Married To The Cursed Lycan King by JaneChunli

CHAPTER THREE

Aurora’s Pov:

One of the fanciest, luxurious and most sought out hotels in Raleigh, ‘De ville hotel’ stood out in the outskirts of Raleigh. It was the place where Maya and Jaden’s marriage ceremony was to take place. I was greeted by the front doors of the hotel and the grand lobby, with a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The walls were adorned with paintings and sculptures. The floors were covered with plush carpets and there was a huge fountain in the middle of the lobby with cascading waters and beautiful sculptures.

I’d have been the one being married here if I fulfilled my obligations as the first daughter or had a mate. Even my father gave me out in exchange for the land to a rumored cruel man, he rejected me right in my presence.

I had accepted my fate, though. I will never get married or mate, talk about having a grand wedding in this grand hotel. They were nothing but a dream to me.

But my insides were bubbling with ecstasy because this was literally the first time I was given access to see the clear sky. I don’t know what might have touched my father to grant me to see the world for the first time. It was my first time seeing the outside world after I turned sixteen.

I tugged my black dress, it was the only fancy dress I got. A short over the knee black dress which was okay for weddings and dinner nights. As I tugged my dress to dress it perfectly, I felt someone bumped into me.

“I’m sorry,”  I apologized. It was a word I was used to whether I was in the wrong or the other person. I lifted my head to meet who I ran into, my eyes flew on a very pretty woman who rolled her hair in chignon. Adorned with the resplendent off the shoulders red gown down to her feet, with a little slit at the left side, showing her thigh down to her leg.

“Aurora?” She called when her gaze rested on me, a glint of surprise flickered in her eyes. “Wow, it’s been a long time, I saw you. Where have you been?”

I don’t know how to answer that question so I simply answered, “I’ve been around. Just busy.”

This was Jade, Jaden’s twin sister. We had been friends from childhood but everything changed when I couldn’t activate my wolf at 16, and I and Jaden had been good friends from childhood. I secretly had a crush on him in childhood and I knew he felt the same way. I had always anticipated being his mate when I clocked sixteen but everything took a drastic turn. Their parents who had loved and treated me like their own child drastically changed and channeled their attention to Maya after finding out she was his mate.

I lost everything to Maya. Jaden, Jade and their parents love. I returned back to loneliness.

“Busy with what? Are you managing your father’s mall?” She asked with a mischievous smile and nudged my arm, I simply faked a smile, praying earnestly she’d be on her heels.

“Also, are you okay now?” She queried again while maintaining eye contact with me. I don’t know what she meant by that so I simply had to nod.

“I mean……”  She leaned closer, her voice fell into a whisper and I knew what she was about to say was meant for my ears only. “I mean, has the goddess finally shown pity on you?”

It took me seconds to realize what she meant and when she leaned back, she had this smile on her face, kinda goofy and kind of mocking me. And I wondered if she was asking to know or to mock me.

I didn’t know what to answer so I simply smiled awkwardly. ” Jade?” A voice called from the receptionist desk and it belonged to her mother. The reception desk was made with marble and the staff were dressed in blue tuxedos and pink gowns. A couple of guests, dressed richly, swarm around the lobby and the receptionist desk.

“What are you doing with her?” I noticed that was what she asked Jade as she rushed to her. I followed her l*ps movement. When the old woman’s gaze landed on me, it was filled with pure resentment and more of a disappointing look.

I broke eye contact and stared at the people going in and out, roam the intricately designed hotel. Everyone was richly dressed in tuxedos and magnificent dinner gowns that made me feel out. Like I don’t belong here.

I walked down the lobby toward the hall where the wedding would take place. My heart jumped at the person I bumped into. It was Jaden, my crush and first love. I had aspired to be his mate.

“Aurora?”  He called as his deep sea blue eyes met mine, I felt blood rush down my spine when he called me. His voice was low and gentle, like the way it was from childhood, the only difference was that it grew a little deeper.

“Wow,” his gaze glinted with surprise, a smile spreading across his face. “It’s been a long time since we laid eyes on each other, how have you been?”

“I’m fine,” I replied, feeling my b*dy react to his piercing eyes.

“You…..you…., you look—-”  His eyes roamed around my dress and for a moment I thought he didn’t appreciate what I was putting on. I had that

inkling that he would look down on me like everyone else has done and it’d shatter me if he did but his next words set my pulse racing.

