Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Elara

Zuriel has never called me by my name. It is always little Princess or tick. He stares at me, his mouth opening, but no sounds come out,

‘Say it,’ I encourage. He’s about to say it when my father joins us.

‘How’s the newest couple?’ Dad asks. He seems excited like everyone else.

‘We are alright, Dad,’ I say. We make small talk for a moment before he sees Alpha Layth Thorn. He scowls and excuses himself from us.

The party was lovely. Zuriel didn’t glare at me.

He was normal towards me and kind. My friends and I danced, and I started feeling good about the union with Zuriel. I should be happy as Ara encourages me. I was marrying the love of my life, and he was warming up to me. I think we’ll be happy together. I will make it work between us. I will take care of him and be patient with him until he loves me back.

The following days I spent with my friends. The members of my pack loved me again, and the scandal that caused so much chaos stopped. No videos were circulating, and no one made vicious comments about me when I went to the university.

As for Zuriel, I haven’t seen him since the engagement, and when I called him, his secretary said this was a busy week for him. However, he sent me my favorite flower, Tulips.

‘Your grandmother is the best!’ Solena squeals as she looks at the wedding dress my grandmother made for me. It was the most beautiful dress ever.

‘You will be the most beautiful bride,’ Brandon says. I smile, still in awe of my wedding dress. Grandmother has outdone herself.

My mother and aunty Kiyana enter the room, and they gasp seeing the wedding dress.

I leave the ladies while I go to Zuriel’s penthouse. We were supposed to get a marriage license together. He hasn’t answered my calls, so I’m going there. Brandon is taking me to his apartment building.

‘Elara, I know you’re excited and all, but are you sure about marrying Zuriel Crawford?’ he asks without taking his eyes off the road.

‘I know he’s not the most charming, but I love him, and since we have been together, the scandal is gone!’ I tell him. He sighs.

‘I just heard bad things about him,’ my best friend is worried. There are a lot of things that surround Zuriel. I know he is no saint and has murdered people, lots of them, but it is only to defend this pack.

‘I know, but we can’t judge him based on stories. Zuriel only did whatever he did because we had a rogue problem,’ I tell him.

‘Other people say he’s not a wolf, that he is something even more dangerous. And his aura is insanely outlandish. You have to sense,’ I know Brandon is only looking out for me. But he’s freaking out.

‘Zuriel is a strong wolf, and it’s not surprising his aura is oppressing. Take my father and elder brother for example,’

‘No. The Alpha king and the prince are strong wolves, the strongest even, but there is something hazardous about Zuriel. I’m just worried about you, Elara,’

‘thank you, but no need to worry about me,’

‘He doesn’t love you, and you said yourself he is marrying you for his agenda-‘

‘Please, let’s talk about something else,’ I interrupt him. He drops the issue reluctantly, but I can see distress on his face. I feel this is the right decision. I would have been happier if Zuriel loved me, but I’m hoping love will grow in his heart for me.

We reach the building, and I kiss my best friend on the cheek before hopping out of the car. The first thing I notice in the lobby is a thin woman talking to two conciergees. She looks shaken up, and her raven hair is tangled. She’s not wearing shoes. I can see how much damage she has done to her feet. I go to them.

‘What’s going on?’ I ask. I look at the woman’s face. She’s pale and looks sick. Did she leave the hospital? She is still wearing a hospital gown.

‘Hello, Miss. Please help me talk to him. I’m here for one of the residents, but they refuse to let me go up,’ she says, her voice weak. I look at the two concierges.

‘We can’t do that, My Princess. The young woman is not providing us identification, and she wants us to let her go on the top floor,’ The bald concierge, Allen, according to the name tag, says.

‘I don’t have anything ID on me or a purse. Please just let me up, and the man I’m here to see will be happy to see me,’ she says in a begging tone.

‘Can you call the person she wants to see? Just help her. Can’t you see the state she’s in?’ I scold.

‘Princess, um, the woman is here to see Mr. Crawford,’ Allen says. I blink a few times and glance at the woman. My heart is racing in my chest.

‘My name is River. And I’m here for my boyfriend,’ she says.

Boyfriend? The words resound in my head. My breath shudders as I ask,

‘Is Zuriel in?’ They shake their head.

‘Call him,’ I command. He grabs the phone to call Zuriel. They put him on hold. I take River to sit on the white couch in the lobby. Her hands were slightly shaking.

‘Hi, River, my name is Elara Silvius. Let’s wait together,’ I tell her. She gives me a small smile and nods.

‘Is Zuriel Crawford your boyfriend?’

She glances at me with a slight smile and nods, ‘ Yes, but something unfortunate happened, and we separated, but I’m back for good to be by his side,’ She speaks with love, and my heart shatters. Does Zuriel love this woman? Was that why he didn’t want to marry me?