Chapter 2. Wedding Ceremony

William's POV

William stumbled through the foyer of the palace, the music from the ballroom growing louder as they approached the grand doors. A servant on each side of him to make sure he doesn't fall over or try to get away. He's been dreading this moment for months since he got word that Grace Reilly, a woman he had once fancied, was to marry his half-brother, Crown Prince Martin.

The wine he had drunk moments ago was making his head spin and he could hardly walk a straight line. His wolf was angry with him and wanted him to return to the gardens for whatever reason. It kept telling him of his fated mate but that couldn't have been right. He was with a servant; she wasn't anything special and she certainly couldn't have been his mate.

He didn't even know her name.

The idea of a mate was disgusting to him; his own mother died because of her fated mate and he won't allow something like that to happen to him.

Servants went in and out of the ballroom as they worked the ceremony; the music growing loud as the doors opened and closed. Then, there was Mr. Carson.

He had beads of sweat piling on his forehead; he was periodically peering in the ballroom and scanning the foyer. He looked nervous.

Mr. Carson was most likely looking for William; not that William cared. He didn't want to be at this event. He didn't want to watch Grace Reilly marry his brother and he certainly didn't want to be in the same room as the woman who killed his mother.

Luna Queen Cara.

His father's wife since his supposed fated mate died.

It was obvious to William that it was Luna Queen Cara that killed his mother out of jealousy. She wanted Alpha King Charles to herself and stopped at nothing to get it. She took William's mother away. Then she arranged for her son, Martin, to marry the only woman that William ever truly wanted.

This whole event was sickening but according to his father, he wasn't allowed to miss it. None of them were allowed to miss it.

Mr. Carson finally spotted William heading in his direction and relief flooded across his face as he rushed towards him. When he approached William, his face fell slightly as he gathered William's appearance.

"Prince William, your highness, you look a mess," Mr. Carson said with disappointment.

William glanced down at the white shirt, he was wearing, and realized it was unbuttoned where his chest was revealed. It was also slightly dirty from the rose garden grounds.

William said nothing as he stared in the direction of the ballroom. Anger was already fueling him; all he could think about was needing another drink.

Sighing, Mr. Carson went towards the closet where they kept the coats. He returned moments later holding a tie.

"At least put a tie on," Mr. Carson said as he began placing the tie around William's collar.

William groaned miserably; he hated having to dress up. If it wasn't for Mr. Carson, William would have worn pajamas to the ceremony. Once the tie was on him, Mr. Carson gave him a look over with disapproval on his expression.

"That will do," Mr. Carson muttered, still unsatisfied. "Please, your highness. Don't make a scene." Mr. Carson pleaded.

Ignoring him, William shoved past him and towards the grand doors.

He stumbled into the ballroom, shoving past a couple of servants that were holding trays of food. The food splattered to the ground and the trays made a clattering sound that startled some of the guests. The guests turned to see what the commotion was and noticed William standing there almost immediately.

William didn't care. He enjoyed making a loud entrance; especially at an event, he didn't want to be at. He grinned wickedly at some of the guests and grabbed a glass of wine from another Servant who was standing close by.

He stumbled further into the room, nearly tripping over his feet, and using a table to keep his balance. His weight proved to be too much for the table, and he heard the legs snapping and the table tipped over. Drinks and food splattered to the ground; some of which got on the gowns of the women sitting at the table.

They jumped up from their seats, shocked at what just happened. Food and wine staining their gowns.

William couldn't help but laugh at the misfortune.

The music began silencing and everyone, including the royals, turned in his direction.

He was met with his father, Alpha King Charles, and the anger appearing across his face.

"William," his father hissed as he stalked closer to his son. "You are late, and you are drunk. What do you have to say for yourself?"

William stared at his father; they were about eye level in height if William kept his back straight.

"You're lucky I showed up at all," William muttered; he could see the fury in his father's eyes, but Charles knew better than to lash out at a ceremony as important as this one.

This was the ceremony that was to save Royal House Arnold. There were packs with massive armies set out to conquer House Arnold. The only way to retain the power was the connect House Arnold with Warrior Reilly Pack by marriage.

This wasn't something that Charles would jeopardize.

William, still staring at his father, drank the wine out of the glass he was holding before shoving it in a servant's chest as the servant walked by.

"Now, if you'll excuse me," William said as he shoved past his father and towards the lovely bride and groom.

Grace Reilly stood from her seat with Martin standing by her side. As the distant niece of the Luna Queen, Grace was the most beautiful creature in the entire kingdom. Not a single soul came close to her beauty, werewolf or human, they simply couldn't compare.

As much as he loved her, William always found her to be a bit conceited. She always thought that any male creature would fall for her at first sight. Maybe she wasn't wrong because she certainly had William's attention.

"Brother," William addressed Martin, completely ignoring Grace's presence. He could feel her unease and it made him smile. "I apologize for my tardiness."

There was a bitterness that leaked through William's tone.

His eyes shifted from Martin to Grace, and she swallowed hard. He didn't linger his eyes upon her for long; he switched his gaze to Luna Queen Cara who stood nearby as well. She pressed her lips in a thin line and her body tensed. There was a slight hatred in her eyes that you'd have to be blind to not notice.

His wolf stirred deep within him, begging to be released so he could rip Cara's throat out in front of everybody. He wanted everybody to know how much he truly hated this woman. She took everything from him and now he wanted to take everything from her.

She didn't say anything though; she broke eye contact and cleared her throat.

"Where did the music go?" She asked loud enough for the band to hear. "Let's not stop the celebration. This is my son's wedding day after all."

Without much delay, they began playing the music again. Guests were finally able to pull their attention away from William and continue enjoying themselves. Servants worked to clean the mess William left on his trail.

"I'll see myself out..." William muttered as he turned to walk towards the grand doors.

He did what he was told; he came and made an appearance. He didn't need to stay much longer than that and he didn't want to stay longer than he had to.

As he walked back on his trail, he said nothing to anybody and saluted nobody.

The last thing he heard before leaving the ballroom was the muttering from Cara, "What a rude bastard."