Chapter 5 4. The Unwanted Wife

[ELARA]

I find out soon enough the kind of man my husband is. He's truly a wicked, two-faced bastard!

Few hours ago at the break of dawn, we started our journey back to Caelondor. I was made to sit inside a carriage covered with feather-filled pillows-the royal treatment, truly. But I'm not allowed to talk to my handmaids. Or anyone, really. In fact, ever since we left Mistral Hollow, Magnus had not even spared me a glance. It's like for him I don't even exist.

He was charming during the wedding, kissing my hand like I expected a prince would. But it was all a facade. I should've known it, but as always I was a fool.

I feel lonely already, away from my homeland-the place I grew up in. I've never been away from Mistral Hollow or my pack for more than a few days and now I'm going to spend my life in a foreign land. With the constant pain of having my mate by my side.

Alec has kept his distance from me. I don't know how he does it, because here I'm going crazy. I keep thinking of all the moments we have spent together-some that I can never tell anyone about. The moments I have to forget now for the sake of my new life with my husband.

Lila has been silent as well, giving me no guidance, nor commenting on anything. Maybe I'm thinking too much. Or perhaps my life has actually taken a miserable turn.

I feel the carriage halt once again, and I quickly slide the drapes to peer out. Alec is by my side as I had thought but he doesn't look at me. He's looking straight ahead.

Only a moment later, I realize why we stopped. Dusk has fallen and we're at the perfect stop to rest for the night. We're at Fierra river bank and the cold night is filled with a musky scent.

I step out without a warning, feeling my legs ache at the lack of movement. I'm still wearing the gown although I've taken off the ornaments. I glance at my husband who's on a horse right in front of me but he manages to ignore me yet again. He gestures to a man of his personal guard and he scurries off. I see a group of men, pulling out canvases to set up tents for the night, while a group of women begin working towards filling our stomachs.

I hate him already. I know there's no point waiting there, knowing well enough that no one here is interested-or rather is commanded to not talk to me. Seething, I stride closer to the river. There's a small wooden platform built for small boats to be docked. I decide to sit there. Just to piss off my husband-if he even cares.

He doesn't.

But I hear footsteps behind me.

"Where are you going, my lady?" A handmaid named Kayla asks as I walk away from the party. Disappointment swirls within me. Magnus is oblivious to my presence, now engaged in a lively conversation with one of the ministers. The air is filled with the murmur of ministers, and the dancers and the hundred others that accompanied us -likely judging my behavior, but I don't care. I'm tired and frustrated.

"Leave me alone," I tell her, briefly turning back and she vanishes, bowing deeply.

Sighing deeply, I bend down to look into the shimmering water. The stars in the sky are reflected beautifully into the surface. For a moment, I feel good and relaxed. But then all of a sudden, I see the water begin to bubble up. A flash of green strikes my gaze, before it expands beneath the surface. Before I can react, a hand juts out from the water and snatches my ankle, pulling me inside.

I fall onto my back, screaming helplessly as the grip begins tightening. I struggle to find anything to hold onto until my eyes fall upon a wooden stump. The force pulls at me just as I grab the stump but it's too strong.

Gasping for breath and panicking, I fight against the relentless force that threatens to drag me deeper into the icy river. The darkness of the water envelops me, and I can feel the cold seeping into my bones as I desperately cling to the wooden stump, my fingers slipping against the wet surface. I'm too heavy to stay afloat. I know I'm going to drown because of this fucking gown!

As fear and despair grip me, my thoughts race to Alec. Where is he? Why isn't he coming to my rescue? My mate should sense the danger I'm in. My heart pounds in my chest, and my vision blurs as I struggle to stay afloat.

I hear Lila's panicked thoughts. But she has no help to offer me.

Suddenly, a powerful surge of energy courses through me. It's a familiar sensation-the mate bond. Alec has finally sensed that I'm in danger. I can feel his presence drawing nearer, and a glimmer of hope fills me.

I manage to twist and kick my legs, attempting to free myself from the relentless grip of the unseen assailant beneath the water. My fingers ache from the strain, but I refuse to let go of the stump.

Then, just when I fear I might lose the battle, Alec's presence becomes overwhelmingly strong. It's as if a storm is brewing within him, and the water around me ripples with his power. In an instant, a large, muscular arm reaches down into the water, breaking through the surface, and seizes my wrist.

Alec's face emerges from the depths, his eyes filled with concern. With a powerful pull, he hauls me out of the water and onto the wooden platform. I cough and gasp for air, shivering from the cold and the fear that still lingers in my trembling limbs.

As I regain my composure, Alec remains at my side. I cast a wary glance towards the river, but the water is calm once more, as if the threat that had dragged me under had never existed.

The crowd, including Prince Magnus, has gathered at the riverbank, their expressions a mixture of shock and awe at the disaster they've just witnessed. Magnus, in particular, wears a scowl that rivals a thunderstorm, his eyes fixed on Alec with a burning intensity.

Alec, ignoring the onlookers, focuses on me, concern etched in his features. "Are you all right, El?" he asks, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and worry.

I nod, breathing heavily. "Thank you for saving me, Alec," I whisper, my voice trembling.

He smiles gently and brushes a wet strand of hair away from my face. "I will always protect you, no matter what," he promises, and the warmth of his words melts away the chill that had settled in my heart.

I see Magnus slowly making his way to us, his footsteps heavy and demanding attention. His dark cloak sweeps the ground behind him, giving him a regal fearful look. His lips are set in a firm line, his face lacking any of the charm. He stops before us and deliberately glances behind him before he says in a gruff voice, "I appreciate your quick action, beta Alec. You have served her well as her personal guard. You can let her go now."

Alec obeys but not instantly. His reluctance is visible. I'm glad the others are far away and can probably not see this. I see a look cross Magnus' eyes. A dangerous one. But Alec doesn't slump. He rises from the platform, his shoulders firm. He doesn't even blink and for a few seconds a staring contest occurs between them. I feel the tension rise in the air.

Magnus decides to break the silence. "You may go and rest now with the others, guard."

Alec doesn't bow before he leaves, his shoulder almost brushing past Magnus.

I gasp at his rebellion. He is affected after all. And I understand in this moment that having Alec around me is not going to be easy.

Well, at least it made Magnus notice my presence.

I make sure that when he sees my face, he sees me scowling.

And then he has the audacity to roll his golden eyes at me in response. "That was a Hydralith. But they don't come out of the water so we can spend the night here by the bank. Get up now if your ankle isn't fractured. You're a beta werewolf, right? If there was any injury it should heal now. Don't act like a damsel. I'm not going to carry you around here in my arms," he tells me.

I gape at him, finding it very hard to believe that he actually said all those words to me. "Are you fucking serious?" I snap at him, getting to my feet.

Magnus is too tall. He looks down at me, the corner of his lips forming a smirk. "No broken bones then? Good. I'd hate to call him back to carry you to the tent. Walk back with me like a good girl now. Don't make a fuss. They're looking at us, Elara."

I can barely think straight. "Goddess, you're awful, Magnus. Why did you pretend to be so sweet during the wedding ceremony? I hate you."

"Pretending, my darling, is all we royals do. And I've never asked for your love. I just ask for your respect among the masses. You're free to insult me in private as much as you please."

I pause, realizing that I was actually following him without knowing it. "So you don't care about me or anything I say at all?"

He doesn't stop as he answers me. "I care about what you say about me to others. I don't care about you. You'll be given protection under me, as my wife and as a member of the royal family. I apologize for not imposing that immediately or that pathetic scene wouldn't have happened. But don't expect any love from me. Do you understand?"

I nod before saying, "Fuck you," in a whisper.