Chapter 2 Wedding

William's dark eyebrows furrowed as he grumbled his response in annoyance. Doris used her aching hands to attempt to cover herself as she took in his rogue appearance.

The top of his white shirt was unbuttoned enough to show his chest, she'd never seen royalty so unkept before. It wasn't nearly as shocking as what he had just done to her despite his nasty reputation.

She could see the pain written across his features as he rubbed his temples. It was obvious he drank more than he should have on a night like this. Anger replaced the heat inside her, she swallowed it down like she always had to do when royalty mistreated her.

"Prince William!" Mr. Carson appeared, out of breath and wide eyed with sweat glistened on his brow. He spared one glance at her torn dress several feet away from her but said nothing as he faced Prince William. It was as if he didn't see her at all.

"My apologies, your highness. We've been looking everywhere—I've been sent to retrieve you for the Alpha King. He insists on seeing you at once."

Prince William stared at Mr. Carson, the man seemed to shrink beneath his gaze as each second passed until he finally turned away. The prince sat in his own misery once the rest of the servants fled the area—but not too far.

Seizing the opportunity that Prince William released her and turned around, Doris picked up her torn dress and slunk away. William looked at her receding figure with contemplative interest, but he didn't mean to get her back.

He spared one last glance at the ripped maid uniform before he stood once more and followed the trail back to the castle.

He didn't once ask what the girl's name was.

--

As William walked into the palace, the hall fell into an awkward silence. The lively music stopped and the wedding ceremony was interrupted momentarily. His rude behavior didn't match his noble status. All the royalties and lords were staring at him.

Scorn, ridicule, and fear hid in their eyes. In low voices, they discussed the rumors about him, and even his mother. He was not Luna Queen Cara's son. As Luna Queen Cara gave birth to the crown prince Martin and the second prince Jack, Alpha King Charles met his fated mate, William's birth mother.

However, his mother died after giving birth to William and rumors said that Luna Queen Cara drugged her out of jealousy. And the truth is... God knows that! Ignoring others' gazes, William loosened his tie and rolled his sleeves up, which made him look undignified. He didn't like wearing black tailcoats.

If weren't for Mr. Carson, he would wear his pajamas to attend the ceremony. He grabbed a glass of whiskey from the passing servant and walked toward the stage. Seeing that William approaching, Lady Grace Reilly couldn't help clenching the bouquet in her hand. Several minutes ago, she was glad that William was absent, then she could finish her wedding ceremony smoothly.

As soon as he showed up, the happiness in Grace's heart was replaced by nervousness and worry. As the distant niece of Luna Queen, she was perhaps the most beautiful creature in the entire kingdom. Not a single soul came close to her beauty, werewolf or human, they simply couldn't compare. She believes every male creature would fall for her at the first sight of her. When she was a little girl, she was dreamed of climbing onto the peak of power someday.

But the first time she came to visit Luna Queen Cara, she happened to meet Prince William and they fell in love soon. It could be a perfect romantic story. Unexpectedly, Luna Queen Cara arranged for Grace to get married to Crown Prince, Martin. To be the Crown Consort, Grace dumped William and decided to marry Martin without hesitation. That's why William got so drunk tonight. His beloved girl now becomes his sister-in-law.

Alpha King Charles didn't know what happened between them. Seeing William finally showed up, he peeked at the royalty members from the Warrior Reilly Pack sighed in relief. Even if he was the Alpha, Charles dared not to provoke them. He stepped forward and patted on William's shoulder, "William, you are late. You should drink a toast to your brother and his bride."

"His bride?" Cruelness showed clearly in William's tone, which made Grace shiver uneasily, "Martin, I apologized for being late for your wedding." As he said these, William didn't take a glance at Grace as if he didn't know her at all. Once finishing his words, he drank the wine in his glass in one gulp then left, without saluting to anyone.

"What a rude bastard!" Luna Queen Cara frowned. As the unpleasant interlude finished, the wedding continued and everything was in a cordial and harmonious atmosphere.

--

Doris stumbled along in the dark, heading to the servants' quarters. Luckily, all the servants were busy working at the party, so no one saw her running in the hallway, with only a piece of torn maid's uniform covering her chest.

She rushed into her bedroom, slammed the door, and bounced into the bathtub. She needs to take a bath RIGHT NOW! She soaked herself in the cold water, trying to forget what happened to her just now. Doris bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying at the thought of Prince William.

Her skin still burned from his hands, she could still feel his lips on her neck and she felt… ruined. On the inside and outside. Never before had she been touched in such a way, she still felt the shame like a fire inside her that refused to be put out. Damn it, get out of her mind! Please! "Doris!" 　　

The bathroom door slammed opened and Doris barely had the chance to cover herself before the shouting continued. 　　

"Where on earth have you been all night? Do you even realize how many miles I walked searching for you-" Beth held her tongue when she took in the sight of Doris shivering. A small sense of relief bloomed inside Doris to see her best friend stand before her, the look of anger melted off her roommates features and formed into concern. "What-why are you bathing now? The water must be freezing!" 　　

Beth stepped closer, Doris shakily stepped out of the tub entirely and tried to ignore the water that dripped from her skin as she tied her towel around her. It formed a puddle at her feet, one she would have to clean later.

What a ridiculous thing to worry about after what happened to her last night. 　　Absently, she touched her long brown hair and made sure it still covered the mark on her neck from Beth's view. 　　"I felt…" Doris hesitated, her voice sounded hollow to her own ears. Numb. "Tainted." 　　

"Tainted?" Beth's brows furrowed.

"Doris…what happened?" 　　

"I…" Her voice cracked, Doris almost flinched from the sound. She couldn't possibly tell anyone what happened yet. The words burned on her tongue as if they were poison, she closed her eyes and tried to banish the images of the night before from her mind. 　　

"Are you feeling alright? Your voice is all hoarse and scratchy." Beth grabbed another towel to soak up the puddle at her feet. "I told you never to take a cold bath, Doris!" 　　

Doris watched her friend clean the water that dripped from her skin. Her throat hurt, she could barely speak, she knew it was because she'd been up crying all night.

She couldn't have just returned to her room after what Prince William did, Doris hid herself away and let her emotions take over every ounce of her. She cried until she choked, until she couldn't breathe. It didn't make anything better, it only left her empty and disconnected from everything around her.

"It's fine, poor girl." Beth gave her a big hug but still can't warm her.