[Unwanted love series 1] Arranged Marriage To The Lycan Monster

Chapter 1

SERAPHINA

"You've what?" I screamed, shattering the glass filled to the brim with apple juice in my hand.

My father winced but did not back down. "I made a marriage proposal for you to get married to the Lyman King."

"You can't make me," I said stubbornly, crossing my hands.

My father pressed the bridge of his nose in exasperation. "Sera, please, I don't have time for you to act like a child,"

I stood there, staring at him in defiance, challenging him. "I am not marrying one of them." I pressed tightly.

His eyes dropped; shoulders heavy from the weight of whatever he was carrying. 'Our debts are drowning us, Sera. The pack is divided. You are the only one who can save us now."

I looked up, arching my eyebrow at him in surprise. We were in debt? Of course, I know. I hissed through my teeth not buying into his pathetic excuse. "No!" I huffed at him. "You can't marry me off to a Lycan. We are werewolves! We're not even the same species! And to them of all people? They're monsters!"

Now sitting down on the edge of the sofa, he placed his hands on his knees. At only forty years old, he looked so much older. If he was given the same business opportunity as his business and pack rival; the silver fang pack, he would be in a better condition now. But the man before me was not only aged beyond his years but also broken. He had changed drastically after the death of mother, had given up on his business and left it to the careless hands of people he termed 'family'.

When he had mourned the loss of mother and decided it was time to take over the business, it was there that the problem started. The capital had been wasted, profits exhausted, and the company was now dwindling in massive debts. Ever since then he has been trying to generate income to settle it, but it seems we were just moving from fry pan to fire as the debts kept on increasing and spiraling out of control.

He looked at me with pleading eyes. "Believe me when I say I hate these ideas, but this is our only chance. You're our savior. The pack won't last longer if we don't ally with the lycans."

I shook my head firmly. "Get someone else to do it then, it is unclear to me why it has to be me."

"Need I remind you are the daughter of the Alpha of Violet pack, and the lycan kind grandfather himself demanded someone of notable status for the marriage."

"You say I am doing this for the pack, why don't you pick Clarissa or Juliet. They are my cousins and also of notable status. I don't see them forced into a marriage with lycans." I spat out, narrowing my gaze at him.

The word lycans burned hot on my tongue and filled me with a silent rage. I detested them just as much as they hated us. The werewolves and the lycans have been loggerheads since centuries ago, each trying to claim rights as the supreme. At first, it had started as a normal war between both species but the lycans took it to the edge. They conquered packs with nourishing lands and greater territory and took it for themselves.

Other packs surrendered as a result of the horrible things they witnessed and heard the lycans did. The werewolves were forced to live in squalor and act as if they were superior to us. And the lycan king who started it all was the same grandfather who wanted me to marry his son.

I'd heard plenty of Leone Night, the playboy prince made into king at the sudden death of his father - in a battle of a rogue attack - who was also a treacherous and wicked bastard, and was soon followed by the death of his wife and Leone's mother. That's a death I found more empathy than the father, king Roary. Not only because of my mother's death, but Queen Safira was known to visit violet packs bringing supplies and kind words to those who spoke to her.

I'd never met her but from the rumors, she was a contrast to her husband. And it is a quality I was sure Leone possessed as no changes had been made in the five months of his father's death. And to accept a marriage so soon after his mother's death showed me how much he didn't care for her.

Tears threatened at the back of my eyes, but I blinked them away. I thought of my younger sister, Freya. The bills, the warnings and constant reminders she has been sending back home. The threats she faced at school – my sister was going to be a drop out if her next fees weren't sent to her.

"I'll never forgive you," I whispered even though I knew he heard me.

I rose and stormed out of the shabbily and empty sitting room to my room. But my mind was already racing with so many thoughts. Was this truly the only way? Would I truly marry the lycan king to save the future of my sister and our right?

LEONE

"Grandfather, you can't be serious," I hissed, clenching my fists.

