Why Go for Second Best?

Unable to put up with Cole and his friends' crass commentary any longer, the Elder of Ceremonies beside me spoke up in my defense. "Sir, Ms. Leah does indeed have a wedding here today. Didn't you hear that the Alpha King will marry her today?"

A deathly silence fell upon the room. The next second, Cole kicked the Elder of Ceremonies and sent the latter flying into the corner of the wall. He growled, "How dare you, a mere Elder of Ceremonies, make up such filthy lies about my uncle?

"My uncle told the public that he will be marrying a daughter of nobility today, one who was sired by a hero of Lunholm, no less! Leah isn't worthy of such an honor! One more lie from you, and I'll rip your tongue out!"

I argued, "My father, Alastair, died protecting Lunholm, which makes me a hero's daughter. Furthermore, I come from a long line of nobility. How does that make me undeserving of the honor of marrying the Alpha King?"

"Stop flattering yourself, Leah. Your father stopped being a hero of Lunholm the moment he raised a criminal like you!" Cole sneered. "Why don't you ask your dead father if he's proud to have a felon for a daughter?"

He and his friends burst into raucous laughter after that.

I clenched my jaw and ground out frigidly, "I'll say this again, Cole: Fenryr and I are getting married today—"

Before I finished speaking, Cole lunged at me and dug his fingers into my face, his nails nearly clawing my eyes and the corners of my mouth. "My uncle is the Alpha King and supreme ruler of Lunholm. What makes you think a woman like you, who's been bound by a silver chain, is worthy of him?"

I shoved Cole away, my fingers grazing the fabric of my wedding dress as I panted. Fenryr had designed the dress and commissioned a few of the best tailors in the country to bring it to life.

When I first got out of jail, my family was so ashamed of me that they urged my mother to marry me off. None of the nobility wanted a criminal for a wife, so my mother had no choice but to seek out Fenryr Greyhouse, the Alpha King.

To my mother's surprise, Fenryr asked for my hand after hearing my story.

I had no idea why he would want to marry someone whose reputation was as ruined as mine. However, I had high hopes for our upcoming union when I saw how his eyes shone with sympathy at the sight of my shaved tail.

I would not let Cole and his friends' words get in the way of my wedding.

"Move, Cole," I snarled, my eyes flashing with a warrior's resolve. "I'm getting married to the Alpha King today. You should seek out your bride instead of getting in my way!"

Cole suddenly grabbed a fistful of my skirts and tugged roughly. "Where did you steal this dress from, Leah? Uncle Fenryr designed this dress himself for his future wife!"