Hated By My Stepbrother Alpha

Chapter 7

_Raven’s POV_

The morning of the wedding felt wrong from the moment I opened my eyes.

The sky was clear. The sun was bright. Birds were singing outside my window like it was any normal day. But my chest felt tight. My stomach was in knots.

Today my mom was getting married.

I lay there for a few seconds and stared at the ceiling. A part of me felt happy for her. She loved Lucas. He made her laugh again. He helped when she was tired. He stayed when things were hard.

But another part of me… the heavier part… missed my dad so much it hurt to breathe.

He should have been here, I thought.

If he were still alive, none of this would be happening. Mom would not be marrying another man. Our lives would still be the same.

Instead, there was only this strange mix of grief and hope twisting inside me.

“Raven?” my mom called from her room. “Can you come help me, honey?”

I pushed the feelings down and sat up. “Coming!” I called back.

I got dressed quickly in the burgundy bridesmaid dress she had picked for me. It was simple with thin straps and a soft flowing skirt that reached my ankles. When I looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. The color made my skin look warmer. I put on light makeup, tied my hair in a half-up style and then walked to her room.

She stood in front of the mirror in her wedding dress.

For a moment, I forgot how to speak.

The dress was not fancy or huge. It was simple and soft, with lace at the top and a gentle flare at the bottom. Her hair was curled and pinned back on one side. She wore small earrings and the diamond necklace that Lucas had purchased for her.

My throat burned.

“Wow,” I whispered. “Mom… you look beautiful.”

She turned to me. Her eyes were already shiny with unshed tears. “Do I?” she asked. “Not too much makeup?”

“You look perfect,” I said. “Really.”

She smiled and wiped at the corner of her eye. “Don’t make me cry yet. My makeup will be ruined.”

I walked closer and fixed a small strand of hair near her ear. My hands shook a little.

“Are you nervous?” I asked.

“Yes,” she admitted. “But it’s a good kind of nervous. I didn’t think I would ever get married again. I thought… that part of my life was over.”

“You deserve to be happy,” I said quietly.

She cupped my cheek. “So do you.”

I looked down. I didn’t know how to answer that.

“Can you zip me up?” she asked.

“Of course.”

I stood behind her and slowly pulled the zipper of the dress all the way up. The white fabric felt smooth under my fingers. I caught her gaze in the mirror. For a second, I saw how scared she also was. Not about Lucas, but about this whole new life.

Just like me.

“How do you feel?” I asked.

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Hopeful,” she said. “And a little terrified.”

“Same,” I whispered.

We both laughed softly. The sound eased the tightness inside me.

The doorbell rang downstairs.

“That must be the car,” she said. “Are you ready?”

No, I thought.

“Yes,” I said.

We went downstairs together. Some of my mom’s close friends were already there. My aunt, my cousins. They all gasped and started complimenting her dress and hair. There were hugs and flashes from phones. I stayed close to her side the whole time, like I was afraid someone would pull her away from me.

Lucas waited outside beside a black car. He wore a dark suit with a burgundy tie that matched my dress. When he saw my mom, his face softened in a way I had never seen before. He looked… proud….and a little stunned.

“You look amazing,” he said as he walked up to her. “I mean it. You’re… wow.”

She blushed. “You don’t look too bad either.”

He laughed and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “Ready to become my wife?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yes.”

His eyes moved to me. “And you,” he said. “You look beautiful, Raven.”

“Thanks,” I said politely.

My gaze moved around him. I was searching for Cassian. I felt relieved when I did not see him.

Good, I thought. Maybe he is going straight to the venue. Maybe I can avoid him as much as possible.

We all climbed into the cars and drove off. The venue was a small place outside town. It had a little garden, a hall for the ceremony and a larger room at the back for the reception. There were white ribbons on the chairs and flowers along the aisle. It looked simple but nice.

Inside, more people waited. I recognized only a few faces from my mom’s side. My aunt. A couple of her coworkers. The rest… I didn’t know. Most of them looked like they were there for Lucas.

They all shared something similar. I couldn’t explain it. They had strong shoulders, calm posture and sharp eyes that seemed to see too much. When they turned their heads, it felt like a wave moving through the room.

A weird shiver ran down my spine.

“Raven!” my mom’s friend called. “Can you help with her veil?”

I pushed the strange feeling away and helped fix the veil in my mom’s hair. Soon, she was called to the doors. The guests moved to their seats. The music started.

My heart pounded as we walked down the aisle.

I walked first, my dress brushing the floor. People watched. I tried not to meet their eyes. My palms were sweating.

Then I saw him.

Cassian stood near the front, on Lucas’s side, in a suit that fit him too well. He wore a white shirt and a dark jacket. His blond hair was styled but still messy enough to look careless. There was a small flower pinned to his coat, the same as Lucas’s.

He looked… different.

Not like the boy who had poured paint on me at school. Not like the stepbrother who smirked at our dinner table. He stood straight with a calm face. His blue eyes followed my mom with a soft expression I didn’t trust.

Then they flicked to me.

