Chapter 8

Odessa stood in front of the large floor-to-ceiling mirror in the main living room on their floor, not believing the day they had picked for the wedding had arrived.

She still thought this was all a sarcastic comment till she saw the guests start arriving since the previous day.

“Is this tight enough, my lady?” the seamstress asked her.

She was helping Odessa into her red dress, which was the tradition of the pack. Any woman who was to be married to her husband-to-be would wear the red dress.

“Or do you want me to—”

“I'm going to choke. Please loosen it a little,” Odessa said, her voice just above a whisper, and the seamstress immediately did as she was asked.

“That's much better.”

Odessa sighed before looking at her reflection in the mirror.

The dress was adorned with thousands of crystals, and the dress was very light and fitted her shape perfectly.

Her hair was up in a majestic bun with red crystals and jewels hung in her hair.

She looked more elegant than she usually did, and she loved it.

“He didn't have to spend this much on the dress,” Aria said.

And Odessa held back her laughter.

“And before you say anything, don't say I'm jealous because you're the one wearing the fancy dress from him.”

“Oh, please, Aria.”

Odessa laughed before turning to look at herself for the last time before the veil covered her face.

“You're set, my lady,” the seamstress said as she stepped away from Odessa, who twirled gently before nodding.

Odessa sat there for another ten minutes before she was called upon.

She headed straight into the elevator, which took her to the nobles' floor before she walked over to the grand stairs.

As she arrived at the stairs, looking down at the large hall waiting room, which was filled with the invited people, applause erupted in the entire room along with everyone standing.

No one in the room could believe Desmond was actually getting married due to his history with women.

They all thought that would be the end of his family.

Some of the pack Alphas were already planning ways to take his pack once he was dead.

Odessa looked around from underneath her veil, and she could see Elias and Emma seated in the front row with Alpha Devon.

She wasn't expecting their presence, but they were here anyway, so they're welcome to watch.

Especially Emma.

“How could she earn his trust to be his bride already? Or did she do something to him?”

Emma frowned, her gaze focused on Odessa, who was gracefully moving down the aisle towards Desmond, who was waiting for her on the stage.

“Or maybe she manipulated him.”

“Besides, she's a master manipulator and would do anything to get ahead of you.”

Emma's wolf fumed along with Emma.

“Don't be jealous of her. She isn't worth the attention from us either.”

Emma watched as Odessa and Desmond shared their vows, and she didn't know why.

It drove her insane seeing Odessa where she should be standing before the man that could give her everything she wanted.

“I hate you so much, Odessa.”

She mumbled through gritted teeth as she watched the duo seal their vow with a kiss.

It made her blood boil even more, seeing Odessa enjoying Desmond's kiss.

She just wanted to go between them and tear them apart, but she knew that would only cause additional issues for herself.

Odessa noticed her stepsister's jealousy and couldn't help but inwardly giggle.

Desmond looked in the line of his bride's sight to see her looking at Emma, who was glaring at both of them with jealousy unhidden in her expression.

“Who is she?” Desmond asked Des.

“That's her stepsister who should be marrying you. But Odessa volunteered. She must be very jealous.”

Des ended with sarcasm heavy in his tone.

“She can't even hide her jealousy.”

Desmond shook his head before pulling Odessa in by her waist, and this made her look up at him.

But he wasn't looking at her and just led her to their seats as everyone started coming to them with gifts and greetings while others danced and networked.

Elias walked over to Odessa and Desmond with a smile before bowing to them.

“I see you two have made progress,” Elias said before holding out his hand.

“May I have this dance?”

Odessa looked at Desmond, who nodded gently, not wanting to go against their tradition of the father having the first dance since she didn't go against his pack's traditions too.

Odessa took her father's hand with a small smile before heading over to the dance floor with him.

“How have you been coping all your stay here?” Elias asked her as they started to dance slowly.

“It has been great,” Odessa simply stated.

“He is yet to give Alpha Devon what was requested after taking you in. Desmond is not to be trusted. You can't place your trust in him for any reason at all. Is that okay, Odessa?”

He asked her with a raised brow, and she just nodded, knowing what they were trying to do.

Desmond, on the other hand, could hear what Elias was saying from his seat due to his heightened sense of hearing.

He could see Odessa's uninterested expression, and at first he thought she was just doing that so he wouldn't find out about her trying to side with them.

And then he remembered she didn't even know he could hear them from that far.

“Yes, she's a keeper,” Des replied, mischief obvious in his tone.

“Don't bother yourself checking up on her. She won't agree to him anyway. Your offer is much greater.”

“Just shut up, Des.”

Desmond rolled his eyes before standing up from his seat and heading toward the father and daughter.

Elias looked like he was desperately asking her for something when Desmond arrived.

“May I have my Luna back? It's time for a dance.”

“Sure, Alpha Desmond.”

Elias chuckled nervously as he gave Odessa to Desmond, trying to communicate with her through his eyes.

But he was only ignored.

Odessa didn't want to face Desmond yet after the kiss they just had.

She had to shamelessly admit that she loved the kiss and wanted more.

But of course, she wouldn't tell him that.

“Looks like you were uncomfortable around your father.”

He spoke up, and she looked up at him before nodding.

“Why have you been avoiding my gaze? Is it because of the kiss we had earlier?”

He teased.

And her face turned red instantly, and the cute action made him chuckle.

Emma, from a corner, watched as the two interacted with each other while dancing.

And it only made her blood boil even more.

How could she ruin her life and have a happy ending with an Alpha who is feared all around, which gives her an edge in everything?

“You don't have to make your hatred towards them that obvious, Emma. If anything goes wrong, you'll be blamed for it.”

Lucas stepped next to her, holding his hand out to ask her for a dance.

“You have to be close to your friends and closer to your enemies.”

“Why are you interfering now, Lucas?” she asked with a raised brow, which made him chuckle gently.

“I know you still want me, Emma, so I'm giving you the opportunity for my position back as the Alpha.”

“We should both be able to convince Father that we're second-chance mates, and we can take over the pack.”

“We'll build the pack to measure up to Desmond's, and then you can face Odessa since we'll be stronger.”

Lucas whispered to her.

“And how many years exactly will that take?” she asked him with a raised brow.

“Sooner than you think, Emma. I have one thing they don't have, and that's my secret weapon.”