03: Bath

SUNSHINE:

My stepbrother was the last thing that I expected to save me. But he did. He put me at his back and smilingly looked at Jericho.

"Only a coward hits a woman, Jericho. You just proved how low you are. No one's allowed to hit and hurt my dearest stepsister." Except me, he added through our link.

A shiver ran down my spine. 

"Don't involve yourself, Knoxx. This is our fight. This is against me and Jericho."

As if not hearing me at all, Knoxx held his hand as if to protect me which was confusing. We both hated each other.

"Coward," Knoxx called again. "Hit her and you will wage war against our pack which I won't back down. I've been dying to kick your butt, but I don't have any  chance."

"Alpha Knoxx," someone called. It was my stepfather with a stern look on his face as if he was saying we should never create a scandal. However, it already started. 

"I'll be bringing away your ex-fiancee." Knoxx pulled my hands and dragged me to the exit of the church. 

Reminded that I still have something to say, I faced Jericho, and exclaimed, "I... Sunshine Gomez rejects Alpha Jericho Turner as my mate."

Jericho’s eyes widened in surprise while the guests gasped. 

—-----------------------------

One week later… 

I stayed in my room for the past week, not wanting to see my stepbrothers, especially Knoxx. The servants would only bring my food. I had no strength to deal with other people right now. 

The news that I jilted my groom-to-be and ran away with my stepbrother reached the whole pack and other neighboring packs.

Jericho was mocked and was nicknamed "The Jilted Groom" and was the cause of laughter. 

Jericho. 

Molten anger rolled through me.

I wanted to kill him myself and punish him for what he did to me. The pain I was feeling now felt like a thousandfold. 

‘Can we forgive him?’ Helena, my wolf asked, softly. 'Maybe Alpha Jericho had already regretted it.'

'He won't, Helena. Bastards like him won't be changing his mind.'

Helena was always the softer one between us, but she was stronger than me, especially if I was in my wolf form. 

‘I love Alpha Jericho. It’s too painful, Sunshine,’ she whimpered. “My heart feels like it is always being crushed into tiny pieces.’ 

Yes. The rejection was hard and painful. Until now, I haven’t moved on from the pain, but…I just could not forget.

I scoffed inwardly. ‘How could you say that after everything that we had to deal with? He cheated on us, Helena! It had been a week since then, but did your mate do something? No! He never saw us and asked for our forgiveness.’

Helena whimpered in the background. ‘Maybe…he is looking for an opportunity to see us. You know your stepbrother. He must have threatened Alpha Jericho.’

‘Forget about him, okay? I already rejected him. He does not deserve us.’

‘He is our mate,’ Helena cried and won’t stop defending him.

‘He is no longer our mate.’

Now that I realize it, I should be thankful to Knoxx for saving me from Alpha Jericho even if his intention was not to help me at all. 

‘I felt his love, Sunshine.’

I felt it, too. That was one of the most infuriating parts. He made me feel as if I was his queen. His luna. 

I believed every single fucking thing! But then he was also fucking someone else after me!

Jericho was a great actor for making us believe he loved us. Until now, I wanted to know how he could do it to me after loving him deeply. He was like the world to me. I had given him everything and became his obedient and submissive mate only to find out that it was all part of his game.

Fuck him! 

Right now, I wanted to strangle him with my own hands!

I got out of bed, sauntered to my vanity mirror, and looked at my reflection. 

The woman with a sad smile stared at me. She had rosy and plum-red lips. Her well-rounded hips and ass were to die for. Her stubborn curls were in every direction.

This was also the face Jericho adorned.

A trophy. I was nothing but his trophy since I became an adoptive daughter of Knoxx’s father. If I continued an omega on my previous pack, would Jericho accept me?

A knock resounded, jolting me back to the present. 

“Miss Sunshine. Your bath is already prepared.”

After Mother married the alpha of the Heartstone Pack, I was instantly treated like a princess. The former alpha had accepted me like I was also his child even if I was not his own. It was only Knoxx who could not accept me and would always pick a fight with me. He was the last person he would accept. 

“Miss Sunshine? Luna Margot is already worried about you.”

The former alpha, bless him, had found Mother as a slave when he visited our pack where Mother and I originated. Mother found out that he was her second chance mate and he brought us in this pack.  

Mother had been trying to talk to me, but I told him a couple of times that I was not yet prepared to face anyone. And she let me. 

“Miss Sunshine?”

“Go away. I’m not in the mood to take a bath now.”

“Alpha Knoxx forbids me to go unless you take a bath.”

“Tell him to fuck off!” I cursed. 

Just the thought of him made my blood boil in anger. 

“I’m sorry, Miss Sunshine, but Alpha Knoxx is scary. He will punish me if I don't obey him.”

Fuck you, Knoxx, I mumbled, then opted to open the door. 

The servant jumped and looked me in the face. “I know I’m a mess so you don’t have to stare at me,” I snapped.

The servant was stunned. “Forgive me, Miss Sunshine.” She lowered her head.  “Will you shower now?”

I was not in the mood, but I also did not want my stepbrother to punish this maid. Knowing Knoxx, he always does what he says. 

“It is time for your bath, Miss. It’s already ready. Do you want me to help you take off your clothes?”

“You don’t have to help me undress.”

Fine. A hot bath was something I needed now. 

I stepped out of my room and went to the next room where the bath was situated. 

The smell of fresh flower petals hit my sensitive nose. Inhaling deeply, I let the flowery scent calm my raging nerves. 

Stepping into the bath, the maid was already beside me, preparing a robe clinging to her arms. I undressed my gown without feeling embarrassed. The maid was not looking at me anyway.  

Then, I dipped into the warm water. 

So good. The soreness of my body from running in the forest slowly disappeared. 

“You can leave me.”

The maid’s eyes widened. 

“But… Alpha Knoxx specifically insisted that I should never leave your side, Miss Sunshine.”

Yeah. My beloved stepbrother ordered that without knowing the real reason. I was certain it was not because he cared about me. 

I smirked. “Why? Did he think I would run away? Leave. I will call you when I need you. Knoxx will not know anything about this.” 

“I will stay outside if you want, Miss Sunshine. You can call me if you want anything.”

I waved my hand, dismissing her. I did not know if she would leave or not. 

I was in the middle of getting accustomed to the warm water when I felt someone’s presence barging in and saw a man wearing nothing but plain sleeveless and paired jeans. His silver long hair reached past his shoulders. 

Jericho. My jilted groom-to-be.