Our gazes met. His lips curved into a small smile. Like he was just being friendly. Like nothing bad had ever happened between us.

Anger flared in my chest. I tore my eyes away and focused on my steps.

I reached the front row and moved to the side. My mom followed. She placed her hand on my arm. Lucas stood waiting at the altar beside the priest.

The priest was an older man with kind eyes and a gentle voice. “Dearly beloved,” he began when my mom reached the front. “We are gathered here today to witness the union of Lucas and Elena in holy matrimony.”

I swallowed hard. Hearing her name with his like that felt strange.

The words of the ceremony washed over me. There were talks of love and partnership….of sickness and health…..of walking through life together. I tried to listen but my mind kept drifting.

I thought about my dad and the last days in the hospital. The quiet room, the machines beside his bed and the way my mom cried when she thought I wasn’t looking. I still remembered the heavy silence after he was gone.

Then my mind shifted to everything that had happened these last few days. Cassian’s cruel voice in the hallway. The paint on my clothes and the laughter that followed. The humiliation still burned inside me.

But I also remembered Raphael stepping in, placing his jacket around my shoulders and quietly promising that he would protect me.

What would he say if he saw me here, I wondered. Standing a few steps away from the boy who wanted to destroy me and pretending to be a normal family.

“Now,” the priest said, “I will read the vows.”

I forced myself to focus.

“Lucas,” the priest said and turned slightly. “Please repeat after me.”

Lucas took my mom’s hands. His voice was soft.

“I, Lucas, take you, Elena, to be my wife. I promise to love you, to honor you and to protect you. In joy and in sorrow. In health and in sickness. For as long as we both shall live.”

My mom’s eyes filled with tears.

“Now you, Elena,” the priest said.

Her voice shook at first but grew stronger as she spoke. “I, Elena, take you, Lucas, to be my husband. I promise to love you, to respect you and to stand by your side. In joy and in sorrow. In health and in sickness. For as long as we both shall live.”

My throat tightened. A strange warmth spread through my chest. It hurt but in a softer way.

The priest smiled. “Do you, Lucas, take Elena to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do,” Lucas said.

“Do you, Elena, take Lucas to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“I do,” my mom whispered.

“Then by the power given to me,” the priest said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Lucas leaned in and kissed her gently. The room clapped. Some people whistled. My mom laughed through her tears.

I clapped with them. But my hands felt numb.

We walked back down the aisle together. People threw flower petals. They hugged my mom, clapped Lucas on the back and shook hands. There were pictures and more pictures. Poses with family, with friends, with guests.

I stayed close to my mom when I could. When Cassian moved toward us, I slipped behind a group of relatives. I made sure there was always someone between us.

Later, we moved to the reception hall. There were round tables with white cloths and golden ribbons. A long table at the front for the bride, groom and close family. Music played softly at first. Waiters walked around with drinks.

I sat beside my mom, with Lucas on her other side. Cassian was supposed to sit next to me. The name card said so.

I stared at his name. Then I quietly slid my chair a little closer to my mom, leaving more space between our seats. Maybe it was childish. I didn’t care.

Cassian arrived a moment later.

He glanced at the gap and raised an eyebrow but he didn’t say anything. He just sat down, adjusted his jacket and grabbed his glass of water.

“Congratulations, Dad,” he said while turning to Lucas. His voice sounded warm. “You did it.”

Lucas smiled and squeezed his shoulder. “Thank you, son.”

My mom looked at Cassian with soft eyes. “Thank you for being here,” she said. “It means a lot to me.”

He gave her a small smile. “I wouldn’t miss it. Welcome to the family.”

The words made my skin crawl.

He didn’t look at me. Not yet. But I saw his hand tighten around the glass. His knuckles turned white for a second before he forced them to relax.

Strange, I thought. Is he nervous?

Dinner started. Waiters brought plates of food. They were moving around the room. People talked and laughed. Lucas gave a short speech. He thanked everyone for coming. He spoke about love, second chances and about how happy he was to have both my mom and me in his life now.

He looked at me when he said it. The guests clapped again.

I forced a smile.

Then it was Cassian’s turn to speak.

He stood up slowly. He was still holding his glass. For a moment, his gaze met mine. Something flickered behind his blue eyes. Pain? Annoyance? I couldn’t tell.

Then he looked away and faced the room.

“I’m not good with speeches,” he started. The guests laughed. “But I’ll try. My father raised me alone for a long time. I saw him work hard. I saw him tired. I saw him lonely. And then… Elena came into our lives.”

My mom’s eyes filled with tears again.

“She made him smile more,” Cassian continued. “She made the house feel warmer. She cared for him. And for me.” He paused. “I’m grateful for that. So… to my father and to Elena. I hope you’ll be happy together. For a long, long time.”

He lifted his glass. Everyone clapped. My mom dabbed at her eyes with a napkin.

If I had not known him, I might have believed every word. But when he sat down, I saw the way his hand shook just a little. I saw the line between his brows and the sweat at his temple. Something was wrong.

My mom leaned toward him. “Are you alright?” she asked.

