Word Count: 1934

~Aesira

This manor is incredible.

My exploration has lead me to a massive library that is two storey's tall. I know Maven warned against me leaving my room, but I hardly care.

I'm not sure what she could do if she found me.

The library doesn't smell old and dusty like my fathers personal collection back home. It smells like the pages of books, and something fresh and citrusy. Everywhere I look there are floor to ceiling shelves lined with endless books.

I've just found what will keep my entertained for the foreseeable future.

"Hello."

I whirl around, my heart launching into my throat.

"Oh fuck." I take in the man standing awkwardly between shelves. "Don't sneak up on a girl."

He smiles sheepishly, adjusting the round frames of his glasses.

"My bad." He rubs the back of his neck. "I was just wondering if you were lost?"

He couldn't seem less sure of himself. His suit is old and ill-fitted, and is a gaudy shade of old fashioned brown with a speckled grey shirt beneath. His light oak coloured hair is trimmed in odd places, hanging down over his ears and temples.

"Lost? No..."

He cringes at himself, shaking his head. "Oh sorry. We don't get girls like you in here often at all."

"Great, is this more Ashwood prejudice? Because frankly I'm over it." I fold my arms over my chest, pinning him with scathing glare that makes his eyes widen and his throat tighten.

The maid spitting on my feet was enough. I hope I don't run into her again.

"Ashwood?" The males face drains of blood, and for a moment, I'm concerned he's going to choke on the words he's trying to spit out. "Oh, you're her." n

My brow quirks. "Her?"

"Alpha Everin's bride," he hastens to add. "I am so sorry. I didn't mean to offend you."

He angles his head, cursing himself under his breath. I watch him, amused. I wonder how much socialisation he gets outside of this impressive library.

"By all means, offend away. It's not like everyone else isn't." I approach the first shelf, tipping my head to take it all in.

He lingers behind me. "Well I'm Mason. I look after this library."

"Is there a list of books I am and am not allowed to read in here?" I ask distractedly, pulling a leatherbound book from its place, dragging my hand down its beautiful cover.

I really don't feel like learning about the history of this pack. Not when most of it will be bolstered by lies and propaganda.

"Actually yes, but I won't worry about it." He gestures around. "Pick what you like."

I smile, a little surprised. "Okay, thanks."

Placing the book back, I pick another. It's a book about art in this pack. For a few moments, I flip through curiously, until a chapter detailing portraits of previous Alpha's and Luna's makes me slam it shut again.

A thought slinks into my mind. I put the book away and then to Mason, who looks like he was trying to back away into the shadowy aisles.

"Mason, can I ask you some questions?"

"Go ahead." He nods, approaching me again, wringing his hands in front of himself.

"Can marriages here be ended? Do both parties need to agree, or..." I wave my hand, hoping he'll complete my thought for me.

A contingency plan is always good to have. If my mission fails and I cant kill Everin, I'll need another way out of here without giving him the legal right to drag me right back.

"No, marriages can be ended by either party for whatever reason," he says without pause.

"Hm, interesting."

That's surprising. I thought their laws would be harsher, especially for an Alpha's bride. It's a relief, though, and I'm not ungrateful for it.

Worst case scenario, I can end this marriage and disappear.

"Are you regretting telling me that?" I ask. I don't know him, but I don't particularly want him suffering for my questioning.

He frowns. "Why?"

"Because it means I can end my marriage to your Alpha at any point I desire. I doubt he wants me to know that." I stalk to the next set of shelves, silently collating the titles in case I want to return here later.

Mason follows close behind me, his uncertainty in demeanour clear.

"Alpha Everin may have his motivations, but I don't believe it's fair for you to not know your...options." He shrugs with one shoulder.

I like him, I've decided. I can use him.

"Tell me about a wedding to an Alpha. What does that entail?"

"It follows the same traditions as any other marriage in this pack," he explains, tucking his hands behind his pack.

That isn't much of a relief. I imagine the ceremony and reception will involve a bevy of people I don't know and who want me dead. They'll all stare and remark upon how unworthy I am to marry their Alpha while I can only stand there and take it.

Which I've never been good at.

"Anything...different to what I should know?" I ask absently.

"No, weddings are a universal standard. It begins with a ceremony and moves into a reception." He's been purposefully evasive, I can tell. There is something about the process that differs from what I'm used to back home.

I turn away from the shelf I've been inspecting, crossing my arms over my chest.

"And the wedding night?"

A bright flood of crimson crawls up his neck, staining his face throughly. It's as if I just pulled my skirt up so he can check the colour of my panties.

