The Unwanted Bride Of Atticus Fawn

~CARTER~

I always knew Scarlett was beautiful, but this is the most beautiful I’ve ever seen her.

All I could think about was how much I loved her as I watched her walk down the aisle towards me. She had on the most elegant wedding dresses I’d ever seen and everything about her sparkled like never before.

I could have pictured this day a million times in my head and still, it wouldn’t have compared to seeing her now.

I knew she didn’t want to marry me, and I was the only one to blame. I convinced her that I didn’t care for her; I made her think that I was the biggest a*****e in the world. I did what I thought was the right thing to protect her from me.

What would happen when the next full moon appears? I still didn’t know what was wrong with me. I was afraid that I would go after a different woman. If that happened, I would never be able to look Scarlett in her eyes again.

There were so many risks involved with marrying her. However, I was being selfish today. I wasn’t marrying Scarlett because she was pregnant; I was marrying her because I wanted her, and I didn’t want another man to have the chance of ever loving her like I did.

I would never give her up after today. However, I still didn’t deserve her, and I didn’t want to confess my feelings until I was sure that she wouldn’t hate me after finding out the truth about me and my family.

All thoughts leave my mind when she finally joins me, and the ceremony begins. She’s even more beautiful up close. It took every bit of strength inside of me not to lean forward and pull her into my arms.

She smelled amazing. Her scent was powerful; it made me want her like crazy.

What was wrong with me? I felt like she had me under a spell. I felt like I had to have her or lose my damn mind.

I can’t stop staring at her.

Pregnancy agrees with her; she has a beautiful glow on her face that shines even through her eyes. Outsiders still didn’t know that she was pregnant, and we didn’t plan on telling anyone. However, soon enough, they would all know the truth. I didn’t care about that; the only thing that bothered me was the rumors that would follow immediately. They would all say I was forced to marry her because I got her pregnant. But only I knew that it wasn’t the truth. Even Scarlett thinks that I married her because I had no choice.

Hopefully, one day, I could tell her the truth without fearing she would leave me.

The moment that we both say I do, I know that she’s mine.

She was now a Prince.

f**k.

That made me happy.

Happy wasn’t even enough to describe how good this made me feel.

She still isn’t looking at me, but again, I know it’s my fault. She would keep avoiding me for as long as she could. I deserved it after what I did to her.

“You may k**s the bride.”

I was waiting for those words.

I knew I didn’t deserve the chance to touch and k**s her again after what I took from her, but I would be a madman if I didn’t take this opportunity. I cup her cheek in my hand and press my lips against hers. The second I taste her, I lose all control. A low growl escapes my mouth, and I can’t stop myself as I pick her up into my arms and deepen the k**s.

Scarlett isn’t kissing me back like she usually does, and though it hurts, I can feel the wild beating of her heart; it’s the reminder that I needed to know that she wasn’t as unaffected by my k**s as she wanted me to think.

When I finally break the k**s, our eyes meet.

You’re mine now, and I’m never letting you go. I didn’t say those words out loud, but I knew she could read it in my eyes.

“Welcome to the family, Scarlett.” My mother welcomed her, and I was grateful that everyone was so welcoming to her. I wanted her to feel as comfortable as possible around my family. I didn’t want her to regret marrying me. “We loved Clara when Carter first introduced her to us, and I know we’re going to love you as well. Thank you for giving our family a chance. I will treat you like I treat my daughter. This is my promise to you.”

Scarlett looks grateful for my mother’s kind words. I feel a sense of pride as I watch them hug each other.

When Nicole stepped forward to congratulate us, I knew that I had to be on high alert.

I didn’t trust that woman, not even a little. Alaric is right behind her, and I can see him tense a little. He knows just as well as I do that she couldn’t be trusted. He was the one who’d been married to her; he knew her better than everyone else.

“Congratulations, Scarlett,” she says. So far, so good.

“Thank you,” Scarlett responds with a kind smile. I wanted to step between them and protect her from whatever foolish words came from Nicole.

“Enjoy it while it lasts. I was once in your place; I was the first daughter-in-law. I know what to expect from this family now, but you will soon find out as well. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

My entire body goes completely still as a stone.

Scarlett looks at me and f**k me. What the hell am I supposed to tell her now?

What the f**k was wrong with my brother’s crazy wife?