you can keep up that stubborn streak!”
I smirked in contempt-he was going to be disappointed, because I was going to marry the future head of the Serpentkins in just two days.
Suddenly, a car came hurtling toward us, clearly out of control.
Sirius quickly transformed into his wolf form, grabbed Lola, and leaped away.
The Lycans had always been famous for their strength and speed, after all.
Still, by accident or otherwise, he knocked me to the ground, close to the car.
I felt a sharp pain in my leg-a sprain-and closed my eyes in despair as the car continued streaking toward me.
But at the very last moment, I felt myself gathered into a warm embrace, as a man in a leather mask scooped me up in his arms, carrying me to safety far quicker than Sirius did with Lola.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself staring into a gaze with a subdued emerald sheen and quickly remembered the green- eyed snake cufflinks.
Chapter 3
Still, the man quickly put me on a bench across the street and disappeared before I could speak.
As I reached into my pocket before I knew it, I found a box of burn ointment in it.
I looked at Sirius, who was doting and comforting Lola at the other end of the street, and smirked.
I took his engagement ring from my bag right then and threw it down a ditch without hesitation.
+15 Bonus
Two days later, I was dressed in the bridal gown sent by the Serpentkins, dazed even as I looked around at the room full of priceless wedding gifts.
That was when my parents hesitantly approached me again, asking me not to expose Lola’s theft in public, insisting that it was a misunderstanding and that I should be more understanding.
What last hopes I held for them vaporized instantly.
I kept coming up with excuses to forgive them for not giving me anything for my wedding-the worst of it being that they had simply forgotten.
Ironically, they remembered to demand more favors for their favorite daughter.
“Absolutely not!” I snapped right then. “If you insist, then I will refuse to marry. It’s either that, or you can bet against the Serpentkins’ tenacity.”
My parents were left seething, just as thunderous cheers resounded downstairs.
I headed down and found Sirius lounging in the main seat of the parlor, holding the same branding iron from two days ago.
“Come on, Winnie,” he chuckled sinisterly. “You still have thirty minutes before the bureau matches you with a rogue. Bow to Lola 1,800 times within these thirty minutes, and I’ll brand you my slave, despite my misgivings-”
He paused, cutting himself short when he saw me in my bridal gown and frowned as he growled, “What are you wearing?! Are you trying to steal Lola’s thunder again?!”
I looked at him coldly in turn. “I’m about to marry someone else… But I don’t remember inviting you.”
“Hah!” Sirius snorted. “Now’s really not the time to be stubborn, y’know-see? Just talking has cost you two minutes, and that’s 3,600 bows now. You’d better think fast… but if you still refuse, I don’t mind using force!”
He snapped his fingers, and several of his lackeys stepped forward, ready to shred my clothes in public and force me to bow.
I reeled from the many hands reaching for me, snapping, “Stop! I’m getting marked today—”
“Come on, hurt my wife! Just try it!”
That was when a laugh thundered in the parlor behind me, as a tall man entered and walked up to my side.
