The Alpha’s Substitute Mate

Isabella

It didn’t feel right standing up there on the altar saying promises that we both knew were total lies. There was no atom of love or honor between us.

The only thing that existed between us was just a mate bond that he hated and a political alliance between our packs.

I jolted when Violet gave me a light squeeze on my elbow and my eyes fell on her and everyone else watching me.

” My lady, please answer the question.” She said

I turned to find everyone including the wedding officiant and Arden’s cold eyes, on me.

The officiant cleared his voice as a signal for me to pay more attention to his words

” Do you, Isabella Cross, promise to love, honor, and cherish Arden Vinci, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, till death separates you too apart?”

My heart hammered against my chest. If ever there was a time to change my mind and finally free myself from the monster beside me, then that time was now. But what about the pack alliance? If I try anything stupid now, I’m certain Arden would slaughter my pack himself for the humiliation and betrayal.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

I sucked in some air, mustering some courage. I’m about to agree to a life of constant agony of not being able to be close to my mate. The pain alone was too piercing to endure but I don’t have any other option.

Knowing that I lost my willpower the day my Dad sealed and signed this alliance.

I looked at the wedding officiant whose bright eyes held mine as if he was curious about my next word and sparing one glance at Arden as I declare aloud

“Yes, I do.”

My words echoed, sparing a glance at Arden, he had an expressionless face. I couldn’t tell exactly what he was thinking.

One of the guards came up to the altar carrying a gold-plated box covered in royal red velvet fabric and handed the box to the wedding officiant who opened it and announced that it was time for the wedding band exchange.

Arden pulled out my hand, his touch was somehow gentle, maybe it was my imagination or I’m beginning to get caught up with my emotions. Before I knew it he slipped a diamond ring on my finger.

I cringed as the wedding officiant happily announced,

” I now pronounce you husband and wife… You may kiss the bride.

My body tensed and felt rigid all over.

“Kiss the bride?”

I hadn’t thought about this before. Maybe they would skip this part and we would end this farce wedding without having to do the kissing thing.

Instead, Arden gave me a wicked grin as he snaked one arm around my back and tipped my head up with his other hand. I felt the sparks, the tingling sensation spread out everywhere our bodies touched and my body became too hot. We were only inches apart and I inhaled his scent and a small whimper loosely escaped my lips without warning. His scent was intoxicating and blocked the reasoning line left in my mind.

His face was so symmetrical and perfect. His lips were tempting, and his eyes were piercing.

Arden’s eyes darkened a shade and he leaned down and he kissed me. I was expecting him to just plant a peck on my lips instead, I got my mouth romantically ravished.

His lips were so demanding that he was bending me back over his supporting arms.

OH MY GOD!!!

If he moved that arm I would have tipped right over. The kiss was making me hot with desire. My body exploded with mixed emotions and feelings. My blood was running through my veins so intensively, that I could almost hear it.

He straightened up and left me and there was whistling and cheering from the crowd.

Arden took my hand and practically crushed it in his. The crowd cheered more happily, maybe they were thinking his action was from a place of love but unknowingly he was squeezing the life out of my hands.

I wanted to wipe the feeling of his lips off my mouth, but instead, I pasted on a fake smile while the wedding officiant announced

” Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Vinci.”

The air suddenly felt heavy and I felt a suffocating pressure around, dragging me down.

Our hands were sparking at the same time he was purposely trying to hurt me by squeezing the life out of my bones. I wanted to pinch or bite his hands but I noticed that people were already coming to the altar, congratulating us, and strangers, especially women, were hugging me and telling me how getting married to Arden was my biggest triumph. While the men were bowing to Arden nobody dared to come close to him for a handshake with the way fire was blazing in his eyes.

“Such a mean jerk, even on his wedding day. He didn’t even try to soften his cold aura.”

” But the kiss?” I allowed my mind to go back to that moment and I analyzed the scene for the first time.

The kiss was incredibly and unexpectedly perfect.

I didn’t know that a mere kiss could make me feel those sorts of feelings at once for him, maybe it’s because of the mate bond between us.

Still lost in my lil world of fantasy, his harsh words stormed my mind “You can never be my Luna or my Mate.”

” What was I thinking, that this arranged fake marriage would make him change his mind about me, then I must be delusional.”

When I looked around I saw Mr. Jack and Arden’s Dad were the only ones who had this serious and skeptical expression on their face and the only two people who knew this was all a sham.

Queen Selena knew also but she was enjoying the charade and also she was got up in the happy moments like everyone else.

One of the council members announced that it was time for the ceremonial festival.

The official presentation!!!