The Alpha Rejected Bride

“Where love resides, betrayal lurks, and revenge festers.” My mind wandered back to the ancient tale Zephyrous used to tell me at night when I was a child. The story of Lyra, the most powerful she-wolf of her time, and her mate, Kieran, the Alpha who had betrayed her trust. Consumed by heartbreak, Lyra’s thirst for revenge had nearly destroyed everything around her. Yet, in the end, it was forgiveness that had healed her. Well, that was the short version of the story. Zephyrous always had a way of making even the simplest tales sound like something extraordinary. I wondered what i would have done if I had been in her shoes. I shook the thoughts away and glanced at the grand entrance before me. Today wasn’t the day to dwell on old stories. Today was going to be the happiest day of my life. I stood at the entrance of the grand hall, my fingers trembling slightly as I adjusted the bouquet in my hands. The hall was beautifully decorated with white roses, golden ornaments and delicate ribbons that hung from the ceiling. Soft music played in the background while the murmurs of the gathered pack members filled the room. I had never felt so nervous in my entire life. Beside me stood Zephyrous, the man who had raised me as his own. He offered me his arm and I gladly took it. “Are you nervous?” he asked, looking down at me. “A little,” I admitted, forcing a little smile. He chuckled softly. “You have nothing to worry about, Aria. Everything will be fine.” His warm smile did little to settle my nerves, but it comforted me nonetheless. “Together, we shall face this new chapter in your life,” he whispered. I looked at him, feeling a familiar warmth spread through my chest. Zephyrous had been my rock, my confidant and my guiding light for as long as I could remember. He wasn’t my biological father, but he had never given me a reason to feel otherwise. If there was anyone I wanted beside me on this special day, it was him. “Thank you,” I whispered. He squeezed my hand gently before offering his arm again. The music changed to a slow rhythm and the hall gradually fell silent. It was time. I took a deep breath and stepped forward as we began walking down the aisle, the weight of everyone’s eyes settled upon me. I could hear the occasional whispers, followed by quiet admiration. “She looks so beautiful.” “Aria looks stunning.” I couldn’t help smiling. For once, I wasn’t the awkward girl everyone avoided. I wasn’t the one whose presence seemed to irritate everyone around her. I was a bride, dressed in a beautiful white gown, walking towards the man I loved. Today, I would pledge my love and loyalty to Lukas Therian. The Alpha of the Crimson Tide pack. The man who had captured my heart and soul.I had dreamed of this moment countless times. Sometimes, I imagined him waiting at the altar with that familiar smile of his. I had even wondered whether I would cry because everything will be so emotional. Now that the moment was finally here, all I could do was smile aswe approached the altar. He looked handsome in his black suit, his blond hair neatly styled and his piercing blue eyes was fixed in my direction. My heart fluttered at the sight of him. There he was. My Lukas. Zephyrous stopped beside the altar and gently placed my hand into Lukas’s. “Take care of her,” he whispered. Lukas offered him a brief nod. “I will.” Zephyrous gave me one final smile before stepping aside. I turned towards Lukas, unable to hide my excitement. He barely smiled, but I didn’t think much of it. Perhaps he was nervous too. After all, this was a big day for both of us. Tristan Therian, Lukas’s father, stood before us as the officiant. He cleared his throat and began the ceremony. “We are gathered here today to witness the union of two souls, bound by love and the sacred laws of our kind.” I listened with a dreamy smile, occasionally glancing at Lukas. Tristan continued with the familiar wedding vows before finally turning towards his son. “Lukas, do you vow to love and protect Aria, to stand by her side through all of life’s joys and challenges? Are you ready to take Aria as your lawfully wedded wife, to love and cherish her, and to honour her as your mate?” The hall fell silent. I held my breath. This was it. But instead of the expected answer, there was silence. I glanced at Lukas. He was staring at me, for a moment, I thought he was simply taking his time, perhaps savouring the moment before responding. I smiled at him, hoping to encourage him. Tristan cleared his throat, his smile beginning to fade. “Lukas?” he prompted. Still nothing. The pack members began exchanging uneasy glances. A few whispered among themselves, while others shifted uncomfortably in their seats. I swallowed. Was something wrong? “Lukas, do you take Aria as your lawfully wedded wife?” Tristan asked again, this time more firmly. I was still smiling when Lukas finally opened his mouth. “No.” My smile faltered, I