One

On my wedding morning, I woke up next to a man who wasn’t my fiancé.

My first instinct was to scream. But even that seemed difficult as my tongue felt heavy as a stone.

Something was terribly wrong. Confused, I sat up, yanking the cream sheets to my chest. The stranger lay on his side, shirtless, with broad shoulders, defined muscles, and a wolf tattoo inked across his back.

This wasn’t Ethan.

This didn't even look like someone I know.

I clamped my hand over my mouth. My dress from the bridal shower last night lay crumpled on the floor like it had been tossed carelessly.

My brain felt like ice. Why couldn't I remember anything?

With trembling hands, I reached for my thighs, desperately hoping that I had my panties on. Something slick coated my fingers and I knew.

Jumping out of bed like it would bite me, I threw my clothes on carelessly, and tiptoed out of the room, running as fast as I could down the hallway to the suite we had booked for the bridal shower.

It was empty. Not a single bridesmaid in sight.

My wedding dress lay on the bed like it was mocking me.

This has to be a prank.

I rushed into the bathroom to clean up. I tried to piece things together. Last night, we had the bridal shower. I remembered laughing, dancing, and playing games. My best friend, Claire, had refilled my glass, saying something about “loosening up.”

I gripped the counter. Had I blacked out from two glasses of champagne? That didn’t even make sense. My headache intensified, banging like drums against my skull. I winced and gripped the sink, trying to steady myself. The mirror in front of me was foggy, like my brain.

This wasn’t just a hangover.

It was something worse.

“Okay, Savannah. Calm down,” I whispered to myself, splashing cold water on my face and rushing out.

It was seven am. I was supposed to walk down the aisle with my dad at seven forty-five. My body trembled as I pulled on the wedding gown, and tried to brush my hair into something halfway decent.

Maybe this was some horrible nightmare, where my brain had cooked up some bizarre dream. I was probably still in bed, drooling on my pillow.

Downstairs, the receptionist stared at the disheveled bride stumbling through the lobby.

My fiancé was Alpha and our wedding was very public. Even though Ethan had kept our relationship low-key due to the rank difference, I was sure most people knew we were together.

“Taxi!” My voice cracked as I flagged one down, my heart pounding. I didn’t have my phone. If this wasn't a dream, then it was a crazy prank where I’d get to the wedding venue and they'd all yell “Surprise!”

Or was it a test? One of those twisted Alpha challenges, to measure the future Luna's resilience?

That thought seemed to calm me, but it didn’t erase the soreness between my legs.

That stranger had touched me last night. Had taken my innocence and I couldn't even remember a thing.

The venue was the Alpha’s estate. Guests had already arrived. Cameras were ready to click.

I got out of the taxi and looked around, frantically searching for the bridesmaids.

I spotted them, already dressed in their pastel-colored gowns. Shock filled my lungs. What were they up to? How could they be so comfortable without the bride in sight? Three out of five of them were my friends from high school. One was a distant paternal relation and one was Ethan's cousin.

“What is going on?” I grabbed one of them by the wrist. “Who is behind this tasteless prank?“

She flinched but didn’t answer. Her eyes darted to the door like I wasn’t even there.

“This isn't funny. I deserve an explanation! Where is Claire?”

They remained silent.

I stepped through the double doors, my shoes crushing the rose petals that lined the aisle. Everyone in the room turned. I scanned the crowd wildly. No, Claire. No Ethan.

Whispers began to ripple. My steps slowed when I heard footsteps behind me.

Ethan walked in, wearing black slacks and a button-down shirt, with no smile on his face. I expected him to explode, instead of staring, like he had seen this coming.

Please let this be a misunderstanding. Please let Claire walk in and laugh and hug me and tell me this wasn't real.

Behind Ethan, Claire walked in, wearing my reception dress.

A dry film coated my tongue.

They walked past me, hand in hand, and stopped at the altar. Ethan took the mic from the officiant.

“I apologize for the little drama. The bride and I… well, not that slut standing over there,” he pointed at me. “We have something to share.”

Laughter bubbled among his friends. My mouth fell open. Claire looked at me like I was gum stuck to her shoe.

“I was supposed to get married to Savannah today,” Ethan continued, “but I found my bride in someone else’s bed this morning.”

Gasps filled the room. Phones pointed at me like weapons, recording every second of my collapse.

“Ethan, what—” My voice cracked. “You can’t be serious. This isn’t—”

He ignored me and turned back to the crowd. “I’ve decided to marry someone who actually respects me.”

He made Claire face the crowd.

“I promise to never cheat,” she said with a satisfied smile and chuckled.

"No, Ethan! You can't do this to me! Someone slipped something in my drink," I cried out.

Claire scoffed. "You sound pathetic, Sav. No one believes your cheap lie. I saw you last night, flirting shamelessly with that man, and tried to warn you, but told me you needed to explore before marrying Ethan."

I blinked in horror.

Claire once helped me choose that very dress, saying it made me look powerful. Now she wore it like it had always been hers.

"You filthy liar! You spiked my drink!"

Rushing forward like a raging bull, I attempted to smack the truth out of Claire and defend my honor, but Ethan grabbed my hand and shoved me roughly before a guard held me in place.

“No surprise there,” someone murmured. “What did you expect from someone raised by a storekeeper?”

I looked around. My dad had just entered, red-faced with shame.

Right before me, Ethan reached into his pocket and pulled out my ring.

My vision blurred.

Without thinking, I turned and ran down the aisle, out the doors, as the world behind me exploded in laughter and whispers.

I couldn’t let this be the end.

There had to be an explanation. Anything to make this make sense. I had to find the stranger. Else, this nightmare might haunt me forever.