“You look gorgeous…..in this dress,” he complimented, still raking his eyes over my b*dy and it was dangerously affecting me. I twitched a little, hoping he did stop staring. Actually, getting validation from him filled my spirit with excitement. I thought I did look way too out.

A small nervous smile appeared on my face. “Thank you.”

“We get a lot to talk about and catch on like old days, honestly I thought you were no longer in town but I’m glad to see you at my wedding. ”

My heart sank at his words. “My wedding.” I could feel my self pity returning and my eyes had begun to water but I tried to hold it back. This is my sister’s wedding and I shouldn’t ruin it, wallowing in self pity.

I simply nodded, wearing that sob smile across my face.

He parted his l*ps to say more when Jade called for him.

“Bro, the wedding is starting. You need to be present. Your bride will be showing up soon,” she asserted while making her way to us. Her eyes were on me, though I couldn’t discern what might be going on in her head right now but I saw a suspicious glint flicker in her eyes.

“Sure,” Jaden said and looked at me. “We will talk some other time, I don’t want to keep my bride waiting.” With those words, he spun away and hurried on his heels down the lobby. Jade casted me another look before heading in the same direction as her brother.

●●●●●●●●●●●●●

I watched Maya and Jaden exchange wedding vows at the hall stage transformed into an altar. The four influential clans were all present, my father stood beside my stepmother Elizabeth, grinning ear to ear as they watched Maya and Jaden exchange marital vows. My stepmom’s cold eyes suddenly flew at me at once and I knew for certain that she didn’t appreciate my presence here but keeping her calm because of my father.

I looked away immediately, taking the moment to appreciate the room. The wedding hall was a sight to behold. With floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the city skyline. There was a grand staircase leading up to the stage. The walls were adorned with intricate details, and the floor was covered with a red carpet. There’s a huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and each table was set with the finest china and silverware. The chairs were covered in white silk, and there was a beautiful floral arrangement on each table.

The wedding vows were over, and everyone started roaming about. Ready to serve themselves. Cocktails, drinks, champagne and wine in their hands.

“What do you think you are doing standing there?” I jolted at the voice of my sister. My gaze ran over her intricately beautiful design ball gown wedding dress. I gulped as I raised my eyes from her expensive gown to meet the harsh look in her eyes.

“Who’s going to serve all these guests?” She gestured to the audience.

I raised a brow in question. Speechless at the words that spewed out of her l*ps. She doesn’t let go of any slight opportunity to humiliate me. “Come on, it’s your job. It’s the only thing you are good at.”

There was disdain and mockery laced in her eyes and voice as she gathered her dress and stomped off. I blinked the tears in my eyes and did as I was ordered.

“I will help you with that,” I smiled at the waiter, carrying a tray of cocktail drinks.

“You sure?” He threw me a skeptical look.

“Yes.” I smiled and took the tray of drinks from him and distributed them across all tables until I reached a certain table, occupied by Maya’s friends from high school who bullied me along with Maya.

“I can’t believe Maya would invite someone like her,” I heard one of the girls in the group of three girls and two boys mutter audibly to my hearing. I ignored it and placed the remaining drinks on their table.

“Hey, Aurora, hope you’ve been blessed with the goddess gift, right?” One of the guys asked. “And you already have a mate, right?”

They let out a mockery laughter. “Who’d want to settle down with someone who is wolf-less?” Another mocked as another high pitched laughter erupted amongst them.

“Do have a wonderful time,”  I smiled and left but then I didn’t know if it was a deliberate act or not. One of the girls, dressed in an orange short tight gown with her brown wavy hair cascading down her back…. I couldn’t tell if she did it deliberately or not as her hand knocked one of the glasses and the content in it dumped on my dress. The glass shattering on the ground.

Everyone’s attention was on us now.

“Oops, sorry……”  She apologized with sarcasm. “My bad.”

I lowered my eyes to the orange liquid that ruined my dress but luckily, I was grateful my dress was black. I proceeded to clean off the stain when one of them asserted again.

“Is the stain on your wrinkled dress more important than the mess on the floor? I met the owner of the voice and his eyes were directed at the floor.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized and lowered to gather the ruins from the broken glass cup but a strong callous hand gripped me, halting me.

I looked up, almost letting out a gasp. My eyes shot up in surprise when they met the owner of the hand. Those faint emerald green eyes stared at me, and a faint gasp echoed in the background as well.

LEE OTTO FRASER?