"You want the empire, Leone? Do you want your inheritance? And the wealth and properties? Then marry her. She's just a werewolf girl. It's perfect. In the sense of political, poetic, and it pisses off our enemies."

I narrowed my eyes." Fine. I'll marry her. But don't expect me to love her."

My grandfather smirked. "Love isn't required. Just a child."

I stormed out of grandfather's room feeling very perturbed. I could not argue with him on this decision. It was a lost cause. He knows time is running out for me. If I don't find a wife within a month, my inheritance would be passed on to my younger cousin, Gabriel.

There's a power struggle between the both of us because Gabriel is a week younger than me. Grandfather had made this rule because he thinks a woman would make a difference in my life. But he was mistaken. I can't lose my inheritance, I just can't, so I am forced to marry the girl grandfather choose for me - since I have been unable to provide one for myself – the werewolf girl, Seraphina.

"Are you certain you want to go through this?" Philip asked, his voice jolting me out of my thoughts, rubbing his neck nervously.

I wasn't concerned about the inheritance. But my cousin Gabriel... he would destroy what our family built.

I glared at him over my shoulder. "I don't have a choice."

"Of course you have a choice, we can just find you a substitute lycan girl. Grandfather can't force you to marry the werewolf if you provide one."

I continued glaring at him as I turned to him. "If you don't know, it was my mother's wish for me to marry a werewolf girl, and unite both species together. And it so happens to be grandfather's idea too."

"Your mother was a wonderful and kind woman. But I don't think she understood what she asked her son to do. And your grandfather just seems to be after the power he gets from this. It has never been done in history."

I shrugged carelessly. "I am not concerned by that at the moment. I want to fulfill my mother's wish and get my inheritance."

"Do you think Grandfather would stop at you just marrying the Werewolf girl to get your inheritance without providing an heir?"

"That's not a problem either. If he wants an heir, I will give him."

"Have you been to any of the werewolf packs?"

I arched an eyebrow at him, and then shook my head. "It's not necessary."

He flashed me a grin. "Of course it's not. Because we are Lycans. We don't need to go there, let alone marry one of them."

I sighed, turning around to face him. "Look I understand where you are heading as my friend and Beta. But you should know there's no changing my mind about this."

Philip nodded reluctantly. "You're just as stubborn as your late father."

"You can say that again and again." I smirked cockily.

He looked at me, worry evident on his face. "Just tell me you will be careful."

I scoffed. "I have nothing to be afraid of."

"You know, the council members are not happy about this arrangement. I can't think of lycans who would be happy if they knew their king would be marrying a werewolf."

I reiterated in a growl. "Grandfather will deal with the council members and the people. He made the arrangement, not me."

"I hope you know what you are getting into."

I slapped his shoulder and barked a laugh. "I do."

But even as I said, I felt doubts lingering at the back of my mind, but I pushed it away. I had one thing in mind which was marrying the Werewolf to get my inheritance.

And that was it!

Chapter 2

SERAPHINA

After a while of silence in my room and pacing back and forth, father finally left the sitting room, slamming the door behind him. We have never fought. I can't say he had been a softer version of parenting since my mother passed away, if anything, losing her had brought him closer to us- his girls.

Now I was left in my room, pondering the direction my life had taken from Alpha's daughter to the future wife of a monster. It didn't help when the pack members' plantation got looted and crops destroyed, they chose to blame father instead of the Lycans. And it was so frustrating seeing my father having to plead all over and over again to the people.

They'd been the bane of my existence since I could remember, having grown up in this world as it was. They're the very things I had grown to detest. Grandmother had told me they never existed when she was a child. They had lived their life in the shadows where they ought to belong.

But instead, when my grandparents were teens, they had stepped out of their hiding shadows in a large number and asserted dominance quickly over the werewolves. Of course, the werewolves didn't take this lightly and tried to fight back at first and declared war. But the Lycans were cunning and devils-in-wolfs-clothing. They gathered in large forces, took the werewolves by surprise and raided the packs. Destruction was the order as they mercilessly burnt, killed and raped the werewolves.

