Chapter 172
April’s POV
I’m dragged into the wedding hall, as I refuse to walk. Every step of the guards echoes in my ears and it’s like the ticking of a clocking that’s counting down to my doom. They shove me roughly to stand beside Roland, the cold weight of the restraints bite into my skin. My eyes snap to his face, and I turn my defiance on him, then I look back to my parents as they are seated watching the horrors they have forced on me with cruel determination.
Roland leans in slightly, and his voice drips with mockery. “Is this really necessary?” he asks, nodding toward the tape muffling my screams. His eyes gleam with satisfaction, as if my silence is a trophy already won. I try swearing at him, try to do anything to fight back against this.
My father steps forward, voice steady and cold. “She won’t agree, so we proceed without her consent. As her father and Alpha, I speak for her.” His words and the power they carry hang heavy in the room and it feels suffocating and absolute.
I begin to thrash violently, fury and fear blend into a scream that is silenced by the tape. I spit insults, and curse them all, clawing at the guard who grabs my hands. My pleas and rage bounce off the stone walls, and is ignored by every single person in this room.
This can’t be happening. I beg the man before me with pleading eyes, desperate for even a shred of mercy. But he speaks like this is just another day, another ceremony, devoid of care that I’m bound and silenced, stripped of choice.
This is wrong, how can he not see that! How can he talk with such a calm tone, like this isn’t happening, like he’s not about to marry me to some rogue without my actual approval?
“We are gathered here,” he announces, voice booming with unnatural cheer, “to witness the wedding of Roland and April. Not only will they join in marriage, but they shall be mates as well.”
No! I jerk and writhe, the muffled sound strangled by the tape, tears spilling freely as hopelessness curls in my chest. My father nods solemnly, sealing my fate with cold approval. The ceremony marches on, unyielding and merciless.
My body tremvles and I watch, powerless with no way to stop what unfolds. Regrets begins to gnaw at me, and I consider the fact that maybe I should have told Eryx everything sooner. Maybe I should have forced his fathers hand myself, but I believed he would find a way, that time would bring
understanding. Now I see the cruel reality of waiting.
When it’s done, Roland turns to me with a victorious smile. “You’re mine now,” he says low and possessive.
1
Shaking my head, the desperation burns hotter than ever. This isn’t over, it can’t be done, this can’t be how my story ends, I struggle against the restraints but he pulls me closer, his hands firm and possessive, I can’t get free. I’m caught in a nigtmare that feels endless.
The words hang heavy in the air, cold and final. “I now declare you husband and wife,” the officiant intones, his voice echoing through the hall like a
death knell.
There’s a murmur that ripples through the assembled pack members, but I barely hear it, my world narrows to the suffocating weight of the bindings and the tape that’s muffling my silent screams. The impossible truth settles like ice in my veins. Before the celebrations can begin, I gather every ounce of strength that I’ve got left and I bolt toward the heavy oak doors.
Panic fuels my frantics and quick steps as I push against the guards who move to block my path, but they are relentless, stronger and faster than me. Rough hands seize me and grip my arms, and begin to drag me back.
Crying harder my body tries to escape and I feel Roland pull me toward him with ease. His lips brush my ear as a wicked smirk plays on his lips. His voice is low and dangerous but enough to cut through the chaos.
“Your father was kind enough to let me use one of his cars and drivers to take you home,” he whispers, voice thick with dark promise. “That gives me time… to remove that pesky mark from your neck.”
Tears fall harder now, burning trails down my cheeks as I sob, desperate and broken. I keep thrashing even though it doesn’t help, his arm wraps around me, my back pushes against his back. I use the position to claw at his chest, trying to hurt him, but his grip only seems to tighten on ine. I watch the cas door open, and he pushes me into the back seat, Roland climbs in with me and the sound of the door slamming behind him is like the final call at the battle. The finality of the situation crushes down on me and kills whatever little hope that I had. It’s gone now.
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Chapter 172
There’s no hope left for me to cling to, no story that I can tell myself to convince myself that this will be fine and that I can escape. There’s no way Eryx
can save me, because I won’t be here, so he won’t be able to just find me.
My body shakes and I curl into myself and let the tears roll down my face, I can’t do much with my arms tied and my wolf bound. I’m weak, as weak as a human right now. Why did this have to happen to me?
My mark throbs and it’s like a painful reminder of what I’m about to lose, of the happiness I had hoped would save me, but is now gone and won’t ever be coming back.
