Chapter 2

Elina POV

Five years later.

I sat in front of the mirror in the bridal room. I watched as my husband-to-be and my mate, Brent, wore his clothes. Tears poured down my face. My face was battered by him before he forcibly had his way with me. Even on our wedding day, I couldn't escape him.

“Put some makeup on that eye before the makeup artist comes in. I don't want anyone to see that bruise on your pretty face,” he ordered, then moved closer to me and kissed the top of my head. I could not feel anything due to the numbness on my face, but the numbness in my heart was much more than what I felt on my face.

“I am sorry, princess. I don't know what came over me today. I promise to stop from now on. After the wedding, I will stop, I promise. I will make it up to you, love. I love you,” Brent said softly. I nodded my head.

“I love you too,” I told him as I closed my eyes, knowing how badly I wanted to kill myself and him for keeping up with his abuse. I heard him walk out of the room.

I had discovered my husband-to-be was cheating on me a day before our wedding. I confronted him, but I got beaten by him. He was never like this when we met. I thought meeting my mate would be special and more like a fairytale love story, but it was more like a nightmare. For some time, he was kind and loving. I didn't know that under that facade was a monster.

I had been hoping he would change for me. I held on even when he caused me to lose our baby. I can't hold on anymore. Not anymore. I cried as I heard the makeup artist, Linda, and her assistants come in.

“Hello, Elina,” she greeted. She noticed my face and gasped.

“What happened to you?” she asked.

“Morning. It is nothing…I ran into a pole,” I replied. She smiled as if not believing me, but she didn't question my answer. She held my hands.

“It is your day. You aren't supposed to hurt yourself,” she said softly, then continued. “Don't worry, I will make it disappear. No one will notice.”

“Can you do me a favor?” I asked her. She nodded, bringing out her tools.

“Can you ask your assistants to leave us for a few minutes?” I asked, fidgeting with my hands.

“You guys should leave us for a minute,” she ordered them. As they walked out, she faced me with a worried look.

“Are you fine? Do you want me to call your husband, or is he the one who did this to you?” she asked. She gasped when I nodded.

“Asshole. What do you want me to do?” she asked.

“I am not going through with this wedding. I need you to help stall them until the wedding starts. I don't want to see my fiancé or anyone until the ceremony begins. Please,” I begged her.

“Okay, I will help. But whatever you have in mind, please do the right thing,” she said softly.

“And I am not wearing makeup. I want everyone to see this,” I said, pointing to my face. I wanted his pack members to see the kind of monster their Alpha is.

During the wedding.

I walked through the large halls leading to the venue of my wedding. I walked to the aisle where my supposed husband-to-be was standing. I heard people gasping; some murmured and whispered to themselves.

“What are you doing, Elina? Why are you not dressed?” he asked angrily as soon as I reached him. We faced each other.

“I am not mating with you or getting married to you. I, Elina Malden, reject you, Alpha Brent Morris of Blue Wood Pack,” I said to him.

“No, you can't. Is it because I hit you? I told you I won't do it again. I won't see Cecil again…I promise,” he said angrily. I knew he was trying to control his anger and his urge to hit me because of his pack members’ presence.

I ignored him and faced the guests, noticing none of my friends or family were there. Brent had said I needed no friends or family because I already had him.

“I, Elina Malden, reject Alpha Brent Morris of Blue Wood Pack as my mate,” I said, facing the guests. As soon as I finished speaking, everyone started murmuring and pointing at us.

Brent's face changed. He grabbed my hand tightly. “Do you think you can leave me, Elina? You have nowhere to go. Apologize and tell the crowd you are sorry for what you just said before I let you go. And if you don't, don't come begging for me to accept you back,” he said arrogantly.

I held his hand with all my strength and flipped him over my shoulder. I laughed because it felt good…and Elle felt good too as she danced joyfully. I can't believe I just kicked an Alpha’s butt. Kieran taught me well.

“Go fuck yourself, Brent. I could tell everyone here every terrible thing you have done. Let's see how that affects your Alpha position,” I said.

“You will pay for this, Elina. Cecil is better than you. You are nothing without me!” I heard Brent shout as I walked away. I stopped and laughed.

“You think I care, Brent? You two deserve each other…a homewrecker and an abusive motherfucker. I loved you once, Brent, but not anymore,” I said, my face void of emotion.

I am going home, but I am not ready to see him. I walked out of the venue and pulled out my phone, dialing Ezra’s number.

“Ezra, can you pick me up from the airport tomorrow?” I asked.

“Elina, are you okay? Did something happen? Is it because I am not there for your wedding? I am sorry…it’s because you said…”

“No, I am okay, Ezra. I am not going through with the wedding anymore. I am coming home, and I need you to pick me up at the airport,” I said. I had told Ezra not to come to my wedding because Brent said we did not need his approval for our mating. Ezra never liked Brent, even though he was my real mate, and I should have listened to him…but I was desperate to feel loved.

“Did that bastard try to harm you? I swear to the Moon Goddess I will kill him,” Ezra said angrily.

“We will talk when I get home, Ezra, and please don't tell Kieran I am coming home. Please,” I begged.

“I can't hide anything from him, Elina. You are still a member of his pack,” he said softly.

“Promise me. Please don't tell him.”

“I promise. I will try my best, E. I love you,” he said.

“I love you too, Ezra. Thanks,” I replied.

“You are my little sister. I would do anything to protect you, I promise. And we have to talk about what happened between you and Kieran. I know something happened, and you have to tell me,” he said.

“I promise I will. I am not ready to talk about it,” I replied.

“I am sorry. We can talk when you are ready, E,” he apologized. I looked up at the sky.

“It is okay, Ezra. I…I am just not ready. Bye, I have to go,” I said. He wanted to say something, but I didn't wait to hear it. I hung up the call.

I looked around and stopped a cab to go to a hotel. I was only carrying a small purse. I didn't want to go back to the pack house. I sighed. I really wished I didn't have to see Kieran tomorrow…or anytime soon…but I knew that would not be possible.