✿ Ulyana's POV

“Congratulations!” she hugged me tightly.

“Thank you, Mrs. Wasserman” I smiled.

“No, no. Please, just call me Jean, my dear” She sighed happily and let me go.

I nodded.

“Thank you again for the jacket, Jean.”

“Of course,” she said and blew a little air kiss my way before letting me go.

I sighed and looked around. Geneva nor Mara were anywhere to be seen. Zoltan? I didn't care where he was.

“Ulyana!”

I knew that voice all too well. I smiled before turning around.

“Hi Claire” I smiled.

“Oh, you look so gorgeous.”

“Thank you. You look very lovely too.”

“Not as much as Gen does. I'd kill for that dress” she chuckled.

Goal officially achieved!

I smiled and mentally high-fived myself.

“This has been the best wedding I've ever been to, Ulyana,” she told me as she looked around. “I'd love to have one just like this someday.”

I furrowed my brows a bit.

“I thought you were already married to Warren?”

“Oh yeah, we are” she nodded. “But we didn't do any of this traditionally fancy stuff. No purification ceremony, no priest... and certainly no wedding gown” she chuckled, running a hand lightly against the base of my gown.

“So you're engaged to be married?”

“No. We just signed with a court. I needed citizenship and Warren was kind enough to help me get that.”

Oh.

I smiled politely at her.

“Well, I'm sure you'll have the wedding of your dreams very soon.”

She scoffed.

“Thanks for the positivity, Ulyana. But I don't think Warren's up for that. After all, what will happen to us when his mate shows up?”

I shrugged.

“First come, first serve.”

She laughed.

“You're hilarious” She shook her head.

From the corner of my eyes, I spotted Zoltan getting up from the chair he was seated on. He motioned with his head at Warren and the both of them walked away.

“Is it just me who finds it odd that Zoltan is leaving his wedding reception?” Claire whispered to me.

“Must be important” I mumbled.

She sighed and smiled at me.

“I'll leave you to enjoy your reception then.”

I nodded.

“Thanks.”

After a whole lot of “Thank you's” and “That's so kind of you to say's”, I slipped away out of the hall for a glass of water and some quiet time. I didn't do well with the whole socializing thing.

After drinking some water, I found a quiet spot in an empty room, stood by the large French windows, and looked outside. Zoltan's pack house was incredibly huge and the architecture was phenomenal. I couldn't help but wonder if he designed it himself.

Nah. It looks too old for him to have been around to design this.

Was he even this good? My heart sank a little more. I didn't even know what my husband really did for a living. I shook my head. Even with all the prayers and rituals, this wasn't going to end very well.

“At least you didn't get ditched at the altar again” my wolf quipped.

I chuckled a little and rubbed my arms as an uncomfortable chill ran down my spine.

“Ana” he let out, confirming why I had suddenly gotten uncomfortable.

I jumped back, nearly tripping over myself but Anton caught me by the hand to steady me. As soon as I was sure I wasn't falling, I snatched my hand away.

“Don't touch me!” I warned.

He chuckled.

“I was just trying to be nice.”

I eyed him.

“You and 'nice' don't go together, Anton. And what the hell are you even doing here?!”

He shrugged playfully.

“I came to be your Prince Charming who's going to rescue you on a horse.”

I scoffed nastily.

“You're no Prince,” I told him. “You can't even pretend to be charming, and you most certainly can not ride a horse.”

A cocky grin spread upon Anton's face.

“I can do the latter pretty well, Ana. Although I doubt I'm as good at riding horses as you would be at riding me.”

“Shut up!” I snapped, disgusted at his perverted remark. “Stay the hell away from me, Anton. Or I swear you'll be sorry.”

He let out a whistle and chuckled.

“Spicy... I love it.”

I tried to get away from him but he wasn't letting me through the path.

“You look ravishing, by the way” he whispered.

“Go away, Anton!” I exclaimed and attempted to shove him aside but he stuck his arm out and like a slingshot, swung me back.

“You know you deserve better, right my love?”

I groaned.

“Will you please just stop?!” I cried out in exasperation.

I looked at him.

“Anton, I want nothing to do with you. Just please let me go.”

He stepped closer to me.

“I can't, Ana” he whispered, “I want you. I want you in my bed. I want to make love to you again. I want to hear you scream out my name. I want to worship this new tantalizing form of yours.”

I scoffed nastily, angry tears brimming in my eyes.

“Go find Amanda, Anton. As for me, I am not going to let you have a quick bang with me and drop me again” I growled. “I am married to Zoltan and even if I wasn't, I would never let you touch me again. So get this into your empty skull, Anton; nothing... is ever going to happen between us—”

He cut me off and pressed his lips against mine.

No, no, not again!

Anton's arms wrapped around my body tightly.

Ulyana!

