[Evelyn’s POV]

I hadn’t wanted to get out of bed that morning. The moment my eyes peeled open, I was instantly filled with horrible regret and an overwhelming sense of anxiety.

This wasn’t how I was supposed to be feeling—Not on the day of my own wedding.

I kept wondering if I had made the right choice in my response to the Alpha King’s proposition. However, no matter how long I allowed myself to dwell on the issue, I always found that I was led to the exact same conclusion. My brother.

This marriage is not about me...It’s about Edward.

All that mattered was that with that money from the King, he would be able to continue the medical care that was needed.

I didn’t exactly come to any sort of happy resolution on this whole matter. I just came to the realization that I didn’t have a choice.

Might as well, get up so we can get this whole thing over with then.

Without wasting any more time, I rolled out of bed and headed straight for the bathroom. I threw my hair up into a loose bun on top of my head and grabbed for my robe. Once I secured the soft belt around my waist, I made off toward the living room for breakfast.

My mind felt hazy. Of course, everything around me came into clear, painful focus the moment I got to where I was going. I stood frozen in the doorway of the living room while Liam was already present.

He was sitting at his usual spot with a mug of coffee and the latest copy of the newspaper clutched in his hands. I hated how he acted like nothing had changed. How he hadn’t literally torn my heart from my chest by allowing this ridiculous switch to happen.

If he had stepped up to deny my parents the chance of selling me off to this unknown Alpha, perhaps things would have turned out a lot differently. Then again, this was the same man who stood awkwardly silent through the entire ordeal.

What was he even doing in here?

Everyone had been told that this was where the new bride-to-be was meant to be getting ready before the ceremony.

Liam spotted me in the doorway and lowered the paper down. I curled a brow upward in question

“Why are you here? Come to give me some pointers on how not to treat my future spouse?” I asked, my voice dripping in sarcasm.

He opened his mouth to speak, but quickly closed it into a firm line. I narrowed my eyes at him, wanting to make him disappear from my sight.

My stomach spun with sickness from the notion that we were once together. After being told that my future was being bought and sent away, our relationship felt like it had happened decades ago.

Yet, it still hurt me to simply look at him.

“My, my. Why the long face?” Samantha asked with a delighted giggle. “This is your wedding day, shouldn’t you be happy or something?”

“Shut up, Samantha,” I muttered.

My stepsister burst out in laughter while Isabella came into the room.

“You know, you really ought to be getting ready,” she remarked. “We’ll be heading over to Kingston Hall very soon.”

Samantha wrapped her arm around Liam and beamed at me with fake enthusiasm. “Yes, we’re all looking forward to your ceremony.”

Oh, wonderful. Was she really dragging Liam along?

“So the wedding is going to be taking place there?” I questioned dully.

“Yes. Since Alexander can’t travel far, the wedding will be held in one of his many rooms instead,” Isabella explained.

“No doubt it will be a simple wedding,” Samantha pointed out roughly. She turned to glance at Liam, giving him a flirtatious smile. “Remember, I’m expecting a grand wedding with dozens of flowers and shiny, white satin.”

*Knock. Knock. Knock.*

The gentle knocking on the door had us all turning our heads to find that the wedding stylus team had arrived. Isabella graciously allowed them all in and the team began setting up each of their designated stations.

Claire, the team leader, led me over to one of the chairs and placed a large ipad in front of me. The screen showed several gorgeous, one-of-a-kind wedding gowns. As I scrolled through, each one of them was more expensive and beautiful than the one before it.

I had no idea how my family was going to afford such a luxurious dress and setup.

“Alpha Alexander has already ensured that today’s preparations have all been financially covered,” Claire told me. She gave me a knowing wink, giving my nerves a chance to calm down.

Damn, could this woman read minds too?

Looking at the screen, Samantha folded her arms over her chest and wore a bitter expression on her face.

“You shouldn’t rely on money to make this marriage work,” she said tightly, as if she was persuading herself. “Money isn’t everything, you know.”

“Whatever you say,” I replied while I decided on a hand-embroidered, off-the-shoulder gown with a long, lacy train in the back. I would personally prefer simpler ones, but this is what I imagined to be appropriate for the Luna of an Alpha like Alexander. Elegant, noble, exquisite.

