Chapter:- 6

Wedding Day:

(Lucus's thoughts)

Standing in front of Emma James was probably the hardest thing Lucus Madden had ever faced.

'Mmm, too young, too dumb to realize,'

He couldn't accept it. He was getting married. The love of his life, the one he had been head over heels for for three years, was crying because of him. Suddenly, all those intimate moments—the joking kisses, that one special kiss that made them both realize that they felt the same way—meant nothing. It was a load of bullshit.

'That I should have bought you flowers,'

Lucus looked at Emma, who stood at the white altar, a beautiful wood-woven arch painted a pure white covering her head, threaded with fresh red roses and daises, and complete with lush green leaves. The venue was a lovely place: three huge gardens surrounding the one they were in, one of which was a rose garden with the flowers reaching up to his hip, a huge water fountain with three horses carved into stone with him standing in the middle just off to the side of the altar, surrounded by cobblestones. There were then trees leading off around fifty feet behind the arch; the grass was cut perfectly straight, with little squirrels and birds in the trees. Then, at the beginning of the path that led to the white altar, was a white house that led to a large dining hall. He wore a black tux with a white undershirt, which just didn't do those glimmering eyes justice.

Chosen by the bride, the Alpha thought

His brother had the biggest grin on his face. The grin that he would only have when he was happy with the situation Not him. The devil was the reason for his pain and Emma's joy.

'And held your hand,'

Emma smiled over at Lucus, the excitement clear in her face. Lucus returned it with a tight, half-genuine smile, making the Omega a little confused with the half-heartedness of it all, but clearly not bothering her too much.

He glanced over at Lucus sympathetically from the side of the altar where she stood with Alexandra James, hands clasped together in front of her. His brother had been offered the position of best man.

'I should have given you all my hours.

But the other night, when Alex found Lucus on the floor, crying into his hands, the younger Alpha didn't have much of a choice other than to tell him what he was thinking.

"I love her, brother. I really do, and Moni loves me too. We are perfect, for fuck's sake, and there was something. There was something there that we both felt. There were sparks. But, no, that gold-digging bitch has to hold our parents hearts in her little hand and then crush mine in the other. All with that stupid grin on her face."

'When I had the chance,'

He honestly couldn't believe how Moni supported him. Getting him to confess her feelings—even if it was just over a text Lucus had written the whole thing already, two bloody paragraphs, when the message had come through.

I'm not going to leave you, love, no matter what!

Lucus felt his heart break. He never sent that message about how he loved Moni and how he would do anything—walk to the end of the earth, collect the stars from the Milky Way, remove all of his tattoos—just to see her smile.

'Take you to every party.

Lucus closed his eyes when 'Here Comes the Bride' began to play, hearing the shifting of people turning around to take a glance at the bride. It doesn't feel right. But he has to do it for Moni; he has to do it for his baby.

Do this for her, Lucus.

He sighed and let his eyes slip open, glancing back over his shoulder to look at Emma. She wore a beautiful white wedding dress that was cut to show her ankles and (Seriously?) white stiletto heels, with delicate embroidery delicately peppered across the end of the dress. Two little girls, one blonde and one with black hair, were on her heel; the blonde was tossing flowers just about everywhere while the other held the piece of white material that trailed behind her.

'Because all you wanted to do was dance,'

Lucus heard a wave of 'awh and 'ooh echo over the crowd, everyone turning back to the front once Emma had reached the two steps of the altar. She smiled that brilliant smile at her as she stepped into place, three bridesmaids wearing the same skimpy, simple turquoise dress that only reached just before their knees. Again, embroidery was delicately scattered over the collar (that was definitely intentionally dipped between their breasts) and rim, almost making Lucus roll his eyes. Typically, slutty.

'Now my baby's dancing,'

Then the vows started, and Lucus surely would have lost it if he had only one ounce less willpower. This was happening. Oh, how he wished this was all a dream and that he'd just wake up and it would be alright. No wedding. No dating. No Emma. He sighed and let his eyes shut, chin tilting down, silently pleading that he would wake up then and have Moni still asleep at his side, cuddled into his chest.

"If you protest against this marriage, speak now, or may you forever hold your peace."

That was the sentence that made the Alpha open his eyes again, looking back up at Emma. He glanced around the small area, noticing how it was dead silent. He looked back to the front, seeing his parents and his brother's eyes on him, as if expecting something.

'But she's dancing with another man,'

Then came the rings. Lucus wasn't even mentally present at that; he was just ignoring it. He couldn't stand that smile on bitch Omega's face. Lucus zoned in just after, his shoulders drooping once he realized what was to come.

"Emma, do you take Lucus as your Alpha, through sickness and in health, till death do you apart?" The old man asked, and the greedy little thing nodded, "I do."

