FIVE YEARS LATER…….

BAILEY POV

It’s Nirvana Palace.

The car pulls to a stop and a valet opens the back door. Natasha and i, got out.

Natasha has worked my ash blonde hair into a loose, romantic up do that looks tousled and free despite remaining entirely stationary no matter how much I might shake my head.

A delicate halo of spun silver wire studded with winking white diamonds weaves through my soft curls, matching the crystal rhinestones clustered at the hem of my gray tulle overskirt. The gems rise and disperse liking fading constellations, and the silver silk layer beneath glows like the face of the moon.

It’s not my dress, it’s not how I would have worn my hair, and this is very much not a party I want to be at but I just had to since Natasha instructed.

After all that happened to me five years ago, I was actually not a social person. Tho I ran away from my past and came to leave in Nirvana Wolf pack, it doesn’t seems I’ve moved on fully.

“Come along,” Natasha whispers with a tight smile, nudging me forward.

She was a close friend I found when I was banished five years ago. She has proven herself worthy to be my friend.

My strappy silver heels are already digging into my feet as we walked inside. The palace was full of the pack members already.

I sighed and settled down in a table beside Natasha.

She giggled, waiting for the arrival of the Alpha King.

All of a sudden, the mumbles and chatter at the table quieted down and everyone at the table, shifted their position towards the door as surely the Alpha was near.

Someone gulped as the clicking sounds from the heels of dress shoes gradually loudened, and the chandelier flickered as the doors began opening.

A rush of frigid air entered the room and my nose inhaled a scent of evergreen, like from the forests in the northern part of our continent.

The cold air halted and everyone waited to release their breath. I saw a shadow cast over the table as light entered from the hallway. A vivid outline of a defined face entered into my view.

Alpha King Leonardo Lionel had arrived.

He looked around and immediately identified the empty seat next to me.

I swallowed as he started moving my way.

Now that he was in the room, I could see him clearly. His hair was midnight black and wavy and his eyebrows dark like charcoal. A muted scar ran from the peak of his right eyebrow and ran through his perfectly shaped nose.

His jawline was rigid with a five-o-clock shadow. Then I caught myself staring at his lips—they were plump and elegantly shaped, however, what drew my attention was their color.

Like garnet, I thought.

He was absolutely handsome, however, for reasons I didn’t know, all I could feel was fear.

As he walked towards me, every step he took made my heart thump louder.

This was Alpha Leonardo Lionel. A ruthless Alpha king feared by all.

Everyone knew him: the most bloodthirsty hound in all of Nirvana !

Most people referred to him as a killing machine, a warrior bred and born.

It was even said that his wolf’s eyes were tinted scarlet red that night.

Violence was in his blood. He wasn’t a royal in the slightest.

Tho violence, he was undoubtedly hunky and handsome. I noticed that his golden brown pupils were piercing directly into my eyes.

How come he noticed me amidst the crowd?

Or was I hallucinating?

He made long, towering strides over to the empty seat next to mine. His feet drawn forward as he walked, but his eyes were still focused on mine. At every angle, his steely gaze enthralled me, but made my core shiver at the same time.

My heartbeat slowed to a frosted pace as he was getting close, and it was so quiet in the room as if nobody dared release their breath.

And he certainly took his time to reach his chair.

As the prince rounded the table’s corner, he walked resolutely toward my chair on his way to his seat. All of a sudden, an icy cold touch made every hair on my body stand.

His left hand ran along the back of my headrest, his nails scraping against my exposed skin, and his fingers touched my bare neck.

A chill shot up my spine. How could someone’s hand feel this cold?

He halted behind me, and then inhaled a deep breath as he towered above my silken hair. I didn’t know if he was smelling my locks or the food. When he released his breath, a draft of his snowy breath chilled my ears.

His touch and his breath made every muscle in my core tighten.

I clasped my hands tightly on my lap, squeezing relentlessly, hoping to get a hold over my body.

I must have been too nervous. I told myself to calm down, but to no avail.

The prince finally took his seat, not adjusting himself at all as he sat down. His posture was perfectly erect.

I finally exhaled, trying to manage my breathing so it wasn’t too loud.

Then I realized I was surrounded by his scent. It was an aroma of sandalwood and evergreen, an intoxicating wintry blend from the north. It permeated my nostrils more than the array of finely cut steaks, cheeses, breads or caviar had, and my lungs were intoxicated by it.

I could barely breathe and horror flooded through me.

My body started to tremble uncontrollably. I lowered my gaze and pushed my hands down on my thighs to stop myself from shaking, so that hopefully no one could sense my anxiousness.

MATE!

The realization hit me.

I peered over and caught a glimpse of his face, which once was cold and frosted, now had signs of life underneath with the main vein pulsating in his forehead. His throat seemed tense and stiff.

His head tilted towards me as if trying to discern the scent.

He might have noticed. Everyone in the room watched us and I heard my heart pounding even louder.

Coming here tonight was another mistake that I made.

After what seems like hours, he finally looked away.

I noticed his black-twill blazer which rode up his forearm, showcasing his toned, defined muscles, his skin tanned and rugged. Even his fingers, the way they wrapped around each other were intimidating and laced with battle scars.

With his action, the rest of the guests in the room put down their silverware.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his medallion orbs narrowed, and his gaze locked on me again.

I swallowed hard and felt like I was his prey. He wasn’t aggressive in the typical sense but every single part of me screamed that I should stay away from this man.

Yet, his deliberate movements, his enigmatic gaze, and his mystifying persona threw me into a whirlwind. His silence and elegant brutism bewitched me and I just couldn’t resist being drawn in by my dangerous predator.

Suddenly he stood up and took slow steps to me.

My eyes slowly widened and everyone in the room gasped.

The officer who spoke before murmured, “King Leonardo…” but the King deliberately ignored him.

With a straight face, and a flat tone, he announced, “I, Alpha Leonardo Lionel of Nirvana pack, accept her l as my wife.”

I gasped. Did he just accepted me???