Fiona's POV

Darkness surrounded me when I opened my eyes, and every inch of my naked skin was still humming from what we'd done hours ago.

The stranger beside me was a dark silhouette in the shadows, breathing deeply in sleep while my heart raced with the memory of his hands on my body.

We'd kept our masks on the entire time. I refused to show my face and he seemed just as determined to stay anonymous. But even behind the disguise, even in pitch black darkness, something about him had felt achingly familiar, like my soul recognized his even though we were complete strangers.

I needed to leave before he woke up.

Moving as quietly as possible, I gathered my clothes scattered across the hotel room floor and got dressed with shaking hands. Every small sound made me freeze, terrified he'd wake and see me sneaking out like some guilty criminal.

Once I was dressed, I pulled some cash from my purse and left it on the counter. Payment for services rendered, I guess, though calling it that made my stomach twist uncomfortably.

My hand was on the doorknob when doubt crashed through me. What the hell was I thinking last night? Sleeping with a masked stranger hours before my forced wedding?

But there was no time to regret it now.

I slipped out and ran down the hallway, finally ripping the suffocating mask off my face.

That's when my phone exploded with sound.

"Where the hell are you, you ungrateful idiot?" My mother's voice was pure venom through the speaker. "Today is your wedding and you dare sleep out? Are you out of your mind? Did you forget what happens to that precious nanny of yours if you run away from marrying that useless cripple?"

Ice flooded my veins.

"Oh my God!" I slapped my forehead so hard it stung. "The wedding!"

I hung up and bolted down the hallway like the devil himself was chasing me.

Hours later, I stood in front of a mirror wearing the most hideous wedding dress I'd ever seen in my life.

It was at least two sizes too big, hanging off me like a deflated balloon. The cheap fabric looked like it came from a discount bin and the whole thing screamed "we don't actually care about you at all."

They'd done this on purpose. Sent me an oversized monstrosity to make sure I looked as pathetic as possible on what was supposed to be the most important day of my life.

"Why are you in that hideous wedding dress?"

Hannah's voice made me spin around. My best friend stood in the doorway with her jaw hanging open in shock and fury blazing in her eyes.

"Don't tell me you're actually going through with this insane bullshit your parents cooked up!"

"Hannah!" Relief crashed through me and I threw myself at her, hugging her so tight I could barely breathe.

When I finally let go, the words poured out in a desperate rush. "I don't have a choice! They threatened Lolo. You know she's the only person who actually loves me in this world. She raised me when my parents couldn't be bothered. And now she's dying in that hospital and they're holding her treatment over my head like a weapon."

My voice cracked. "If I don't marry this man, they'll stop paying for her care and she'll die. So yes, I'm going through with it, even if I have to marry some bastard I've never met."

Hannah's face crumpled and she pulled me back into her arms. "You deserve so much better than this, bestie. You really do." Her voice was thick with sympathy. "But since a life is on the line and your parents are cruel enough to use it against you, I guess you don't have a choice. Good luck, Fiona. I can't exactly say happy married life when this whole thing is a nightmare."

Before I could respond, my mother's shrill voice pierced through the room like nails on a chalkboard.

"Will you get your fat behind out of that room already, Fiona? Do you think we have all the time in the world? Spending so much time in there acting like some Cinderella!"

I exchanged a look with Hannah and sighed. "Coming, Mom!"

"That's not a mom, Fiona," Hannah whispered as we headed for the door. "That's literally a witch!"

Despite everything, I laughed. "If only she had a magic wand and pumpkin carriage to match that attitude."

When we reached the bottom of the stairs, my mother's scowl greeted us like a slap. "Finally! What took you so long?"

I forced a smile. "Sorry, Mom. Just getting ready."

Her eyes raked over me from head to toe, taking in my disheveled appearance and the disaster of a wedding dress. "Well hurry up. We can't keep your groom waiting."

The words sent ice down my spine.

Outside in the compound, I immediately spotted Nathan with a split lip and bruised nose. Serena was fussing over him, asking about his injuries while he puffed up like a peacock.

"I put some weak wolf in his place," Nathan bragged, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Taught him a lesson he won't forget."

I couldn't help myself. "So if you're fighting a weak wolf and end up with a busted nose and split lip, does that mean you're weaker than a weak wolf?" The sarcasm rolled off my tongue effortlessly. "Would your whole body be bloated if you fought a normal wolf? What would happen against a strong one?"

