Chapter 4

Four

LYRA

I tried to keep calm and relaxed as I stood before Kodan, Voss, and Luke. Even though my heart was pounding like crazy, I kept my face neutral.

The room was full of guests invited at the very last minute by my parents. They had managed to show up, despite the same-day ceremony. I had quite the nosy family members. When the officiant started to speak, my heart hammered in my chest.

This was getting all too real. It wasn't fun and games.

I was going to be a wife today.

And if the sigma wanted to be intimate with me, I had to give in to him. I had never slept with anyone before. I've tried exploring myself when I couldn't help it, but I was the most inexperienced omega he could ever get. So I hoped he was patient, which seemed highly unlikely.

Kodan's eyes hadn't left my face as soon as I walked in. Luke had an even expression on his face, but he gave me a small smile and a wink when I made eye contact with him throughout the ceremony. Voss looked rattled and shaky, his eyes never meeting mine. His face was pale for some reason. Maybe he didn't want to marry me.

This was going to be a disaster of a wedding.

My stomach clenched as I thought of the wedding night. The sigma looked like he wasn't waiting for anyone. From the side of my eye, I didn't dare look down–I could see the hint of his erection pressing against his pants. He hadn't even thought to change into a fancier outfit.

This wedding wasn't important to him at all. I was just going to be a wife. That was all there was to it.

The more I stood there, the more I wanted to run away. Before I could change my mind, the officiant had already reached the end.

"Do you, Kodan, leader of the Wild Wolfmen, promise to protect and love Princess Lyra of the Royal Pack?"

"I do," said Kodan, his eyes focused on mine.

My stomach cinched with butterflies of nervousness. Then the officiant turned to me next.

"Do you, Princess Lyra, agree to marry Kodan of the Wild Wolfmen? To have and to hold until death do you part?"

My heart was pounding hard, and I couldn't say anything at first. I was tongue-tied.

"I…I do," I whispered.

"Could you repeat that?" asked the officiant.

God, this was mortifying.

"I do," I said, and a smug smile crossed Kodan's face. What did he think was so funny? Jerk.

"Kodan, Voss, and Luke, you may all kiss your bride," announced the officiant.

Kodan approached me first, slowly lifting my veil over my head.

My heart was beating fast as his hand curled around the back of my neck, pulling me roughly toward him. He was like the feral version of an alpha as he took my lips in his, kissing me soundly. I had no choice but to surrender to my new sigma husband, allowing him to kiss me. His lips were firm but soft against mine, and I could smell his slight scent of ashes up close. He wasn't anything I'd been around before. My inner omega still responded to him as it would with an alpha, getting warmer with his touch, feeling his essence flow against mine.

He pressed his body against me, and my body heated in response allowing him to envelop me. I didn't want this kiss to end; his fingers tightened on my neck. I heard him let out a slight groan when I pulled my face away.

When he finally released me, I was nearly limp and breathless.

Luke

Watching Princess Lyra enjoy the sigma's kiss bothered me. He was the enemy of the Royal Pack and somehow muscled his way in.

As I stood there, watching them, I couldn't help but wonder if she regretted marrying me.

I didn't regret marrying her, though.

Because the truth was…I had been obsessed with her ever since she came of age. Keeping it a secret was the hardest thing in my entire life. But keeping her safe was my top priority.

She looked stunning in her long white veil flowing behind her as Kodan dipped her body in a kiss. Her dark eyelashes fluttering in desire caused my cock to stir. Princess Lyra was every alpha's fantasy on Howl's Edge. Countless times, she'd refused offers of marriage. She was picky and hated all alphas, especially after what her own fathers did. I hoped she didn't prefer Kodan over me because he was a sigma.

I couldn't believe I was one of the lucky ones to marry her. It was a dream to see her when she went into heat and for me to cuddle her every night.

After the kiss finally ended, I took two steps toward her. She looked at me, a small smile teasing her lips.

"Hi, bodyguard," she joked. "Looks like we're married now."

I could tell she was nervous, and so was I. But I smiled widely to put her at ease.

