Chapter 2: Fake Marriage
1605 Words
Chapter 2: Fake Marriage
(Alexander’s POV)
Victoria's faint voice trembled through the cracked phone speaker. "I'm sorry, Alex… I didn’t mean to ruin your ceremony." She coughed lightly, as if the act of apologizing drained what little strength she had.
The sight before me—her fragile frame propped against a boulder as her chest rose and fell rapidly—triggered an involuntary tightening in my chest. Her blonde strands clung to her damp face, her sky-blue eyes wide with pleading guilt.
“Don’t do that,” I said curtly, extending my hand to her. Her cold fingers slid into my palm. "Stand up. Slowly."
“But,” she murmured, tears trickling down her pale cheeks. “You’ll hate me now, won’t you? Everyone will. I've caused trouble on… such an important day for you.”
Trouble? Yes. Hate her? I could never admit to that—not outright. Deep down, I owed her.
When we were sixteen, she had jumped between me and a rogue’s blade without hesitation. The memory of her collapsed on the forest floor, blood pooling beneath her small form while I carried her home, was too deeply etched in me. A part of me still believed that her life was tethered to mine.
“It doesn’t matter,” I said, more gruffly this time. “Don’t think about it.”
Her lips quirked in what seemed more like a grimace. “But it does, Alex. Everyone saw…”
“Enough, Victoria!” The raised tone made her flinch. I pulled back and exhaled harshly through my nostrils. Her frailty was unbearable to watch—but so was her constant guilt.
“Let’s get you home. There’s no point sitting out here causing yourself more damage.”
Her fingers tightened over my hand as she nodded submissively.
When Victoria was finally settled back in the Frost Pack’s house, her head resting against the mountain of pastel cushions she seemed to collect, she called out softly as I made to turn away.
“Alex?”
I stilled, bracing myself.
“Yes?”
Her voice broke, barely above a whisper. “Please tell Eden—please tell her I never wanted this.”
The sharp twist in my gut was unbecoming of an Alpha, yet it was unavoidable today. "Don't concern yourself with Eden," I replied, though her name vibrated in my throat like an open wound. Without waiting for Victoria’s response, I walked out.
But her words clung to me during the ride back to Blackwood Pack.
The pack house greeted me with a vexing stillness. No Eden. No her intoxicating scent of moonflowers and fresh rain.
The dining room was dim, the lights overhead casting a sterile glow over the vacant space. Only Sarah was there, wiping her hands on her neatly pressed apron.
“Where’s Eden?” I asked, voice heavy with restrained annoyance. The words came out more bark than question.
The housekeeper didn’t falter, meeting my gaze evenly. “Miss Moonspell packed her things and left, Alpha.”
My heart stumbled, but I forced my voice into calm insistence. “Left? Where did she go?”
“She said she was returning to her—"
"You do not mean Moonspell Territory?"
Sarah’s lips drew into a thin line. “She was quite firm.”
Before I could breathe in her response properly, James’s irritatingly casual drawl echoed from behind.
“Well, well, Alex. What’s this I hear about your so-called fiancée walking out in the middle of her own engagement ceremony?”
I turned sharply, face darkening. “James.”
He sauntered in, all smooth grace and infuriating amusement in his green eyes.
My oldest friend, the Alpha of the Thunder Pack, had traveled miles to witness my engagement—but now, his smirking presence only soured my mood further.
As he leaned against the dining chair, arms crossing leisurely, he snorted. “You’ve really stepped in it this time, haven’t you?”
“This is none of your concern.” I enunciated each word flatly.
“Oh, but it is,” he quipped. “I heard quite the show you two put on. But it's her curse that’s got everyone atwitter. Something about eternal misery? Lifelong bad luck? My, Alex, you’re in for an interesting time.”
A curse. The memory of Eden’s furious vow on the red carpet clawed at my mind. I clenched my fists, glaring at James as heat crept up my neck.
“She was upset,” I muttered, more to myself than to him. “She didn’t mean it.”
James shrugged. “Oh, women mean everything they say when they’re mad. The tricky part is getting them to mean something else.”
“Enough,” I growled, silencing his amusement. “I’ll bring her back. Eventually.”