"You're just jealous that Nathan picked me over you!" Serena snapped, glaring daggers at me. "I understand you're bitter because you didn't get the better man!"

I laughed coldly. "Jealousy? Trust me, I couldn't care less about Nathan's choice anymore. His actions already proved he's far from being any kind of 'better man.'"

Serena looked away and went back to fussing over Nathan's injuries. I turned away too, my stomach churning with disgust.

Hours dragged by at the church while we all waited for the groom to arrive.

Part of me hoped he'd been in some horrible accident that would spare me from this nightmare. But then a car appeared in the distance and my brief fantasy died.

Serena wasted no time twisting the knife. "Are you excited to see the ugly crippled bastard you'll be spending the rest of your life with, sis?" Her voice dripped pure malice. "Nathan says his brother is nothing to write home about. People think he's the older one even though he's younger because of how old and haggard he looks." She laughed cruelly. "And you have so much in common! You're an orphan who's merely adopted, while he's an illegitimate bastard child. What a beautiful match made in heaven!"

"Give me one chance to shut this whiny bitch up!" Hannah snarled, her fists clenched.

But before anyone could respond, the car door opened.

An old man in a suit emerged first and my heart plummeted straight to my feet. He looked old enough to be my grandfather and I thought I was going to faint right there.

Then the man walked to the other side of the car, pulled out a wheelchair from the boot, and started helping someone else out.

Relief crashed through me so hard my knees went weak. He wasn't the groom.

The soft sound of wheelchair wheels rolling across pavement filled the air.

And then I saw his face.

My breath stopped completely.

It was nothing like what they'd told me. Nothing like I'd imagined.

Adam's POV

A distant sound pulled me slowly from sleep, something I couldn't quite place in my foggy mind.

I squinted against the light trying to invade my eyelids, then shut them again and stretched with a deep yawn.

Lying there, memories of last night flooded back like a movie on repeat.

I reached out tentatively to touch her smooth skin, still able to smell that soft feminine fragrance that made me crave her all over again.

But my hand met only the softness of empty sheets.

My eyes snapped open immediately.

Where was she?

I sat up fast, looking around with startled confusion. She didn't seem like the type to bail without even a goodbye, but her things were completely gone. Those feisty auburn hair and seemingly green eyes behind that mask.

I shut my eyes in pure frustration.

She didn't just run away from me.

Now I'd be left with nothing but memories of how she smelled, how she felt beneath my hands, and the sounds she made. Hell, I didn't even know her name to begin with.

I ran my fingers through my messy hair and clenched my teeth so hard my jaw ached. "Damn it," I muttered under my breath, fuming.

Then something caught my eye and I looked again just to make sure I wasn't seeing things.

No way in hell did this mysterious woman leave me cash on the shelf!

What did she think I was, some kind of male prostitute?

Those neatly stacked bills were more humiliating than her running away. Was she trying to pay me off like I was some hired entertainment?

I let out a bitter laugh of frustration.

Looking at the bed where she'd lain beside me, I noticed tiny drops of dried discolored liquid on the sheets. My stomach dropped.

Is that what I think it is?

I lifted the sheets to examine it closer and my fears were confirmed.

Blood.

Fuck.

Don't tell me she was a virgin.

I did not just have a one night stand with a virgin.

No wonder she left. She was probably too terrified to face me after last night, so she ran before I could wake up.

Wait.

She wasn't a minor, was she?

I knew she looked mature with her body and everything, but you could never really tell a woman's true age these days.

I was completely done for.

I ran my fingers through my hair again, fighting the overwhelming urge to punch something just to vent the frustration building like pressure in my chest.

Then my supernatural instincts caught hints of someone walking hastily toward my door and I braced myself.

It had to be her. She was coming back. She must have realized she wasn't supposed to run from me.

I raised my eyes in anticipation as those hasty footsteps drew closer and closer.

The door swung open with such force it startled me, and then I let out a frustrated sigh.

It wasn't her.

"What are you doing still in bed?" Lucian demanded and I sighed again but kept quiet.

"Go get yourself in your tux, man. You're late for your own wedding." He scowled at me with his huge arms folded across his chest. My best friend was clearly pissed.

I glanced at my alarm clock and realized that annoying sound that woke me up was the alarm itself. I was running late.

"Okay, okay," I said resignedly, frowning hard.