The stylist team pulled out the dress I’d chosen and immediately helped me get into it. Within the hour, I had transformed into a completely different person it seemed like. My hair had curled and loosely pinned back with pearl-studded pins. My makeup was light but impactful.

As soon as the final touches were made, I stepped out of the living room where I was met with dozens of wide eyes and opened mouths. Nearly the entire pack was there to see how I turned out. They were all graciously taken aback by my otherworldly appearance.

Even my family had very little to remark on. What amused me most of all was the engrossed, star-struck look Liam wore on his face. Samantha was quick to swat at his arm and pout at his reaction.

As I was preparing to leave, I had one of the staff grab the bag I had pre-packed the night before.

After the ceremony, I wasn’t likely to return to this place so I made sure to pack the things that were most important to me—just the clothes I wore most often, along with my mother’s keepsakes, which I always carried with me. One of which was a handcrafted, sea-blue aquamarine necklace.

Normally, I would keep it in my side pocket. However, this dress didn’t come with any sort of place for me to store the keepsake; so, I made sure to safely stow it in my bag.

While my family headed out to their own vehicles, I secretly snuck away to visit my brother. The only sound that greeted me was the representative echo of the machines that were keeping him alive. It used to break my heart, but over time, I found them to be a comfort, knowing that they were keeping Edward alive.

I gently bent down to press a soft kiss on his head. “I’m going to miss you so much. But I’m going to make sure that you’ll be taken care of, okay.”

Making my way outside, each of the staff members grasped my hand and wished me luck on the new chapter of my life I was undergoing. It made my heart swell with sadness, seeing they were all reluctant to see me go.

“Hurry up, Evelyn!”

“That’s right, we don’t have all day.”

One of the staff members leaned forward and gave me a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, we’ll make sure that your brother is well-looked after.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

I turned back to face my family and to no one’s surprise, they were all seethingly impatient. My father couldn’t have looked any less interested in what was going on. The only look Isabella really had in her eyes was eagerness—no doubt for the money that the Alpha King was promising them. Samantha was still relishing in the childish tantrum she’d thrown earlier while I was getting ready.

Then there was Liam. The man seemed to look at me with loss and an unspoken solemness. Was he possibly feeling regret?

It shouldn't matter what he’s feeling! It’s too late. He’s clearly made his decision and he’s not going to speak up now.

Nevertheless, I felt deeply helpless. It was hard to think that the pack members seemed to care more about me than my own family.

I made my way over toward the car but was stopped by Samantha holding up her hand.

“You know that our car is too small and your dress is likely to get wrinkled,” she said with a cold smile.

Claire suddenly rushed to my side. “No worries. Alpha Alexander also arranged for multiple large limousines to pick up you and your family. He wanted to ensure that your dress stays wrinkle-free.”

“Really?” I asked with a hint of disbelief.

It was hard to believe that this was all coming from the same man who was known for having a mean temper. Perhaps it was to show the King that he respected the arrangement that had been made.

Claire nodded her head and smiled.

“Yes, the cars will arrive in just a few moments, and also a delicious lunch will be served on board, so you can eat should you get hungry.”

I caught Samantha’s newly soured expression out of the corner of my eye. Truly, neither one of us expected Alexander to make such a grand show of this arrangement. Either way, it left Samantha sneering with irritation. She folded her arms over her chest and pouted like a child.

I could feel my face flushing under her words. I wasn’t used to being treated with such extravagant care. Having never been lavished with so much attention before, I wasn’t sure how to handle it.

The journey to Kingston Hall was long and I hadn’t officially arrived at Alexander's pack until that afternoon. All I felt was nervousness.

[Evelyn’s POV]

When the cars pulled onto the Kingston Estate, my eyes were instantly drawn to the vast landscapes that surrounded the massive manor.

The place was surrounded by gorgeous, tall pine trees that bordered the property like a natural wall of defense. I knew the Moonstone Pack was known for their trading, but nothing would have ever prepared for the amount of various crops and resources that the estate single-handedly provided.

I was truly captivated.

