Chapter one

Sofia's POV.

"You're nothing but a pawn!" Lucas sneered at me as I stood in my wedding gown before the entire Snowflake Pack. "This marriage was a deal, nothing more. I never loved you." He delivered the punchline. My eyes wandered around immediately; everyone had the same expression as me—confused.

Looking back at him, I couldn't recognize the man standing in front of me. He was supposed to be my fiancé, the love of my life, but right now, there was this coldness in his eyes that I couldn't seem to understand.

"What is going on? Today is our wedding day, and you shouldn't be making such an absurd joke; it's not funny." Tears were brimming in my eyes at this point.

"Do I look like I'm joking? I'm dead serious!" He replied, his tone cold and dismissive.

"What?" I couldn't hold back my tears anymore; I let them flow freely. This couldn't be happening on my wedding day. What happened to the caring and loving mate I once knew? Why was this man so different from my lover? Where was the man who wouldn't stop flaunting me and showing me off to everyone? Where was the man who was all over me just a few hours ago?

<Flashback>

My lips curved into a broad smile as I reached for the necklace Lucas had gifted me a few days ago for our wedding. He said my face came to his mind immediately when he saw the necklace, and he made sure to buy it for me no matter the cost.

"You look so stunning!" Evelyn gushed. She was my maid of honor for the day, stylist, and makeup artist. She had been running around in excitement.

Seeing how elegantly beautiful I was in the mirror, I nodded in agreement. "Of course, I can't look bad when I'm styled by a fashionista!" I winked at her.

"I think the alpha is here!" Evelyn whispered as soon as the doorbell rang. She took a quick look through the peephole, then rushed back to me. "Hurry, go change! He isn't supposed to see you in your wedding gown. It brings bad luck." She panicked.

"No way. You believe that trash, Evelyn? It's just to keep the couples away from each other before their big day." I replied in a dismissive tone and eye roll.

She shot me a sheepish look before appearing with a fierce one. "Well, you know how superstitious I am, and as long as I'm involved in this preparation, everything has to move smoothly. So, come out of your dress, and I'll hide it in the closet before he comes in. He can see your makeup; there's no problem with that." She ordered.

"No way," I said.

"You're testing my patience, darling, and trust me, you don't want to know what will happen to you next if you don't get up and get out of that dress!" She threatened, danger leaking from her words.

Just then, the doorbell rang again, and the door creaked open as Lucas poked his head in. "How are you doing, mon Cherie?" His lips tilted into a smile.

"I'm good," I replied, grinning from ear to ear, seeing his face alone brought me so much joy, and knowing that we'd be spending the rest of our lives together in a few hours made me happier.

Taking a brief look at Evelyn, I realized she was sulking at the fact that I couldn't change from the dress before Lucas came in.

"I am so excited because I'll be spending some time with the love of my life. I don't think there's anything as fulfilling as that." I whispered as he entered the room and came to kiss my neck.

"Hi, Evelyn." He greeted her, watching her bow before mumbling an excuse and rushing out.

I had encountered a lot of things in my life, but there was only one that stood out. It was Lucas's love. It was steady, solid, and unmovable. Most times, I wondered what I did to be so lucky to have such an amazing man in my life.

Looking into his eyes, he leaned downwards to capture my lips with his, and we kissed. As usual, butterflies erupted in the pit of my stomach, and I could barely contain all the excitement that was going on inside me.

"You look really pretty. Can I take you to the altar already?" He joked before jumping on my bed. I swatted his legs away, refusing to let him scatter the makeup kit on my bed.

"You should be patient. It's not as though you haven't seen me in a very nice outfit in my life, is it?"

He looked at me up and down, his eyes flashing with appreciation before coming towards me and drawing me closer, leaning downwards to kiss my lips again.

"This is different. You are breathtaking. What if we ditch the wedding and head straight to our honeymoon?" He suggested, wiggling his brows in amusement.

"No."

"Okay..." He removed a box from his pocket and opened it, getting down on one knee again. "Uh, what are you doing?" I asked warily.

"This serves as my commitment to you." He said with a little smile that he reserved for me. My heart was filled with joy and excitement, so I jumped into his arms.

"Easy, we don't want wrinkles on your dress." He chuckled. I hugged him tightly, holding him in such a way that I didn't want to let go until he laughed at my shoulders.

"We are going to complete the mating process later today, and then we become one forever." He promised.

<End of flashback>

With a tap on my shoulder, I jolted back to the present. I tried to lock gazes with the man who once cared for me, showered me with so much love and devotion, but he was avoiding my gaze. He looked frustrated just standing near me.

"Can we dismiss everyone now?" He asked.

"W-what do you mean? Did I do something wrong, and you're mad at me?" I inquired.

"Talk to me; you can tell me what I did wrong, and we'll fix it. We..." "We can't fix this," he interrupted me. "This isn't something we should fix, and don't try to give me those pathetic-looking expressions!"

The once silent hall had erupted into whispers. People were talking in twos and threes as they curiously pointed their fingers at me.

"My heart belongs to someone else. I want to be with a woman who is pregnant for me; she is going to give me an heir." Lucas said, locking gazes with me for the first time since we marched to the altar.

Like an endless river, my tears wouldn't stop flowing. I was a blubbering mess. "W-what?" I stammered.

Evelyn pointed behind me, and as if on cue, the sound of heels clicking across the floor in a rhythmic movement followed. I turned to see my bouquet, which I had been searching for, in the hands of a heavily pregnant woman—Vivian.

Hurt gnawed at my chest, poking me, threatening to rip it apart. I turned to the man whom I once considered the love of my life and thought it was mutual. I whispered with all my strength.

"Are you going to reject me instead of taking a vow? Are you going to reject me in the presence of these people?" 

The whispering stopped. The whole world seemed to stand still, waiting for Lucas's response.