Seraphina's POV
After our success on the battlefield, I became a role model. Most of the maids looked up to me and came to me for advice most time.
I was fully accepted.
I trained most of them in the courtyard most times and this made me busy. I stayed in a different chamber but close to him. I had no time for Lorien and I was glad about that.
He was merely a distraction.
I was just enjoying my life now. Things were looking fine, except for one. The queen's mother. I thought about her and her evil plans every day. I should find someone to talk to, but I can't confide in anyone.
I could tell anyone that she is bent on killing me but might get executed for the second time, I can't ruin my new life.
Lorien was busy, busy setting up new defenses and controlling fallen buildings back. He had no time for trials or me, I missed him.
I heaved a sigh and got up, picking my sword.
"Our to-be Queen."
I looked back and saw Alistair coming forward in his royal attire.
I was not dressed properly, my long hair hung loose over my bare shoulders. My gown was off-shoulder and quite revealing at the front, showing my cleavage.
I brought my hair to my chest and bowed politely.
"Prince Alistair, welcome."
"The queen should never bow to anyone except the alpha, Seraphina." He replied, his hands folded to his back.
I raised my head, wondering what brought the prince to my front.
"Are you happy with my brother? Seraphina?" He said that did not sound like a question.
"Well…yes, I mean he's the Alpha…
"You love him because he's the Alpha?" He inquired, staring into my eyes.
I did not ever think I'd have a conversation like this with Alistair. He was the Alpha's brother, he had no right to know about my relationship with Lorien.
Nevertheless, was he sent? By Lorien?
"I'm bounded to the Alpha, my prince. Whether I like it or not, I must love him." I replied, wondering if that sounded genuine.
"You seem loyal, will you leave this palace with me if I ask you to?" He asked seriously.
Leave? This rich abode?
Even though my enemies tried to assassinate me, I love it here. The food, the respect, everything was good. Why would I leave all this and run away with a man I did not even know?
The people in the era were so weird.
"I will take that as a joke." I retorted and gave him a light smile.
"Am I interrupting something?"
The baritone voice said behind me.
I turned and bowed to Lorien.
"Not at all, My king; I was amusing her with my jokes." He replied as he bowed. "I'll leave now, take care, Seraphina." He added as he gave me a longing glance.
I nodded and he walked away, leaving me and Lorien.
"I want to get married."
My heart skipped a beat as the words echoed in my head over and over, married?
It was not me…
"To you." He added as his hands brushed my long hair from my chest to the back. My cleavage became visible to him and he feasted his eyes on it.
"Married?…me…how?" I stuttered softly.
"You don't have the right to object, all you have to do is dress up and get ready to be marked by me." He muttered, his eyes still glued to my chest. "You have a beautiful…skin."
"What are you saying, Lo… Alpha." I corrected myself, I don't want to face his wrath.
"Why marriage? Why me? Why now?"
I had so many questions to ask, this is a forced decision. Why is he so arrogant and decisive?
He clapped his hands twice and some maids rushed from his back to mine. He was not joking, I was going to get married to the Alpha!
"Dress her up for tomorrow, dress her up in a way she can never forget." He said authoritatively and the maids nodded.
I shivered, wondering what fate I had.
~~~~~~
I froze at the altar, my mind and heart bore hatred.
Lorien eyes were on me, they never moved from me. He had announced me as his queen. How does one force a woman into a marriage?
The ceremony was short but lively, the priest's words meant nothing to me. I am just a little tool used to secure his power as the Alpha.
Lorien's hand touched mine gently and we exchanged our vows, my heart threatened by his vows.
I was furious but hid my feelings.
The people looked up to me as their rightful queen, I had to perform the duties of a queen.
The reception swarmed with kings, queens, and nobles. I was blessed with precious gifts. If only I married the man I love…. I'd be so excited and free.
I was exchanging pleasantries when the queen Lorien saved the other day showed up. I resent her.
I heard Lorien got engaged to her and rejected her as soon as he got tired of her. She looked so elegant and pretty.
"Congratulations on your marriage, Lorien and Seraphina," she said as she smiled.
"Thank you, Isolde," Lorien replied, embracing her.
I could not stand both of them and said silently. "I don't feel well, Lorien. I'll take my leave." I left immediately.
~~~~~
The moon came out to grace our wedding tonight, I thought.
I smiled but my smile faded as I remembered that Lorien was going to mark me. He was going to make love to me. My breath shrudded at this thought.
I needed air, I've never done this before.
Not sure about Seraphina though.
Because of my paralyzed legs, I found it difficult to make friends, and guys simply avoided me.
Lorien was the first to kiss me and made me feel whole as a woman with just a kiss. I wondered how it would feel if we made love.
I shook off the thoughts.
I was just a pawn in his game, nothing more, nothing less.
He just got married to me to keep his authority in check.
I heaved a sigh and paced around the room.
"Something on your mind?" The voice asked as the door closed.
I could hear him lock it, swiftly.
"Nothing," I replied, my lips trembling.
"You're a queen now, you should not worry too much." He said, taking his attire off.
I quickly turned my back to him and scanned the area to find something to do.
