Alistair handles the rest, and it is for the better. The only issue is today is the day of our wedding, if you can call it that. It will just be a short ceremony in front of the alpha families and the High Court. But it means that we will have to act like a couple, something that is rather hard when your wife fears you. I am not the only one to take a woman through an arranged marriage, but we should at least show we have an understanding between us.
I look in the mirror, fixing the white collar of my shirt.
"You look absolutely handsome, Alpha," Alistair says, holding out my jacket.
I cock a brow but say nothing as I allow him to help me into it. Somehow, he has become someone who is always around and now holds the title of our Assistant. Dad was surprised when I said I had chosen him to help Evangeline, and he had offered for me to take an Advisor of the Court, but I refused.
Plus, she is comfortable around Alistair. He's the only one who receives her smiles these days, and if it wasn't for me knowing for certain that he doesn’t see her in the same way that I do, he would be dead by now.
"Is she ready?" I ask, fastening one of the buttons on my black jacket.
His smile grows as he admires me, "Yes, she is, and she looks as beautiful as you do handsome."
I cast him a frosty glare before turning away. "Then tell her to come out. Did you let her know that we are to at least act like a couple?"
"I did. But maybe if the Prince can himself…" he trails off when my eyes flash red as I glare at him through the mirror.
He may not know exactly what happened or what terms we are on, but the tension between us is clear. I avoid her, and we barely talk, but right now, knowing we are about to face all the people in power, I realise it may have been a fucking mistake.
"Evangeline! Ah, I'll go get her." He hurries off, and I frown, fixing the cuff of my jacket.
I don't know why I even agreed to this, but I had to if I wanted to prove that I deserve that crown. Alcazer selected a luna, too, and had married her just two days ago. I didn't attend, nor do I care who she is.
I'll scope out Evangeline's competition today. Ragnar will be taking his vows with his chosen Luna alongside us. Alcazer’s Luna will take her oath to join the pack. Both of my brothers had selected their women at the ball. I knew both were of alpha blood.
Although Dad had hoped that the rest of his sons would also compete, it didn't look to be the case with just four of us, as well as the other Alphas' sons. That made the contestants stand at eight. Two are still to marry, but they are going to get married soon. It should be pretty easy, but I don’t trust anyone not to try to sabotage the others.
The sound of footsteps approaching comes, and I look to the door of the bedroom to see Evangeline step out. My heart thuds in my chest as I stare at her. I wasn't expecting her to look so…
"Doesn't she look utterly ravishing, My Prince?" Alistair says, spreading her dress around her.
Yeah, she did. She isn't looking at me, though, her gaze on the ground. She's wearing an off-shoulder blood-red dress that is completely covered in 3D roses and a very deep plunging neckline that shows off her breasts. My gaze lingers, and I wonder if she's healed fully.
A wave of guilt rushes through me, but I refuse to delve into it as I slowly look up at her face. Her skin is glowing, her lips are painted a deep red, and her hair is pulled up in an elegant bun. In her hands, she holds a bouquet of flowers.
"Leave us," I say to Alistair, not missing the thudding of her heart as Alistair nods and leaves the room. I close the gap between us, stopping a few feet away when she tenses. "I won't hurt you. At least you should know you will be safe in front of others, but as long as their eyes are on us, we need to act like a couple. Two days ago Alcazer chose a wife, and today, you'll meet her and Ragnar's chosen too. You need to assess them, watch them, and make sure you don't feel threatened by any of them."
"Understood," she says confidently and gracefully.
"You are their equal. There is not one person you need to fear as long as I am by your side."
Our eyes meet, and I know what she's thinking.
She fears me more than anyone else.
Looking away, I slowly hold my arm out to her. She steps forward, taking a deep breath before slipping her hand into the crook of my arm. I'm aware of her breasts pressing against my elbow, and once again, the urge to ask her if she's okay overwhelms me, but I don't. I look down at her, admiring her one final time. Today, she will be initiated into the pack, too, meaning I would smell her blood. It is going to be even more difficult.
We head out of our quarters and down to the hall. This isn’t a grand wedding, and despite the slight décor around the pillars at the entrance of the hall, there is nothing more. The severity of what is riding on this is clear in my mind. The guards at the door lower their heads before opening the doors.
"Announcing Alpha Prince Zedkiel Vilkas and his bride-to-be, Lady Evangeline Rose."
They're all here, the Alphas of the other packs, their families, and heirs. I see the Welhavens all turn sharply, shock and surprise on their faces. I had made sure Father didn't announce to anyone prior who my Luna was to be, and it was obvious they hadn't known.
My eyes fall on the Alpha pup. I can hear his racing heart. I notice the way he's frowning, his blazing eyes, as he stares at Evangeline with a look of jealousy and possessiveness. Then I make the mistake of looking at her, only to find she's looking right back at him. Her eyes are full of sadness, and that cuts through me, unleashing the raging inferno of anger from within.
My eyes flash as a low growl leaves my lips, and the bastard's eyes snap to mine. "If you want to live, keep your eyes off what belongs to me," I snarl, making the entire room go deadly silent.