“I’m fine,” he said quickly. “It’s just hot in here.”

I could feel it too. The heat, the tight air, the weight of too many people in one place. My head felt heavy. My chest felt tight. Cassian kept pushing the food around on his plate. He was barely eating. Once, he pressed his hand against his chest like he was in pain. His eyes looked unfocused for a second, then sharp again.

I waited until he stood from the table. He did it fast and bumped his chair a little.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” he muttered.

“Do you need anything?” Lucas asked.

“No,” Cassian said. “I’ll be back.”

He walked away. His shoulders were stiff. I watched him disappear through the door.

I waited a bit longer on purpose. I ate slowly, then drank some water. When enough time had passed, I turned to my mom.

“I’m going to the bathroom too,” I said. “I’ll be back soon.”

She reached for my hand. “Do you want me to come with you?” she asked.

I shook my head. “No, it’s okay. Stay. Enjoy your night.”

I left the table and walked out of the hall. The noise dropped as soon as the door closed behind me. The corridor was cooler and quiet. Soft music and muffled voices came through the walls.

I used the bathroom and splashed water on my face. I looked tired in the mirror. My eyes were a little red around the edges. I fixed my makeup quickly and took a few slow breaths. It felt good to be away from the crowd for a moment.

When I stepped back into the corridor, I heard a sound from the direction of the back garden. It was low and rough, like a growl mixed with a pained breath. I froze and listened.

Maybe it’s someone drunk, I thought. Or someone on the phone.

Then I heard it again. A choked grunt. A dull thud like someone hitting something with their fist.

My heart sped up. I knew I should go back to the hall. I knew I should pretend I had not heard anything. But my feet moved toward the sound on their own.

The door to the garden was half open. A cool breeze slid in and made the curtain move. The music from the hall faded behind me as I stepped outside.

Small lights marked a path through the garden. Trees and bushes formed dark shapes around the edges. I could hear my own breath and the distant hum of cars from the road.

As my eyes adjusted, I saw someone on the ground near one of the trees.

Cassian.

He was on his hands and knees in the dirt, his suit jacket crumpled beside him. His white shirt was already stained and torn at the sleeves. At first I thought he had fallen but then, his back spasmed and he dug his fingers into the soil like he meant to be on all fours.

Why would he ruin his clothes like that? I thought. He had looked so perfect at the table. He cared about looks. He cared about control. This was the opposite of that.

I moved a little closer, keeping behind a low hedge so he wouldn’t see me. My heart hammered so loud I was sure he would hear it. But he didn’t look up. His head hung low. His breathing was harsh and uneven.

Another shudder ran through him. He let out a low and broken sound that made my skin prickle. His body jerked again, harder this time, like someone invisible had grabbed his spine and twisted.

I should go, I told myself. This isn’t my problem. He would hate it if he knew I was watching him like this.

But I stayed. I stayed because something about it was wrong and strange and I could not look away.

His shirt pulled tight across his back and then the seams split. I heard the faint rip of fabric. His shoulders seemed to push wider. His fingers clawed deeper into the dirt. There was a sharp crack, then another, and I realized with horror that the sound was coming from inside him.

His bones.

No, I thought. This is not real.

He dropped lower, almost like an animal, his elbows bent, his back arched. More cracks came. It was a horrible series of pops and snaps and a hoarse sound forced its way out of his throat. His white shirt tore more. It was hanging in loose pieces from his frame.

I covered my mouth with my hand. I was afraid to make any sound. My eyes burned but I did not blink.

His hands… no, they were changing. His nails stretched and darkened into claws. Fur spread along his arms and shoulders. His spine pushed up, his neck lengthened and his jaw shifted. His face moved and stretched in ways that were wrong for a human face.

A deep, wild noise broke out of him. It was half growl and half howl.

His clothes fell away in tatters. In the space where Cassian had been, a huge shape rose up on four legs, shaking out what was left of the shirt.

A wolf.

He was massive, much bigger than any normal wolf I had ever seen in pictures or movies. His fur was a mix of gold and white that gleamed under the lights. Strong muscles moved under his coat when he shifted his weight. His claws dug into the soil as he stood there, sides heaving, breath coming in hard bursts.

I pressed my back against the hedge. I was shaking so badly. Maybe if I stayed still, if I stayed quiet, this would stop…or I would wake up…or something would make sense again.

The wolf lifted his head.

He sniffed the air once….twice. Then his gaze turned in my direction. I could see his eyes clearly now.

His eyes looked strange but also familiar. They were a mix of blue and gold. They were bright and sharp. I had seen those eyes watching me before; at school in the classroom, in the hallway and even across the dinner table at home.

Cassian, I thought. My mind refused it but my body knew. This is Cassian.

My fingers dug into the hedge. I forgot to breathe. For a second we just stared at each other; girl and wolf. My stepbrother had become something else entirely.

My throat unlocked.

I sucked in a sharp breath and a scream tore out of me before I could stop it, high and full of pure terror. The sound echoed through the garden and toward the hall as the giant wolf stared at me under the wedding lights.