“It worked like a charm, boss.”
Papa smirks as he twitches his fingers over my veil with a nod.
“You make things too difficult,mia figlia.It would be just like you to make some sort of statement and stab yourself on the damn altar,” he grumbles. “All you have to do is say two important words, and I know exactly how to make that happen. Let’s go before we’re late.”
My tongue feels thick in my mouth, and I can’t even growl back at him as I’m carried out to one of the cars. Eva sits beside me during the drive there like she promised, the sedative settling further into my mind and muscles. I’m not even sure how I’m going to be able to fucking walk until I’m forced out of the car and onto my feet.
The veil is pulled over my face, and my father presses his lips against the shell of my ear.
“Go where I tell you.” His alpha bark makes me whimper as he forces me to walk beside him, my movements almost appearing normal as I move in a flutter of white lace and tulle.
Papa speaks with family members as he leads me through the gardens in front of the cathedral, and everyone comments on how beautiful I look.
“Renzo, my niece looks so beautiful!”
My Aunt Genevra is my mother’s sister. She has no idea how terrible my father is, and continues to praise my very covered beauty. I may as well be a lace monster with how many layers I’m covered under. The dress is a full ballgown, and it’s a miracle I fit in the car earlier.
As much as I miss the woman my mother should have been, I don’t like to see her family as they’re cruel people.
“May I speak with her? This is an envelope for you, Renzo. It’s customary to offer a gift to the bride.”
I hide the disgust in my face with the ridiculous veil draped over me, as the gift is not for me at all.
“You shouldn’t have, Genevra. Thank you. Please don’t take long to say your piece to her. We must enter the church soon.”
“Yes, yes. Thank you, Renzo. My, my. You are stunning, Rosalia.”
I feel her press her body against mine in a hug, and she drops her voice as my father is distracted by someone else. There are people all over the church lawn, making me believe this is my father’s way of allowing the family to see me before the wedding. I am the main attraction, without a voice, so they can say whatever they wish.
“Girl, you caught yourself a gorgeous husband, didn’t you?” she murmurs under her breath, fluffing my dress absently. “I did you a favor by calling your father when I saw you running allaround town kissing your stepsister. Honestly, girl, your father should have thrown her out when he put her mother out like a dog.”
The oxygen in my lungs freezes as I realize the person who ruined my life is chatting away as if she really does have my best interests at heart. Aunt Genevra is just a terrible, gossiping old woman who has no life. Her dark hair has steaks of white through it, and her makeup makes her look as if she’s frozen.
She’s always creeped me out.
“Why?” I croak out. My father gave permission to my aunt to speak with me, so it is either covered in his alpha bark, or it’s not working as well with the sedative in my system.
Drugs have been known to screw with alpha barks and scent matched bonds.
“I was walking with my friends past the park and saw you,” she hisses, her fingers digging into the bones of my wrist.
Fate definitely is laughing at me right now.
“You were flaunting yourselves, darling. It just wasn’t right. Your actions directly impact our family. I saved you from being ostracized or killed. We all know your father doesn’t forgive easily. This is much better. Go marry the man who is meant for you.”
Papa’s hand presses against my back to get me to move, and he murmurs his regrets to my aunt. Massive murder is sounding better by the second.
“Shh. Quiet your mind,mia figlia.I can almost feel the heat of your anger. Did your aunt tell you about how she called me the day I punished you for being a whore?”
Papa’s hand moves to my hip and he steps slightly behind me to take my right hand as if he’s helping me up the stairs. Instead, it puts him in the perfect position to continue to speak to me since he’s much taller than I am.
“All abominations have their expiration date, my daughter. This was yours. Genevra was incensed. I would have been well within my rights to light you on fire to purge the evil inside of you, but I chose to spare you, so you could marry the alpha waiting for you at the altar. Don’t fuck this up.”
My chest heaves as my feet move against my will, and my lips tremble with the sheer anger brewing inside of me. Still, he maneuvers me through the church doors and to the opening of the nave. This service is going to be pompous and long, and I already find myself dreading it as I wait for everyone to take their seats.
The organ begins to play, and goosebumps spread over my body as my father threads my arm through his. It only appears to be a loving gesture as he stands tall and proud with his salt and pepper hair perfectly coiffed into submission, and his beard groomed well. His blue and cream tuxedo sets him apart as the father of the bride, and down the aisle, I can see Nico wearing a black tie tux as he waits for me.
“Walk, Rosalia.”
