The wedding ceremony in the duke's castle was not at all bright, warm, and cheerful as the day that Sophie married Nicholas and lived happily with him.
On the contrary, it didn't even feel like a wedding at all because of how Duke Romanov treated it. Instead, Duke Romanov and Sophie soon returned to his study and Leland presented her with the marriage certificate.
He said, "I will have you sign this parchment and then the two of us will consummate the wedding and then return things to proper as they used to be."
"Duke Romanov, do you not need the marriage certificate that I have with my husband?" Sophie asked with a certain croak in her voice. She didn't want to imagine that everything would be rendered null and void.
It pained her to even think that her marriage certificate would now amount to nothing after Sophie married the duke.
"Do not worry about it," Leland said. "The people in my group are talented lawmakers and judges, they will take care of this matter even if you do not present me with the actual copy of the marriage certificate with your previous husband."
Sophie swallowed hard and only nodded. She looked at Duke Romanov's study table and saw the clean parchment laid out for her and the quill and container of ink, the instruments to use for their wedding.
"Okay…" She muttered. " Then I will sign this marriage certificate."
"Thank you." Leland nodded and then watched the woman pick up the quill with steady hands. She did not waver when it came to fulfilling promises, that even though her legs were shaky in his eyes, she didn't stop at all.
Sophie took a deep breath and knew that if she were to try and back out from this marriage, Duke Romanov would truly be furious and might do the very same things, that she asked of him to her family to her.
Without a moment's hesitation, she signed the paper and was then surprised to see Duke Romanov lean down to do the same. He jotted his name and signed down neatly, perfunctory as if he was only signing an official document and not a marriage one.
The two of them watched the ink dry for a moment before Leland glanced at her and said. "I will allow you to prepare yourself in your chamber. I will ask Dinah to go serve you dinner and to get you some time to rest."
"Then you will proceed to head into my chambers tonight?" Sophie dared to ask. She tried not to waver but only politely asked.
Leland did not actually intend to sleep with her tonight, but after contemplating it and knowing that Sophie may have wanted to finish the transaction as soon as possible by sleeping with him tonight and then acting as if it never happened… then he was willing to do the request.
"Yes. Wait for me in your chambers tonight, I will visit you," Leland said.
"Thank you, my lord." Sophie bowed.
"We may need to have you start calling me as your husband during occasions that we need to present ourselves as a husband and wife," Leland couldn't help but say.
A part of him wanted to hear the words come out from her lips and to look at him while Sophie was saying that. However, Sophie surprised him by nodding without even breaking a sweat.
"Yes… husband." Sophie spoke out without even a hint of change in her tone. She curtsied in front of him. "I will now go to my chambers and will see you shortly."
The Alpha only sighed slightly and felt severely disappointed in himself for even expecting that she would utter it with a tone that was filled with some love and affection.
Without another word, Sophie left Leland alone in his chambers and the man would contemplate their 'wedding' with a hint of sadness. He looked at the parchment of the marriage certificate that did not even have his real name on it.
This was all meaningless to a lycan who formed marriage by pairing with their chosen mate. The Alpha did not care for a scrap of paper that was worthless to him… However, he was thinking about it later.
A mate bond with Sophie.
Soon, he would perform the mating bond with her.
The Alpha knew that he should be excited and thrilled because it was everything that he longed for… and yet this was not something he felt proud about.
He was going to make her his mate without even letting her know. She still thought this marriage was for convenience, not based on love.
Well... it's one hundred percent true on her part. She didn't love Leland and only agreed to the marriage for her own convenience. However, it was different for the husband.
He loved her and wanted this marriage to be real. He would share his everything with her, including his strength, power, and wealth… except perhaps… his heart.
It would be embarrassing to have her feel his emotions and realize the truth about his feelings and devotion for her, while she didn't feel the same way about him.
Sophie did not love him. All that Sophie thought of him was a duke who was marrying for her own personal interest... So, there was no need for garlands, crystals, or even an actual wedding ceremony because, in Leland's eyes, this was not a true wedding.
***
Elsewhere, as Sophie was heading for her chamber, she found herself confused.
She didn't expect much, but at least she thought there would be a small wedding ceremony officiated by someone. Didn't Duke Romanov had felt an attraction to her and wanted to make her his wife?
However, on the contrary, Sophie came to realize that perhaps she was wrong. Maybe Sophie was just mistaken into thinking that Duke Romanov was attracted to her while all that he truly wanted was just a wife in name.
There were no grand chandeliers, beautiful lights, or even a wedding dress or a ceremony held for Duke Romanov's guests and friends because the duke probably wanted it done quickly and without any hold up.
Sophie was happy that it was like this because it meant that she wouldn't compare this wedding to the one that she had with Nicholas.
She liked the simple and quick wedding Leland prepared for them. However, what she was dreading at this hour was when the two of them would finally sleep together.
Sophie was not expecting anything nice, warm, or loving like the warm touches that Nicholas would give her. Her husband had made her feel pleasure and joy unlike any other.
She was actually worried that Duke Romanov would hurt her.
.
.
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