Disclaimer: The Walking Dead is owned by Robert Kirkman.
Note: Like my other story this one is modeled after a book called 'Bound by Honor' by Cora Reilly. I am not taking credit for her work. The basic plot is from her book, and this is just something that I do for fun. I hope it's received well.
Updated: 1/1/19
Preface:
Spring, 1970's
She was terrified, and her hands shook helplessly as her heart raced in her chest. Negan's calloused fingers were firm yet gentle as he slipped the diamond ring onto her finger, its cut sparkling in the sunlight.
Avery despised the jewel. Its only meaning was his ownership of her. A frequent reminder of the prison she'd be trapped in for the rest of her life. There was no way out. Well, besides death she supposed, and Avery hadn't planned on dying anytime soon. She was Negan's property for the rest of her life.
It was now too late for her. Avery had had a chance to run before now, but she found that she could not. Faces of the two families stared up at the two of them on the terrace that overlooked the bay. Even if Avery were able to sneak off now in the middle of the night, the breach of the agreements between her father and the Saviors would cause a straight out war, not to mention a loss of lives. Nothing would prevent Negan from executing retaliation upon the Alexandrian members, and Avery couldn't have that on her conscious. So here she stood before a man she didn't even know about to enter holy matrimony.
Her feelings didn't matter, though. The man before her never considered them, her father either, but what had she expected really? For thirty-one years she had grown up in a world where few choices were given, especially to women; which was why she was holding hands with the enemy now: no choice. This marriage wasn't a bond between lovers. This was a bond to ensure peace. For money and power. Both were failing since a new Russian Mob group began trying to expand their influence into the Alexandrian Territory here in Virginia; which was where Negan came in. The Saviors ran the gun trade business on the black market that supplied most of the East Coast with weapons, and her father had been interested in a deal. A trade of goods, if you will.
The priest next to them closed the small Bible he held and then said those five dreaded words Avery had been dying not to hear all day.
"You may kiss the bride."
With a nervous glance, Avery's grey eyes looked up. Negan was staring down with a small smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. She could feel every eye on her as they analyzed every move she made, waiting for a sign of weakness. But growing up in this world had provided her with a backbone, and she stood straight, her features never wavering. Even when he bent down to bridge the gap between the two she didn't flinch. Avery closed her eyes as Negan pressed his lips lightly against her own, the whiskers of his goatee tickling as they brushed her skin. Though she stood still her lips trembled against his mouth and he then pulled her closer. The silent message his vicelike grip gave: You're mine.