Chapter 3 HAVE A NICE AND BLISSFUL WEDDING NIGHT

HAVE A NICE AND BLISSFUL WEDDING NIGHT

Mildred's POV

The hall was too bright. Too loud. Too filled with eyes.

The chandeliers above showered golden light across the polished marble floors, making everything shimmer. Rows of nobles and Alphas sat in silence, their gazes fixed on me with excitement in their eyes. Laughter hummed faintly at the side, music swirled softly in the background, but none of it mattered. To me, this wasn't a mating Ceremony. It was an execution.

Every breath caught in my throat. My palms were damp and trembling where they clutched the folds of the gown someone else was meant to wear. I had dreamt once, as a foolish little girl, of walking down an aisle like this, of a groom waiting with warmth in his eyes. Not this. Not him. Not this prison of silk and jewels.

This isn't happening. Goddess, please. Tell me this isn't happening.

But it was.

I was about to marry a man who wasn't mine, a man who had cruelly rejected me. My mate. My King. My captor. This doesn't even make sense.

The elder's voice rang out. "My Lord, do you take Lady Ximena as your wife?"

Hayden didn't flinch. His jaw remained hard and his cold silver eyes didn't blink. Then he answered without hesitation, "I do."

I almost laug.ed out loud,. The sound of that was bitter and choking at the same time because only minutes ago, this same man had spat in my face that I was useless, weak, unworthy of him. Now here he was, binding me to him before the world as if I were something precious.

My lips pressed into a thin line, my shoulders stiff as I turned to face him fully.

"And do you, Lady Ximena, take Alpha Hayden to be your husband?"

The words stuck. My throat closed. My tongue tripped on itself.

"I...I...I..."

The silence dragged on too long. The guests shifted in their seats. Every eye burned into me, and I wanted to vanish.

The elder repeated the question, his voice sharper this time. "Do you, Lady Ximena, take Alpha Hayden to be your husband?"

Hayden's gripped me tighter. The moon knows I wanted to say No! As loud as possible or tear myself free from his grip, then run down the aisle and out of this cursed hall. But I couldn't. I knew what awaited me if I dared.

So I swallowed the scream. I forced the word past the knot in my throat.

"Yes," I blurted.

The sound didn't even feel like my own voice.

The elder nodded in satisfaction, placing rings in our hands. We exchanged them, cold metal slipping against my trembling fingers. And then came the words I dreaded.

"You may now kiss the bride."

My stomach dropped. No. No, no, no. Not this. Please note this.

I froze in a spot. I couldn't move at all but Hayden moved.

He put his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him like he owned me. He leaned closer, and I shut my eyes, waiting for the inevitable.

It never came.

Instead, he brushed his thumb against my mouth. Slowly. Deliberately. Then he lifted that same thumb to his own lips, pressed a kiss to it, and released me.

The crowd erupted in applause and cheers.

To them, it was clever. Perhaps even romantic. But to me, it was a blade carving deeper into my chest. I almost cried.

He wouldn't even kiss me.

The rejection was louder than any words he could have spoken. My heart burned and hollowed all at once.

You disgust him; my heart said to me.

"We now have our Alpha and Luna," the elder declared. And the crowd clapped and chewed excitedly but I felt nothing. No joy, no relief, just emptiness.

The reception soon blurred by and the ceremony dissolved into music and celebration. Servants carried trays piled high with roasted meats, glistening fruits, and pastries dusted with sugar, goblets overflowed with wine, and laughter rolled through the hall.

Hayden moved through it all with practiced ease, greeting nobles, exchanging words of power, accepting bows. His every gesture radiated authority, his every word sharpened with command. And I, his supposed queen, trailed at his side, I hated it but I was choiceless.

I couldn't eat or drink. My plate remained untouched, though the feast looked fit for gods. My stomach was twisted into knots, and the only thing I tasted was dread.

I caught sight of familiar faces and froze.

My family.

Father... Nevaeh... and Molly.

