Why Go for Second Best?

I spend three torturous years in a dark underground cell after taking the fall for Cole Greyhouse, a member of the nobility.

He once held my hand tightly and tearfully promised that he would wait for me to return. Then, he would take my hand in marriage.

However, he doesn't show up on the day I'm released from prison. I head to the palace to look for him, but all I see is him with his arm around another woman. He also has a mocking smile on his face.

"Do you really think a former convict like you deserves to become a member of the royal family?"

Only then do I understand that he's long since forgotten about the three years he was supposed to wait for me.

I'm devastated, and my heart dies. I accept the marriage my family has arranged for me.

On the big day, Cole crashes my wedding with his comrades and laughs raucously. "Are you that desperate to be my secret lover, Leah? How dare you put on a wedding gown meant for a royal bride to force me into marriage? You're pathetic!"

Just then, his uncle, Fenryr Greyhouse, the youngest Alpha King in Lunholm's history, hurriedly arrives. He drapes a shawl around my shoulders and slides a wedding ring onto my finger.

That's when Cole panics.

"What are you doing here, Leah? Did you honestly believe that I, a member of the royal family, would marry a woman who's been in prison? I only told you what you wanted to hear so you'd go to jail for me. I can't believe you fell for it!" Cole sneered at me as he walked past me, already dressed up for his wedding.

I would never have agreed to take the fall for him if he'd sneered at me like this three years ago.

At the time, Cole got down on his knees and begged me to go to jail for him.

He told me my father's former victory had earned me eternal protection from the royal family, and because of this, he wanted me to take his place in prison. He even promised to marry me when I got out. I gave in to him after that.

But now, I hated myself for trading my father's former victory for a peaceful life for Cole.

When Cole's huddle of shit-eating friends came over and saw me, they started mocking me as well. "Isn't she the orphan of the Alastair family? I heard she tore three werewolves to pieces and had her tail shaved clean when she was bound by a silver chain in the dungeon."

Another one of Cole's friends snorted. "Check out her wedding dress. She's not here to force Cole to marry her, is she? How pathetic. What made her think she'd get away with marrying into the royal family? Doesn't she know she'd stain the royal bloodline?"

The sharp, condescending words stabbed through me like daggers, but the wedding was about to start, and I had no intention of starting a fight with Cole. As such, I pointed them to the door and said icily, "Cole, I didn't know you were getting married today. I'm wearing a wedding dress because I, too, am getting married."

Cole and his friends guffawed like I'd just told them the biggest joke of the century.

Cole scoffed and eyed me with contempt. "You're getting married? Nonsense! Everyone in Lunholm knows you've trailed after me like a lapdog since we were children! Besides, who in their right mind would marry a woman who's been in jail?

"You know what? We go way back, don't we? I might consider making you my mistress if you lick my shoe now."

His friends jested, "Hey, let us have a go at her if you ever get bored with her, Cole."

"I heard women who've been to jail are freaks in the sheets. I bet she'd be a fun ride!"

Cole seemed a little peeved by his friends' remarks, but he crossed his arms and drawled menacingly, "Fine by me. Once my wedding with Camilla is over, everyone can take turns riding Leah every night. Go crazy, for all I care."