The Crown's Entrapment

Chapter 772 Her Family

It was the day of the marking, and Bella couldn't help but feel excited as the seconds ticked by. This was it. Many believed that Osman was already dead but she refused to believe that. She struggled too much at the thought of losing him forever.

But now who would have thought that a day like this would come… And here she was being practically bonded to the man who was now a King of another kingdom.

[Funny how fate can spin things to our favor sometimes,] Poona remarked with a chuckle. [Our mate lived, and we managed to get back to him despite everything that had happened.]

[I know, right? And to think that I had almost given up back then,] Bella chuckled to herself. [If I had gone through with it, I wouldn't be here in the first place.]

Indeed, it was a stroke of luck that she had friends to keep her sane during her darker days when she had first lost Amon back when he was still Osman. She had almost killed herself out of grief, and if they didn't stop her, then she wouldn't be here in the first place.

[You would've joined a ghost in the afterlife,] Poona laughed. [Our mate wasn't even dead, and you almost killed yourself over him.]

[As if you weren't any better,] Bella teased right back. [I didn't even hear you say anything with how down you were.]

[In my defense, anything I said would've just passed right through you anyway,] her inner wolf defended herself. [We went that low in that part of our life.]

Bella rolled her eyes as she shrugged. She supposed that her wolf had a point. Either way, there was no point in thinking about the past anymore. What mattered was the present, and right now, she had a Ritual of Marking to do.

Focusing back on the now, Bella smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror. She was currently wearing her best gown for the occasion. It accentuated her curves in all the right places, and she made sure that she at least managed to match the station of what she was going to get herself into. After all, she was going to be queen after all of this, and it wouldn't do for her to look nothing short of royalty.

[Not royalty yet,] Poona teased.

[Don't test me right now,] Bella hissed with a joking tone. [Besides, I'll be royalty soon.]

Shaking her head, Bella gave herself one last look over before making her way out of her room. Outside, she was greeted by her father who was there to escort her to the gathering hall.

"You look amazing, daughter," her father casually remarked. "Amon sure is a lucky man to have you." 

"More like I'm lucky because he was alive after all this time," Bella rebutted with a smile. "If there was anyone that's lucky today, it's me for having someone like Amon accept me."

"That's on top of him being King as well," her father chuckled. Then she heard him release a heavy sigh as he added, "Oh my dear, I still couldn't believe that this was happening. This should be a happy day but I couldn't help but have mixed emotions at the thought of you leaving us to live in another kingdom."

Bella could see how her father's eyes welled up as tears started running down his cheek. She smiled and lovingly touched her father's cheek and gently wiped those tears away while humorously saying, "Look at you. How come you didn't cry like this when Bartos got married."

"Ah, but Bartos did not leave us, my dear. While you… I can't believe I'm going to send you off after this," Chancellor Talon murmured.

"Hmm, don't worry Father because I will surely visit you and Mother often and also once everything is settled in Helion. I will have you and Mother also stay there for a long time. I will personally make a request to His Majesty to give you a long vacation to be with me. Also, you should retire from your position by now and just have a carefree life with Mother. Go to nice places and of course… stay with me whenever you like."

Bella commented with a grin as she hugged her father.

"Ah, I can't believe that I'm such a mood killer like this. Now, let's get you to the man himself. I'm sure you're more than eager to get things going. 

Bella eagerly smiled as she let herself get pulled to the manor's gathering hall. There, she was greeted by a sight that she was all too eager to see.

"Mother, Brother, Sister-in-law," she warmly smiled as she greeted the three. She was really fortunate to have such a good family.

"I know we should be waiting inside, but I wanted to see you one last time before everything," her mother smiled lovingly at her. "I told Bartos and Jayra could go inside without me, but they insisted on waiting here with me."

"It's only proper, after all," Bartos shrugged. "It wouldn't do for us to be there inside when the entire family will be here."

Bella couldn't help the tears pricking at her eyes as she gestured for the five of them into a group hug. There were no more words to be had as she showered them with her gratitude, her love for them overflowing as she hugged them tightly.

"I love you all," she sniffled. "Thank you for putting up with me after all these years."

"Dear, it's alright," her mother endearingly kissed her cheek. "We're your family. It's our responsibility to look after each other."

"Exactly," her father chuckled. "I might've been a bit hard on you at times, but that's out of love."

"Same here," Bartos scoffed. "Though most of what I did was just for fun."

Bella shook her head even as she beamed. She could only feel grateful that the Almighty blessed her to have such a loving family. There was no way that she would've ended up being who she was now if it weren't for them, and she will always be grateful for their presence in life.

"Now, let's get you inside," Jayra chuckled as they all broke away from their group hug. "It wouldn't do to keep royalty waiting, after all."

"And knowing Amon, he's probably itching to have you in his arms," Jayra teased more. 

Bella blushed at that. "To be fair, I'm also itching to be with him already as well."

"That's good to hear," her mother daintily laughed. "That means we wouldn't have to wait too long to have grandchildren."

She blinked for a brief second before her cheeks burned brightly at the teasing. Still, she wouldn't mind if they had kids as soon as possible. Amon needed an heir, after all, and she would have to do her duty as his queen to give him exactly that once they were wed. She needed to work hard and make it happen so soon!

[Speaking of working hard. I should not laze around but instead, always remind you of your fertile days so we can make things right.] Poona snorted, making Bella inwardly chuckle. [Right, make sure I won't miss those days, Poona.] Her face blushed so hard as intimate scenes she had with Amon last night flashed through her mind. [Ugh, it's not time for your perverted thoughts.] Poona snorted and Bella only chuckled at her wolf.

"W-Well, what are we waiting for then?" Bella stammered, doing her best to act natural despite the excitement in her making her shake. "Let's get things started."

She couldn't help feeling nervous and giddy at the same time on this special day.

As a family, they all opened the door to the gathering hall. Immediately, the festivities hit her as she stepped inside, her heart pounding harder as she stepped foot inside the hall. Her grip on her father's hand tightened as they went in further. Her eyes were scanning the hall, and she could only smile brightly as she finally saw the man she loved.

Bella held her breath as she slowly made her way to Amon. With her father having let her go as soon as they reached the stage, she almost didn't follow proper procedure until she heard King Darius start the program.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are here to witness such a momentous occasion between King Amon of Helion, and Bella Hindman of Cordon," King Darius began, his voice booming across the hall. "The Ritual of Marking is upon us, and soon, these two individuals will be considered one as per the traditions of Cordon."

She blinked as she barely managed to stop herself from moving. She wanted so badly to just go to Amon's side right now, but she knew it wasn't the time. And thankfully, it would seem that Amon was just as excited to get her as well.

The current pause gave her just enough time to take a look around. Scanning through the guests, she noted how the entire Lock Heart pack was present along with her brother Bartos and their mother. Osman's crew from back when was still Cordon's Great Admiral was also present, practically all of them having a glint of tears in their eyes as they cheered their former admiral on. 

[Everyone's here, huh,] Bella chimed in to her inner wolf.

[Anything to distract you from just running to our mate and marking him, I suppose,] Poona remarked. [His scent is just too alluring now that we know we'll be marking him in just a few minutes.]

Truly, she was the luckiest woman alive if she was going to get to mark Amon, the King of Helion.