They stood among the crowd, heads bowed in reverence as they approached us. Molly wore that dress, wow! There was a needle at home yet they sent me out? My anger towards them doubled. They're the reason I am all dolled up for my own doom.

"Your Highness," they greeted Hayden first, voices dipped in respect. Then, to me.

"My Queen."

I instantly lost my breath. My father, who has never treated me like his own, bowed to me, and my stepmother, who saw me as her worst nightmare, lowered her head to me as well. Even Molly, my tormentor, smiled sweetly at me.

"You look absolutely startling, my queen," she giggled, her eyes flicking over me in disbelief. Then her smile faltered.

Her eyes narrowed.

"You... Millie?"

My heart leaped.

I can't be caught. Alpha Hayden would kill me. I was still struggling with what to say next and Hayden reacted instantly.

He slid his hand into mine and pulled me closer, gently.

"Come, honey," he said smoothly. "You should greet the other guests."

He didn't wait for my reply. He tugged me away, leaving Molly's puzzled eyes behind.

When we were far enough, his voice dropped, sharp. "Who are they?"

"My... my family," I whispered.

"Your father. He's an Alpha?"

I shook my head.

"I see." His expression darkened unreadably.

"We must be careful," he said finally. "From this moment on, you are Ximena. No one must suspect otherwise."

I wanted to argue. To scream. To say, I'm Mildred, not her. I can't be her. But the words lodged in my throat. I simply nodded.

If they all believe I'm a queen... maybe I can use this. Maybe, for once, I have the upper hand.

"Tomorrow a stylist will come," he added curtly. "Change your hair. Change your eyes. There must be no doubt."

"Yes, Your Highn..."

"It's Hayden," he cut me off, pressing a glass of juice into my hands.

The glass was cold, condensation dampening my fingers. I hadn't realized how parched my throat was until I drank greedily.

"Thank you," I mumbled.

Before I could say more, a new voice broke through.

"Hayden!"A woman called out, walking towards us and staring at me as though she knew me. Maybe Ximena.

"The latest groom in town," she teased, grinning at him. Then her gaze flicked to me. "Ximena."

I stiffened under her stare.

"I'm sorry I missed the ceremony," she said quickly.

"It's fine," Hayden replied, his voice even, almost warm.

Who was she?

Her attention returned to me. "Mind if I borrow your bride for a moment?"

Hayden hesitated, then nodded.

She didn't wait. She held me by the hand and gently dragged me out of the crowd.

The moment we were out of sight, she gripped me tighter. She dragged me to a corner as her eyes flashed with anger.

The sweetness vanished.

Her face hardened into fury. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Her voice was low, venomous, and dangerous.

"I..." My words stumbled. I didn't know what to say.

"Don't play dumb with me." Her nails dug into my wrist before she shoved me back. "I told you to disappear. To stay far away. And now you show up here? In a wedding gown?"

Her lips twisted. "What the hell are you thinking, Ximena? Or should I say..." She leaned closer, her voice dropping into a whisper. "...Genevieve?"

Genevieve?

I blinked rapidly, confusion flooding me.

Ximena. Genevieve. Who the hell are you people? And why does everyone think I'm you?

My lips parted, but no words came. My chest heaved, my body trembling.

The woman's glare sharpened. "Well? Cat got your tongue?"

Her fury burned into me, and for the first time tonight, the fear wasn't just of Hayden. It was of her too. Whoever she was, she knew something.

Something I obviously didn't know.

And if I couldn't figure it out soon... I might end up in a bigger mess.

"I'm talking to you!!" She yelled and she gripped my hand.

"Let me go.." I slowly muttered. I was on eggshells here, I had no idea about her name or identity, and Hayden, who was supposed to protect me, just let me go with her. When he knew I didn't know her.

"I see you're growing wings." She scoffed as she slowly let go of my hand.

"Know that I'm watching you, Ximena. Divorce Hayden immediately or stick to our plan and get out of here. You have just 72 hours to do so, or I'm going to tell Hayden your little, dirty secret.." she threatened as she slowly let go of my hand.