"Well...see, that's a bit different." He clears his throat, pulling at the collar of his shirt. "Now, how do I explain...."

"Go ahead, Mason."

I glance over at the entrance of the library, where Everin stands, watching us. His deep voice with that thick accent has filled the room, immediately setting me on edge.

"Everin," I say begrudgingly.

"Alpha, good day," Mason greets rigidly, like he's been caught doing something he shouldn't. I suppose talking conversationally to an enemy qualifies as that. "I was simply sharing some history with your bride to prepare her for her nuptials. I hope that is okay."

"It's fine, Mason. Tell Aesira here about our wedding night tradition." Everin leans a shoulder against the strong wooden frame at the entrance.

"What is it?" I ask warily. He looks amused, which isn't a good sign.

Mason shifts from foot to foot. Poor guy wants to melt in the floor.

"There isn't a traditional consummation involved," he starts, gesturing stiffly in a way that doesn't suit his speech at all.

"I don't have to sleep with you?" I sigh contently as I look back at Everin. "Thank the goddess."

It's a small mercy. I was fully prepared to let him fuck me if it ended with him marking me. I'm not sure how gentle or giving he would bother being with me if it came down to it, so avoiding that idea entirely is a relief.

"How you proceed with the night is up to you and your partner." Sweat is beginning to gather above Mason's brow. "But one goal must be...reached, in order to achieve a spiritual recognition of the marriage."

Everin sighs. "Tell her already."

"Yes, tell me, Mason." I roll my hand in a summoning motion, hoping to coax the words out of his mouth.

He squeezes his eyes shut like he's about to eat something he doesn't like. "On your wedding night, you must reach climax but Alpha Everin must not."

I gape at him, the words taking a minute to process. Then, I whip around to glare at an amused looking Everin. Is this a set up to embarrass me or something?

"Are you serious?" I grit out.

"It's true," he says breezily. I don't want to believe him, but this pack seems so ridiculous, I wouldn't be surprised if this were how things are done.

"I know how to take care of myself, so wipe that smirk off your face," I snap at him.

His smile doesn't go anywhere. That wicked amusement is so aggravating my muscles burn from the effort of restraining myself.

"Actually, I have to cause it," he informs me, with what is clearly with great enjoyment.

I wipe my hair back off my face, hoping the blood hasn't visibly rushed to my face. This is unbelievable. I feel like they are both playing a joke on me, but Mason looks too mortified to not be serious.

"Why is this a thing?" I hiss.

"It's a long story. One that involves an ancestral curse and what not." Mason says it so casually, like that's all the explanation that's needed.

"You may back out from this arrangement now, Aesira, if you're not comfortable." The taunt in Everin's voice only stokes the anger simmering below the surface of my skin.

I don't care what I have to do to accomplish my goal. He can't throw anything at me now to dissuade me. Not when it will be so joyous to watch him choke on poison at my feet, his eyes wide and doused in fear.

Then, he will know I have won.

"No way. I'm doing this," I remark. "Whatever it takes."

Mason drops his head, muttering something under his breath. I think he's commending me for my bravery, or perhaps he thinks I'm stupid for going through with this.

I look at Everin again. "Are you going to mark me?"

His eyes glitter darkly. "Why? Scared?"

The way he says it makes me think I should be. If, by some small chance, he marked me and the poison doesn't transfer for him, I'll be linked to him forever. I would be his in every possible way.

"I'm not scared of anything."

He shrugs. "Then you have nothing to worry about."

He pushes off the doorframe, walking away. My body sags in relief at the lack of his proximity.

I whirl back around to face Mason. "What are the rules on marking in this pack?"

"No rules. It's done at the couples discretion," he muses.

Of course, which means it's entirely up to Everin. I'll just have to hope he wants to possess me, to mark me as a message to my father. I don't like that this is up to chance, though.

He scratches the back of his neck, gaze trained on the ground. "If you want to continue research of any kind, feel free to come here."

"Alright, I will." I'm surprised he wants anything to do with me. I'm glad anyway. He could be valuable.

"I'm deeply fascinated by Ashwoods and your way of life," he admits. "If you ever want to share anything with me, I'm open to it.

I narrow my eyes, wondering if Everin somehow anticipated I would come down here, and set Mason up to this.

"I'm not falling for that."

"I mean it." He cringes. "For my own personal study, of course."

Maybe I can trust him, maybe I can't. Either way, it's safer to assume Everin has his hand in this somehow.

"It was nice to meet you, Mason."

I get the feeling that if I'm going to survive here, I'm going to need him.

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~Midika 💜🐈‍⬛