****
-Samantha Utley
“Samantha…baby…come on…time to wake up.” I heard a
soft voice say as my body lightly shook.
My eyes opened enough for me to see that I was still in
Collin’s bedroom. I wanted to sit up, but my body
wouldn’t allow it. “Humph…what happened last night?”
Collin looked at me with a little smirk playing on his lips.
“We fucked until you passed out, baby. Hell…I was still
fucking you when you did.”
“Thanks for the honesty.” I told him, finally able to sit
up. “I was having the best dream ever. Why did you have
to wake me up?!”
The truth was, I’m kind of glad Collin interrupted my
dreaming. Here lately I have been having these
amazingly
vivid dreams about a much younger Gabriel with a
woman named Sapphire. The strangest part was that
I
was Sapphire.
He sat at the foot of the bed, facing me. “Our King and
Queen have finally decided on a date of matrimony.”
Informing me with an extremely serious look on his face.
“Good for them. What? Why are you look at me like
that?” I asked, staring into his eyes.
“You’re just beautiful and I love looking at my sexy
woman.” He said with a playful smile.
My eyes automatically rolled at the sight of his bullshit
excuse. I knew he was waiting for some ticking time
bomb within me to explode. Gabriel and Erin were tying
the knot soon, big whoop. If marrying my sister instead
of me will make him the happiest man on earth, so be it.
“Baby, I was thinking…maybe since you claim to be over
the whole Erin and Gabriel thing, you should invite her
over for some coffee or tea.” Collin suggested.
I could feel my cheeks redden in slight anger. “Definitely
not. Queen or not, she is not to step foot in this house.
She has always taken what belongs to me since we were
little. I want nothing to do with that wretched woman!”
Stomping to the bathroom so I could take a shower to
cool off.
Am I being a royal bitch to my sister? Yeah…more than
likely...but she knows exactly why I am against this
marriage of hers to the King. It doesn’t matter that I now
have Collin.
For all I know, she could have begged Gabriel to send
Collin my way for some weird approval from me. It is
exactly what she would do in order to have her perfect
day. Poor Sammy needs a mate so she won’t feel the
need to interrupt our ceremony.
I wonder if my oh-so-perfect sister knew that Gabriel
was well aware he and I are destined to be together by
our ancestors. That he would always find ways to be
around me while growing up. He was completely
mine…until
she
was born.
My body, from the color of my eyes to the size of my
vagina, has been designed for no one other than our
King…Gabriel Allen Utley. What a big joke that turned
out to be and it’s not even the worse part!
Collin and I will never be able to conceive a child. Being
the first born daughter of the alpha-male in a wolf pack
comes with a price.
Alas, Gabriel and Erin have announced the day of their
wedding. I would rather be elsewhere, but my parents
have insisted I be there for the happiest day of my
sister’s life. Ha! As if little-miss-goody-two-shoes would
do the same for me.
****
-Sapphire Utley
Tomorrow will be the day I officially become Gabriel’s
queen. We are to be wed when the sun is set at its
highest peak. The dress has been custom-made by the
royal family’s tailor. Everything is prepared and ready
to go. All that is needed to be done now are the
exchanging of vows and rings.
My almost husband is an amazing man who pleases me
in ways I never thought possible. Everyone around us
says we make such the perfect couple, but I am nervous
at becoming queen. What exactly are the queen’s duties
to serve her king? How soon will we be expected to
have children?
“Sapphire, my love, stop over-thinking about tomorrow
and get some rest.” Gabriel’s voice mumbled from his
side of the bed.
I looked back to see part of his body illuminated from
the moonlight. “I’m fine. Just wedding jitters. Would
you like to shake them out of me?” Grinning as he
grabbed a hold of me.
He reeled my body and cuddled against him. “We must
save the love making until tomorrow night. When you’ll
be my queen.”
The next morning was completely hectic. Gabriel and I
were literally torn away from each other. He had to put
his dress clothes on and as did I. Being a part of the
royal family means that eloping is definitely out of the
question. There had to be a massive ceremony
involving the entire kingdom.
“Miss Sapphire. You must come see this. It’s urgent.”
One of the maids insisted as she ushered me to the far
north window.
I couldn’t believe what my eyes were seeing. Gabriel
stood in the garden with some peasant girl, holding her
close. I wanted to assume she was a relative of his; let’s
face it that is not how one comforts his sister!
My cheeks had turned a fine shade of red while I stood
there watching my soon-to-be betrothed have his hands
wrapped around another woman. One could say I was
ready to be-head a king…and not the one atop his
shoulders!
The courtyard of the castle was set up beautifully and
full of loyal bystanders. A soft melody of music played
in the background as I walked down the aisle. As much
as I wanted to beat him to death with my bouquet of
flowers, I refrained from doing so since all eyes were
focused on us.
I saw the same woman Gabriel had been out in the
garden with earlier in my peripheral vision. She wore
masculine clothing as she stood, watching him with a
pained look on her face.
“Stop! We can’t go along with this wedding.” I let my
heart speak for me. “Gabriel, I know I am not the one
you should be marrying today.” My eyes glancing over
at the girl and back to him.
A huge smile appeared on his face as he hugged me,
lifting my body off the ground. “Oh Sapphire, thank
you. I am forever in your debt.”
As soon as Gabriel set me back on my feet, I strolled
over to the girl and smiled. “What is your name?” I held
out the bouquet for her to take.
Her sweet smile let me know I had made the right
decision. “Eliana.”
****
-Samantha Utley
“Are you going to be alright with going to the wedding
today?” Maddison asked with a concerned look on her
face as she held the tiny newborn baby in her arms.