There were orchards and organized sections of fruit-bearing bushes and vegetable patches—all of which were being tenderly attended to by numerous groups of pack members.

Each one looked determined, focused, and well inept to work in such rigorous conditions. As the limousines pulled through, some of the pack members glanced up from their work to steal a quick glance at what was going on. I wondered if any of them knew about what was going on today. Everyone seemed busy at work and there wasn’t any other real indication that there was a wedding about to take place.

My heart leaped into my throat for the hundredth time since this morning when the car finally came to a stop. The actual house looked like something out of a fairytale.

As far as I was concerned, Silverwood Manor had always been a place of beauty and high social standing. However, nothing could have prepared me for the architectural majesty that was Kingston Hall. The place was massive, likely three times the size of my own home.

Its light red brick structure was adorned with white marble and numerous carved statues overlooking the massive grounds. It was elegant but cold. Maybe it was because Alexander technically lived alone.

I took a few steady breaths in, hoping to mentally prepare myself for the event that was about to take place. The driver got out and came around to open the door for me. With the much-needed help from a few of the maids, I was able to gracefully get out of the car without too much fuss.

An older woman with a formal-looking uniform came out to greet us with a soft smile.

“You must be Miss Evelyn,” she said. “I’m Nina, the housekeeper here.”

“Hello, Nina. It’s nice to meet you.”

“And these people must be your family,” she greeted. “If you will all kindly follow me, I will take you to the living room.”

My family and I were led into the front hall where I was pleasantly surprised to find lightly decorated for the occasion. Small bundles of freshly clipped and arranged flowers were placed throughout the place along with delicate ribbons of white lace.

The living room was large and decently spacious with high ceilings. The decorations were gradually carried throughout the place. It all looked unexpectedly respectable, given the circumstances. I really thought that for a brief moment, things were going to be alright.

Maybe I wasn’t going to regret this marriage, after all.

However, those hopeful thoughts vanished from my mind within seconds. The moment I turned my head to glance down the small, make-shirt aisle, I noticed that beside the altar, on the right side, was a wheelchair, a mask, and half a prosthetic limb.

It was a terribly eerie sight but it begged the question. Where on earth was Alexander?

“Um...”

Where was he? Did Alexander somehow forget that today, he and I were supposed to be getting married?

I doubted it. Although I didn’t personally know Alexander, something was telling me that he would never forget something as vital as this. And Alpha like him wasn’t prone to making careless mistakes. So where the hell was he?

Nina cleared her throat. She appeared a bit sheepish as she spoke. “Alpha Alexander will not be making an appearance, and these items are here to represent him.”

I raised my brows in shock. “Are you serious?”

She nodded his head.

“What about his family?” I asked.

Again she shook her head. “They couldn’t make it today.”

What the hell kind of wedding was this?

Nina gestures for the rest of my family to kindly take their seats while she goes to greet the priest. As soon as she left the room, Samantha broke out into endless cackles. Her face was turning redder by the second and she was gasping for air.

“Oh, this is absolutely hysterical,” Samantha laughs. “Your fiancé didn’t even have the decency to show up to his own wedding. Clearly, he’s not looking for a wife, but someone else to take care of him.”

My cheeks flushed with deep embarrassment.

Liam lightly cleared his throat. “Samantha, perhaps you shouldn’t—”

Samantha ignores him. “Come on, am I the only one seeing this setup here? Just think how well you'll fit in here, Evelyn,” she went on. “You were practically a servant in the last house, now you’ll be a caregiver to a horrible disabled man in this house.”

My heart sank into my stomach while an awful feeling washed through me. Samantha had always been obnoxious, but I never knew just how little control over her behavior she had. For Christ’s sake, we were literally standing in Alexander’s home and she was utterly bad-mouthing him.

What bothered me all the more was just how useless Isabella and my father were at that moment. Neither one of them even batted an eye at my Stepsister’s appalling attitude.

I turned and glared at the younger girl with anger behind my voice. “Shut up, Samantha!” I hissed. “Even if Alexander is disabled, he still deserves your respect. These things here are just normal tools that allow him to be able to function.”

