Chapter 3

Penelope

I thought that he would have forced me to his bed already, but Carter hasn't. It was really surprising, and I wanted to ask him why because it didn't make sense as to why we haven't done anything. I don't know if he has problems or something, but I'd like to get to the bottom of it. We're to have children and fall in love (not really) but that's how the Council sees it. If they learn that we haven't consummated the marriage, I don't even know what they will do.

Could it be he is not attracted to me? I mean, I've been doing my best to make myself attractive to him and wearing the most revealing clothing at bedtime, but he has never come to my chambers. He hasn't touched me, kissed me, or wanted anything from me. Although it is a relief because I have never been keen on being forced into anything, none of this makes sense and doesn't fit him. I know that he's probably just thinking about what he's going to do to me and whatever, but it is mind-boggling to think that he might end up doing something crazy like this.

Running my fingers through my hair, I notice how the sun is setting once again and he still hasn't shown up. His best friend and my guard, Rowan, is standing in the corner of the room doing nothing besides looking at something on his phone. He doesn't talk much, and he doesn't give me much of a choice with how everything has been happening between us. I know that this could very well turn around and bite me in the butt but what I do know is that I'm not going to allow this to turn around and do anything to me. He seems like he really knows Carter and how he is going to do everything in his power to remain on Carter's good side. I can definitely see how that might end up confusing everything and makes me wonder what might end up happening between us. I know that this could very well turn around and bite me in the butt but even then, I couldn't be completely sure.

Sighing softly, I run my fingers through my hair and continue about my business and hope that everything is going to be alright. I couldn't be completely sure about everything right now but what I do know is that I'm not going to allow anything to stand in my way. So, I'm finally going to speak up for once.

"Why hasn't he come to my chambers?" I ask Rowan, seeing how he looks up at me, "I understand he probably didn't want this but if the Council finds out we haven't consummated the marriage, I have no idea what they are going to do to me. I know they can't do anything to him because he is King, but they might end up doing something to me. Like I'm the problem."

He sighs and shakes his head, "I wouldn't take it to heart, Princess. He just didn't want a mate in the first place after what happened with the last one and I just don't think he knows what to do with you. I think you remind him of everything that he just doesn't want to have anymore."

"What do you mean?" I ask him curiously now, "Did he have a mate already?"

"He did." He nods his head, probably hesitating on how much he can share with me, "but she ended up breaking his heart. It's a tough situation because she ended up mating with someone else and getting pregnant by him. She ended up blaming Carter for her own choices like he didn't make her have any, and I know he took it to heart. He really did love her, and she ended up throwing it in his face."

I'm shocked because I have never heard of this before, "wow, I didn't know that. That's a bit messed up especially if he didn't do anything to her. I don't see why she would just do something like that considering everything."

He shrugs his shoulders, "Sometimes people do things and there's just nothing we can do about it. Although I do hope that someday he might be able to find someone to love him, I don't know how well your relationship will go with him considering he was forced into it."

"I didn't want this either!" I protest almost immediately, shaking my head back and forth, "After everything that I have been through, I wish that I could say that maybe I did want this, but I didn't want to be forced into having a mate. I wanted to fall in love, be courted, enjoy all of those things but instead, I'm stuck with a man who looks at me like I'm disgusting when it wasn't even my choice. He wouldn't have been my first pick, let me tell you."

Feeling a bit angrier now, I end up jumping to my feet and putting on my slippers as I storm out of my chambers. Rowan is quick to follow, probably wondering what I'm doing but I'm not going to tell him in case he wants to push me. I have no idea what I'm going to say or even do when I find Carter, but I have an idea of where he could be.

I burst into his chambers without knocking, seeing how he was sitting behind his desk and looking over his paper. He looks up almost immediately, his eyes narrowing as he sees me. I storm towards him, feeling a bit afraid because he could kill me if he wanted to but I'm not going to show him any fear. I slam my hands down onto the desk and glare right at him.

"I don't know what you're damn problem is, but you haven't come to my chambers ONCE!" I snarl at him, baring my teeth and letting him see that I am pissed, "I understand that you didn't want this and shit, but I don't have a choice in the matter. We need to consummate the marriage, or I'm worried about what the Council will do to me. You know that I had to do this to protect my family."

He just rolls his eyes, making me madder as he looks away from me, "Get out."

Feeling a burst of rage, I grab his chin and force him to look at me, noticing the momentary surprise in his eyes. I'm sure he didn't expect that, his lips slightly parted with shock.

"I get that you think this is all about you, Carter, but I'm not going to let you push me around just because we are married." I warn him softly, running my fingers through my hair, "If it was up to me, I would have made sure to kill you in the process but even then, you do not deserve so much. I hope that you know that I'm not going to be nice coming from now on if you don't do what you need to do."

I thought that I finally got through to him as he rises to his feet until he was practically dragging me out of his chambers. I try to fight him off of me but he's much stronger, not budging a bit. He tosses me out of his chambers and ends up slamming the doors shut and I hear the lock click.

What an asshole!