Chapter 3 Do you really love him, Caitlyn?

I didn't want to ask about Raymond's injury or anything else. Werewolves are proud creatures, and I didn't want him to think I cared or was bothered by it.

"Ahem." Raymond's voice brought me back, and he politely avoided eye contact.

I realized my outfit was quite revealing—a tank top and shorts. "Sorry, I forgot..."

"It's okay. Get some rest." He smiled faintly.

I hurried away, not paying attention to the table edge, and stumbled!

Crap!

But the expected pain never came; I ended up in warm arms.

To be more specific, I fell into Raymond's arms. I could even smell his scent, though I couldn't quite place it.

"Be careful." His voice rumbled from his chest. Oh, wow! How could his voice sound so captivating, so close to me?

I also noticed a faint, pleasant fragrance on him... but it soon faded, replaced by something else.

"He feels like a mate to me, but it seems like an illusion," my wolf told me.

Yes, whenever I was close to Raymond, I felt my heart race, and my body would react strangely.

But my wolf didn't signal he was my mate.

"What's wrong?" Raymond asked again, concerned. I jumped up, nearly running back to my room.

I didn't understand what was happening to me.

I barely slept that night.

My dreams were restless. Once again, I dreamt of the night my parents died in the fire—silver spikes piercing my father's chest, the ground covered in crimson blood.

His wide, staring eyes seemed to be trying to tell me something.

I woke with a start, only to fall back into another nightmare—the day Jason rejected me.

The mocking voices of those people echoed around me.

Finally, I saw Raymond in his wheelchair!

Even with the mask hiding his face, I could feel his cold indifference. He looked at me and said, "You don't deserve to be Luna!"

I jolted awake, my heart pounding, the sky outside beginning to brighten.

The horizon over the sea was tinged with the red hues of sunrise.

For a moment, I couldn't tell dream from reality. It was only when I caught my reflection in the mirror that I let out a sigh of relief.

At eight in the morning, Shay knocked on my door.

"Miss Caitlyn, your wedding dress is ready," she said.

I opened the door to see a breathtakingly beautiful gown. The luxurious dress was adorned with countless tiny diamonds scattered across the skirt, making it shimmer and sparkle.

It had been so long since I'd seen something so exquisite.

"Mr. Raymond had it prepared for you," Shay said as she laid the dress down. Her smile was kind. "Do you need help putting it on?"

"That would be wonderful! I don't think I can manage such a heavy dress by myself," I replied gratefully.

With Shay's assistance, I slipped into the dress and put on my makeup. When I turned to the mirror, I barely recognized myself. The pure white gown had a long, flowing train with intricate golden rose accents adorning the chest.

With eyeshadow and eyeliner subtly enhancing my eyes, they sparkle even more brightly.

The dress hugged my figure perfectly, making me look radiant—like a precious gem catching the light.

"You look stunning," Shay said with genuine admiration.

"Thank you." It had been so long since I'd heard those words.

My parents used to praise me like this all the time. They always made me feel confident like I could shine in any room.

The wedding was simple, held on the beach in front of the villa. When I arrived, it was beautifully decorated—a modest altar draped with white gauze and adorned with white roses, with an assortment of desserts and food nearby.

There seemed to be a special witch's brew among the drinks.

I didn't like it—it was bitter and sour.

"We didn't prepare much; I hope you don't mind," Raymond said as he wheeled himself over to me.

"Not at all! It's already wonderful!" I smiled sincerely. "Since my parents passed away, no one has ever prepared something so thoughtful for me."

"Caitlyn!" Beth's sharp voice interrupted. I turned to see her walking towards us, hand in hand with Jason.

I suppressed my smile.

"Are you unhappy to see us?" Beth accused arrogantly. "Don't forget, it was my family that took you in. Otherwise, you would've ended up as some alpha's bed slave long ago."

Her eyes swept over me from head to toe, jealousy and resentment still flickering in her gaze—the same as always.

I still don't understand. Weren't we friends once?

She has everything she ever wanted now.

Why does she still treat me this way?

"My wife is not unhappy, and she welcomes your presence," Raymond said calmly, holding my hand as he addressed Beth.

I was taken aback and instinctively squeezed his warm hand in return.

But… Jason's expression seemed strange.