James’s brow arched. "Eventually?" His sharp tone betrayed his disbelief. “Alex, you realize these things spiral if you don’t act.”
Before I could respond, Marcus hurried into the room, his Beta demeanor all business as always.
“Alpha,” he began without preamble. “A pack of rogue wolves has been spotted near the southern border.”
Border patrol. A duty that couldn’t—shouldn’t—wait.
I gave Marcus a curt nod, resolving to handle Eden later. She had stormed off before—usually she returned after cooling down.
“She’ll come back,” I told James firmly, more to convince myself. “She always does.”
---
(Eden’s POV)
The familiar scent of pine and wildflowers hit me as I crossed into Moonspell Territory.
Stepping through the much smaller gates of the pack I’d grown up in, the memories clawed at me. This was home—and yet, it wasn’t anymore. Moonspell was more cage than sanctuary.
And she was there, lurking, waiting to take every opportunity to remind me of what she had stolen.
“Look who the stray brought back,” Catherine’s voice rang out from the sitting room as I entered. Her perfectly manicured nails sparkled under the dim light, her smug smile lighting up her flawlessly painted face.
“Stepmother,” I acknowledged coolly.
Behind her sat Isabella, her golden curls glinting. For a moment, silence stood between us like a third presence in the room. Then Isabella opened her mouth.
“Couldn’t hold your Alpha, huh?” Her laugh was light but sharp, like claws raking through my pride. “Poor thing. No wonder the Blackwood Pack didn’t want you.”
The heat rushed to my face.
“Don’t start, Isabella.”
“Oh, why not?” she countered, rising from the plush chair she occupied like a queen. She took a step closer, her pointed smile fake and cruel. “You’re pathetic, Eden. Do you have any idea how embarrassing you are to this family? You couldn’t even—"
“That’s rich coming from the one without a single useful talent,” I snapped, cutting her off. My voice was venomous now, struggling to hold back years of pent-up resentment. “At least I tried. Meanwhile, you and your darling mother latched onto Father for survival like leeches.”
Isabella’s mouth fell open, a sharp intake of breath betraying her shock at my audacity.
Catherine stepped in, her voice icier than the Frost Pack’s winds. “Watch your tone, girl. After all, if it weren’t for me, this pack wouldn’t even have a Luna.”
I snorted, meeting her glare head-on. “If it weren’t for me, this pack wouldn’t even exist. Don’t you dare rewrite history, Catherine.”
---
The evening was quieter, though Catherine and Isabella continued to whisper vile remarks now and then.
But I found solace in the privacy of my old room—until Lucas’s message popped up on my phone.
The Alpha of the neighboring Amber Pack. Childhood friend. Reliable and calm. The only one who had ever seen past my flaws.
Just a simple, “Need to talk.” A meeting was arranged—but nothing could prepare me for what he proposed.
When I entered his office, Lucas stood by the window. His auburn hair fell into tired green eyes as he offered me a weary smile.
“Thank you for coming, Eden.”
I nodded, sinking into the chair across from his desk. “What’s wrong?”
He hesitated. Then, his words tumbled out in a rush.
“There’s a boy. Mike. Only two years old.”
I straightened as he spoke, my curiosity piqued.
“His father, a warrior who served Amber Pack, died in combat. His mother passed shortly after giving birth. I’ve…” His voice faltered, then strengthened. “I’ve been caring for him—but the Wolf Union restricts single Alphas from adopting pups.”
My mouth opened, then shut. The implications hit me all at once.
“You need… me,” I whispered.
Lucas’s eyes met mine, filled with desperation and respect. “I need your help.”
Eager to help Mike, I gave my answer quickly. “I’ll marry you.”
For the first time that evening, Lucas smiled fully, his gratitude evident.
The evening ceremony was quiet and intimate, meant to avoid unnecessary attention.
The moment we marked one another, the faint bond settled into place. It was different from what I shared with Alexander—a pact of loyalty, not fate.
Mike’s adoption papers were signed the next morning. Holding him in my arms, a sense of peace folded over me.
As I whispered blessings to him, a sudden white light glowed faintly on my hand, causing me to gasp—but the tension released.
- Writer
