of backing off, she hurried after her.
"Wait! Let me help you with your dress."
"Thanks, but I can manage on my own."
"Are you sure? That train is really long. You might trip."
Nina ignored her. But Ruri wasn't backing down. She matched Nina's pace step for step, chattering away like they were old friends.
"So how are you feeling? Nervous? Excited? I'm sure, probably not excited, with everything that is going on, but don't worry, with everything the Matriarch has put in place, you won't die."
Nina said nothing. She just kept walking forward.
She spotted Lady Gina approaching from across the hall and exhaled with relief. Finally. Someone who could save her from this.
She was about to walk toward her when Ruri suddenly darted in front of her and latched onto the matron's arm.
"Lady Gina!" Ruri grinned widely. "It's been so long, I've missed you so much."
Lady Gina rolled her eyes. "Why are you always so dramatic? You were here for the last bride's burial."
Ruri's smile dropped instantly. Her attempt to cheer up the new bride had just been ruined. She shot a panicked glance at Nina.
"Lady Gina, don't say that in front of her." She patted the matron's arm lightly, her voice dropping to a whisper.
Lady Gina glanced at Nina and heaved a sigh.
"What? She knows she's the fifth. And she definitely won't be the last."
Ruri's lips parted in shock. She looked between Lady Gina and Nina, clearly unsure what to say.
"Okay, enough of that," Ruri laughed nervously, trying to change the subject. "Where's the groom? Why does he always run off like this?"
"Don't you mind the Alpha," she said, turning to Nina with what was probably meant to be a reassuring smile. "He tries to act mean sometimes, but that's not who he really is. Deep down, he's actually—"
"A man who strangles women?"
The words slipped out before Nina could stop them.
Her hand went to her throat instinctively.
Ruri's smile froze.
Lady Gina raised an eyebrow.
Nina immediately regretted saying it when she noticed the look on their faces.
Ruri stared at her for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, a different kind of smile crept across her face.
"I think I'm going to like you," she said quietly.
Nina glanced at her, a frown creasing her brow.
Before she could respond, a calm male voice cut through their conversation.
"My Lady."
They all turned.
A man was approaching—tall, with brown curly hair that fell past his shoulders. He wore a pristine guard suit and carried himself with a poise that seemed almost regal for a bodyguard. His eyes were fixed on Ruri. Unblinking. Intense. As if the rest of them didn't exist.
"The Matriarch asks to see you now."
Ruri groaned. "Urgh, what now? I hope she's not going to ask me to stay back at the estate again.″
She turned to Nina with an apologetic shrug.
"Duty calls. But I'll find you later, okay? We should talk. I have a feeling you and I are going to be very good friends."
She didn't wait for Nina to agree or disagree. She followed the man out of the hall, her heels clicking against the marble floor.
Nina watched them go, her brow furrowed.
Ruri was clinging onto his arm, a little too close for a bodyguard.
But he clearly was one, given the matching suit he was wearing with the others. Was she interested in him?
Nina caught herself. What the hell was she thinking about right now?
Lady Gina cleared her throat, drawing Nina's attention back.
"Come with me."
Nina breathed as she followed Lady Gina. "Where are we going?"
"To prepare you for the wedding night."
All the blood drained from Nina's face.
"What?"
"I'm sure you heard me." Lady Gina was already walking.
Nina's legs wouldn't move.
A wedding night.
With the man who had almost killed her that morning.
Impossible.
"I..." Her voice came out as a whisper. "I don't want to have a wedding night. Since I'm going to die, let us skip it."
Lady Gina stopped and turned to look at her, accessing for a brief second;
"Sabrina.″
She paused. ″You cannot refuse the Alpha.″