The Alpha's Forgotten Mate

The Wedding party

“Are you sure about this, Lucy?” June asked, her voice soft yet full of concern. She was sitting beside her best friend, watching her carefully as Lucy adjusted her veil, trying to make herself look composed. But June knew her better than anyone, and the tension radiating off her friend was palpable.

Lucy sighed and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. The gown was perfect, silk and lace, hugging her curves just right. Her makeup was flawless, and her hair cascaded in waves down her back. Yet, despite all of it, she couldn’t escape the feeling of dread weighing her down.

“Not really,” Lucy admitted, her voice small. She shifted uncomfortably in the chair, wishing she could change everything but knowing she couldn’t. The pressure of it all was unbearable.

June raised an eyebrow. “Then why go through with it? You don’t have to marry him, you know.”

Lucy’s eyes flickered to June’s, and for a brief moment, she considered her words. But the reality of her situation was far too complicated. She let out a heavy breath. “I don’t have a choice. My father is counting on me. The deal with Marcel is everything. If I back out now… everything falls apart. The business, the press, the public drama…” Her voice trailed off as she swallowed the lump in her throat. “I can’t disappoint him again.”

June’s heart ached as she looked at her best friend. “You shouldn’t have to do this, Lu. This isn’t about you anymore. You’re not marrying him for love, are you?”

Lucy shook her head, the weight of her own emotions too heavy to put into words. “No. I’m doing it because it’s what’s expected of me. It’s what’s needed to protect the family, the business. It’s all so… messy. But if I don’t do this, then it all comes crashing down.”

June gently took her hand. “You deserve to be happy, Lucy. You deserve more than this.”

“I’m not doing this for me,” Lucy whispered, her voice breaking. “I’m doing it because if I don’t, I lose everything. Everything I’ve worked for. Everything my father has worked for. I have no choice.” Her breath hitched in her chest. “But you’re right. I don’t know if I can be happy after this.”

June didn’t know how to comfort her friend, but she knew one thing: Lucy was strong, and whatever came next, she would find a way to survive it. “Then let’s make sure you look like the happiest bride alive, even if it’s just for the cameras,” she said softly, trying to offer some hope.

Lucy offered a tight, grateful smile. “Thanks, June. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Outside, the wedding hall was filled with excited chatter. The crowd had gathered, waiting for the grand event to unfold. Jeremy, standing near the altar, looked at Marcel, who was adjusting his tie with methodical precision. Marcel’s demeanor was calm and collected, his expression unreadable, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of something else, an undercurrent of tension that even his best friend could see.

“Still time to run, boss,” Jeremy said with a grin, trying to lighten the mood.

Marcel didn’t smile. Instead, he gave Jeremy a look that said he wasn’t going anywhere. “You running with me?”

Jeremy laughed. “Absolutely not. I’m just here to hold the rings and pretend I’m not sweating.”

The sound of heels clicking against the marble floor drew their attention, and both men turned to see Claire entering the hall. She was a vision of elegance in her emerald green silk dress, turning heads as she moved through the crowd. Her gaze, however, never left Marcel.

Marcel felt a chill run down his spine as his eyes locked with hers. Claire was here for a reason, and Marcel knew exactly what that reason was. She wouldn’t just let him go without a fight. But for today, he had to focus on the present. He was marrying Lucy. There was no turning back now.

At the back of the hall, a new presence was felt. Lucy’s ex stood awkwardly near the door, looking lost and out of place. His shirt was wrinkled, his sleeves half-rolled up, and his eyes darted nervously as he scanned the crowd. No one had expected him to show up, least of all Lucy. The whispers started almost immediately.

“Isn’t that her ex?” someone muttered.

“She left him for Marcel, right?” another voice whispered, judgment laced in every word.

“Guess money talks,” someone snickered.

The gossip spread like wildfire, but Lucy’s ex didn’t seem to notice. He stayed in the shadows, as if hoping he could remain invisible. But the more he tried to blend in, the more attention he attracted.

A girl in the crowd lifted her phone, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Come on, who wouldn’t pick Marcel? He’s rich, gorgeous… and powerful.”

The buzz grew louder, the murmurs and gossip escalating. Lucy’s stomach churned. She tried to ignore it, but the feeling of being scrutinized from every angle was suffocating.

Marcel’s gaze swept the room, and when he spotted the ex, his jaw tightened. He didn’t need anyone ruining this day. He didn’t care who the man was or what his intentions were. He was here for one reason only, to marry Lucy.

Without a word, Marcel moved through the crowd, his security flanking him as he approached Lucy’s ex. The man stiffened as Marcel’s tall figure loomed over him, his presence commanding the room.

“Let’s go,” Marcel’s voice was low and calm, but there was an edge to it that left no room for argument.

The ex swallowed hard, looking around at the growing attention, but he didn’t resist. His eyes flickered nervously as he was escorted out of the hall. No one said a word, but the tension that had lingered in the air dissolved once the man was gone.

Lucy stood at the top of the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest. She glanced at her father, Mr. Valentino, who was standing beside her, his face unreadable. He didn’t smile. He didn’t offer any reassuring words. He simply took her arm, leading her down the aisle. His grip was firm, but there was no warmth in it.

As they descended, the flashes of cameras were blinding, and the sound of whispers grew louder. Lucy’s breath quickened as she tried to steady herself, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. She could feel the weight of every judgment, every whispered remark pressing down on her shoulders. It felt like the whole world was watching her, waiting for her to make a mistake.

“She’s just a gold digger.”

“No, look at her… she’s scared. Poor girl.”

“That dress though? Stunning.”

“They actually look good together.”

Lucy kept her head high, refusing to let the whispers break her. She was doing this for her father, for the business, for everything that was at stake. But it didn’t make the moment any easier.

June stood at Lucy’s side, her eyes scanning the crowd. When her gaze landed on Jeremy, standing beside Marcel, something fluttered in her chest. He caught her eye, offering her a brief smile, and for just a moment, it felt like the rest of the world had faded away. But she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing. Jeremy noticed, of course. He always did.