Rudolph's outrageous marriage offer

Marsai's POV



We all turned to look at Rudolph, waiting for him to say something. To give his own opinion.

He scanned all our faces, before leaning back on his chair with a deep sigh.



"Elena," he called for her to raise both eyebrows at him in response."Leah, will the both of you please excuse us? I'd like to have a word with Marsai—alone"



I looked up at Rudolph to my friends and back. He would like to talk with me, alone? Why?



"I don't understand," Elena voiced, "what is so…so important that you cannot say in front of us?" She argued, arms crossed in her chest, "I mean, we are all aware of what is going on here"



Rudolph sighed, a deep frown on his face. "Elena, don't start with me."



"But—"



"Elena!" Rudolph snapped, the frown deepening.



"Come on, let's go.." Leah said, grabbing Elena's arm and dragging her out of the room.

Elena looked at me with a sad and slightly annoyed frown. "Marsai…"



I just shook my head and signaled for her to listen to Rudolph and just go out.



When they both left, I eagerly turned to Rudolph, waiting to hear what was so private and important that he had to ask Leah and Elena to excuse us.



"So…what is it you wanted to…umm, talk to me about?" I asked.



Rudolph turned to me with a…was it a smile? Because it looked more like a smirk, not the kind Fenrir gives to me but something more…sinister. Fenrir…why am I even thinking about…ughhh!



"I have an idea, a plan on how to help you…us" Rudolph started.



I raised an eyebrow at him in slight confusion as I waited for him to explain.



"It's a plan on how to overthrow Fenrir, once and for all," he said, edging closer to me and looking straight into my eyes, "We should get married"



What?!



"Pardon?" What the hell did he just say….what?! "What are you talking about?"



"Relax, Marsai" he chuckled, "it's only going to be an arranged marriage. Listen, If you marry me, I'll be able to rightfully take the position from Fenrir and be the Alpha, thereby overthrowing him and finally relieving everyone of the monster Alpha."



I could not believe what I was hearing. Was this Rudolph speaking? Of all the ideas given out today, he could only come up with this one. This one makes it look like he wasn't only taking advantage of me, making me feel like a pawn in some treacherous chess game.



No. I can't…I can't do this. Fenrir…Fenrir would never try to take advantage of me this way…yes, that's what Rudolph is trying to do, take advantage of me!



"No, I can't do it," I said to Rudolph, shaking my head.



"Well, why not?"



"For one, I'm already married, remember?" I replied, "I'm Fenrir's wife" that honestly didn't roll from my tongue the way I thought it would. It didn't sound as cringy as before.



"That's no big issue," he gave me that smile again, "you can simply ask for a separation"



I rolled my eyes, "and you think Fenrir will grant that?"



"He doesn't need to. Just present your case with as much fault as you can gather against him to the council," or what's remaining of it, "and you'll be legally and royally separated from him and then we can get married"



"If I get separated from Fenrir and he is overthrown, there's no need to get married to you. I'm the rightful successor to the crown so I could simply —"



"No, no Marsai.." Rudolph interrupted as he placed his hands on mine. "It's quite…complicated. Listen, my way is the best.."



I shook my head, "I don't think so."



Rudolph sighed as he edged closer to me, "Marsai, trust me this is what is best to do—"



"No!" I refused blatantly, immediately standing up. "I'm not going to do it…no, that's not…I can't marry you, Rudolph! And I for one, cannot imagine why you would ever suggest that."



I watched as he stood up as well, giving me a questionable look.



"You know what I think?" He asked rhetorically, "I think you don't even want to leave. Has he started to grow on you, Marsai? Have you started developing—"



"Just stop!" I said with a deep frown. Where the hell did he think he was getting at? "Don't speak to me like that!"



"Fine, fine. Apologies" he was shaking his head, "It just seems like you're choosing Fenrir over me"



I looked at him up and down, blinking rapidly in deep surprise. "Excuse me?"



"Marsai—"



"I'm not choosing anyone here. In fact, there is nothing to choose. I'm just stating the facts, I'm already married to Fenrir and even if we get separated I'm not going to marry you, Rudolph!



