[Evening]
Ovelia's POV
A soft knock echoed through the dimly lit room, pulling from a deep slumber. I glanced out the window, startled to realize that night had fallen without noticing. The world outside was cloaked in darkness, starkly contrasting my restless thoughts.
The door creaked open, revealing Ann. She turned on the light, a bright smile lighting her face as she held a delicate white dress. "Lady Ovelia, it's ti! You need to take a bath—your wedding to Sir Ace is just around the corner!" Her enthusiasm was infectious, though my heart raced with a mixture of excitent and anxiety.
I scrambled off the bed, urgency replacing my previous daze. I hurried to the bathroom, the cool tile sending a shiver down my spine. Monts later, I erged, a towel wrapped around my body, my heart pounding with anticipation.
Ann had placed the wedding dress neatly on the bed, her eyes sparkling with joy. "Lady Ovelia, you're done already! Please remove the towel. I'll help you into your wedding dress." Her eyes glimred with excitent, but I felt a wave of vulnerability wash over .
"Wait, Ann!" My voice trembled slightly. I hesitated, knowing that she would see the bruises marring my skin. As I stood there, she stepped closer, her tone gentle yet firm. "There's no need to be shy, Lady Ovelia. We are both won, and it's my honor to serve you."
Before I could protest, she gently lifted the towel away, her eyes widening in shock as the bruises ca into view. "What happened to you, Lady Ovelia? Did Sir Ace do this?"
Her question cut deep. It was Ace who had caused the deep bruise on my back, but I couldn't bear to confess that. Instead, I chose to deflect. "It's nothing; this cos from my non-biological parents, who constantly belittle ," I replied, forcing a smile even as the pain ached within .
Ann furrowed her brow; concern etched on her features. "But what did sir Ace say when he saw these?"
I swallowed hard before responding, "He was shocked but didn't ask about the bruises." The unspoken words hung heavy in the air, my heart aching with each passing mont.
Before slipping into the wedding dress, Ann carefully applied foundation over the bruises on my body, ensuring I looked perfect for the ceremony. "We can't have any distractions today," she said with a reassuring smile, her gentle touch making feel cared for. After the foundation dried, she helped into the beautiful, sleeveless gown, its fabric shimring under the light.
Once dressed, I sat at the table adorned with a mirror filled with anticipation. Ann began applying my makeup with the sa finesse that an artist uses to create a masterpiece. "A little more here and a touch of glamour there," she murmured, focusing intently.
After perfecting my look, she styled my hair, every strand falling into place magically. Then, she adorned with sparkling diamond earrings, a delicate bracelet, and a necklace that caught the light beautifully.
"All done, Lady Ovelia! You look absolutely breathtaking," Ann bead, her eyes shining with pride.
I stared at my reflection, utterly dumbfounded. I couldn't believe how stunning I looked. A wave of happiness washed over , mixed with nerves, as I prepared to embark on this new journey.
Suddenly, there was another gentle knock at the door. It remained closed as a voice called out, "Lady Ovelia, it's ti to co out. Your wedding to Sir Ace is about to begin." I heard the soft patter of footsteps retreating down the hallway, leaving a charged silence behind.
My heart raced at the thought of what was to co. With one last look in the mirror, I took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of excitent and anxiety swirled within . "This is it," I whispered softly to myself, ready to take the next step forward into my future.
I stood up and embraced Ann, my voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Ann. I'm older than you, yet you have this incredible talent. I could never manage to look this good on my own."
With a gentle smile, Ann replied, "I appreciate that, Lady Ovelia, but rember, I'm 40 years old. Werewolves have long lifespans, which is why I still look youthful."
Her words took aback; I had assud I was older than her by four years. As we exited my room, I spotted Ace across the hallway, walking towards the staircase. He looked breathtaking in his white tuxedo and matching slack. When he saw , the surprise on his face mirrored my astonishnt. I never expected to look this beautiful.
"Lady Ovelia, I can only stay here until the wedding ceremony is over. I'll head downstairs afterward," Ann said, her voice a mix of professionalism and warmth.
I responded to her with a smile, then walked towards Ace. As we t at the stairs, I glanced down and couldn't believe my eyes—so many guests had gathered. I even saw a priest waiting at the bottom, ready to officiate the ceremony.
Ace grasped my hand, and we began our descent down the stairs. As we stood before the priest, he spoke solemnly, "Ace Draven, do you accept Ovelia Ashford as your beloved companion for the rest of your lives?"
"Yes, I do, Father," Ace replied confidently, sliding a ring onto my finger.
Hearing Ace's affirmation filled my heart with imasurable joy, a warmth spreading through like sunlight.
"Ovelia Ashford, do you accept Ace Draven as your steadfast partner for the rest of your life?" the priest continued, his voice resonant.
