Avicil never forgets three things.
His enemies. He never forgets them until he snaps their throats.
His promises. He takes all his promises seriously and fulfills them no matter what.
And lastly, the woman who dared to walk away from a wedding with him.
Kiara.
Avicil knew he was a catch. Corkiness aside, he was very self aware.
He knew he was very good looking and sought after by everyone. Everyday, women throw themselves at his feet… despite all the rumors of him being responsible for his past wives deaths.
She's the only one who's ever dared to do the complete opposite. She ran away from him instead. And since then, he promised himself that he'd have her no matter what.
Not for pleasure, but to make her suffer.
Seven years ago, he agreed to that deal from Micah, a crook alpha who believes no one sees through his bullshit.
Micah came to him with the offer to wed his youngest daughter to him in exchange for merging their packs together. Back then, Avicil's pack wasn't as big, so it was a great deal, cause Micah might be a crook but he was affiliated with a lot of powerful people who were on his side.
Avicil hasn't even paid any mind to the woman being married off to him, having heard from his betas that she had no designation and lacks a scent. He planned to get married to her on their wedding day and then order her to never try to get into his bed if she wanted to keep her head.
But that never got to happen cause she fucking ran away. And he hated her ever since.
His main reason for hating her, was because he saw her that night while she fled… but of course, she had no idea.
She had looked so flustered as she ran through the woods, a suitcase in her grasp, while he was between the bushes, in his wolf form.
She was the prettiest little thing he has ever set his eyes on and he remembered being stunned for a bit.
The scent that had been emitting from her had made his mouth water, he hadn't smelt anything that sweet before.
He hadn't even known she was his runaway bride until the next morning. So, that night, he was transfixed. His wolf had been on edge, unable to get enough of her scent and wanting them to instantly claim her as theirs. Avicil didn't give into those urges, and only quietly tailed her while she ran as fast as her small legs could carry her.
She didn't even know that someone had ran after her that night when she fled, trying to kill her. Avicil stopped the man before he could get to her, tearing his throat out in his wolf form. He hadn't even realize he moved until after the deed was done. Then he felt so mad at himself, for losing control over a damn fucking stranger.
He's never been a compassionate alpha, and people feared him for that. The fact that he killed to protect a literal stranger made him so disturbed and he blamed the stranger for that, for affecting him and his wolf with her scent that much.
Imagine his shock when he realized the next morning that the stranger he protected the previous night, was none other than his bride who ran away a night before their wedding.
He felt a lot of things at that moment, shock, disbelief and anger.
He promised himself there and there, that he'll have her no matter what, no matter how long it takes, then he'll make her pay for that night where he lost control for the first time, and for ridiculing him in front of thousands of guests.
As he stepped into the large hall where tonight's party was being hosted to celebrate his pack's anniversary, he caught that scent instantly. He never forgot how she smelt, despite it being long years ago.
Roses, honey, citrus… combined together.
Ares, His wolf panted within him, coming to the surface at once. "She's here!" He gushed happily. "Let's go find her and mark her!"
Avicil rolled his eyes, irritated. "We're doing no such thing." He bit out as his eyes searched the crowd. His wolf whined in disappointment within him but he ignored Ares.
His wolf should know better, because while she was here and he had agreed to marry her again— after her husband kicked her out according to all the headlines, it wasn't because of anything his wolf might be hoping.
His only quest here was to teach her a lesson and make her suffer.
His eyes landed on her at that very moment, and his breath… slowed down.
She was just as pretty as he remembered, looking like she barely aged. Her black dress clung to her body like a second skin, and her skin was so pale, almost too pale. Her blonde hair framed her face delicately and her large green eyes scanned everywhere. By the slight tremor in her body, he wondered if she was nervous.
Well, he didn't care. If she was already nervous, then she has no idea of what's in store for her.
He approached her, intending on introducing himself and then taking her away to go seal their sham marriage, because no way would he throw an actual wedding for this. It wasn't a real marriage after all.
However just as he got closer to her, she turned around at the very moment and crashed into his chest.
A sharp whiff of her scent hit him square in the face and he felt his fangs start to ache as the scent filled his lungs. What the fuck… why does her scent fuck with his head so much? Heck, she wasn't even supposed to have a scent if he remembered correctly, having no designation and all.
She pulled away after gasping, then spilled her wine over his suit.
At this point, everyone had already stopped what they were doing to stare at them with their eyes widened and their spines straight.
"Oh my gosh, she's done it!" Someone whispered.
"He'll snap her throat." Another one uttered."
"A freak dared to ruin alpha avi's outfit? Oh she's so over."
Avicil let those words roll over him as he kept staring down at her, watching as a handful of emotions crossed her gorgeous face.
"Oh shit." Her plump lips parted as a shock cry spilled past her lips.
Her hands shook as she patted his suit awkwardly, or attempted to— before he caught her wrist.
"No touching."
She whimpered, eyes blown wide as she nodded fast, stuttering out an apology. "I- I'm so sorry."
He was certain she recognized him as her new husband-to-be. He enjoyed the terrified look brewing in her eyes, he could almost taste it.
"Of course you are, little bird." He husked out lowly, a grin tugging at his lips.
She gasped, her face flushing as she tried to pull her arm from his grasp, but it was pointless, cause he was way stronger.
Footsteps echoed around them, then Micah hurried forward through the crowd, looking perplexed. "Alpha Avicil, oh my goodness, I apologize on my daughter's behalf." He bowed his head as he spoke.
"I'll deal with her quickly." He added and turned to his daughter, backhanding her so fast before Avicil could react.
Gasps shot through the crowd.
Kiara looked stunned, her large eyes blown wide, then tears slowly filled it. Her delectable scent soured.
Avicil waited for a pleased feeling to come over him but it never did. Instead, he could feel anger shimmering within him, while his wolf was shaking with so much rage, wanting to rip out Micah's throat right now.
Avicil tried not to dwell on the wounded look on Kiara's face, shoving that image out of his mind, and forcing himself to calm down. It was none of his concern.
"It's fine, Micah." Avicil finally said, having to bite the words out.
He was still yet to release Kiara's wrist and he faced her again. She was pointedly staring down at her feet, her small shoulders hunched. At this point, the crowd have mostly returned to their previous businesses, but they were still staring subtly.
He let go of her wrist just as her father spoke. "I'll like to introduce you to my daughte—"
"That won't be necessary, Micah." Avicil cut him off sharply, a hand held up. He could still feel anger simmering within him over witnessing Micah hit his daughter like that.
He faced Kiara again as he spoke. "Let's step outside for a bit, we need to have a talk."