But Samantha merely smirked and shook her head. “Wow, you’re not even married and already you’re defending him. It’s both sweet and pathetically sad.”

Right as I was about to go off on her again, another voice spoke out.

“May I beg your pardon?”

The tone was calm yet authoritative, sending chills down my spine.

All of us turned our heads to see a man, sitting in a wheelchair while wearing a half-formed mask over his face. There were two staff members standing behind him along with another man who I assumed to be his close assistant.

Oddly enough, my father was the first to react.

“Alpha Alexander.”

Was this really him?

Although he was sitting in a wheelchair, the man was physically fit and strong. His posture exuded confidence, giving off an oppressive aura as someone in a higher position.

His sapphire-like eyes, sharp jawline, tan skin, and sensual lips—combined with the mask and his expensive attire—gave him an air of mystery and nobility. It made one wonder how striking his face must be underneath the mask, which is in stark contrast to the terrifying rumors that surrounded him.

But everyone knew that underneath the mask, his face had likely been severely burned, making me feel twinged with pity.

“S-Sorry,” Samantha meekly apologized.

My father turned to give my Stepsister a weak look of disapproval for her earlier behavior.

“Samantha, you ought to keep better control over your words and know if and when it’s appropriate to say such things,” he reprimanded. “Perhaps, you should go and wait in the car.”

I fought back the urge to roll my eyes at the scene. Of course, even at a time like this, my father would be going easy on Samantha.

With the one half of his face that was still visible, Alexander raised a brow.

“Is that all?” he asked casually. “For someone with such a loose tongue, I think you deserve to have it removed.”

[Evelyn’s POV]

For the first time in several years, I watched my father’s face break out into a look of pure fear.

My father was never known for being a weak man. He had never been one to grovel or plead when mistakes were made. He had always worn a stern, unwavering stoic expression. Even during the toughest times, the man was practically unbreakable.

But that clearly wasn’t the case here. This man who hadn’t shown me an ounce of emotion for the majority of my life had practically broken into tears. His expression was pinched and shaking with worry—all because of what Alexander remarked in light of Samantha being reprimanded.

My eyes practically bulged out of my head when my father nearly stumbled to his knees.

Alexander had frankly shocked everyone with his remark.

Was he being serious? Imagine, a world without Samantha having the ability to speak.

My own breathing faltered for a brief moment. The undeniable look in Alexander’s eyes was proof that he was utterly serious. Not a single shred of evidence was visible in order to make me think twice. It sent countless shivers down my spine.

For crying out loud, my own father was practically shaking where he stood. What was this man capable of? Was I seriously about to marry this man?

While my father was seconds away from groveling, Isabella looked as though she was on the borderline of fully fainting. Liam looked stunned and didn’t even bother to speak up on Samantha’s behalf. And as for my dear Stepsister...She turned several shades paler and was on the verge of tears.

“Oh, please,” my father begged. “Please spare my daughter such torture.”

My gaze flickered back to Alexander who appeared even more disinterested than when he first entered the room. He let out a long breath and waved his hand.

“Something must be done about her abominable behavior,” he insists. “I refuse to even think that I would be associated with such a family that allows their own daughter to speak with disrespect and disdain toward people she doesn’t even know.”

Again my father was pleading for mercy on behalf of Samantha’s poor manners. Still, no one else was willing to step up on her behalf to reason with Alexander. It was like he was the one who held all the power in the situation and all of them knew it.

“I’m afraid I must insist that something be done,” he pushed sternly.

My father slowly nodded his head and glanced at Samantha in shame. “I understand.”

Samantha was shaking her head in fear; still too frightened to speak up for herself. Liam stood there with not a single word or thought—most likely because he too was afraid of what Alexander would do.

Oddly enough, Alexander had turned his head to spare me a quick glance. I partly wish I knew what sort of thoughts were running through the man’s mind. Then again, maybe it was a good thing that I didn’t.

“I take back my previous order and instead demand that your Stepdaughter be confined for no less than a month,” he stated coldly.

Samantha broke out in sobs. Good God, one would have thought she’d just been sentenced to a lifelong stay in prison. This time Isabella stepped forward and tried to plead for her daughter’s case. But Alexander wasn’t hearing any of it.

