(Daniel's POV)
Sometimes in life, things don't go as you planned. In my case, that was true for almost everything.
As I watch my now-wife stare at the ring on her finger like it's a chain wrapped around her neck, it's safe to say that I'm getting no satisfaction because of this. Even if she's mine now.
I crane my head to meet the shocked expressions of the dumbfounded councilmen who are busy incredulously exchanging glances. This will teach those assholes not to fuck with what's mine.
In the last meeting before Lina's presentation, they had smug smirks planted on their miserable faces, thinking they had dealt with the problem. They had issued a fatality notice—overriding even the alpha's rule—that Lina was to be terminated effective immediately.
Too bad they can't, under any circumstances, harm the alpha's wife.
Unless they wish to commit treason. Which is what would've been the case if I had tried to help Lina before.
Karma likes to play Uno reverse; who won that war, bitches?
Still, Lina's distraught expression makes me a little nervous. My chest started hurting quite a bit when she uttered 'I do' in that broken tone. I didn't like it when Lin lost all her fight—it just wasn't like her.
But it wasn't as if I had orchestrated this whole thing. I had to marry her to protect her.
Fine, I did. But I thought all's fair in love and war, wasn't it?
Xavier—or 'Scarface' as Lin likes to call him—shifts his stance in front of us, and after ensuring that the rings are in place, he points his curved blade towards our hands. Lina jumps, and I grab her wrist quickly, smoothing her hand between two of mine. She calms down a little, but doesn't look at me.
Glaring at Xavier, I grab the handle of his blade myself and guide it towards my other hand—which is regretfully empty of Lin's lovely wrist—and make a deep gash in my palm.
I motion the blade towards Lin, who holds out a shaky hand, mirroring my motion. I make a much shallower cut in hers and then release the blade, clamping my cut palm over hers.
Blood of my blood, and all that crap.
Even the ritual makes me angry because Lin flinches when we make contact. The only reaction to our skin-to-skin contact should be characteristic of her pleasure, not pain.
The ceremony proceeds without much fanfare; everyone is so stupefied by shock that they have all quieted down significantly.
Xavier announces the completion of the ceremony and bellows in a hard voice,
"Presenting the Alpha of our pack. And his Luna." He bows towards Lina."The coronation will take place in a month's time."
It was time for our couple's address, but one look at Lina made it obvious that she wasn't particularly up for speaking.
I cleared my throat and stepped forward."Thank you all for being a part of our happy ceremony. It may be unconventional, but our new Luna is human. Let's all be very clear on the rights offered to our Luna and… behave accordingly."
There's a dark edge to my voice which has everyone who makes eye contact with me flinch.
Good.
I take Lina's hand and drag her behind me, leaving straight out of the council room towards our tower.
Stepping into the elevator, I risk a glance at Lina only to be met by a murderous glare. I struggle to suppress my lip from quirking upward in amusement—her anger is better than her fearsome numb state.
"What the hell was that?" she yells.
Her voice echoes in the hollow chamber and I sigh.
"It's to protect you."
She starts to argue again, "What the hell does that even—"
Except I cut her off by pulling her against me and slam my lips against hers. She's soft and pliant against my mouth, though she resists a little at first. Then she melts—and I go deeper into it.
We kiss for a while and the elevator is almost at our floor, so I reach my hand out to press the button to the first floor. A round trip down and back up again would be enough for making out. Lin senses my intention and covers my hand with hers,
"Why?" she asks, her voice softer now.
Her eyes are impossibly sad and I wonder if I misread her attraction for me, and if she genuinely did not want anything else to do with me. I lower my head against her shoulder.
"I just need to protect you, Lin. The council is hell-bent to kill you, and the only way they can't touch you is by being my wife."
I pause and touch her cheek lightly.
"I wanted this, I'll admit that much. But not this way… not when you feel forced into it."
She looks confused.
"You wanted this?" she asks in a small voice.
"Yeah, Lin." I sigh again in exasperation. "I thought I made that pretty clear that I still had feelings for you."
I expect her to argue, but what she asks me next is nothing I could've predicted.
"But what about your fiancée?"
Fiancée?
What the hell is she talking about?