When the dust settled, the werewolf population had withered and nearly gone into extinction, and the packs which weren't caught in the fire gave up their lands and shuttled off to smaller towns and began re-building their packs.

We were offered electricity, sewage, phone lines and access to clean water, but that's where their kindness ended. Education was in the neighboring Lycan packs – racist occurs, but we were allowed to study in their schools. But we were left to grow our crops, rear our animals, process our foods, mend our clothing and do other things with the little resources we were able to lay our hands on. Eighty-five percent of the people were farmers with little education. Only the werewolves with funds were capable of sending their children to the lycan's exorbitant schools.

I looked at the wall clock above my bed, signifying the workday was ending for most. My father had called me to discuss something important in detail. I didn't know the considerable debate would be the end of my precious life. Why did he think marrying me to a Lycan would bring peace between both species? And clear off our debts? And him believing it'd be a safe union was annoying. Leone was a monster, a king to a race of monsters.

I grabbed my phone next to my bed and placed it on my ears, making sure my father wasn't on the other end of the line planning my arrangement. When the dial tone hit me, I quickly punched the numbers I knew by heart.

Freya answered after several rings, breathlessly. She must have run to catch the phone. "Hey, bigsisto," she rasped. I could picture the wide smile breaking on her lips.

I returned the smile at the receiver, even knowing fully well she couldn't see me. "Hey, little angel, what are you doing causing you to breathe this way? Have you made another catch? Is he cute? Does he ride you well?"

"No, sister, and don't start now, I am not in the mood." She half tutted and half-warned me.

A laugh escaped my lips before I could control myself. "Hmm." I hummed, taunting her the most.

She hissed, and I knew it was backed up by her rolling her eyes at me. "How are you? Are you alright? How's father? And the pack? Any news?"

I sighed and collapsed on the bed. "I don't know how to break this news to you, but.... I'm set to be married."

The silence at the end of the phone was deafening. Freya was my younger sister and the closest family to me now. Even though it's been years since she left the pack to study at one of the neighboring lycan pack's, and we barely see each other often...still she was my favorite family, and we catch up on gist through phone calls and spend more time with each other when she's home during holidays.

But Freya was a notorious playgirl. Most of our discussions range from her latest guys hit to her recent bed warmers to fashion sophistication and other girly stuff. Where she was a pro in those, I was but an inexperienced virginal big sister. She was my corruption and I love her for it.

I wonder if my virginity had been a topic of discussion with Leone or his grandfather. Had they demanded a virgin sacrifice? I shuddered terribly at the thought of my father discussing my sexual life.

Freya was already talking, I wheeled my mind and focused on what she was saying.

"- why would father do that to you without your consent and freewill? And who the hell is taking my sister?" She demanded furiously.

"Leone Night." I huffed in frustration.

"The Lycan monster?"

"The only one!" I nodded, despite Freya not being able to see me.

"Holy moly shit!' she exclaimed dramatically. "Is dad okay? Why would he do this to you?"

I released a breath. "Because he says the family is dwindling in debt, the packs are getting riled up and on the verge of dividing, his Alpha status is hanging in the balance. And he thinks it will bring unity among both species. Leone's grandfather insisted on a girl with notable status. Apparently, I am the notable and chosen sacrifice to the monsters."

"Ohhh my!" Her tone was sad as the weight of the proposal crushed on her. "I am so sorry, sister. I was going to inform you about the latest information on my education, but I guess it's not new anymore."

My heart sank at her tone, she was still receiving the threats from the school authorities. And for whatever reason, it was shattering my heart into pieces. I could not start thinking of the ridicule we would face if she returned to the pack without being a graduate.

"You don't have to be sorry Freya, it's not your fault. This is my cross as the first daughter, and I am going to carry it with smiles on my face. And you won't be dropping out of school, okay?"

