Chapter 73

P.O.V. Lyall

My wedding to Rebeca was only two days away and although I had asked for something simple for the ceremony, it seemed that everyone was rushing around to make the moment perfect.

I loved Rebeca with my life, but it was a brotherly love and I was sad that I had let her go on with this madness.

My love life had ended the very moment Ebon rejected me, but maybe there was still a chance for her.

“Can I come in?” Cassandra spoke as she opened the door to my office, where I'd spent most of my time over the last few days, but it's not like I'd been working, I'd just been staring at the sky, as if a miracle was about to happen in my life.

“You're always welcome,” I replied to the red-haired woman who had always been there for my family in the most difficult times.

“Are you expecting a miracle? For your sweet little fiancée to turn into a beautiful black-haired, blue-eyed vampire?” He said as if he could read my mind.

“I wanted to forget this nightmare, but the more I try, the more I think about her,” I said to the Witch Queen, who looked younger than ever.

“It's quite normal for you to think about her, after all, you're companions and destined to love each other and end the war between peoples.”

“We were companions, don't forget that she rejected me, but as for the war, I don't intend to start it again. The peace I announced is final,” I said, because I understood that there was a prophecy to be fulfilled.

“Tomorrow, after the wedding, when the bride and groom leave, come and see me, because I have a wedding present for you,” she said and gave me a kiss on the cheek and left.

I didn't want to question Cassandra, as my head was very agitated and that morning in particular, I woke up more irritable than ever, but the way she said it made it sound like I wouldn't be the one getting married tomorrow.

“May I come in?” I recognized Rebeca's voice and allowed her in. She was a good friend and was suffering as much as I was because of this wedding.

“Shouldn't you be choosing a dress?” I said to Rebeca, who couldn't hold back her tears and instinctively hugged her.

“I can't do anything anymore, my concentration has been ruined. I hate myself for wanting someone I despise so much,” she leaned her head on my chest as she eased her suffering.

“Lyall, we have a visitor,” my father's voice echoed from the other side of the door and so I hugged Rebeca, trying to protect her from being seen crying.

Rebeca was a sister I never had. I've never felt anything but brotherly feelings for her and I know the same is true for her, so I don't worry about her confusing things, after all, we're brothers of different bloods and we both suffer for love.

The door opened and it was like chains dragging across my chest, shattering anything that dared cross its path.

She was here!

“Lyall, Queen Ebon and her royal advisor are here for your wedding celebration,” my father said and invited them to sit down.

“Lyall, what the fuck are you doing?” John didn't even wait for me to react and immediately shouted.

“It's him, get me out of here,” Rebeca squeezed me and sank her head even deeper into me. I had to calm things down before telling her that the moon goddess had given her the best companion she could imagine, so I asked my father to take her away.

As soon as Rebeca left, without even raising her eyes, I felt John running towards me and hitting me.

“You traitorous son of a bitch! I'm going to kill you!” He said as he lost control.

“You'd better get out of here,” I said, pushing John away, but not wanting to hurt him.

“I don't know what happened between you, but I don't think our presence is welcome. Let's go and let the lovebirds get married,” Ebon said, snapping John out of his trance and I don't know why, but I was so angry that I replied.

“I'm glad you know you're not welcome. Get out of here!” I practically shouted.

“My guests aren't going anywhere,” my mother chimed in with her usual imposing manner.

“Mom, please don't get involved in this.”

“Darling, you may be the Alpha, the powerful Lycan and blah blah blah, but in here I'm your mother and don't you dare disrespect me.”

My mother was a very powerful being. She and my father together were capable of anything. I inherited all her strength, but I would never dare rebel against her authority, so I bowed my head and said, “I'm sorry about that. I'll leave you with your guests.”

“Actually, no. You stay. John deserves an explanation. Don't let him leave here without knowing the truth,” she pointed to the chair for him to sit down. “While you're talking, I'm going for a walk with this young queen,” she opened the door and invited Ebon out, who immediately obeyed.

I was immediately worried, as it was my parents who had wiped out her entire family, but John needed an answer and my mother knew very well how to take care of herself.

I sat down in front of the vampire I had as a friend and said:

“You're a good puncher for a vampire.”

“Do you really think I'm joking, Lyall?” He said angrily.

“So you're Rebeca's companion?” I asked the man in front of me.

“Rebeca... what a beautiful name...” he was distracted for a moment and then tried to concentrate. “Yes, I'm her partner and you have no right to marry my wife.”

“Actually, I do have the right and I'm going to marry her, unless you convince her otherwise,” I said to John and noticed his face flush with anger.

“You're an idiot! Do you love her that much? I thought werewolves were faithful to their love,” he muttered.

“Yes, I love her very much,” I saw his countenance fall. “But I love her the same way you love Ebon.”

“You fool, I've never looked at Ebon with malice or touched her. She's like a sister to me. How dare you compare our relationships?” John asked me.

“Because that's exactly how he is.”

I noticed that it took John a while to process what I'd said, but once he'd assimilated it, he asked me:

“So why are you marrying her?”

“Because she asked me to. She's desperate to break the bond with her partner. I was even going to try to make contact with you to find out who this scary vampire was who turned his back on my sweet little sister and I'm surprised that vampire is you.”

“I was terrified by the way she looked at me. No one has ever looked down on me so much. I didn't know what to do,” he confessed.

“You have two days. If you can't convince Rebeca, she'll end up making the mistake of marrying anyone. At least with me she won't risk being touched, or even looked at as a woman.”

“I don't know whether to thank you or punch you in the nose again,” John said.

“Whatever you do I accept, but please be nice to her, I'm sure she'll love getting to know who you really are.”

“And if she accepts me, will she call off the wedding?” John asked me.

“No way!”

“What the fuck, Lyall! I'm getting uncontrollably angry about this!”

I didn't hold back and laughed. It was perhaps the first genuine laugh I'd had in days.

“If she wants you, I'll get a suit and you can marry me instead. Is that too fast for you?”

“I think I'd be the happiest being in the world,” he gave me a hug and went off in search of Rebeca.

I had a lot of questions to ask, but at the end of the day, John was bewildered by his partner bond and wasn't going to be a good friend to talk to.

I understood that they were here for the wedding, but for a moment I thought it was Ebon who was after me, but now that I know it's because of John, I wonder why Viktor wasted the opportunity to rub it in my face that he was married to Ebon.

It looks like I'm going to have to wait for the answers to fall into my lap, because the last thing I'm going to do is go after that traitor, especially as I know she still has a hold on my feelings.