Raymond turned to me. "The wedding is about to start…"

"Caitlyn!" a voice, surprised and familiar, broke the tension.

It was Eileen!

"Eileen!"

We embraced tightly. Eileen was my best friend, and it had been such a long time since we'd seen each other because I hadn't been attending school.

Eileen was the daughter of the alpha of the Dogtooth Pack.

"Is this your fiancé?" Eileen asked, her eyes landing on Raymond, who sat quietly beside me.

"Yes, he is my husband, Raymond Anderson," I introduced.

Eileen pulled me aside and whispered, "Are Beth and her family forcing you to marry this… uh, rogue? He has no pack, no territory, and couldn't protect you if other werewolves attacked."

"Eileen, don't worry. I think Mr. Raymond is a good man," I reassured her.

Her expression twisted with disbelief as if she were silently screaming, Are you out of your mind?

"I'll explain later. A lot has happened recently," I said, trying to calm her down.

The wedding began shortly after.

Standing at the altar, I could feel all eyes on me. Among the crowd were people who used to be part of my pack, but they now pledged loyalty to Beth's father, Joseph.

Their gazes were filled with mockery and scorn as if laughing at the spectacle of me marrying someone like Raymond. Beth's eyes were full of smugness and provocation, daring me to break down in humiliation.

It was as if they had all decided my wedding was a farce.

Raymond leaned toward me and whispered, "Caitlyn, if you want to back out, now's your chance. You can still choose to leave."

Leave? And then what? Where could I possibly go?

I shook my head firmly and grasped his strong, steady hand. "No. I won't leave. You'll be my husband."

For a moment, I saw surprise flash in his deep emerald-green eyes.

Then, his lips curved into a gentle smile. "Alright."

The wedding went smoothly.

After exchanging our vows, it was time for the kiss. But the moment turned awkward—we had only known each other for less than three days.

My face flushed. Raymond was sitting in a wheelchair and couldn't stand, but I could.

Awkwardly, I leaned down and brushed my lips lightly against his.

The kiss was fleeting—a brief touch of warmth that lingered for just a second.

I straightened up immediately, my heart pounding.

Inside, my wolf scoffed, "Coward!"

I couldn't help but snap back, "What, should I bite his head off too?"

Still, that fleeting sensation stayed with me. I couldn't put it into words, but when I kissed Raymond, my heart raced uncontrollably.

It reminded me of how I had felt with Jason before—stronger, more intense because we were mates. That pull between us was undeniable.

But… this was different.

This unfamiliar feeling unsettled me. Raymond wasn't my mate, so why was it like this?

Feeling shy, I heard Raymond chuckle softly.

My face burned even more.

Once the ceremony ended and the music started, everyone began dancing on the beach.

I chose to sit by the shoreline instead. Raymond had left earlier, saying his leg was bothering him.

Eileen joined me, sitting down by my side. "Did you tell your grandmother about the wedding?"

Her question brought a wave of sadness over me. My grandmother was the only family I had left. After being driven out of the pack by Beth, she became a rogue.

But she started to lose her mind—she could barely recognize me anymore.

"No," I said, shaking my head. "I haven't seen her in a long time. I'm planning to talk to Raymond about visiting her soon."

"Well... are you planning to go back to school? Without Beth around, you should be able to graduate soon," Eileen asked, referring to our werewolf academy, Moon Goddess Academy. It was where we studied werewolf history, learned to shift, and trained our abilities.

"My wolf is still weak," I admitted, feeling my mood sink. If my wolf didn't regain its strength, I couldn't avenge my parents.

"Caitlyn," Jason called my name.

I turned to face him. Beth wasn't with him. My voice was cold, "What do you want?"

"I need to talk to you. Alone," Jason said.

Eileen, aware of the history between Jason and me, eyed him warily. "Shouldn't you be with Beth right now?"

"I'm not going to hurt her! I just want to talk," Jason snapped, unleashing his alpha dominance.

The force of it was overwhelming, and Eileen struggled against the pressure.

I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's fine."

Eileen hesitated; her eyes filled with concern. "Call me if you need anything," she said before reluctantly leaving.

Now, it was just Jason and me, the sound of waves crashing against the rocks filling the silence.

"Do you really love him, Caitlyn?" Jason asked, his expression complicated.