I focused on the baby girl and smiled. “I’m perfectly fine
with the King’s decision. Besides, I am officially living
with a man now.” Scooping the baby out of Maddison’s
arms and cradling her. “We are going to have loads of
fun. Yes we are baby Addison.”
Maddison grinned as she watched us. “I knew you two
would get along. You and Addie are going to have such a
wonderful relationship.”
“You being a mom to my half-sister is weird, but not as
much as I thought. My father better take care of you
guys or I will kick his ass.” I said, looking over in her
direction. “Please tell me he was there when you were
giving birth.”
She nodded. “He was here from the moment I called to
let him know I was in labor all the way until the next
morning after she was born.”
“Does childbirth hurt at all?” I wondered, a little curious
even though this was something Collin and I wouldn’t
have to worry about.
“Like a bitch.” She answered honestly as she smiled at
her daughter in my arms. “But all the pain is completely
worth it.”
I smiled down at my sister while cradling her. As much
as I had been upset my father had conceived a child with
my best friend, all of that didn’t seem to matter
anymore.
Chapter Six
-The Royal Utley Wedding
“Wow. It’s very…royal.” Maddie said while we looked
around the place in amazement.
“Good evening, my lady. Shall I direct you to your
chair?” Collin’s voice asked as he strolled up to me,
holding out his hand in a gracious manner. “I see you
are with child.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Enough with the weirdness.
You know who the baby belongs to.” Carefully handing
her back over to Maddison and taking Collin’s hand.
“This is by far the oddest ceremony.”
Collin escorted me to my seat next to Matthew and
strode away. I’m not entirely certain, but I’m pretty sure
I could see the stick Gabriel must have jammed up his
ass over a week ago.
Matthew, which I still have no idea how he’s related,
quickly glanced at the tiny baby in Maddie’s arms and
back down at his glove-covered hands.
I looked around the massive place. If this was what a
royal wedding looked like, I would rather elope. The
room was over-the-top decorated. All the red and white
roses were making me want to puke.
Gabriel stood at the altar with Evan, my father, and my
uncle Jesse. All of them looked sharp with their
matching tuxedos and boutonnieres. The color theme of
the wedding had been red and black, representing our
tribe.
I couldn’t help but notice Evan looking at Maddison
every few minutes. Dad was going to be super pissed if
my brother even
thinks
about making a move on her.
Continuing to people watch, I noticed a woman
surrounded by four men in the very back. They looked
strangely familiar, I just couldn’t place them.
Everyone stood for the (almost) Queen’s entrance. As
they awed at her while my mother and Esmeralda
walked her down the aisle, I couldn’t keep my eyes off
Gabriel. His lips smiled, but his eyes looked to be guilty.
Gabriel took a hold of Erin’s hands and that was our cue
to sit down. The priest went on and on about the lovely
couple and how fate had brought them together.
Yeah right buddy…if that were true, why does my
vagina say otherwise?
“If anyone wishes for this couple to not be joined
together in matrimony, may they speak now or forever
hold their peace.” The preacher-man said to the crowd.
“I do. This marriage is a mistake and you damn well
know it Gabriel Allen Utley!” A feminine voice
illuminated the room.
I could feel a few eyeballs on me, but I was looking for
the woman who spoke up as well. My eyes nearly bulged
out of my head once I saw her stomp down Erin’s perfect
aisle.
She trudged right up to Gabriel and slapped him across
the face. “How could you do this?! You promised to do
the things right this time around!”
None of us had any idea what she was talking
about…except for possibly Gabriel. I couldn’t help but
find this rather enjoyable.
“Violet. I can explain.” Gabriel pleaded. “I love her.”
Interesting…Gabriel did know who this woman was. I
don’t remember ever seeing her here, but what do I
know? I’ve been gone for the past four years!
“Why?? She asked. “Erin Utley is not the one you are to
wed, you fool! Your dumbass is going to get us all
killed…again!”
I sat back in the chair. As much as I loathed weddings,
this one was becoming my favorite. If only I had a
bucket of buttery popcorn right now.
“She’s right.” Erin finally spoke. “I’m not the one,
Gabriel. I’m sorry.” Hitching up her dress, she fled the
scene.
Gabriel hung his head, motionless as people’s chatter
began to fill the room. I had a feeling something like this
would happen, but I believed I would at least have
something to do with it. It seemed to me that our King
has pissed off our ancestors.
“You do realize you are going to have to help him fix
this, right?” Maddison leaned in to whisper in my ear.
****
-Sapphire Utley
Gabriel had offered for me to stay at the castle for as
long as I wished. He and Eliana were out of town,
celebrating their marriage. I decided to set out before
they returned home.
“Excuse me, my lady. Your carriage awaits.” A tall and
skinny dirty blond-headed man approached me.
I wasn’t quite sure of his name, but I do know he had
worked as one of the king’s guards. I politely bowed my
head as he escorted me outside. He held my hand as I
boarded the carriage and I could feel his eyes
practically burning through my skin as I sat down.
The horses began to move and I looked at the strangely
familiar man. The pit of my stomach felt hollow and I
could hear my heart thumping against my chest. I
ordered the man with the reigns to halt and motioned
the guard to the carriage.
He did as I commanded and was now sitting across
from me. The carriage moved forward and we sat
there, staring at each other for the longest time.
“My name is Sapphire. Would you care to share yours?”
I asked, finally breaking the silence.
“Collin Utley.” He spoke with a soft smile that warmed
my heart.