"Now have a nice day," she uttered with pure sarcasm, and she walked away.

She hated me. No, Ximena, I could see it in her eyes and she wanted to get rid of her.

They also shared a secret, a secret which she used in threatening Ximena, who I think was hiding something huge and only she knew of it, not even Hayden.

Now I was caught in the middle of it all.

I sucked in a deep breath, and I slowly walked to Hayden, who had just finished talking to a guest.

"What did Marcella say to you?" He asked, and I immediately guessed that Marcella was the rude lady.

"Nothing.." I replied, as I slowly rubbed my sore arm as she had held me so tight.

I possessed no wolf, and I healed so slowly. Sometimes, I healed like a normal human.

"I'll send a file to you tomorrow. It contains everything you need to know about me and the people around me," he informed me as I slowly shook my head while I contemplated whether I should tell him about Marcella and what she said. The threat also.

"How much do I look like Ximena?" I found myself asking.

I was curious; my own parents didn't recognize me as their daughter, and Molly barely recognized me, regardless of the fact that she stood so close to me.

"Very much. The only difference between you two is your features.." he replied as our eyes met.

"And your..." his voice trailed off as he held himself back from saying something.

"My?" I raised a brow at him.

"Nothing.." he looked away from me and took a sip from the wine he was drinking.

I sat on the bed in my room waiting for Hayden.

The maid had already prepared me for him, for our first night.

I was sure nothing was going to happen as he didn't even kiss me.

The minutes ticked by, each one seeming to last an eternity. I was filled with anxiety, unsure of what would happen next. I had no idea what to expect from my new husband, or what he would expect from me. I just wanted to be anywhere but here, with him.

I was still lost in my thoughts when the door opened and Hayden walked in.

"Good day, Your Highness.." I quickly stood up to greet him, not forgetting my manners.

He still had not changed clothes.

"I told you to drop all formalities or does your hearing not work well?" He asked, raising his voice at me.

"I'm sorry.." I muttered softly.

"Keep your apology to yourself!" he snapped at me, running his hands through his hair as he walked over to sit in a chair while I remained standing.

He brought out a cigarette, which he lit and began to smoke.

"Don't expect anything from this bullshit called marriage," he deadpanned, and I only shook my head slowly.

"No one must know that you're not Ximena. Got it?"

"Yes, I do.." I replied in a low tone.

I feared Hayden a lot, his charisma was exceptional. He was a domineering man and a scary Alpha.

"You're not Mildred. Make sure to stay away from your family. Don't get close to any of them to avoid suspicions.." he pointed out, laying out rules for me.

I even had no plans of going near those people I called family.

"What if Ximena shows up?" I asked curiously. That would be a problem, right?

"That's my problem to deal with, not yours. Just do what you are asked!" He fired at me, obviously trying to tell me not to overstep my boundaries.

"The elders and people are going to expect so much from us. So whenever we're around them. Act like things are cool between us and please stay away from those cunning old men.." he warned.

He didn't hide his dislike for the elders. He just really wanted to get rid of them, If he could go as far as getting married to a woman he didn't like.

I felt a chill run down my spine at his words. I had known that there was something not quite right about this marriage, but I hadn't realized how deep the tension between Hayden and the elders went. What was the history there? What had happened to cause such a rift? And why had he married me, if he didn't like me?

"I will do as you ask," I responded, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Good.."

"Don't expect anything from me. No love, no affection. Nothing. You still disgust me. Who would have believed the moon goddess would curse me with a mate like you? Am I that terrible? I've always had expectations ... real ones." he clicked his tongue as he shook his head.

"I won't.." I replied obediently.

"That's better." He exhaled a stream of smoke, the bitter scent filling the room. "As long as you don't make mistakes, we won't have a problem."

"I guess we're done here.." he announced.

"Have a nice and blissful wedding night.." he scoffed sarcastically, walking out of the room as he slammed the door after him, loudly, as if pouring his anger on the poor door.