We were dancing away the night like any happily married couple but we weren't in truth not by far. I hated this sham of a wedding we are holding but I just couldn't pull myself out of the fact Annabeth is dead. She deserved to be mourned even if I didn't love her. She was a friend and a lover to me. She stood by my side when my mate didn't. She never betrayed me like my mate here. I saw Greta from the corner of my eyes.
She looked sad. It was supposed to be Annabeth, her granddaughter's wedding that was supposed to happen tonight. But here I was the callous Alpha getting married to the same person, who had murdered her granddaughter.
I felt disgusted and stepped away from my mate immediately. She too caught herself and moved away from me. Our hate only fueled our passion which continued to burn in our eyes. I was tapped on my shoulders by Lana. I looked in her direction and she had my phone in her hand. She pushed it towards me, wondering who was that important to her. She generally never entertained the office during personal events.
I put the phone against my ear only to be greeted by a familiar voice. "Hi Congratulations on the wedding man", he said. " Thanks, Mike. But we missed you here", I said. "I'm sorry I couldn't make it but I heard that your wedding ceremony is different from ours. So I was thinking about attending that whenever that is", he said, making sure that he was giving me a choice.
"We are doing it tomorrow night. Since tonight we wanted only one wedding tonight. You are welcome. I will ask Lana to call you about the details", I told him. I then motioned Lana to join me. She looked concerned about the conversation; it wasn't something that I never expected. But it threw me a little off balance. I never expected to go through the wedding fully. But it seems I have no choice. I didn't call the rest of my team since it shouldn't concern them. It was something that I and Lana could take on ourselves.
We were watched curiously by everyone, even my mate stole a glance at us. We moved a little away from the party. " Is there some issue?", asked Lana impatiently. "Nothing that we can't handle", I assured her. She nodded understandably. " Mike wants to attend our real wedding, not the human one", said I. "He wants to attend your blood vow damn. I don't trust that guy. The next thing he will ask is to be in your bedroom", she said sarcastically. "Then I would have no choice but for them", I told her.
I can't make mistakes, even a single one could cost me. I was already walking on thin ice. " I just can't lose my allies at this point especially when we have suspended peace treaties. The war is on the horizon", I told her.
"I know Alpha'', she said with emotion. " Mike would take her back if he knew she is held as a prisoner here" when I uttered it hurt me.
My wolf certainly agrees with me. His mate won't be torn away from him anymore, he had suffered enough to last him a lifetime. We were in a common ground now.
"We have till tomorrow night. Prepare her for the ceremony. Never leave her alone even for a second. When she stands before Mike he must have no doubts that she is truly madly in love with me", I concluded. " Yes Alpha, but what we are doing is not going to last much I'm afraid", she said to me.
"I don't want it to last forever. Just till everything clears up. She is not going to be here forever and I would never want her to be unhappy that long", I told her. She gave me an appreciative smile. " I hate lying to her. It's not in my nature. She considers me a friend. No one had done that before", she said sadly. I knew she was never cut out for the work I'm making her do. She hardly ever lies and I was making her lie every day.
When I walked back to the dance floor I encountered Greta who was drinking a little bit heavier. I frowned after seeing her on her fifth glass of wine. I slowly took the wine glass from her hands. She didn't protest much but smiled sadly.
"Congratulations Alpha", she mumbled. " I'm sorry you have to see this Greta'', I said to her. "I must be here and I want to declare my unyielding loyalty to you", she announced. " I know your loyalty and I will never question it. I also know you are grieving and hence it's mad to see you here", I told her. "My child loved you so much. She used to pretend she was Luna when she was just ten years old", she broke down. I held the old frail woman in my arms. I prayed she would get peace and rest someday. I didn't know how to console her.
"I will punish whoever did that to Annabeth Greta. Even if it's my mate I will bring her to justice", I told her. "I'm not worried that fate will punish her, maybe she is already punished", she said with her eyes far away. "I want you to remember her Alpha", she told me. "She will always have a place in my heart", I promised her. She put my palms to her lips and kissed them.
I sighed not being able to bear the sadness Greta's lost eyes were causing me. I only wish to take her pain away. I felt miserable and guilty for marrying her. When she was the one responsible for every death in packs directly or indirectly. But still, I'm unable to hate her. My wolf will still love her no matter what she does. This made me kill anyone but the real person responsible for everything stood before me. Instead of hurting her, I would do everything in my power to protect her at least my wolf will. Where does that leave my people?
I quickly announced a halt to the celebration. I didn't want to carry out the celebration anymore since the real person who was supposed to see it is not available. I'm not going to hurt my clan members by putting them on a show for long. My mate looked relieved she looked tired and was still held by the chains. Maybe she wants to mock everyone here. I went to her and ordered them to remove those chains. She refused of course. It made me furious.
"Cut out her damn chains. If she didn't allow it then tie her up and then cut it", I ordered. She looked at me loathing. But I refused to bend. She lives here where I'm Alpha and when my people are doing everything in their power to make me feel content then why shouldn't she. She owes it to them. If they wanted to then they could have easily snapped her head.
She stood there mutely while Tony removed her chains. She looked rebellious and angry but not more than me. She felt that getting married to me was the greatest punishment she received. She had no idea. She won't get a free pass on the things if that's what she is looking for. It was she who started this degradation by wearing those to our wedding.
Once finished she looked as though she wanted to cry but looked as if she would be humiliated more if she dared to cry. I decided to intervene because the show will have to continue till Mike sees the happy couple. "Show is over", I told everyone. Then I dragged her towards the door. I was followed by Lana. The rest of the people remained dubious whether to follow us or not. But they guessed that we wanted a bit of privacy so they stayed behind.
Once I reached my room I pushed her towards the bed. She looked at me alarmed. I understood she had gotten the wrong message. I wasn't going to rape her. I now felt disgusted at myself for giving out that sort of vibe. Thankfully Lana burst in to save the day.
"I don't want to be married to you anymore. You crossed your limits tonight", she said in a challenging tone."You can't change your mind that fast you agreed to be married to me. But there is a slight problem. Our spectator who was supposed to bless our union is missing. So there's going to be another ceremony. Our version of marriage which we are supposed to act", I finished my words.
I looked at Lana who was staring between us bewildered. "Make her understand. What's going to happen in the ceremony and what will if she disagree ", I told her. I had complete faith in her she will make her agree.