*LILAC*
The drive is silent and I try my best to scoot away from my husband's side and stay as far as possible. Even if he is a very fine man to look at, he is still a Lycan which also means he has an animalistic side to him and I do not want to see that.
I sigh as I look out through the tinted windows, watching Lyria fade out before my eyes. I have known the rout walls of this city all my life and now that I am leaving, tears are threatening to fall again and I instantly blink them away. My husband probably would not be pleased at my tears.
Only if I could run. Run away from this life I am being dragged into, maybe if I can flee from entering this world I know nothing about. But can I? Trapped in this million-dollar car with a man I barely know and who is now my husband, can my life ever be perfect? I guess not.
My life has been cursed ever since my mother died. She was my greatest joy. The only person who could bring me peace. But as time went by she began to disappear. People stopped taking me seriously because they knew I couldn't take care of myself. They started blaming me for her death. The people who should have been my closest friends started treating me differently as if I did something wrong. As if I didn't deserve my happiness. As if I was too much trouble to be around and my stepmother and her daughter never helped either.
The humming of the car engine is only what is heard, and as we near the north city, I keep dreading whatever is beyond those gates, what waits for me there. Will I see my father again? Will my new family accept me? Will I find someone new to love and care for? Maybe not, I don't think I will ever find love again.
A few minutes later we are entering North City— Lycania, my eyes stay on the trees passing us by, they seem familiar, almost like they're calling me.
The car moves on, and I see more of the city pass by through the window. This city is so much larger than Lyria, with so many different kinds of shops. It is almost as if all the buildings are built with glass, giving them a beautiful view across the city. There are trees, too, which makes it look even more amazing.
It is just as gorgeous when we drive down the main street where every house has a tree at their front yard. People have planted them everywhere, and some grow to be almost twenty feet tall. They will be beautiful and bright in autumn.
I turn my head and look out the other side of the car as we continue up the road. The trees are smaller here, but they still reach towards the sky as if they could never reach enough ground.
When the car finally stops next to a large gate, I hear the engine turning off. I open the door before Kael even has the chance to unbuckle his seatbelt. A guard is standing by the door of the car, staring down at me.
"Hello, princess," he says. He has brown hair and his eyes are dark brown. His name badge reads 'Caleb'. I stare up at him for a minute, trying to see what he sees in me, but when my eyes meet his eyes I notice something.
He stares right into mine, his expression softens and I suddenly wonder whether Kael would ever look at me that way.
I do not know why that thought crosses my mind, but it does and I don't like it. They are all Lycans, and as history told us, nothing good comes out of trusting them. Still, I am married to one, a prince at that.
"Hi." My voice is small as I reply to him.
"Take the bags, and come with us," Kael says to Caleb as he steps in beside me. I stare down at the ground as we walk past Caleb towards the big building that towers above us. A large marble staircase leads us up, where two guards stand outside.
"Your Highness, let me open the door," Caleb says, holding the door for me.
"Thank you," Kael replies and then walks past me, the sound of his footsteps echoes on the floor as I follow after him. We enter a hallway with tall walls made of marble. It seems like a palace, of course, it is a palace. The palace of the Alpha King. There are other guards stationed at each door that seem to run down the hallway. We have passed a few doors when Caleb speaks up again.
"This way," he says and then opens another set of double doors leading us into what must be our room. A massive room with white pillars in between them. Everything is white. The bed sheets, the pillows, the curtains. All except the carpet beneath my feet. It must be worth millions, and yet my steps cause it to creak beneath me.
If there is one thing I can say about this place, it's luxurious. Kael turns towards me, his face unreadable. "You may leave now, Cal"
"Yes, Your Highness." Caleb leaves, the door closing behind him. Kael is still staring at me, I do not know what to do, so I give him a faint smile. I will need to learn to use this fake smile to hide my fear of this creature.
Kael finally speaks, and he nods towards the door I had seen when we entered. ''The bathroom is that way, you can go wash up." His voice holds no emotion, nothing but a monotone voice.
A voice that sends shivers down my spine. I grab the hem of my wedding dress and push open the door, leading me into the most elegant bathroom I have ever seen. The walls are painted in a deep purple which contrasts nicely with the soft lighting.
There’s an old-fashioned bathtub in the middle, surrounded by various bottles of shampoo and conditioner. The whole room smells like fresh flowers and citrus. It's almost relaxing, but still, there's a feeling lingering underneath it all that feels more threatening than comforting.
I slowly walk over to the tub, taking note of the many mirrors. I notice something out of place as I am looking at myself in the mirror above the sink, I take a step closer and squint, my face looks pale, certainly not like a bride.
Now that I am alone, the realization hit me, and the tears I have been fighting to keep away start flowing like a river. Just some weeks ago, I was just the ghost daughter of the prime minister's second-in-command.
Now, here I am standing in a strange and unfamiliar bathroom in an unknown house in a strange land, crying uncontrollably while staring at my reflection. Because I'm married... And to a Lycan Prince at that.
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Having cried my eyes out, thankful that Kael had not interrupted my pity party even though I am sure he heard if he was still in the room. I lazily dragged my body out of the bathtub after bathing and shrugged on one of the robes I had seen hung up beside the mirror.
It's white, with gold trim. Perfect for bedtime. After drying my hair, I put my headband on with my still damp hair and then I tie it up in a ponytail.
I look at myself in the mirror, frowning when it makes my freckles stand out more. It's almost like they are a tattoo of their own. My reflection just looks tired.
I sigh as I walk over to the bathroom door, dreading walking back into the room, dreading meeting my very gorgeous but still a Lycan husband.
Just because he is beautiful doesn't mean he wants this kind of life with me. That doesn't mean I want to spend the rest of my life with him, still, I do not have a choice. No amount of hatred I now harbour towards Nina and her daughter can change this. This is my fate, and there is nothing anyone can do or nothing that will stop me from going through with it.
And so I take a deep breath before opening the door.
The sight of Kael standing there, his bare chest, strong arms and muscular figure makes me blush madly. He has changed from his suit and he is now wearing a tank top and sweatpants. I should have known he was here, Of course, he is here.
"I know you were crying," he says. His voice is not soft, but for a moment it seems calm and comforting. I should not revel in it, but I do.
I try to find my voice, not sure if I can keep looking straight at him without blushing any more than I already am. I take another breath before speaking, "I'm sorry, please excuse my behaviour earlier," I say with an awkward chuckle. Why am I begging? right, because he makes me so damn nervous and afraid, might I add. What will he do now? I do not know.
"Are you hungry?" He asks, not giving any hint of anger or anything else towards me.
He seems concerned about me, but I will not be fooled by it. That's the last thing I would expect from a man such as himself. "Uhm...yeah. I'm hungry," I stutter.
"You need to eat something first. Then we'll talk".
He walks over to me slowly, stopping in front of me.
He is too close, way too close. His large hands gently cup my face, while his fingers caress my cheek. A shiver goes down my spine and goosebumps appear all over my skin, making my whole body tense.
His thumb moves down from my face to gently wipe away a stray tear falling down my face, causing goosebumps to rise again,
I feel lightheaded. What the fuck is he doing to me? Why does it affect me like this? I do not like this, I don't understand how I am supposed to survive this. My stupid hormones are causing my heart to beat faster than usual. It is getting hard to breathe, my mouth starts feeling dry. I suddenly feel like I need water.
This feels too much. Too intimate. Too dangerous.
I open my eyes, hoping to get rid of the feeling. I need space. But no matter how far, he keeps getting closer until our bodies are pressed together. Our faces are inches apart and his gaze is piercing mine, holding my gaze captive.
Is he...going to kiss me?
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