"You will marry the Lycan monster?" She balked.

"Yes." I deadpanned. And then sighed. "Freya, I don't have a choice. I have to do this to clear the debts, keep you in school, uphold the stability of the pack and our rights." I paused thoughtfully. " I already played the card by trying to talk him out of it, but our hands are tied, we've got no other plan B. My fate is decided and this is it."

"Big sisto-"

"Don't do that, Freya, please. I need a bit of cheer here and not sullen faces and tone." I cut softly.

"You know what?" She reiterated in a sparkling tone. I swear I could feel her smirking.

"What?" I asked, raising my eyebrow at her.

"Fuck the Lycan monster and his decision. We are Houston's. We are not scared of the monster. Likewise, we won't respect them. Show them what you are made of. Kick the Mo*******ker ass. Make his life miserable. Make him regret deciding on the choice in the first place. Go Sera. You're my brave, big sisto." She freaking yelled in my ears, causing me to flinch at first, but then a slow smile spread across my lips.

This was undoubtedly the reason she was my favorite. Always the vibe bringer.

"Yes, trust me on this. I'm going to kick his a**." I grinned from ear to ear.

"That's the spirit baby," she cheered on.

"I am going to leave you to continue what you are doing while I sort this out with my father. The earlier we had this marriage, the better for me."

"I wish I could come, but I have exams. I promise to visit after I am done."

"I'll be longingly expecting your nasty stories. Ace all your papers. And take it easy on the guys." She barked a laugh but didn't deny the accusation.

"Bye, love you, bigsisto."

"Love you more." I smiled as the kine went dead.

I took a deep breath and rose, my heart was beating wildly, but I refused to back down. Not only that, but I sauntered out of the room and found my father in the kitchen cooking pasta and chicken sauce for dinner.

My eyes raked the kitchen, there were less food supplies than the last time. I sighed deeply. He was right. The crops were dying. Resources were becoming scarce. And if we hoped for the pack to last through the winter, something miraculous needed to happen. And it just happens something miraculous would be marrying the Lycan.

I looked at him, my shoulder sagged in defeat. "I'll do it."

He whirled around, dropping the knife, startled by my voice. And then he was looking at me with surprise. "What will you do?" His words were mixed with confusion.

I nodded slowly. "I am not happy about it. But I will do it, for Freya and the pack."

My father flung me off my feet, wrapping his hands around my waist. "Thank you, sweetheart." He smiled.

I let him hug me but didn't reciprocate it, even though he only meant well, but it didn't stop me from being mad at him. He could have requested for a violet daughter or the Houston's not his daughter. And he could have talked Grandfather Lucien out of it, but he didn't. But as fate would have it, I guess I did hold the most status in our pack.

My father pulled away, happiness glinting in his eyes. "I will inform Grandfather Lucien so he can fix a date for the wedding."

"Good." I replied, walking out behind him to the sitting room. "Does the pack have the resources for the wedding ceremony?"

My father waved a hand at me whilst fishing out a card from the desk, and grabbing the phone. "Grandfather Lucien will provide everything. He just needs our consent."

I rolled my eyes and returned to the kitchen to finish the cooking. I would rather not listen to the discussion between both parties.

"Sera dear?" Father called after a while.

"What's it?"

"Lucien has fixed the wedding date."

"Great!" I deadpanned.

"No! Sera, it's not great." I looked over my shoulder to find my father's face hooded in horror. "The wedding is tomorrow!"

Chapter 3

SERAPHINA

I stood in front of the mirror, staring right at my reflection. The wedding gown I wore felt heavy. Not just on my body, but on my heart. The fabric was soft, but I couldn't feel anything. I just stood there, staring at the girl in the mirror. She looked like me, but she wasn't smiling. She seemed like someone who was about to lose everything. She seemed like someone who was walking into a cage. She looked like a helpless and powerless person.