"You know everyone is waiting for you," Lucian continued. "Hell, your father is threatening to disown you if you don't show up and hold up your end of the agreement." My best friend and beta reminded me, beyond pissed now.

I let out another heavy sigh.

The fucking agreement.

I rolled my eyes. My morning was just getting worse and worse.

"Why do you even let them do this to you?" Lucian asked, not caring that I'd been silent this whole time. "You know very well this is all your stepmother's handiwork, but you keep letting them use you like some puppet."

I looked away because I knew he was right.

"She knows getting you mated with some insignificant bride will further prove your supposed weakness. Yet you let them do it when you're more than capable of stopping it all." Lucian's teeth were gritted in anger.

This was why I loved my beta and best friend. He knew and fully understood my pain. What he didn't understand was why I was doing any of this.

"Lucian," I began.

"Why don't you just call it all off? I'll help you. Let's get rid of everything and everyone who's trying to control you." His suggestion was deadly serious.

I let out a small smile. "There will be no calling off the marriage ceremony. I'll marry my bride." My tone was resolute, a knowing smile playing on my lips. "No matter what, I have to continue my life this way. At least for now."

I was also trying to convince myself. It was all just a process I had to endure.

Lucian sighed in resignation because he knew I was a stubborn asshole who never changed his mind once it was made up. "Then at least make it to the wedding if you want to go through with this shitty agreement." His voice had a sharp edge.

I nodded.

"I'll wait outside," he said and turned to leave.

Then a thought struck me. "Lucian, wait."

He turned back.

"Last night, the woman I was with... can you help me find her?" I tried to hide my desperation but failed miserably. Those auburn hair and green eyes were the only things I could remember about her.

"I'll try my best," my best friend said and left.

I let out another sigh.

"Can I get my suit and wheelchair, Atticus?" I said aloud, sensing my butler's presence at the bedroom door.

"Yes, sir," Atticus responded immediately, wheeling in my wheelchair along with the neatly ironed black tuxedo.

A few hours later, Atticus was wheeling me toward the venue.

I sat with my knees cramped uncomfortably in the wheelchair as we approached the hall where I'd be wedded to my bride. I wore my wedding suit perfectly and my hair was styled sleekly back. The blue bow tie accentuated my sea blue eyes nicely.

I smiled bitterly.

I was the perfect weakling groom.

My bride was probably some unfortunate woman who had no other suitors and was left with no choice but to marry the ugly, crippled, illegitimate bastard of the Blackwood pack.

She was definitely unlucky.

I must have been too deep in thought because someone was standing in front of me covered with a shawl, clearly wanting to speak with me. But I was already wearing the mean and arrogant exterior I used to protect myself, so I ignored whoever it was as Atticus wheeled me right past them.

This was what I did. Protected myself from everyone's rashness and pity.

Seeing as I was crippled, they all tried to sympathize with me.

And I was not some pathetic charity case who needed anybody's pity!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Fiona's POV

I glanced around at our family members and realized none of them had noticed him ignoring me. Maybe he hadn't meant to be rude, or maybe he just didn't see me trying to help him on our wedding day.

I quickened my pace to catch up with him as he wheeled himself further into the venue. When I finally reached him, I approached with what I hoped was a friendly smile.

Our eyes met and my breath caught in my throat.

Up close, he was even more devastating than I'd thought. His attractiveness surpassed any man I'd ever encountered in my entire life. This wasn't fair at all.

He was nothing like what they'd told me. I'd braced myself for someone hideous, someone whose appearance would be difficult to look at. Yet the man before me looked like he'd been personally crafted by the moon goddess herself.

How could a man confined to a wheelchair still command such authority? He looked confident, powerful even, with this incredibly masculine and attractive aura radiating from him.

"Do you realize you're in my way?" His voice cut through my thoughts and his brows were raised in annoyance.

"Oh! I'm sorry." I apologized quickly, realizing I'd been staring like an idiot. "Let me help you."

I reached for his wheelchair but he jerked away from my touch.

"No! I wheeled myself up to this point. Isn't that enough to show you I'm fine on my own?" He snapped the words at me while squeezing his face like I'd just stepped on his foot.

Then he wheeled himself past me once again and I was left standing there speechless, hurt, and completely embarrassed.

Holding my dad's hand, I entered the wedding auditorium and took in the decorations. They were decent enough with a touch of something old-fashioned that didn't really bother me much. My focus wasn't on the decor anyway.

It was on my groom.