"May I kiss you?"

She nodded, and I grasped her hands in mine. Her small hands were cold as I squeezed them to comfort her. I cupped the right side of her face as I kissed her on her pink lips. Her lips were soft and pliant under mine. I heard her softly moan over all the clapping of the guests around us. It felt so natural kissing her. Being with her. The kiss exceeded everything I dreamt about as I inhaled her fresh peach scent.

When we broke the kiss, her eyelashes fluttered open, and she gave me a glittering smile. It looked like she didn't think it was awkward marrying me after all.

"It's official now," she said. "My husband."

"And you're my wife."

Voss

It was my turn to kiss the omega bride.

This wasn't a good idea at all. Kodan was being too impulsive.

Once we're married into the Royal Pack, they could turn on us anytime. This was a fucking bad idea. Any infraction on our part could get the entire kingdom to rain down on us. Omegas were greedy for cocks, and if she knew how much bigger a sigma's knot became–she would get scared. I couldn't wait to see her innocent blue eyes widen in shock when Kodan pounded into her.

She was looking at me expectantly.

Fuck.

Flashing my panty-dropping smile, I saw her breasts heaving with desire. I came here every year for the Omega Ball to snag a new omega each time. She was no different. We kissed, and I smelled her peach scent increasing under my spell. She was na?ve and innocent. The perfect omega.

"You're perfect," I said against her lips as I pulled away. Her face was pink and flushed. Tendrils of blond hair framed her face as I brushed them away. "You already make a good wife."

"Oh, thanks," she giggled.

All omegas were the same.

Lyra

"Congratulations," said Beth half-heartedly as I prepared to say goodbye to everyone. We didn't have a wedding reception, considering how gloomy the occasion was. We were outside the palace, under the full moon, with my family and other royals. I knew my friend felt terrible, but it was nothing like how Yasmeen felt. Yasmeen had literal streaks of mascara running down her cheeks as she hugged me.

"Thank you for saving my life," she sniffed. "You didn't have to marry the brute."

"I wasn't going to let you die," I said, rubbing her back in comfort.

She pulled away, and I smiled to show her I was going to be okay.

"They better treat you good," she said.

"I'll let you know if they don't," I said reassuringly. I turned to my mom and fathers, who were waiting behind Yasmeen and Beth. Walking towards them in my long dress, I hugged them all one by one. My mom fixed the veil behind my head, droplets of tears streaming down her face. "Mama, don't cry."

"I'm trying not to," she said, smiling despite her tears. My eyes burned with unshed tears.

"You're going to make me cry again," I said. "It was completely my choice."

"It's just hard to let my only baby go," she said, full tears running down her face. I remembered the day she lost her second baby and how hard she took it. But it was inevitable that one day, I'd have to leave her. I knew she was lonely in that big palace with her cheating husbands, and my heart ached as I gave her one last hug.

"Everything will be okay, Mama."

After saying goodbye to my fathers, I felt Kodan grab my hand, and Luke grasp my other hand, leading me toward a large truck with a pickup bed. I was instantly confused. Where was I going to sit?

Unsurprisingly, Kodan placed a step stool on the back.

"Are we really going to ride in the back?" I asked. I didn't care if I sounded stuck-up. This was unacceptable.

"I don't have all the riches in the world like your family," said Kodan, ordering one of the Wild Wolfmen to toss my ten suitcases into the truck. I flinched as I saw my suitcases piled on top of each other willy-nilly. I had precious clothes and makeup collections in them.

"I don't want to go in there," I said in a low voice to Kodan.

"Oh yes, you are," he growled, lifting me high and onto the truck.

It was humiliating, but I smiled and waved at everyone as I stood there on the pickup bed like nothing was wrong.

Me, the princess of Howl's Edge, on the back of a damn truck for her wedding day. I wanted to die. I never dreamt of a wedding like this. Kodan was a brute and wasn't even dressed correctly; Voss was a handsome player, and things felt a little awkward between myself and Luke.

I had no idea how any of this was going to work.