My wolf growled and I bit his lip and shoved him off me.

“Shit!” he cussed as my heart skipped a beat in shock.

Anton touched his lip with his thumb and smirked at the blood.

“You bitch” he scoffed. “But I like it, Ana” he smirked. “So much power.”

“Stop doing that!” I hissed and shoved him back when he attempted to near me. “Zoltan has me now. You will never get me.”

He chuckled and threaded a hand through his hair.

“Oh c'mon now, Ulyana” he shook his head. “We both know this marriage is a sham.”

I balled my fist.

“Zoltan would never go for someone like you... fat or not. Not even if he's bewitched, would he look your way much less pick someone like you. You're not the type of girls powerful men like him mingle with.”

“Shut up Anton” I growled.

“Why? Because it's the truth?” he chuckled. “We both know nothing is going to happen between the two of you tonight. You're not going to consummate this marriage tonight... so why not let me in there? I bet it's still...” he smirked and clicked his tongue.

“Never, Anton.”

He frowned and grabbed me by force.

“I'm done playing nice you bitch! I want you. I'm an Alpha! You are not going to make me beg and you are most certainly not going to turn me down. I will take you here if I have to, dammit!”

“Let me go!” I screamed, trying to get out of his grip which was tighter than ever.

He lowered his head and forcefully kissed my neck and lower to my chest as I fought him off.

“Let me go... please Anton...” I sobbed, struggling with him. “Let me go!” I screeched.

“Ulyana.”

It was short and simple but held such dread and authority that Anton basically flew away from me. My chest heaved and I shut my eyes, leaning back against the wall.

“Sorry about that, Alpha Zoltan” I heard Anton chuckle. “She's a bit of a brat.”

My hand crawled up my chest and I opened my eyes to clutch the necklace which had shifted out of place, as I tried to steady my breath. I could feel Zoltan's gaze on me for a while before he hummed nonchalantly.

“A brat?” he questioned, stepping in between us.

I was tall. Anton was also tall. But Zoltan? He stood taller than the both of us. I found my gaze curved appreciatively over his broad shoulders.

“How much to have her for tonight?” Anton asked.

My eyes widened at his outright vulgarity.

“I'll take her off your hands tonight, what do you say, Alpha Zoltan?”

My heart was thrashing in my chest as I came to terms with what was about to happen. Zoltan looked far too relaxed for me to think he had come here to save me. Instead, I watched how he thought through the words that had been thrown at him.

“How much are you willing to pay?” he asked.

I gasped, my hands instinctively moving to grab onto the back of his jacket.

“Please don't do it Zoltan, I'm begging you” I tried to send him through the mind link I knew we now shared because of the marriage.

Zoltan looked down at me, taking in the fear and rage on my face. I pleaded with him, shaking my head as Anton pulled me towards him again and rested his arm possessively around my waist. Zoltan noted the move with a passive expression, his jaw slightly clenching before it relaxed again.

“I've already had her in my bed, Alpha Zoltan. Too much flabby to feel anything... but she is tight” Anton chuckled. “And out of great respect for you, Alpha Zolt, I'll give you fifty bucks.”

I shut my eyes and felt the hot disgusted tears trickle down my cheeks. Anton let go of me and I opened my eyes to see him pull out his wallet. Zoltan stepped closer as Anton started to pull out his money. He extended his hand and offered it to my husband.

Zoltan clasped his hand instead of taking the money, and his gaze moved to me for a second.

“Ulyana.”

His voice was deep and demanding.

“Go to Warren and don't move until tell you to” his command rang true to the entire place, laying the seed of the claim he was about to cement.

I didn't do well at following orders... especially when it came from Zoltan MacQuoid. But I wasn't in the mood to argue. Warren was standing a couple of feet away. I blinked away my tears as I made my way toward him.

Warren gave me a sad smile and sighed.

“You might want to look away. Zoltan is never kind to his type.”

My heart was beating a mile a minute as I watched the two of them. Anton said something and Zoltan laughed loudly. It was like I was the only one who noticed when the sound of his laughter turned dark around the edges. He pulled his body back, his body tensing before he finally submitted to the action I wanted to commit ever since Anton showed his face to me.

The first punch he delivered was clean and simple. A fist directly to the chin making Anton's head jerk back and leaving him with a bloody mouth and broken teeth. From the looks of it, Anton hadn't expected Zoltan to turn on him as he stumbled backward in surprise, caught off guard by my husband's display of violence.

Anton's hand moved to his chin, the blood falling from his lips and soiling his fingers red. But Zoltan wasn't done yet. He was going to live up to his reputation.

“That is for disrespecting me” Zoltan spat out, giving justification even though it shouldn't have been needed.

