Chapter two: The wedding Of Lies

Vine

I didn't remember driving, but I knew I found myself at the wedding venue.

The gates to the Supreme Alpha’s estate were gold and closed.  

Two guards in black suits stood in front like walls with Rifles and no smiles.

I didn’t have an invite or a plan.

I had a red dress, shaking hands, and 40 names on my conscience.

The dress clung on me like blood, sleeveless, floor length and the color of warning. I wasn't going to break when I see him.

Every guest in their pastels and whites turned when I stepped out of the car to walk the rest.

The dress dragged behind me, bleeding against the white flowers and white tents and white lies.

Every camera turned at the gate and whispered began certainly wondering why I'd come to steal the show.

My heart was pounding so hard but crescent clawed at my chest with three notes.

"Don't run"

"Don't bow"

"Don't cry"

I hadn't even gone closer when the first guard blocked me.

"Invite" 

I threw my head back, drew in a long breath and said "I don't have one"

The second gnarl as though that would make me run. "Then turn around, Luna."  

The word Luna was a mockery and I pushed down the pain.

Stepping closer, I'd let them see my eyes, the mauve shone and my wolf flashes.

"Tell alpha Jose that his mate is here" I rose my shoulder high, holding up the forged paper that had the transfers. "Tell him vine kaene is here to congratulate him"

The second guard's eyes widened. I guess the word mate hold much value than the invite.

Besides, he was reading the paper. He spoke into his earpiece, fast and panicking.

The other kept his hand on his gun, eyes on me like I was a bomb.  

I probably was and we waited.

Guests in cars behind me started honking like I was a problem and finally, the gates spur open.

As soon as i'd gotten in, I met the world white. It was an exquisite and magnificent arena.

The guests were quiet, with anticipation in the air, pups trying to play around the roses, waiters and waitresses paced about to entertain guests stomach and needs.

Of course, celebrities too, influencers took coverage of the scene with the #THE WEDDING OF THE CENTURY#

Everywhere spoke of wealth and I saw him.

Jose in a black tux his hair perfect and his scent which I've once admired only suffocates me.

It wasn't a lie, he was getting married to her. To worsen it, he didn't even end things with me.

The only thing holding me back together was the thought of my pack.

Behind him, the garden was white flowers and string lights and in the center, in white was her.

Wema, the supreme alpha's daughter. She was a trophy because anyone who becomes her mate becomes aligned the supreme alpha.

That was it, his greed and power led him here.

Crescent whined, she could still feel the bond and my knees locked in but I never stopped walking closer.

I thought I was strong, I thought I'd just rush at him, hit him, scream but I died.

Those shoulders I used to sleep on, his smile I used to wake up to and his arm was around her.

Crescent whimpered and went silent.  

"Mate...mine"

Anger clouded my eyes as tears burned, I'd bit my lips in pain. 

Because God help me, even now...  

Even with the paper in my hand and the lie in his eyes... My body still remembered him.  

My wolf still whispered his name and I hated myself for it.

He was in my head. Every vow, every night. Every "I'll protect you vine"

But he was standing there with her.

Guests had their heads turning towards as I'd stolen the spotlight.

I stopped 3 feet from him. Close enough to smell him with anger in my eyes.

He didn’t smell like mine anymore. He smelled like her perfume.

Not wasting time, I'd held out the paper.

"Jose" I called. My voice was barely there.

He turned, for a while, his face soften, like he remembered then it went hard.

"What are you doing here vine?" He snapped coldly.

Two step closer, with the shaking paper in my hand and I said; "I came for my pack."

He shifted his gaze at wema. Even the priest had to suspend his speech.

"I trusted you! You made me sign this. You said it was to save them!"

He didn't even cringe but observed me quietly.

Not with an remorse but hate and disgust.

He suddenly turned to the cameras to the guests. 

"And I outgrew you. I never forced you."  

He wasn’t denying it and my heart skipped a beat. He stared at me like a stranger.

 "You lied to me—"  

"She’s been like this since the debt. Obsessed. Delusional"

Wema rolled her eyes, and drew closer to him. The bodyguards around were ready to take me out but she gestured to them to stand back.

"She couldn’t give me children. Couldn’t give me an heir. Now she can’t accept that I moved on." He snorted, glaring at me.

It was too sudden, the way he said it, the way he didn't even look guilty.

The guests chuckled and then whispered but the three words that stayed in my head was;

BARREN. UNHINGED. POOR THING.

It felt like they only had one assignment which was to support him.

My face flushed as I lost my breath, my chest burns because the worst part wasn't the insult.

It was the traitorous part of me still wanted him to pull me aside. It still wanted him to whisper that we'd fix it.

Reeled with anger and grief, I slammed the paper on his chest.

"It’s your problem! I need my pack members back!"

I'd almost grabbed him when wema came in between us. Her eyes were wet with tears like she cried.

"Vine, you're upsetting everyone."

"Oh guess what? Your groom haven't even rejected me"

She furrowed her brows but Jose held her shoulder to speak.

"Shut vine! I sent the divorce papers through an email! You're obsessed that's why you don't want it signed"

I reached for her shoulders gently. Just to push her aside, to confront him because this was too much on me.

"Move!"

But she was already falling when I looked. Her back hit the gift table I'd just noticed.

Glasses broke and a champagne flute dragged across her forearm.

My eyes spot blood, drooling from there on her white dress. 

Her eyes stared at her arm, then and she winked before proceeding to scream.

The world stopped as it dawn on me she did that purposely. Every emotions coursed through me.

Wema clutched her arm, quivering, sobbing.

"No!!! I didn't do that!"

"She pushed me!. She tried to hurt me!" She alerted, convulsing as two women hurried to assist her.

"I didn't..."

Everyone erupted into the chaos I'd seen at the court.

"Oh my god she’s crazy!" A guest panicked as two maids rushed to assist her.

"I knew she was unstable!" This one was filming my face as I cowered.

"Barren ex attacks bride!" I heard a click. I tried to defend myself but they weren't even letting me.

And Jose...he didn't look at her first but his eyes caught mine.

He had this disappointment on his face like I'd proven him right.

"Vine!" He roared, he was on me in a second grabbing my shoulders.

I could smell the rage on him. It was real this time.

And suddenly, there was silence and I knew the worst had come.

The supreme alpha, her cruel father. He wasn't here earlier.

He cut through the crowd like blade, I saw him from behind Jude, drawing close.

His eyes went straight to wema's arm, then on me and before I could speak, a slap landed on my face.