I was left in complete shock. With the help of a guard I somehow managed to stumble into my room at the end of the ceremony. There, I lowered myself into an ornate chair without a sound. My eyes were locked onto the massive ring that surrounded my ring and I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. It was a beautiful occasion, I had gotten married after a lifetime of believing that I would live and die alone on that awful farm with those disgusting owners. That was no longer true. And the rest of my life would be filled with stunning dresses that swept the floor and enough food to kill a man daily.

But now it was complete. The ceremony was finished and I was married to a man I barely knew who was a part of a species I didn't even understand. I couldn't fathom how to feel. I just stared blindly at my ring while my maids went to work, undoing everything they had done this morning. Once my hair tumbled down my shoulders they helped me off the chair. I stayed very still and very silent until I realized they had replaced my wedding gown with a loose, soft gown before attempting to exit my room.

"Where are you all going?" I asked.

They always stayed with me, quietly hovering around in case I ever needed anything. Seeing them walk towards the exit made me nervous. I didn't want to be left alone in this big castle, especially not after the event I had just been put through.

"We are leaving so the king may come and complete the marriage." The small maid answered.

I didn't quite understand what she meant until I saw the tall dark haired maid stare at her in horror and give her arm a discrete smack. Evidently, her answer had been inappropriate and that caused the dormant thoughts in my mind to come to life. Dread filled me and I took small step back, as if they were just as dangerous as the king I had just married.

"The king has requested that we spend our evening doing other duties, however, should you need assistance with anything there are two guards stationed outside your door."

The tall maid explained. Her version was much nicer, but I knew the truth now and all I could do was shake my head at the three of them.

"You can't leave me." I denied, "You're my maids and I say you can't go."

The tall maid didn't seem at all affected by my pleas, but I noticed the smallest maid flinch slightly and drop her eyes. Perhaps she knew what kind of monster the king truly was. But even though I saw pity on some of their expressions they all bowed their heads and left my room without anymore explanation.

I paced restlessly, moving from one side of the room to the other in a frantic state. I started the second the maids closed the door behind themselves and I didn't stop. I knew that I had signed up for this, I had agreed to the king's terms if he allowed me to keep my horse and to marry me. And he had done both when he didn't have to do either. I was a slave and I had been rightfully sold to him. He had been correct when he had told me that he didn't owe me anything and he could do whatever he pleased with me. And instead of doing that he had married me- even if it had been planned without my knowledge- and my old beast was happier than he had ever been on the farm. His side of the bargain had been fulfilled.

So, I was married to a man I didn't know at all and now it was time for me to uphold my side of the deal. I was to allow him to bed me until I had a son for him. But I never thought of having a child, much less raising a royal baby that was partly from another species. Yes, I would be able to give my child everything; however, I was worried for my safety. I was now married to a werewolf and my son would be from the same bloodline. I could be raising a wild animal could've been fathered by a murderous killer for all I knew.

Even if that were not the case I didn't know how to be a mother. I had never truly had a mother of my own. I knew nothing or raising anything other than piglets and chicks. How on Earth was I supposed to be turned into a competent mother that would raise the future king?

The thought of such a grim future was too much for me and I rubbed my hands over my tired face, wondering if the anxiety would kill me before the king did.

Feeling frustrated and trapped, I finally came to the conclusion that I should not sit around and wait for the king to do what he wanted with me. I had always been strong and resourceful, perhaps to a fault. Now was not the time to become meek and timid. With an affirming nod, I started towards the expensive armoire and yanked open the doors. I reached in aimlessly and pulled out a dress. By some ungodly means I managed to get myself into the concoction of heavy layers and a corset. Though I wasn't able to pull the satin strands tight I did pull on them enough to get the heavy dress to stay up. I slipped my feet back into the cloud-soft slippers I had worn for the wedding ceremony and flung open my bedroom doors.

Two armed guards immediately came to the door, their eyes on me. Though they were all trained very well I could see a small amount of confusion in their expressions. With this large dress, my wild blonde hair and my cosmetic free face I didn't doubt that was I was quite the scene.

