Chapter One: The Last Straw

Chapter 1

Arianna 

It was already past midnight when I finished dealing with my father's funeral arrangements. I returned to our penthouse apartment and took off the cheap rented wedding dress.

Ten hours had passed since I sent Dean Willows the breakup message. I could not determine which was more painful; Dean abandoning me at the altar, or my father’s death. I had been dealt two huge blows, all in one day.

My inner wolf, Accalia, cried bitterly, I felt like I had failed my father. I was a useless and weak she-wolf of a daughter who could not fulfill her father’s last wish. All thanks to Dean!

I could still hear the pack members' comments of mockery in my head as I tried to navigate the pain and hurt I felt deep in my heart.

“Thank goodness the Alpha did not show up, she must have seduced him in the first place!”

“Yes, Alpha Dean deserves better, better than this weak she-wolf that is trying her hardest to trap him with marriage!”

“She must want him for his wealth and position, good riddance!”

I had heard them say different things about me earlier that day, their harsh remarks and judgements were still ringing in my ears. I had a headache.

This wasn't the first time Dean had abandoned me for his long time girlfriend, Vivien Cross.

After Vivien appeared back in his life, every single one of our dates would be interrupted by her, intentionally or not. 

It was the same as earlier today, when I was at the wedding venue, trying to reach Dean. He did not show up but still I stood there like a fool, waiting for him, even though I knew that there was a slim to no chance of him showing up. I already knew where he was.

I had called him a number of times also at the hospital after my father had died before he finally picked up. But then, the voice I heard at the other end of the phone did not belong to him, it belonged to that she-wolf, Vivien. 

I knew it instantly. He was with her, he had chosen her over me, again. This was a fake union, to fulfill my father’s last wish, but he still chose her, abandoning me, again.

I knew Vivien must have devised a way to keep him all to herself on my fake wedding day, which she succeeded at. This was all her doing, Dean would never say no to her. 

Sometimes she'd have a sudden unexplained injury, other times a mysterious illness. 

Those common ailments would become matters of grave importance in Dean's ears. He would abandon me completely and drop everything to tend to her.

I used to make a fuss about it at first, I would complain about his attitude towards me. But later I came to understand my place, a place he showed me with his words.

He had told me clearly that his one and only love was Vivien, who had been his longtime girlfriend. 

“You are only my mate, but not the one I love! My one and only true love is Vivien! Now that she is back, there is nothing you can do about it. You have to deal with it!” He had said, shattering my fragile heart to pieces.

Now all that remained was numbness. I was done!

I sat on the cold tiles, unknowingly drifting off to sleep.

When I woke up, Dean was sitting on the sofa smoking, his eyes gleaming in the dark. He was looking at the wedding dress on the couch with obvious irritation.

"Why aren't you sleeping in the bedroom? What's wrong with you sitting here? You nearly scared me to death when I came in." 

He frowned at my swollen eyes. His voice laced with a hint of menace, "It's just a mating ceremony, isn't it? It was fake anyway, we can make it up to you later. Are you never going to let this go?"

As he finished speaking, Vivien walked in with a bag of breakfast, using her own key.

“You even gave her the key to our apartment?” I asked him. All my vulnerability was suddenly exposed.

I could see a glimmer of obsession in his gaze as soon as his eyes flicked to Vivien. I realized there and then, that Vivien had a hold on Dean, a hold that I couldn't compete with.

Seeing the tense atmosphere between Dean and me, Vivien spoke innocently:

"I'm so sorry, Arianna . This afternoon I got injured while running some errands and Dean had to come to my aid. If he hadn't found me in time and carried me to the hospital, I might not be here now."

I gave her a cold glance, not bothering to respond. I could tell she was only pretending.

But Vivien seemed to remember something and quickly turned to pull out a black plastic bag from her purse.

"Alpha Dean ran several kilometers to buy these for me, but they're not really appropriate for me to use. I should return them to you, Arianna ."

Her innocent eyes blinked repeatedly, but I knew she was mocking me.

She thought I still cared about this laughable relationship? I’d be damned!

I curved my lips in mockery and coldly said after she finished: "Dean, let's put an end to this farce. You've made it clear where your love and loyalty lies. I don't want to be a part of this anymore."

His face went instantly pale. He probably did not expect me to still maintain my stance on breaking up with him.

Whether the wedding was real or fake, I didn't want it anymore.

Even the air around him made me feel nauseous.