His second punch was precise and brutal, putting the entirety of his body weight into one ruthless hit. It was like the crack of Anton's nose echoed through the whole room as he fell to the floor in a disoriented state.

I pressed my face in Warren's arm for a second before looking again.

Anton's arms shot out in vain, grabbing the ends of the tables and chairs, as the glasses on the surface smashed to the floor with him.

Warren had told me to look away. But there was something so beautifully terrifying about watching Zoltan in his element.

It was almost hot.

“That was for ruining my fucking mood.”

He cursed, his feet crunching over the broken glass as he stood over a now defeated man— except Zoltan didn't look like he was finished yet either.

Another punch was delivered.

“That's for trying to sabotage my Hawaii project.”

Anton looked stunned.

“You thought I wouldn't find out?” Zoltan chuckled. “Even the best criminals are sloppy, Anton.”

Anton laughed.

“You are smarter than I anticipated, Zoltan. But we both know that project should have been mine.”

Zoltan scoffed.

“Work harder next time then” he whispered.

His final blow wasn't as simple as the three before it. This last blow was all his anger combined in a repetitive rhythm. First, it was a couple more punches to the face, all quick and painful blows before he turned his attention to Anton's lower body, kicking at him until he'd had enough.

“And that was for laying your filthy hands on my wife, you son of a bitch!”

Zoltan pulled out a gun... his words filling me with utter and absolute conflict.

“Now get the fuck out of here before I shoot a silver bullet hole through your pathetic skull.”

I watched Anton pick his broken body from the floor, keeping his eyes on the ground before he scurried away. I slipped behind Warren as he passed by me. The second he was gone, I let out a heavy breath and clutched at my chest again.

Warren sighed when the silence echoed around us. He squeezed my arm gently before he moved towards his friend, pouring him a glass of whiskey. Zoltan picked up the glass with his bloodied hand and my stomach flipped.

“That... was awesome...” I heard Warren chuckle. “But there was a better way to deal with that,” he added.

The place in front of me was a mess, with broken glasses everywhere along with the blood that had been spit.

“Make sure he's gone, Warr” Zoltan instructed, waving his gun around. “If he's not, get rid of him.”

Get rid of him?!

Warren nodded and walked out... probably not wanting to be on the receiving end of his Alpha's fury. I lowered myself onto the floor and hugged my knees.

“Ulyana” Zoltan called.

I remained still. I could feel my head getting light.

“Ulyana” he repeated.

I kept my head down. This was bad. Anton wasn't going to let this go. He was going to come back for me. He was going to attack when no one was around me.

And not even Zoltan James MacQuoid would be able to stop him when he returned.

✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽

✿ Zoltan's POV

I nodded politely at the Alphas of the neighboring packs and stepped away when my phone rang in my pocket. I took it out to pick up the call.

“Alpha Zoltan” Garrard interrupted as he hastened his steps towards me. “May I please have a word?”

I raised an index finger at him to give me a second before finally picking up the call.

“Yes?”

“Forgive my interruption Mr. MacQuoid, but there's been a bit of a hitch” the feminine voice on the other end narrated with panic.

“Problem?” I questioned as I glanced around the room for her.

She was standing with Claire.

Why would Geneva and Mara leave her alone with that gossip?

“Can't it wait?”

“No sir. It requires your immediate attention” Sybil said.

I sighed.

“What is this about?”

“Hawaii, sir.”

Sybil's reply was quick. Garrard lifted a yellow envelope at me and I understood that what he held contained the solution to my said problem.

“Handle it, Sybil.”

With that, I disconnected the call.

“Sorry about that, Garrard,” I told him

“Not a problem, Alpha Zoltan” he responded and handed me the envelope. “I would also like to offer you my congratulations. It was a beautiful ceremony.”

I chuckled and opened the envelope. I brought out its content. Photos, phone records, transactions... all following a specific pattern... all under one initial... pointing to one person.

That asshole.

“That's why he honored my invitation so easily. He's out to take what's mine” I said, meeting Garrard's eyes.

He nodded.

“He's not that good, Alpha Zoltan. I almost feel sorry for him.”

I scoffed nastily.

“Don't. Because I'm going to ruin him” I growled lowly.

I turned around and signaled to Warren to come with me.

“Keep my absence hidden for as long as I'm out. This won't take long” I said to Garrard before walking off with Warren.

Ten minutes and Anton was nowhere to be found.

“Do you think he's gone?” Warren asked.

“No. He can't outrun me” I replied.

We stepped back into the hall and she wasn't standing where she was when I left.

“Warren? Can we talk... please?” Claire asked, reaching our side.

“Can it wait? I'm kind of in the middle of something right now.”

My eyes roamed the place, hoping to spot her.

“No, it can't. This is very important.”

“Claire” I called her when I registered that Ulyana wasn't in the room.

She looked at me.

“Where's Ulyana?”