"Yes, I do, Father," I responded, a blend of excitent and nerves coursing through as I placed the ring on Ace's finger.
"Now, by the power vested in , I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," the priest declared with a smile.
As Ace leaned in and kissed , applause erupted from our guests. My heart raced furiously; joy radiated from as a flush of warmth graced my cheeks.
Turning to our guests, the Alpha King Raymond stood, his commanding presence silencing the crowd. "Today, we celebrate the union of Ace and Ovelia—a bond that transcends the boundaries of our worlds. Together, they embody the hope for peace between humans and werewolves. May their love inspire unity and understanding among our kind!"
After a mont, the guest applauded, and Ace turned to , his tone suddenly cold. "You're not Ovelia Ashford anymore; you're Ovelia Draven, my wife. But I won't accept you as my mate just yet."
With that, he walked away, leaving a sting of disappointnt in his absence. I tried to ignore the ache in my heart, reminding myself how good we felt just monts ago when I had given him cookies.
I glanced around, captivated by the array of delicious food and the nurous guests mingling happily.
As I approached the dessert section, a stunning woman collided with , deliberately splashing wine on my dress.
"I'm so sorry, Ovelia," she said, but I could sense her insincerity.
"Lady Eliana, you've ruined Ma'am Ovelia's wedding dress," Ann remarked with indignation as she rushed over. Eliana shot Ann an annoyed glare.
I felt the weight of the guests' eyes on , their whispers echoing around the hall.
•My Room•
Ann and I retreated to my room, where I changed into a beautiful sleeveless blue dress. She styled my hair to complent the outfit, adding a touch of elegance. As we exited the room, I felt a rush of anticipation.
•Palace Hall•
Descending the stairs with Ann by my side, I noticed the guests gasping and gazing wonderfully at us. A wave of joy washed over ; I felt beautiful.
Ann excused herself montarily, claiming she had sothing to attend to. I headed toward the dessert area to grab a cupcake. But as I approached, my heart sank when I saw Ace sharing a kiss with Eliana.
My heart raced uncontrollably, each beat echoing the pain of betrayal. It felt as if I had been stabbed in the chest. Why was I feeling this way? I married Ace, yet he had never truly seen as his mate.
The conflicting emotions churned inside —jealousy and longing—all colliding in a single mont. I stood frozen, trying to process the whirlwind of feelings that consud .
I heard the whispers of the guests around , wishing that Ace and Eliana were the ones getting married. Their murmurs pierced through like a thousand tiny daggers.
A man spoke loudly behind , "Eliana has always been Ace's desire. I think they've been together many tis. But Ace can't make Eliana his mate because his wolf doesn't accept her. As a future Alpha king, he must marry a human for the peace between humans and Werewolves."
His words crushed , each syllable like a stone thrown at my heart. I turned to face him, holding back the tears that threatened to spill over. I saw his face, marked by age and experience.
"There's a garden outside the palace. I can take you there to breathe in so fresh air," he offered kindly.
I nodded, grateful for the escape. The palace hall felt suffocating, and I needed a mont to gather my thoughts. As he began to walk, I followed him.
•Palace's Outer Garden•
As I stepped outside with an older man from the palace, the soft glow of the round moon illuminated our surroundings. I was overwheld by the beauty of various flowers, especially the vibrant hues of roses, each petal shimring in the moonlight.
"If you didn't notice, the guests earlier were werewolves from other packs and humans from the royal family," he remarked, his gaze fixed on the shadows dancing around us.
He approached , gently brushing my hair away from my face. His eyes lingered on my neck, a sly smile creeping across his lips. "Ace hasn't marked you yet," he laughed softly, "he doesn't want you as his mate because he truly desires Eliana."
My heart shattered at his words, hot tears spilling down my cheeks. The pain was unbearable; the thought that the man I married had feelings for soone else was a tornt I couldn't endure.
"If you head straight into that forest," he pointed, "you'll find the exit from this kingdom. You still have ti to escape. You won't find happiness here." He turned away, leaving alone in the garden, surrounded by darkness.
My tears continued to fall, each dropping a reflection of the hurt I felt. I wasn't angry with Ace—I had grown used to feeling unloved since childhood. Pain was a familiar companion; perhaps this was my chance to break free and find happiness.
I wiped my tears and took off running toward the forest he had indicated, the air thick with urgency. As I entered the woods, a faint whisper of the wind brushed against my ears, but the ssage was lost to . Deeper into the forest, illuminated by slivers of moonlight, I spotted a massive werewolf in the distance. Its fur was a deep, haunting black, and its eyes glimred maliciously.
Paralyzed by fear, I could barely move as the enormous creature began to approach. My mind raced, realizing it wasn't the kind of werewolf one could sweet-talk or charm. I sensed its intent: it hungered for my demise.
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