'Oh, I know I'm probably much too late,'

The man turned to him, who couldn't stop hating all this. "Lucus, do you take Emma as your lovely, wedded Omega, through sickness and in health, till death do you apart?"

'No, I hate this bitch; I will make her life hell.'

"Yes, I do." His voice had gone slightly higher. Emma smiled at him, flashing her teeth. Still too yellow for bleach, thought Lucus.

"You may now kiss the bride!"

'To try and apologize for my mistakes, but I just want you to know,'

Lucus smiled and, quick as light, perked up; maybe their lips didn't even touch each other. Lucus was visually saddened, his shoulders going impossibly low as the rest of the guests began to clap. The two little girls came and threw petals at them, literally. The miserable began to half-heartedly clap, small, slow ones that were barely in tune with the excited, quick ones produced by everyone else. He blankly started to walk down the path, hand in hand, heading to the back garden to be photographed.

After half an hour, everyone else went to the dining hall, where people were serving food at tables set out in a luxurious manner with white sheets and glass vases holding twirling black branches. Lucus sighed quietly, sitting there for a couple more minutes, even after the guests had left the hall. Alex was the person who came to him, ruffling his hair and telling him that they needed to go inside.

'I hope he buys you flowers.

All Lucus did was sigh and nod a little, give a soft 'okay, and slowly rise from his seat. He glanced up at his family, who were smiling sadly, huffing while he turned on his heels and walked away from the man. He knew that he was just trying to be sympathetic towards him, but Lucus didn't need their sympathy.

But it still felt so wrong. How his father just quickly uttered that Chappy speech that clearly meant nothing, that malicious glint in his eye—it looked as if he was just using him. Then again, it could just be his imagination, since he hated his father anyway and his emotions were at their peak anyway. He sighed quietly and decided to take the long way around to the dining hall, passing through the rose garden as he did so.

'I hope he holds your hand.

There was a happy glint in Omega's eye, the way her smile seemed to stretch from ear to ear and radiate from her face. He was genuinely happy, and it was clear. Lucus had done nothing for Emma. There was no hesitation in all of this—it was meant to be, but still, Lucus felt it wasn't right. Sometimes he wondered if Emma ever felt the same. If this was just an act, maybe they'd get divorced.

Lucus shook the thoughts from his head and quickly retreated to the dining hall, not wanting to witness any more of that one thing that was surely going to be the cause of his death.

'Give you all his hours.

Later that night, when the actual wedding party was in full swing and the sun had set over the skyline, Lucus was outside, just ignoring everything. There was a small wooden porch outside that looked over a small, well-maintained garden with a tiny pond and paths of flowers, as well as thick underbrush starting a few feet away. He had his forearms rested on the barricade, small sighs occasionally escaping his lips as the music blared from inside.

All types of food had been served, as well as desserts that could surely make anyone's mouth water. Lucus had eaten about two pieces of smoked salmon, nibbled on a piece of chocolate cake, and had about two glasses of wine during the meal.

He had been moping at the table and during the cutting of the cake, but he had forced himself to cheer up, and even Emma had noticed how down he had been during the wedding. Eventually, Lucus decided that it wasn't fair for him to mope around and ruin his time. That was the reason for him to escape, leave others to enjoy themselves and dance, and he can do whatever the hell he wants because it was his wedding.

'When he has the chance,'

"Why didn't you protest?" He asks his brother.

"Because she will make you happy," Alex replied honestly, his scruffy voice soft and sad.

'Take you to every party.

His response clearly surprised Lucus because he was silent for a brief period of time, as if he were considering what to say. He clearly was, since nobody paused that long for a reply. For a few minutes, there was only silence between them.

"And I just want to see you happy. Emma is the best choice for you; you just need to understand her." Alex added bluntly.

'Because I remember how much you loved to dance,'

"Lucus..."

"Alex, don't say anything. You will never understand me like our patents do. This marriage is just a business deal, nothing else."

'Do all the things I should have done.

Alex sighed, closing his eyes for a short moment. "I'm sorry, brother; I know all this is wrong. I am sorry, Lucus. But Emma is innocent, just like you." He whispered, clenching his fists because he wasn't sure what to do.

It probably was.

"Yea?" Lucus asks.

Alex nodded in answer to that question, opening his eyes to look up at Lucus. They did show reflections of hurt; that familiar, happy glint was completely gone. He looked genuinely sorry.

Lucus smiled a little and nodded, straightening his posture and letting his eyes cast over the older Alpha. "You can stop all this, Alex, but you don't. From now on, I know what I need to do in my life," He whispered, although the pure look on his face com

pletely denied that statement. There was no way he could have been happy, even if he tried.

"Happy married life to me brother."