As we walk over to the reception hall hand in hand, I look over to Nala. She keeps her eyes low and I notice how thick and full her long black lashes are. I also notice how skinny she is. Is she wearing a corset? I can't tell but she seems too skinny.
I look forward again and scowl. Why am I paying so much attention to her? She's only my wife in name only. I'll have to make myself clear soon so she doesn't expect anything. Who knows if she's going to play her father's spy? I'm sure he told her to act like this on purpose.
Once we get inside, I lead her to a table and help her sit down. "Sit here and don't go and bother anyone," I mutter. She looks at me with those big blue eyes and I feel a pang of guilt. Those eyes remind me of... I shake off the thought and turn away. Why think about it? He's dead after all.
I walk off to the front. "Thank you all for coming!" I announce my voice holding a tone of authority that silences everyone. "Please enjoy yourselves. Eat, drink, and laugh! This will come to an end when Nala and I head out." I say. As I step down, I hear everyone snicker and gossip about our wedding night. My skin crawls at the idea of sleeping with everyone but my wife. I go over to where I left Nala and sit down.
She's still looking down seeming to be shy and submissive. Ha... what a fake. I don't say this but I do start to mutter. "Listen here." Nala blinks and gives her full attention. I wish she'd stop looking at me with those big eyes. "This is a marriage in name only. Don't expect anything from me. I do not love you. I never will either. Don't get any ideas. I don't care what your father has planned but I'm not falling for it. Stay out of sight. Don't appear in front of me unless I call for you." I look her in the eye this time. "Do I make myself clear?"
Nala stares back at me before breaking eye contact. "... I understand." She says softly. I feel a bit taken aback. Isn't this... too easy? I stare at her but she says nothing more. She seems to willingly accept my words. Am I that easy to read? Does she accept her fate? I grit my teeth and sigh. No, this is all an act. I can't believe anything she does or says. She's learned from the best.
"Come on." I stand again and yank her up before frowning. Why is her arm so skinny? I ignore it and lead her over to the dance floor. "You know how to dance right?" Nala nods. "Y-yes I do." I know curtly and pull her close. "Good. We have to take our first dance... but remember this. This will also be our last." She places a hand on my shoulder and takes my hand while I put a hand on his waist.
As we dance I can't take my eyes off of her. She keeps her eyes down but I can't help but notice something else. She's not wearing a corset. I can easily feel her hip bone too. Why is she so thin? She should be eating well of the Okazaki princess so what's the problem? I know women fast and go on diets before a wedding but isn't this too much?
As we dance I start to smell a sweet scent. What is that? It makes me feel so hungry... and hot. I feel Nala tense and look down at her. Her face is flush and she won't meet my eyes. Is that scent... coming from her? As I look around, I notice people are looking uncomfortable. "U-um... m-my king?" I look back down at her. "Please... your pheromones are strong..." my eyes widen.
Did I let them out without realizing it? I clear my throat and pull away. "Go back and sit down... also control yours too." I turn away and walk off. Her pheromones aren't even that strong... she must be a recessive. Why do they affect me so much? I've never felt anything but disgust from other omegas.
No... this has to be a game. Sato is an alpha himself so he'd know how to make his daughter look and smell the way I like. I grab a glass of champagne from a waiter and gulp it down. I grimace and look back at him. "Bring me some whiskey." I need to get my mind off of her. I looked over and see that she followed my orders and went back to sit at the table. Good... at least she can follow simple instructions.
I continue to drink even after I announce to everyone the reception is over. I watch as some maids take Nala away but not before her father comes over and speaks with her. I grip my glass hard. I was right. She must have something up her sleeve... when Sato walks away, he catches me staring and smirks. Bastard... I grit my teeth and get some more whiskey. I can't go to Kadae like this so I go to an empty guest room to drink.
I planned to sleep here after some more drinks... so how did I end up somewhere else the next morning?