I was amazed by how handsome he looked even in that wheelchair. Despite his disability, he had this captivating presence with piercing blue eyes and chiseled features that could make angels weep. There was something familiar about those eyes though I couldn't place where I'd seen them before.

Gathering every ounce of courage I had, I approached him and soon we stood facing each other at the altar.

The priest instructed us to look into each other's eyes but my groom completely ignored the request.

"Adam?" the priest called out gently. "You may face your bride."

I glanced at him timidly and watched him roll his eyes hard before turning toward me with the meanest expression I'd ever seen on a human face. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment and I looked away quickly, but when I dared to peek back his condescending gaze was still fixed on me.

It suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks.

He was being forced into this marriage just like I was.

I kept my gaze lowered and avoided his piercing glares as the ceremony dragged on like some kind of torture.

"Now," the priest announced cheerfully, "Adam, please hold your bride's hand."

Silence.

Adam remained completely still and said nothing. I felt heat flood my cheeks as I waited and anticipated his touch, but all I received was pure disdain from the man who was supposed to be my husband.

"Adam?" the priest called out again with concern creeping into his voice.

I dared to look up and found him glaring at me like I was something disgusting he'd stepped in. My face burned even hotter as he finally turned his attention to the priest.

"Can we just get this farce of a marriage over with?" he snapped, his tone dripping with contempt. He seemed eager to be literally anywhere but here participating in what he clearly considered a complete sham.

"But you need to hold your bride's hand for the ceremony to proceed," the priest insisted gently.

I glanced around nervously and avoided Adam's accusing gaze. I felt like I was the one begging to be married here.

I caught Serena's eye across the room and noticed a sinister smile playing on her lips. She was clearly finding endless amusement in my predicament and viewing my entire life as some kind of comedy show.

"You know I don't approve of this wedding, priest," Adam said condescendingly. Despite his meanness, his voice was smooth and strangely enticing. I could almost forget his physical issues or even the part about him being an illegitimate bastard and imagine him as the perfect groom, if only he weren't so incredibly mean and arrogant.

"I'm only doing this for my father, so why don't we just get it over with?" he added while glancing around dismissively.

I felt a pang of relief when I realized only the priest and I had heard him. My heart sank with self-pity anyway. Despite his disability, he was doing an excellent job of making me feel absolutely zero sympathy toward him.

It seemed like he was actively trying to make me hate him already, and frankly he was succeeding spectacularly.

The priest sighed heavily and shook his head but continued with the ceremony anyway. "Fiona Larson, do you take this man, Adam Blackwood, to be your lawfully wedded husband, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, until eternity?"

"I do," I replied quickly, realizing I'd been holding my breath the entire time.

I just wanted it all to be over as fast as possible. Adam narrowed his eyes at me before rolling them dramatically and looking away with obvious disgust.

Oh no, I thought miserably.

The priest nodded and turned to Adam. "Adam Blackwood, do you take this woman, Fiona Larson, to be your lawfully wedded wife, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, until eternity?"

The auditorium fell completely silent.

Adam remained stoic and stared at me with those piercing blue eyes. I felt like I was personally responsible for every single problem in his entire life as I blushed crimson with shame.

"Adam Blackwood?" the priest called again nervously.

But Adam remained completely unmoving like a statue.

I was too embarrassed to turn around and look at the guests, but I could sense their growing unease. Murmurs filled the room and I wished desperately that the ground would just swallow me whole. I closed my eyes for a moment and prayed for this nightmare to end.

Finally, after what felt like an absolute eternity, Adam spoke.

"I do," he muttered grudgingly with his eyes still fixed on me in what looked like barely concealed hatred.

The priest smiled with obvious relief and beamed at us as if everything was going perfectly according to plan. "Now, by the power vested in me as the priest over this union, I pronounce you husband and wife."

He paused dramatically. "You may kiss your bride."

Everyone watched us expectantly and the tension was suffocating.

I didn't know what to do. Should I go to him for the kiss? Or was he supposed to wheel himself toward me? What was the protocol here?

My confusion turned to absolute shock when Adam expressed his annoyance directly to the priest in front of everyone.

"Oh please! Why would I even do that?" he asked with clear annoyance ringing in his tone. "I'd rather kiss a frog."

I heard gasps of surprise ripple through the guests and my stomach dropped to the floor.

They'd all heard him too.

I was beyond mortified. I wanted to die right there on the spot.