"I would like to go out for a ride." I stated.

The two guards looked at each other, neither one sure of what they should do or say, but the same one who had led me to the king this morning spoke up first, "It's late; perhaps it's best if your ride waits until tomorrow morning. I believe the king would like you to stay in for the rest of the night."

"Did he tell you that he wanted me to stay in my bedroom all night?" I demanded my frustration and panic growing.

The guard averted his kind eyes, "No."

"Then take me to the stables unless you want me to tell him you kept me here against my will."

"No, of course not, we can leave immediately if you would like." He offered, extending his arm towards me.

I took it, trying not to look to eager. This was easier than I had thought, I had been worried the guards would see right through my plan and keep me tucked away in my room until the king came. Now all I had to do was avoid the king and my bedroom until morning. Then I could concoct a new plan.

The guard and I set off together.

"What is your name?" I asked, my question breaking the silence that surrounded us while we padded down the empty hallways.

"James Fredricks." He answered.

James suited him incredibly well. He was tall and slim. His face, though handsome, always held an expression of softness and comfort. There was nothing imposing or mean about his light brown hair and chocolatey eyes. Even with a sword strapped to his hip didn't upset me. I felt better and more comfortable walking with him down the halls than I did with my own maids in my bedroom.

We walked the rest of the way to the stables quietly. I noticed that he looked at me out of the corner of his eye when I shuddered. I pretended to be focused on the garden that surrounded me now that we were outside, but I couldn't see much in the moonlight anyway. James opened his mouth as if he was about to say something to me, but he seemed to rethink his words and quickly sealed his lips shut with a conflicted expression. I waited patiently for him to get the courage to say what was on his mind, but he didn't utter a thing, even after we entered the stables.

"I don't want to ride Jester." I denied, when I was led to my old horse. I did give his velvety muzzle a gentle rub though, "He needs more rest, his journeys to and from the castle took a lot out of him, I want to see the best horse you have."

"Very well." James murmured, bowing his head before leading me down the stable aisles.

It was silly, I should've gotten over the amazing things the palace had to offer by now, but it seemed every day I was struck by how beautiful something was. Tonight, it was the stables. Not a fleck of straw or sawdust was seen outside of the stalls as a young boy was always sweeping away any debris. The water buckets for the animals were more expensive than the rusty pot I had drank out of back on the farm and all of the horses had gleaming coats, untangled manes and shinning hooves. It made my heart warm when I thought about Jester being spoiled until his last days.

James guided me to a stall near an exit and once I saw the horse inside I didn't pay much attention to him at all, even when he bowed deeply, rose and walked further away.

The horse inside the stall was absolutely breath-taking and made my poor old Jester look like a mangy mutt. The horse was such a deep colour of brown it appeared to be black. The coat shone both from being regularly groomed and because of the good, healthy state the horse was kept in. There was not a single fleck of white on the animal, not a facial marking or a sock that moved down the long legs. Even the hooves were as black as night. I had been around horses all my life, they were a necessity to running a farm, but I had never seen one this beautiful, this powerful, or this elegant. And the horse watched me back just as intently as I watched it. The dark ears were pricked and nostrils were flared slightly, trying to get my scent. When it stepped forward to get a better look and perhaps a touch I could see the muscles rippling beneath the silky coat.

"Cleopatra." I breathed, carefully attempting to sound the plaque out.

As if she knew her name the mare tossed her head up and down and let out a proud sound.

I giggled at her display and reached into the stall, placing my hand against her neck. "You look like you're ready to take me away." I murmured to her.

Suddenly, I felt something or someone touch the back of my loose corset. I attempted to spin around, ready to shout at the stable hand who dared to lay a hand on me, but firm hands grabbed my hips, stopping me from moving at all. Then the fingers were back of the knot of my corset, undoing it.

The gown began to slip.

"My horse isn't going to be taking you anywhere." The king hissed in my ear.