Chapter 11 Gwen

• The days passed by in haste that in the blink of an eye, the wedding day arrived.
• These days I hardly know what I am doing. My life seem to be spiralling out of course, a course I didn't have any control over.
• From the second day, just as Abigail informed me, preparations commenced and because it was a fast wedding, the normal pace required to plan the wedding was skipped. Even the wedding planners had to live in the palace so that they don't have to leave as they had to work overnight to get everything to be successful on the Dday.
• I was excited but mostly frightened. The former was because I was getting married to my mate as I have always dreamt of, but on the other hand, it wasn't to the love of my life, albeit, to a man who I haven't seen with my two eyes since that very day he promised to wreck hell on my life.
• Still, I couldn't back out now. I was a pussy, afraid to go back to my people but rather accept every nonsense that would be hurled at my face in this place where I don't belong.
• "Hurry with the flowers, Kora, make sure you have the black soot rubbed all over her legs and her hands," My mother-in-law commanded my new maid who grumbled a reply and stood and went to retrieve something as I continued darting blankly at my braided hair from the mirror.
• I was beautiful nonetheless still felt unfulfilled.
• "My dear child." I looked at the woman who hardly knew me but hasn't stopped showing me love since I came here. "Don't worry about my son. After today, he will have no choice but to fall under your enchantment. Just do all that I said to you." She leaned down and looked at me from the mirror, her resolute eyes holding me down. "Men are not as hard as the make us think." She was rubbing my arms,"...you just need to know his weakness and use it. Don't yield to the temptation of lashing back when he tries to test your patience."
• I nodded and fought back the tears in my eyes.
• Many hours later as evening finally came, I emerged from the decorated car that brought me to a hall somewhere in the city where the wedding would hold and walked down the carpets laid for me to walk to my husband-to-be as he stood impeccably dressed in a mourning black suit with no sign on his face to show happiness. My heart thumped, my mouth drying up as my head asked me to do the right thing.
• However, I'm a stubborn woman, after all, so I finished what I started.
• "Y-yes, I do," I responded after the shaman, my eyes not wavering from my husband, then hesitated before I went on with my vow. "I will worship you with my soul and spirit until death do us apart. Goddess help me," I added under my breath, earning a sharp look from the old shaman before he looked away and recovered a ring from his servant which he handed me and I slid into the long fingers of my mate.
• Ashton snatched his hand back and without waiting to profess his vow to me, took the ring from the shaman, took my finger and thrust it with such force my finger hurt. I hissed in pain and dropped my hand, the tears finally surfacing.
• Everywhere was quiet, people obviously wondering why he was acting that cruel to me. Today was supposed to be our happiest day. Despite our differences.
• "In the name of the goddess of Abyshama, I declare this union blessed and fruitful and the King and his Queen many years of happiness. And So shall it be. You may kiss your mate." At the words from the shaman, my husband's chest rumbled with a loud growl of objection. He turned and walked out of the hall, not caring one bit that I was still standing there.
• "Ashton!" His mother rose from the pew and ran after him, and so did his sister.
• I was standing there, my body frozen like a lake, unable to look elsewhere but at his back as he left the gathering and soon, I saw a black car whizz away. My mate is gone, leaving me at the altar.
• That was when the tears came. I tried to will them back but I just couldn't bear the shame. I fell to my knees and finally let out all the agony I have been feeling since the day I left my pack.
• I thought today will be my day. I had waited for this all my life, the day when my parents will give me away to my mate. It wasn't supposed to be like this.
• Someone help my back. "A Queen doesn't lose her serenity in public before the people she rules." My mother-in-law berated me. "Rise, let's go. You have to prepare for the night ritual."
• My teary eyes eventually skid to her. "Night ritual?" I stood and followed her amid the judging sounds of gossip from everyone around us, throwing curious gazes but not bold enough to come close.
• "This is just the beginning, my dear. Your husband has to prove to his people that he married you a virgin and that he will fulfil his expectations of producing an heir." She helped me into the open car and came after me.
• The front door slammed close and when I looked up in alarm as a result of what she said, I met the sympathetic face of Abigail. I looked away. "You are kidding, right?" I broke out into hysterical laughter. They looked at me like I have grown horns. "Your son despises me. How do you think he will agree to touch me?"
• "He has no choice. It's the only way the people will accept your marriage."
• I fell back on the leather couch, my hands falling away from my white gown. This is fucked up. What have I gotten myself into? It all seem like a nightmare. An endless nightmare.
• When the car stopped in front of the palatial building and the doors flew open, the Queen mother hurried into the house while I was left with Abigail who smiled and assisted me out. "Don't worry, I am on your side." She said in comfort.
• "You hate me."
• "I wish..." She sighed as we ambled into the house crowded with several people that it scared me. As they noticed me, I could feel their entire eyes on me. In abject pity. Some in resentment.
• I proceeded upstairs with my head held down, wishing to wake up soon in my soft bed at home and realize everything that has happened so far was indeed a bad dream.
• "Where are we going?" I asked in a panic, my brows patched at the top of my hairline.
• "Your new chamber."
• "But_"
• "You have to share the same chamber with your mate henceforth, Gwen. That's what traditions demand."
• I gulped back fear and tightened my palms as we reached the front of the room and she pushed the door open to an empty space.
• She stopped at the door and held me by the shoulders to look at her. "My brother is not all that a bad person. He is one of the kindest people I know." She slouched as her eyes focused ahead of me in contemplation. "It's just that he-he was hurt badly by someone. Just do whatever he ask you. Don't fight him."
• I nodded once and entered the room, not caring to hear what else she had to say. I am the one being hurt, yet, everyone keeps telling me he is this, he is that. What happens to me? I was hurt too. No one has cared to ask how I came to be here in the first place. Just what to do to please that asshole called my mate!
• I tore off the disgusting white gown which seemed cursed to me now than a blessing. When I was in nothing but my pant and bra, I went to fall on the bed in agony to wait for my dear husband.
• What else could he do more than what he did to me back there?
• …