"I can't believe this is happening," I stared in complete disbelief. The look on the girl's face in the mirror is equally scared and skeptical.

I pressed my hands to the table near me as I tried to breathe. I shook my head and furiously blinked my eyes. I won't cry.

The door opened, and my cousin Clarissa walked in with a big smile. "You look so beautiful, Sera," she said, a smile slipping onto her lips as she walked to me.

I forced a small smile. "Do I?" I questioned. "I feel like I'm wearing chains."

Clarissa touched my shoulder. "It's going to be okay," she promised. "Just breathe. You're doing this for the pack and family."

I snorted, wrinkled my nose and narrowed my eyes. "I know. But it doesn't feel right. He won't like me. And I don't like them either."

Clarissa looked down, toying with her fingers, and she struggled for the right words to tell me. "He's a lycan, Sera. We have been bound to hate each other since centuries ago. It's not your fault, neither is it there's. But maybe he'll change. He might be different. You haven't met him."

"I don't believe in maybes anymore," I spun around and threw my arms vaguely in the air. "But thank you for being here."

Clarissa smiled and hugged me. "Let's get through today. One step at a time."

When it was time, my father came in. He looked at me, his eyes soft but firm. "It's time," he pushed through the door. "Are you ready?"

"Does it make any difference?" I retorted.

He sighed, but didn't offer me any more words. And I liked it that way.

I followed him out. My legs felt stiff. Each step felt like I was walking toward a cage. We got into the car and drove to the registry. The ride was quiet. No one said anything. Not my father. Not me.

When we arrived, there were people waiting. Werewolves on one side. Lycans on the other hand. They didn't mix, talk, all they did was stare at each other with cold eyes. What were both parties expecting when they're arranging the marriage? That the hostility between both species would be reduced? I saw the king, Leone, standing there, tall and distant.

My father led me inside the room. The walls were plain. The man who would register our marriage sat with a pen, waiting. We stood beside each other – me and Leone – but we didn't spare each other a glance to talk more of exchanging words.

"Sign here," the man snapped gruffly, shooting me a non-too-pleasant-look, and I knew instantly he was a Lycan.

Leone took the pen first without a word. He scribbled his name fast like he didn't care. Then I took the pen. My hand trembled, but I signed slowly. My name felt strange on the paper.

"There. It's done," the man announced, bitter dripping all over his voice. "You're now legally husband and wife."

I didn't feel married. I felt like I had been sold. I felt like this was a transaction, but what kind of marriage exchange is this? My gaze settled on Leone beside me, but he didn't even glance at me.

.....

Subsequently, they drove us to his estate. It was huge, cold, beautiful, but lifeless. The garden was wide. The lycans stood around, watching with cold and uncertain looks in their eyes. Father had gone back with the pack as soon as we signed the papers and left me alone. Their faces were blank, no one cheered, not even a clap. It was just silence and cold air.

We stood there like statues until a man called out, "the Ceremony's over."

Later, after I had eaten my fill in the kitchen, I was taken to a bedroom. I stepped inside and saw Leone already lying on the bed. His shirt was open. His arm was over his eyes. He reeked of alcohol.

I stood there, frozen. "Are you okay?" I asked, even though I knew I shouldn't care.

"Don't you dare talk to me, filthy werewolf." He sneered at me. The weight of his voice made me step back, horrified.

But I recovered immediately. "The feeling is mutual, Lycan." I gritted out.

He chuckled, but didn't say any more words.

Will I be spending the night with a drunken-out-for-my-blood-lycan-monster-in-form-of-a-king-and-husband?

I spruced up hurriedly and changed into a simple nightdress and quietly lay on the other side of the bed. I stared at the ceiling. I couldn't sleep.

Minutes passed. Maybe hours.

Leone suddenly got up and walked out. And where was he heading to in his drunken state? I waited for what felt like forever for any sounds but didn't get any.

