Chapter 3

Alecia's.

Fear and embarrassment ran through me; he had just reminded me of how useless I was without my wolf; his look not only sent fear through me, but he sent nostalgia. I am nostalgic for when I would be treated lowly just because I had no wolf.

I tried to pretend, but his expression didn't get to me even when I knew it was a brutal lie, he must have probably seen beyond that mask.

His smile grew to a wide grin until he burst out laughing.

The sounds reverberating within me sent shivers through my spine; it wasn't just laughter; it was impregnated with mockery, reminding me of every word that has always been sent to me.

He wheeled back towards my direction and locked his gaze on me….. everything in him was sending fear, but I had to maintain that composure, that fake identity I wore like a garment. Breaking down in his presence would only give him more reason to see me as a weakling.

“You are joking, right? Of course, you are. Being on the wheel doesn't make me a fool, Alecia. We both know you are nothing. Just don't rely too much on this marriage as I have nothing or No, you have nothing to lose or gain….Just portray the character of that bride, walk through that aisle, and let's never cross paths.”He snapped at me before wheeling out to the start-up of the program.

I squatted down in fear, my heart thumping so hard within his cage. The tears that I had tried to cage in came streaming down non-stop. My lips were quivering, while my grip on my clothes was so tight, tight that it could rip it off.

“I need…to stop this, No!!.... I have to!” I forced myself, roughly wiping off my tears which had smeared my makeup into a mess.

I dragged my skirt up while rushing towards the door to meet my mom, wearing that big smile she always wore anytime she got complimented by the Alpha or happy.

She caught up to me and held me in her arms. I wrapped myself around her while I sobbed profusely, not giving a damn about who might hear me or not.

“Mom….I can't do this!! I can…not. He…”

“Shhh….” She pulled me back into the room I had just left, where she redid my hair to a bun it was, and redid my makeup.

“Alecia, you can and you will! This is our lucky charm to become more-”

“......Powerful and a chance to get closer to the Alpha?” I completed her statement, I was used to hearing it anytime I made a complaint.

I swallowed the lump formed in my throat, blinking the tears forming away…..

I knew this was my end; nothing I would say would make her change her mind.

It was her selfish desires first….. nothing came after that. I was a tool in her game.

“....Trust me, I am doing everything for us, once everything works out…..you will be free but before then, Alecia, remember my words”

“Let's go outside and show them what we got.”

Then my name was called….

I swallowed the gasp that wanted to escape my throat; there were a lot of them. How this could have really been a perfect wedding if my husband had shown Interest.

I was walking through the aisle, my hand holding onto Mom’s arm until she gave me to my stepdad- The Alpha.

All eyes were traveling at me, drowning in their malicious glare, enough to murder. Whispering and mumbling were hovering around me…..This wasn't about me, I concluded after my wolf ear caught a rumor going around.

“How will he become an Alpha when he can't even stand-”

“That's why he needs a bride before he could have the access to go against his brother, he has to bend down to the rules-”

“Have you seen Alpha Zane?-”

“I heard he is way better than Alpha Kincaid-”

“Alpha Zane? So that's the brother’s name, the gorgeous and strong prince charming…..that was the name given to him. He was well known amidst people.”

It seemed it was only my husband and me against the world.

Our stigma really suits each other.

I raised up my gaze, pulling myself from my trance where our contact met each other against our will…..

“Alpha Zane!” My mind whispered the word as if it wanted to try and register the face into us. I nodded my head slightly while averting my gaze to my husband-to-be, who confidently sat in his wheelchair, looking like a predator that wanted to launch an attack.

My hand danced in his as my stepdad left the altar. Everything was brief and deliberate; every word that traveled through my lips reverberated through me, and for the last time, I spared my pack the last look before it landed on Erin's, whose eyes were bloodshot with rage.

I crept a smile, ensuring he believed it, giving him the impression that I loved my decision.

My mouth widened in shock, the blood moon pack was far bigger and resourceful than my pack. No wonder they had no choice but to draw a treaty with them.

The maid rushed up to us, they were all trembling in fear while they diligently wheeled him to the room.

He hasn't said anything since our last conversation. He seemed hell-bent to make my life miserable.

I pretended a smile waiting to be taken by my maid-in-honor when I heard my name-

“Alecia Crest”

It was him, the Prince Charming.

Everything about him was gentle, his aura exuding calmness yet his eyes were saying the opposite. Kincaid might be looking dangerous but in Zane’s lies danger. His iris was resonating with darkness or, let me say, his motives.

“Hello, Milady!” His French accent came to the surface; this gesture would have driven some ladies crazy, but not Alecia.

“Sorry, I apologized for my brother's morals in treating ladies…..let me help you to your room!” He sounded innocent but it was far from pleasant.

I forced a smile.

“Thanks, but can you show me to his room instead? He is my husband; his room should also be mine.” I flashed him a smile, trying to play along.

The last character I wanted to portray was a weakling.

“Get your hands off her, Zane. Have a regard for your brother!”

I checked back to the source of the voice and here she stood….

“Could anything be more scary in this pack?”

I exhaled deeply trying not to feel intimidated.