He sighed, "But please listen to me Marsai, for the benefit of everyone. I think we should do this plan…"



I just stared at him, not knowing what to say anymore. It was like he didn't hear what I just said.



"And…and since you haven't found your mate yet," he walked closer to me as if he had just gotten a killer idea that second. “We can tell everyone that I'm your mate and they'll be in favor of the separation between you and Fenrir."



Oh….heavens.



How could I not have seen this earlier? My brows furrowed as I looked deep at Rudolph.

He wasn't always like this…or what if he was? And I just couldn't see it until now?

The lust for power, for the crown of the Alpha is what I saw in his eyes. He was not thinking about anyone but himself. He just wanted Fenrir out of the way so he could use me to get what he wants…

And what he wanted was to become the new Alpha.



Anger had started bubbling inside of me. To think I trusted this man and considered him a friend…part of the family. And all he wanted was to achieve his selfish ambition. This was treachery at most…this was betrayal! For a Beta to harbor aspirations of being Alpha, and to try to use me to fulfill this…



Had he had these ambitions at the time of my father? Wait ..did he ever think of it dethroning my father?

The nerves in my hand jittered, as I tried to steady it. It was wanting so badly to guide my hand right across Rudolph's face but I held myself. I wasn't here for a scene anyway.



"Oh…Rudolph. I cannot believe this.." I mumbled in deep internal shock of my sudden realizations. Looking him over as I shook my head.



He gave me a quizzical look, "what is it?"



I took a step forward and gave one of my not–so–nice smiles, "I already found my mate…and it's Fenrir"



He went silent for a while. His dark green eyes scanned my face without a word as if looking for any I–was–joking expressions. Then slowly, very slowly the sides of his lips started to pull up in an amused smile.



"Right…" he said as he started to chuckle slowly. "You're hilarious, Marsai. I get the joke" His chuckle became louder, sounding more annoying and stupid in my ears "Fenrir cannot be your mate, that's not possible."



What the…how dare him?! The audacity!

I had finally decided to tell him what I really thought without holding back. To finally bless his cheeks with my hardened palms when a deep menacing growl echoed throughout the house.



"What was…what was that?" Rudolph asked, looking at the door. The growl sounded so deep…so familiar..

We both walked to the door slowly as we looked around, wondering what the hell was that.



"I think—"



Before Rudolph could finish whatever the hell he wanted to say, we heard an ear piercing scream with voices that sounded like that of Elena and Leah.



"Elena? Leah!" Rudolph yelled their names as we began running down the hallway. Passing servants with shocked and possibly traumatized expressions on their faces.



We almost bumped into both of them, Elena and Leah as they stood there shaking visibly with fear as they grasped one another.



"Are you girls okay?" Rudolph asked as he went to them. They didn't answer, they didn't even look at us.



"What happened?" I asked but they both kept shaking, looking in another direction. I wondered what they were looking at and wanted to ask when I turned to my side and noticed that Rudolph had the same expression on his face..



Why did they all have that expression on their faces? I wondered. I turned my head slowly to look at what was so scary that they….Oh, no. Heavens…no.



He was here.



I stared back in shock, and he held my gaze. What in heaven's name was Fenrir doing here?



If I had thought that the first time he half shifted, he was scary then I was wrong. Because right now, he looks ten times what he looked like before. His body was covered in the smoothest of fur, almost like a darker second skin which I could see because he was shirtless, behind him was a huge furry tail that swished and swayed.

He had long claw-like nails, his human ears were gone and long wolf ears appeared on his head, his face still looked normal except for the sharp canines in his mouth and the golden light that sparked every second his grey eyes blinked. His feet were like those of a wolf, hinged and bent. And also….he was huge.



"I don't know how he got in.." Leah whispered as they both edged towards their brother.



"Marsai…" Rudolph called and I quickly hid the traces of fear on my face. If I'm to prove a point and show Rudolph that Fenrir really is my mate, then I could not show fear.



I slowly turned my head to Rudolph, who had placed himself in front of his sisters. I could see the fear in his eyes but he couldn't see mine, so I took a step forward.