เมียที่(ไม่)รักของนพเก้า

Has a day ever felt so complete and perfect that you’re sure your life is about to take an awesome turn from there?

Have you ever looked into the eyes of someone you loved and thanked the stars and moon for every alignment that led up to that moment?

Have you ever been betrayed so accurately and devastatingly that you had no choice but to shatter into pieces?

Just me?

Well, you’re up for a long ride then.

The day was sunny, as it is in April and the sun made everything look brighter, prettier, happier. Rushing into the rooms without permission as the wind blew our curtains open.

Normally there might have been a few complaints here and there; someone may even have gotten up to do something about the dashing sun.

But today, there’s only one thing on everyone’s mind. One thing that nothing else -not even nature- can compete with.

Me.

As the sun finds its way through my own curtains I rise from my bed with a flourish and toss the sheets aside. In all my life, this is the first day that I’m excited to be up so early.

There’s already a lot of movement and clutter coming from across the hallway and sooner or later someone’s going to come running through those doors and then the rest of my day.

And even though I’m not a morning person and that’s literally the most terrifying thing, I think I’m actually going to enjoy it today.

I don’t think there’s a thing that can make me any less happier than I am right now.

Because today is the day I have been waiting for since I was nine years old. Today is the day when everything is good, alright and perfect!

I hurry to the bathroom and wash my face and mouth. Just as I run a towel over my face I hear my bedroom doors push open.

“Where is she?” Laura’s voice calls out loud enough for me to hear, I begin to hasten up. “Honestly I I’m more surprised she’s even awake at all,” Sarah scoffs. “Girl sleeps like a log every day but today.”

“Would you be sleeping if today were your day?”

She scoffs again. “If the wedding isn’t being held in my bedroom then I’m sorry but that man clearly doesn’t love me enough.”

“And I’m the one who sleeps like a log,” I say, waking out of the bathroom.

“Oh, look at you!” Sylvia, my stepmother, suddenly calls out, and the three of us startle as she stands at the door with her hands held high. “You’ve got that wedding morning glow. Reminds me of the day I married your father,” Sylvia says with a warm smile that I mirror.

“What about when you married ours?” Laura asks.

“Yeah, mom?” Sarah chimes, folding her arms defensively as she turns to her mother.

Sylvia scoffs. “Oh please, I was sixteen and all I wanted to do was go play in the garden with my friends. The only thing glowing that morning was my naïveté.”

“Wow, you make him seem like a monster now,” Laura presses and I bite back a chuckle.

“Well my darling,” Sylvia says in that calm motherly tone of hers as she moves closer to me. “Let’s not allow anyone to steal the spotlight from you today. I’ve got over eighty men and women downstairs working hard to make sure today is a day just as special as you,” she offers me a cheeky smile as she pokes my nose and I laugh.

“I honestly just can’t wait to walk down that aisle and hear those words from Dominic’s mouth,” I say with dreamy eyes and a cheesy smile.

“What’s words; Did you have onion in your dinner?” Laura chips in and Sarah laughs. I roll my eyes moving to my bed.

“Don’t mind your silly sisters,” Sylvia says, getting on the bed next to me. “In only a matter of hours, you’ll be married to the man of your dreams.”

I smile. “I’ve spent my whole life by Dominic’s side, Sylvia. Dreamt of this day for so long that it became a memory. To be honest, this feels more like continuing to the next level rather than starting something new.”

“And that is exactly why you two are meant for each other my love.”

I look up at her.

“I’ve seen you two together, and I’ve seen enough of life to know love when I see it.”

“Thanks, Sylvia. You’ve really been such wonderful support this period.”

She smiles and nods.

“Well as cute as this is, no man is going to say I do to you in that state so get up.” “Chop- chop!” Sarah follows behind Laura as they both approach the bed.

—

The trumpet blares, but not in an intense way. Sylvia smiles at me as we walk down the aisle together and then she goes back to her seat.

It all feels so surreal, like it actually feels impossible to be true. But it’s happening. I’m standing here, next to this six-foot-tall mountain of gorgeousness. His silver blue eyes peering into mine, obscured lightly by his short blonde hair that just matches that perfect white smile.

Oh, I’m in heaven!

The ceremony goes on and I’m barely even there, I’m floating on cloud nine waiting to press those lips against mine. And after saying our vows, I tell him ‘I do’ without a flicker of doubt.

“Do you, Dominic, take Kyra to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

The world stops.

“I do.”

“Not-” he adds before I have enough time to celebrate.

Now, the world really stops.

“Wha- what did you say?” I ask, ignoring the gasps and murmurs building up around us. I grab his hand desperately and try to make him look at me.

“What was that, Dominic? You said you do not?”

Everyone stops to listen.

“No, I will not let you ruin my legacy. I am the alpha of the blue crescent pack and my lineage will not be stained by a tramp!”

The word echoes in my ear.