Chapter 1 Before the storm
Chapter 1: Scarlett
Asher had the sort of smile that could set the world on flames.
Seeing him standing there on the podium with his carefree hair that reflected the beautiful heart I have come to know, brought tears of joy to my eyes to know that I was going to be his forever.
He was the best partner I could have asked for.
It didn’t even matter that we didn’t feel the mate’s bond like Axel and Violet, I liked to believe that we had something special. We loved each other and it was all I could ask for.
“You are the most beautiful bride, Scarlett. I wish your father was here today,” Aunt Emily whispered as she led me down the aisle.
Her shaky voice increased the emotions I was already feeling within. She was so happy that she forgot to curse in that one sentence, and I realized that for the first time, my father was mentioned but I didn’t feel the usual loneliness I have come to know.
Today, I felt whole again. I had my family, maybe not complete, but we were going to stand together until we found my parents and Blade. But I was whole, not just for my family but for Asher too.
“Thank you, Aunt,” he whispered as Aunt Emily passed me to him. He was grinning from ear to ear and the excitement rolling off him tickled me.
“You are welcome,” she whispered, before returning to her seat.
My heart was so big in my chest, that I feared it would burst out of cheer and excitement as I slowly raised my eyes to meet Asher’s blue ones. My breath caught in my throat as butterflies filled me up.
“You look so beautiful, Scarlett, I made the right choice,” he whispered but I was certain everyone in the front row heard him.
A blush spread across my face as he took my hands and led us the rest of the way to the elder, waiting to join us together. Forever.
“Do you, King Asher take Princess Scarlett as your lawfully wedded partner in all challenges of life, in good times and in bad times, until the time comes for you to rest with your ancestors?”
Asher turned his eyes to me and as his fingers tightened around mine, my heart skipped a beat and for the first time since I met him, my wolf moved.
“There will always be good times.” Laughter erupted among the audience at his joke, but he didn’t take his eyes off me.
Tingles spread across my skin as he stared at me. His eyes were like waves pulling me deep into his soul. Begging me to listen and love him more than I already did. My swollen heart exploded, melting into him, joining with him as one, long before he said the word.
“I will take you and all that is yours. I will love you and all that is yours, Scarlett, until I go to rest. You will be mine. Forever.”
Tears danced in my eyes as I knew that he meant every word he said. He loved me and he loved all that was mine. My family, my people, and everything that could affect me in any way, Asher was always there for me. He was perfect for me.
“Do you, Princess Scarlett take King Asher as your lawfully wedded partner—”
“I do,” I whispered, cutting off the elder’s speech. “I will be by his side through every challenge the world and the realm throw at us. Good or bad, I will love you, Asher.”
Asher closed the distance between us and let our lips meet.
My wolf came alive, rolling with excitement as it whispered the word, I thought I would never hear. ‘Mate’.
Tears of joy broke through my eyes as I deepened the kiss.
I could still remember when Axel had mentioned Asher’s proposal to me. He thought I would refuse it, but I accepted it because it was good for my people. Going into war with a Lycan at the time was not going to do us good. I didn’t think I would get to love him. I didn’t think my wolf would even feel attracted to him. But here I was, kissing my lover and my mate.
Asher broke the kiss and stared deeply into my eyes. “You make me so high…” He sank his teeth into his bottom lip and my stomach tightened. “I can’t wait to bed you, Scarlett…”
His dark wolf flashed within his eyes, and I forgot how to take in air. He smiled and took hold of my hand, leading me to the people, now standing to congratulate us.
“Congratulations!” They chorused as we went down the aisle.
Flowers were thrown at us, and I became overwhelmed with emotions. It was just like I had imagined as a little girl. A wedding day that was supposed to be my fantasy. My dreams and Asher gave it to me.
Outside the party, Axel had prepared had already started. We were led to the high table and Axel came to hug me.
“I am so proud of you Scarlett,” he whispered as he pressed a kiss to my forehead.
“Careful the way you hold my wife Axelo,” Asher teased, and Violet smacked his hand playfully.
“You can always have your revenge by holding Violet instead,” Uncle Greg added and everyone at the table laughed.
It was a beautiful moment and I prayed to the goddess that this was a memory we could recreate every day.
“We should start preparing to leave. We have a long journey ahead of us,” Asher said above the music and Axel frowned.
“Why not spend a few days with us?”
Asher’s hand slipped over mine and he smiled as our eyes met. “I will want to spend forever here. But I have been away for too long and I must consummate this union…”
Heated flooded my face at his words and Aunt Emily let out a whistle that caused even more excitement to flash across the table.
“Scarlett has a room here you know—”
“Axel!” I cried out, shutting his words out. But my protest only caused more laughter.
“You are making your sister shy, Axel,” Violet said as she tried to stop a very excited Baby Blade from scratching off his cute little hat off his head.
“I really would love to stay but it is a tradition I must respect.”
“So, you must fuck your wife on the same bed as your forefathers?” Aunt Emily blurted out and everyone erupted in laughter. My aunt was truly without a filter in her mouth.
The chatter and laughter continued until late in the evening when everyone decided to release us. Asher led me into his waiting escort and after saying my goodbyes and promising to visit, we zoomed off into the evening.
Asher took my hand, increasing the butterflies in my stomach as we headed to his land.
I was quiet as my mind tried to think of other things aside from what was going to happen the moment we got to his place. Excitement was eating through me, and I feared I would make a fool of myself.
What if I wasn’t good enough? What if he regretted marrying me?
My hands grew cold, and I could only hope that Asher didn’t pay any attention to me as he sat close to me, operating his phone with his free hand.
When the human revolution happened, I was given off as a maid and my wolf was drugged to the point, that I barely felt her. I knew no one. I had no one —except one friend. I thought I had lost everyone. So I stayed in the shadows as much as I could till Uncle Greg had found me that day.
The Lycan princess everyone thought I was, was long dead. I was barely a girl holding on to the ropes of my existence until Asher came. He gave me a new reason to be happy and today, I felt my wolf come alive.
He was truly the perfect one. A match even the goddess wanted to be made.
“What are you thinking about?” His voice gently crawled into my thoughts, and I blinked back to reality with a smile on my face.
I shook my head gently. “It’s nothing, really,” I lied, not wanting to bother him.
“It’s obvious that you are thinking Scarlett and…” His hand slowly slipped out of mine, and he rested further in his seat. “If I were you, I would think hard about this union though. Who knows what I might turn into?”
Confusion flashed through my eyes as I tried to figure out if he was joking or being serious.
The glint in his eyes was no longer as carefree as it used to be. They looked serious and the blues were now a darker shade.
“What are you talking about, Asher?”
The vehicle chose that moment to come to a stop and an unsettling smile filled Asher’s face. “You will find soon enough my wife.”