“I'm not sure. Last I saw her, she was headed that way” she pointed.

I followed her hand.

“Warren can we—”

“Warren come with me” I instructed, saving him from his wife.

“Thank you man” he sent me through the mind link.

We walked through the corridors. I was about to turn away when my ears picked something up.

“Let me go!”

A low growl escaped me.

“Oh shit” Warren muttered when he heard it too.

I'm going to kill him.

✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽

“Ulyana” I called again.

She had sunk to the ground, her face buried in her lap.

“Ulyana.”

She was trembling. I downed my whiskey and moved up to her.

“Get up,” I said firmly.

She ignored me.

“Ulyana, get up!”

“Leave me alone, Zoltan.”

I frowned.

“Get up! I won't ask again.”

She lifted her head.

“What is your problem, Zoltan?” her voice cracked as my body shadowed hers on the ground.

“My problem is that you don't do as you're told,” I said. “Now get up. We have a wedding reception to get back to.”

I stepped away from her and I was immediately shoved from the back.

What the...

“Screw you, Zoltan!”

“I just saved you from that asshole and you're being ungrateful?”

She scoffed.

“I'm the ungrateful one? You're the reason why he came here and put me in this situation in the first place. I don't care about what you just did, Zoltan. I just want to leave this freaking place because I am not okay!”

I chuckled.

“Did you seriously just blame me for the fact you chose a prick as your boyfr—”

“Ex” she cut me off. “And if you have a problem understanding that, then you fucking leave.”

I held onto her forearm before she could move away from me.

“You're getting a bit too confident with that mouth of yours, Ulyana” I growled. “I don‘t appreciate the way you're speaking to me and you're not going anywhere until you explain what you were thinking when you let a scum like him into your life.”

I could feel our waves of anger swirling together.

“I made a mistake, Zoltan. And I thought I had learned my damn lesson, but instead, I'm here, married, not out of will, and probably going to have to go through the same bullshit... all over again.”

I loosened my grip on her a little.

“I'm not going to thank you for what you did, you know.”

The frown settled between my brows again.

“You should have left me to deal with it on my own,” she said stubbornly, twisting out of the grip I had on her.

“Would you rather I let him take you against your will? You should be thanking me for helping you. And you should be acting a lot more grateful... but instead—”

“You didn’t help me, Zoltan” she sobbed. “You put a fucking target on my back. You claimed me in front of him, can't you see that?!”

What?!

“Men like you don't defend women like me, Zoltan. Unless you want everyone to know who I belong to... a-and... I don't want to belong to you, Zoltan. I swear, I don't.”

My face twisted when I heard her words. I flexed my jaw and stalked toward her. With every step I took toward her, Ulyana stumbled backward until her back hit the wall.

“In case you've forgotten, Ulyana, we're married now. You're my wife and I'm your husband” I growled at her. “The only reason I thought twice about my actions at the engagement party was because I'd just met Anton. And because you meant nothing to me. But now, I know him for the scum that he is, and now, you are my wife. You bear my name... you are a MacQuoid now. And nobody disrespects my own... not now, not ever. And so for as long as that promise I made out there still stands, and as long as you continue to bear my last name, I will defend what's mine.”

I couldn't hear her breathing anymore.

“I will make them all fear you, Ulyana. And if I have to start a war to prove my point that no one disrespects my wife, then so help me God... because I will do it with no regrets” I growled. So tough luck, sweetie. You're mine now.”

My fingers moved to brush over her lips.

“And if those lips touch anyone else's, ever again, I won't be so forgiving.”

My eyes stared viciously into hers. She was still not breathing and I realized I was the cause. My eyes softened all of a sudden and I stepped away from her. Her breath gushed out and flexed my knuckles that were stained with blood.

“You're all the same” I heard her say.

I didn't turn.

“You take what you want, when you want, not caring about other people... not caring about lil' ol' Ulyana” she scoffed. “I know your type, Zoltan.”

I chuckled.

“Angry, possessive, not a shred of humanity in your cold and dark soul... predictable.”

The laughter died in my throat and I turned.

“You're all the same... very predictable” she repeated.

The word angered me. I clenched my fist.

“Nothing about you will surprise me anymore... sweetie” she mimicked.

I stepped up to her in my anger and grabbed her arm. She didn't cower in fear or whimper. She just let out a small, short laugh.

“See? Predictable.”

My grip loosened immensely and I took my hand away from her. She shook her head at me.

“Come find me when you're less... you know... predictable” she said and stepped away from me.

She paused at the door.

“Oh and before you start jumping to conclusions like the rest, I'll be at the party... you know, the one for us... our wedding reception?”

I flexed my jaw.

“Yeah, that one.”

And with that, she walked out of the room.

Thank you for reading!
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Ciao
~the_atticwriter