"Don't imagine too much, I won't touch you." He added affirmatively.
I became relieved and, at the same time,e, disappointed. I never thought he could make a decision not to touch me. I got on the bed and hid under the blanket, my back still turned to him.
Suddenly, I felt an arm around my waist under the blanket; it was quick.
I opened my mouth to speak,ak but the figure got on top of me; I became speechless as our gaze locked. My heart started racing faster, my head reeling.
He was undressed from his head to waist, his body huge and strong. His biceps took my breath away as I stared at them.
"What are you doing, Alpha? You promised not to touch me." I said innocently, what a shrewd man!
I tried to raise my arms to push him but he pinned them back atop my head, overpowering me.
"I changed my mind, but I never promised not to touch you." He. Retorted, his voice low.
"What do you want?" I whispered, trying my best not to give in.
"You. I've always admired your body, its curves and glow. You're so beautiful." He murmured, his breath teasing my neck as he brought his mouth close to the area.
"Is that why you married me?"
"No questions, Seraphina; all you have to do is submit yourself." He said and bit my neck hard.
"I….
"Submit yourself!" He growled,d biting my neck harder; I shrudded and let out a cry. He would not stop as his tongue traveled down to my cleavage.
I gasped.
" I submit myself!" I announced as I stopped resisting; we were already married. Whether he loved me or not did not make a difference. My body is his.
"That's my queen." He replied, undoing my dress with his right hand while the other hand held my arms together in place.
"I have not done this before…
"I don't care." He interrupted and finally saw my bare chest.
I became ashamed, guilt enveloped me. His fingers trailed down my stomach, my heart skipped a beat.
My body responded to his possessive touch, I quivered gently.
Suddenly his gentle touch became rough as he caressed my breasts. I was not used to this kind of tough touch. My body was excited but I could not take it anymore.
I let out a cry.
He immediately stopped and embraced me. "I'm sorry, I won't mark you." He whispered into my ear softly.
I did not know what to say, but I was relieved. This was new to me, and it was too overwhelming. I wonder if it was because I blurted out a cry that was the reason he released me. When did the Alpha start having mercy?
"I wanted to see if you had done this before, any woman that made love with another man before getting married to the alpha will be beheaded."
He explained as he rolled to my side and used the blanket to cover me up.
"So what made you believe me?" I asked gently Pulling the blanket to cover my chest.
"I have not trusted you, I just decided not to mark you yet. You resisted, which I dislike; whenever you're ready to submit yourself to me…I'll start trusting you." He said as he turned to face the other side.
"You can't just tell me to submit myself, you have to earn my body. I am a woman…
"And I am the Alpha!." He yelled at me and looked back at me. " I can have anything I want with you right now, on this bed! You can't stop me. I just want you to come to me yourself and surrender your body to me."
I immediately kept quiet and faced the other side of the bed, tears dropped from my eyes.
~~~~~~
Lorien's POV
I knew I replied harshly the other day.
Since our wedding night, Seraphina distanced herself from me. We had to perform other activities to keep the marriage intact but she would not even look me in the face.
I knew I acted wrong but why would I apologize? She was adamant, too adamant.
Days went by, and I finally found the enemy that poisoned me; he was part of the rival that attacked my empire.
They wanted me weak so they'd raid my kingdom and gain victory but the plan failed as Seraphina used her medical skills to revive me.
I spent most time alone, missing her.
Missing our moments together, wanting her.
Most time I go to check up on her, she is either training the maids or spending quality time with them. She became so loved and respected.
She was supposed to be spending that quality time with me. I knew I had wronged her, but I was still her Alpha.
I glanced far away at a grown tree, it looked bountiful.
I wanted to win Seraphina's heart, but I knew I had to. I suddenly had an idea.
~~~~~~
Seraphina's POV
A week had passed but I had flowers delivered to me daily.
Each had its one uniqueness and beauty. I wondered why he kept sending them to me, maybe he wanted to prove to his people that he was a good husband.
I scoffed. What good husband?
He wanted to look good in public to people but he is bad to his wife in private.
I got up from my bed and walked up to the shining rose; it was so full of life. I heard the door opened.
"Why have you been ignoring me?" I heard the voice growling from the door.
"I did not ignore you," I replied, not ready for a conversation with him.
He closed the door behind him and walked into my front.
"You can be with anyone in the castle but your husband?"
I looked at him, his gaze was deadly.
"So you now accept yourself as my husband?" I asked, mockingly.
"Don't tease me, Seraphina. We are married." He stated coldly.
"I know we're married and you did that to feed your ego, to ascertain your position as the Alpha. Let me be, Lorien." I said and walked to my bed but a strong hand pushed me to the nearby wall. I almost hit my face, but he immediately turned me to him, which made my back hit the wall.
I looked up at him angrily, this is the limit!
"You can't treat me like an animal, Lorien! You say anything you want to me, and I obey every one of your commands as if I'm a pawn in your stupid games! What else do you want from me? My body? Then take it!" I blurted and untied my robe, and stood naked in his front.
A cold breeze washed over my exposed body but his gaze was still on mine.