“One month,” he ordered. “She will be confined for one month in which she will spend reflecting on her boorish behavior and learn how to properly conduct herself in the presence of others.”

“Oh, please!” Isabella implores with desperation. “Please, don’t be so harsh on my daughter. It’s true there are times that she thinks before she speaks but that shouldn’t mean she should be harshly punished for it—”

“One more pointless word and I will happily extend the punishment for you as well,” Alexander snarled. “It seems that the both of you could deeply benefit from some decent self-reflection.”

Isabella instantly closed her mouth while her eyes remained wide in shock.

Suddenly, Nina reappeared with the priest following behind her. She takes notice of the odd shift in the room.

“Oh, sir! I wasn’t expecting to see you today,” she said with a pleasant smile. “You see, the priest has just arrived.”

The elderly man stepped forward and gave Alexander a slight bow of respect and gently cleared his throat.

“Alpha Alexander, will you be proceeding with the marriage ceremony?” he asked.

My stomach twisted with uncertainty. Wait. Did Alexander have an actual choice in all of this?

Was he not under the obligation of the King, like I was to my own family?

I was instantly put off by the thought that my opinion on this whole ordeal never mattered. Apparently, the same could not be said for him. The room fell silent as we all awaited his answer. Alexander didn’t give any immediate answer to the priest and instead turned his head to look back at me.

My heart thudded frantically in my chest, having no idea what was going to happen next.

“Evelyn... right?”

I blinked back the surprise in my eyes and lightly nodded.

“Yes.”

Somehow his features almost soften as well as his tone. “Are you sure about going through with this wedding?” he asked.

My lips parted in shock. “Are you...Are you asking for my opinion on the matter?”

Once more, my father stepped forward and spoke with jumbled hastiness.

“Of course, she’s going through with this marriage,” he said. “She’s agreed since the moment we first told her about it.”

Alexander barely glanced at my father. “I believe I was talking to Evelyn. Not you,” he interjected sharply.

My father backed off slightly, casting me a stern, warning look while Alexander’s back was turned. It made me remember what was at stake.

Edward. This marriage is meant to help take care of my brother.

All I could do was nod my head. The Alpha hesitated for a moment, seeming skeptical about my answer.

Nevertheless, he turned back toward the priest. “Proceed with the ceremony.”

I wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or filled with dread.

One of the maids swiftly took away the empty wheelchair and Alexander resumed its place. The priest stood at the head of the altar and my father leisurely escorted me down the aisle.

While the priest began to read through the various selected passages, my mind started to wander off. I had to face the facts. My life had changed dramatically in just a few days.

After giving it much thought over the past two days, I realized that if my family and fate were truly conspiring to put me in a difficult position, I had no choice but to make the best of it.

I must live on—for the sake of my brother. I have to do my best to live a better life.

I’d always put the interests of others before me, even when I was a child. So there was no reason why I shouldn’t be able to do it now.

When it came to Alexander, I didn’t really find him all that terrifying as those rumors had insisted. Sure he was intense and direct, but he wasn’t hard to look at.

Having been lost in my thoughts, I completely blocked out the part in which the priest had asked me to repeat the words ‘I do’. Just as I was about to correct my oversight, Alexander held up his hand.

“Stop.” He gave me that same sincere look from earlier. “Evelyn, you don’t have to force yourself to do this. I will allow you to not marry me without consequences.”

My heart plummets as he turns to leave. I caught the threatening look in my father’s eyes. He couldn’t have been more wrong. There were consequences. Without a marriage there would be no reward from the king and then my brother's life...

Before I had a chance to contemplate my options, I found myself taking off after Alexander. I placed a hand on his shoulder and turned to face him.

“Yes, I do,” I told him breathlessly.

I leaned down and pressed my lips to his. I felt him go stiff, probably from shock from my boldness. Pulling back, his eyes had gone wide with surprise. It had just then occurred to me that Alexander hadn’t said if he agreed to this marriage yet.

The priest, realizing I had rushed the process, quickly shouted. “Oh… I guess… I pronounce you husband and wife! And you may kiss your luna!”