My life has been nothing but pain. Father punished me every day of my life for as long as I can remember. My birth killed my mother and his wife so I became her replacement. Naomi Okazaki was a beautiful woman... a strong dominant omega who could use electricity at will, a power only those of the Okazaki bloodline could have. Father even took her surname as was tradition.
Even though I'm not a woman, I have the powers. The catch? It hurts when I use them and even when I don't use them it hurts. The electricity builds up inside of me. During lightning storms, I feed off of it making it even worse. I've only willingly used my powers once... and that was to protect my childhood friends, Ikuto and Akita.
A sibling pair both with dark hair and purple eyes. During all the abuse and being treated as a replacement for my mother... a wife to Father... meeting them was the only good thing that happened. They were being abused too. Ikuto always had bandages and broken bones while Akita... poor little Akita... she was being groomed. The last time I saw her, her tummy was getting bigger. That was what killed her too.
Why am I mentioning them? Well, Father announced something shocking to me. "You're getting married to the king tomorrow." I stared at him like he had two heads. I'm being fitted for a dress today like always as Father liked to dress me up as a Lolita doll. "... I'm getting married." I echoed dumbly. "But... the king is..." Ikuto had become the king years ago. He has a family: a wife and newborn twins. Why am I suddenly marrying him?
"You remember Kenichi right?" I shuddered. Of course, I remembered him. He's Ikuto's father. "Well, we agreed to have his oldest son and my daughter marry each other in the figure. Now that you're of age, it's time." He smirked in amusement. He loved this. "Since you're an omega and... well trained... you'll be perfect as a pretty little bride. You can even produce a couple of children for him too."
I grimaced at the idea. Yes... Ikuto was and still is the man I love. I haven't seen him since Akita's funeral, but he will always have my heart. He was the first person to show me kindness and give me something to look forward to instead of just being Father's wife all the time.
On the day of the wedding, I'm nervous with butterflies in my stomach. Will Ikuto recognize me? Or is he expecting me as I used to be... as Naki instead of Nala? The maid that help me get dressed looks concerned as they see the state I'm in.
Because of both my powers and the fact I was starved a lot as a child, I can't eat much. I don't even feel hunger anymore and forget to eat so I'm very thin. I'm not exactly skin and bones. As I look at myself in the mirror, I think I'm getting a bit chubby. Being conditioned to be doll-like and petite, I always see myself as a little chubby though. I don't think about it and no one asks as they put on my dress.
In the mirror I see my little brother peeking in on me. His mismatched eyes are wide and fearful, but when he sees me watching him, he scowls and runs off. He is Father's favorite... when I look at him, my skin crawls. I'm haunted by the pain of that night... the wails after being split open. I can't bring myself to love him... every time I see him, I can't feel anything but fear. How could I be afraid of a little thing like him? My baby brother... Ayato.
He doesn't like me either though and always picks on me. He gets praise from Father when he manages to hurt me. One time he threw a plate at my head and made me bleed. At first, he was fearful but then Father praised him for it and all the fear vanished. The darkness in those eyes only brought fear into my heart.
Once I'm dressed and ready, Father walks in. His green eyes go over my body and I feel like he's undressing me with my eyes. How sick... he then smirks. "It's time to go. While I hate letting you go... I think this will be the best thing for everyone." For him to be this happy... that means Ikuto doesn't want this. He doesn't know it's me... if I told him, would he be happy? Would he believe me?
"Don't do anything stupid?" I tense as Father pulls me close. "Let's go, Nala." He purrs that name like it's sweet honey and I shudder. How disgusting... as he walks down the hall and the doors open... my breath hitches. There he is... those purple eyes... this cool feeling... he's grown up to be a handsome young man. As I'm given to him, I can see him much better... and my heart sinks.
He's so indifferent... and he looks angry. It's clear that he doesn't know who I am... and even when he takes the veil off, there's no recognition. Nini... why can't you see it's me? It's Naki! Please... please don't hate me...
What do you think of "Nala's" POV?
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