couldn’t understand what I had heard. I stared at him, waiting for him to laugh, to shake his head or perhaps tell me he was only joking. But he didn’t. My eyes widened, I felt as though someone had punched me in the stomach. “What?” I managed to whisper. Zephyrous’s expression changed immediately. His face reddened with anger and his hands curled into fists at his sides. A few pack members stood up, visibly displeased. But I barely noticed them. My attention was entirely on Lukas. He couldn’t possibly have meant it. “Lukas?” I called softly. He looked away for a moment before returning his gaze to mine. “I can’t marry you, Aria.” My heart began pounding. “What are you saying?” “I’m in love with someone else.” A collective gasp echoed through the hall. I felt my fingers go cold. “Someone else?” I shook my head slightly, unable to process his words. “Who?” A voice called from somewhere among the gathered pack members. I didn’t need to hear the answer. Somewhere deep inside, I already knew. Perhaps I had known for a while but had chosen to ignore the signs. Still, I needed him to say it. I needed to hear him deny it. Instead, Lukas looked straight at me. “I love her, Aria. I love Laura.” My stomach twisted. “She told me she’s pregnant with my child this morning.” The bouquet slipped slightly in my hands. Laura? My Laura? The same Laura who had spent countless nights listening to me talk about my wedding? The girl who had helped me choose my dress, who had laughed with me about the little details of our future home, who had promised to stand beside me on my wedding day? She was pregnant? With Lukas’s child? I felt like I was watching everything from outside my body. The voices around me became distant, and the bright lights above suddenly seemed unbearably harsh. This couldn’t be happening. I looked at Lukas, searching his face for some indication that this was a cruel joke. There was none. “Lukas…” I whispered. He sighed as though I were the inconvenience standing between him and the life he wanted. Without thinking, I gathered the front of my dress and ran after him as he turned away from the altar. “Lukas, wait!” He continued walking. “Lukas, please!” My heels clicked against the polished floor as I hurried after him. I could hear the whispers growing louder, but I didn’t care. I didn’t care about the guests, the ceremony or the beautiful dress I had spent weeks preparing. All I wanted was an explanation. “Lukas, please wait!” My heel suddenly snapped. Before I could regain my balance, I stumbled and fell hard against the floor. My palms scraped against the cold surface, and the sound of ripping fabric followed as part of my wedding dress tore beneath me. A sharp sting spread across my hands. But I barely felt it. “Lukas, please!” I cried, struggling to get back on my feet. He finally stopped and turned around. “Stop it, Aria! Stop it!” I froze. “You’re making a fool of yourself!” His words struck harder than my fall. I stared at him with my trembling lips. “Lukas, please…” “She’s pregnant, Aria! What don’t you understand?” I looked at him helplessly. “I don’t understand,” I whispered. “Why? Why would you do this to me?” He said nothing. “Was everything a lie? Did you ever love me?” I glanced around, hoping to find at least one sympathetic face. But the pack members were simply staring. Some looked shocked, others appeared uncomfortable, while a few whispered behind their hands. It felt like I was watching the grand finale of some elaborate drama, except I was the unfortunate woman at the centre of it. I struggled to catch my breath. My chest tightened, and I began gasping for air. I wanted to scream, to demand answers, to make him understand what he had done to me. But the words wouldn’t come. Lukas didn’t even flinch. He simply turned away. And this time, he didn’t look back. Zephyrous rushed towards me and caught me before I could fall again. “Aria…” He pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly as tears streamed down my face. “No,” I shook my head. “No, no, no…” i couldn’t stop repeating those words. Then I saw laura. She stood a little distance away, dressed beautifully, her hands resting protectively over her stomach. She didn’t look surprised. She didn’t look ashamed. If anything, she looked almost relieved and then Lukas walked towards her. He reached for her hands. She accepted them. Just like that. The man who had promised to spend the rest of his life with me was now standing beside my best friend, the woman who had once promised never to hurt me. My hands fell limply to my sides. Everything around me seemed to slow down. The music, the whispers, the movement of people. Even Zephyrous’s voice sounded distant. “Aria? Aria, look at me!” I tried to respond, but my lips wouldn’t move. The room began spinning. My knees weakened and my body grew strangely numb. “Aria!” I heard Zephyrous calling my name one final time. Then everything went black.