Curiosity got the better part of me as I slid down the bed and slipped my feet into my flip-flop, and prowled after him. My feet made no sound on the marble floor, the hall was long and the lights were dim and everywhere was quiet. I walked slowly, my heart beating hard. What was I thinking following the king? What if he got mad at me? And does the unthinkable?

At the thought of all the things Leone could do to me, I decided to turn around and head back to the room. But then I heard something that made me stop. A woman moaning and a man whispering words. I moved closer to the half-open door at the end of the hallway.

I peeked in and my heart stopped.

There he was. Leone. In bed with another woman. Her legs wrapped around him and his hands on her waist. The woman's face was turned away, so I couldn't get a better picture. But I saw Leone's face, calm and focused. He wasn't drunk now. He was present with her.

I stepped back. My hand flew to my mouth. My whole body shook. My heart shattered into pieces I was unable to pick up.

He cheated on our wedding night. He didn't care.

"I love you so fucking much, dirty girl," Leone groaned against her lips – shocking me the more – and as he pushed his fingers into her again, she came for him, her pussy gripping him tightly and her moans of pleasure coloring the air.

While her body was still pulsing with pleasure, Leone yanked her upright, forcing her shaky legs to hold her in her heels as he pushed her face down over the bed

That was my chance, but I didn't see the face of the woman. I was supposed to leave immediately, but my feet felt rooted there as I watched them with widened eyes.

He yanked her panties down, not even bothering to remove them completely and leaving them around her ankles as he rolled his zipper open to free his solid length. He slid his cock into her still throbbing pussy.

The woman had the audacity to groan some garbled version of his name as he seated himself fully inside her.

"Do you like that?" he asked her roughly, his fingertips digging in as he took a firmer grip of her hips, and I knew at that moment that he was going to destroy her.

"Yes," the woman gasped, feeling so full of him that it was difficult to get the word out.

"Good girl." He spanked her again and I sucked in a sharp breath as he tugged his cock back out of her before slamming it in so hard that her hips smacked against the edge of the bed and a bite of pain reached her.

"Yes," the woman moaned loudly, rolling her eyes to the back of her head in pleasure.

Leone grunted as he thrust in and out of her like a savage.

"I love you, Leone," She mumbled, turning her head to seek his lips, and he gave them to me with a low growl.

"You'd better. Because there's no way in hell that I'm ever letting you go."

That was it! That was my sign! I turned around with a broken heart and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind me gently.

"Let's go for another ride, and Leone, I'm riding you." The woman called happily as I walked down the hallway.

And I swore that voice sounded familiar. Like someone I knew in my family, I knew. But with that haze in my mind, I couldn't think of anyone the voice belonged to.

I ran back to our room, shut the door and leaned against it. My knees gave out, and I slid down to the floor.

I wanted to scream. But I didn't. I didn't want anyone to hear. I would rather not be weak.

I crawled into the bed and pulled the blanket over my head. I closed my eyes and let the tears pour as I cried silently. The tears burned. My whole body trembled.

I felt tempted to interrupt them there and ask him why. My throat was itching to shout and rain curses at them. But what was the use?

Leone didn't marry me for love. This was a deal between father and Grandfather Lucien. It was an arranged marriage. Nothing more.

I stared at the wall.

Tomorrow, I will wake up and pretend nothing happened. I would smile in front of his people. And probably play the role of his wife. Because that's what I had agreed to do.

But in my heart, something had broken. And I didn't know if it could be fixed.

"I hope she was worth it," I whispered into the darkness.

"I hate this," I whispered. "I hate him."

But deep down, I didn't hate him. I hated myself more...for hoping. How stupid of me to think this marriage would turn into something. For thinking maybe he'd see me. For believing in my hopeless hope.

I cried until my throat hurt. The tears kept on pouring freely until my eyes got swollen. Then I stopped abruptly. I stared into the darkness swirling around me.

This was my life now. A wife to a man who didn't want me. A woman trapped in a house where love didn't live.