HER SECOND CHANCE : A CURSED ALPHA

“Where’s the groom?” A mocking voice from the end of the room echoed through the hall. The mate mark on my neck throbbed painfully, as I clenched my hands into a fist, breathing through the pain, and just then, the sharp ears of my wolf caught another gossip. “Hmm, I’m sure he left her standing,” another voice scoffed, a woman this time. I could feel the way her eyes trailed down the wedding dress with that ridiculing glint in her eyes as she continued. “She might be the alpha’s daughter but she was not born a luna, so it’s nothing shocking if the alpha ran away” she laughed softly, her words making the slight murmur in the hall increase. “She is just a healer after all. She doesn’t deserve our alpha. A shame he had to settle for her,” another snarled. The guests' laughter echoed through the entire hall, and some pack members watched me, their lips curled into smug smiles. My eyes tinged beneath my veil. I turned where my father, the alpha of the pack, was seated, not surprised that he'd let them disgrace me like this. He looked unbothered as he struggled to light the cigarettes on his lips. And then, my head snapped in search of my brother, Dexter. My gaze finally landed on him standing just at the edge of the main door. That pissed-off expression etched on his face as he overlooked everything like it did not bother him that I was being left standing on my wedding altar like it was none of his business that my mate and groom, who was also his best friend, was over an hour late to his own wedding. I blinked knowing I could not cry, tears would ruin my makeup. Taking a deep breath, I steeled my spine as I stepped down the altar. And the second I did, the entire hall turned deadly silent. Their stares burned through me. Marcel’s mate's mark sitting on my neck no longer hurt, instead, it burned that kind of pain that kept you on the brink of madness. The second I moved for the door, I felt my father tug through my mind link halting my steps. “Where the f**k are you going, girl?” He spat through our link. “I just want to use the toilet, Papa,” I replied calmly, struggling not to give anything away. “Be back in three minutes. Do not do anything foolish. You know what happens to foolish people, Alina. And your union with Marcel is very important for the Greenlake pack,” he spat, cutting the link before I could say anything else. I breathed a sigh of relief the second he did, as I resumed my steps for the door only to be stopped. Dexter’s scrutinizing eyes peered down at me in irritation as he blocked the door along with the other pack guards. “Why did you leave the altar, Alina?” He gritted his teeth, keeping his voice down to avoid attracting attention. I fought the urge not to snap at him, knowing Dexter and I never got along. “Where’s Marcel?” I hissed. “Did something happen to him? Is he in any kind of danger? I’ve been standing at the altar for over an hour now,” I bit out. Dexter’s eyes flared with annoyance and an expression I couldn’t decipher beneath. “Stop asking questions, what Marcel does and when he chooses to come to the altar is none of your business, Alina. He’ll come when he’s ready. Your only job here is to marry him,” He lashed. I fought the feeling within my veins not to flinch. I know he couldn’t see my face from the veil, so that was a bonus. “I’ve told papa already, I need to use the toilet so leave my way,” I said calmly ignoring his comment. Dexter’s eyes trained on me, as he stood still for a while, probably mind-linking our father. Then, he took one overall glance at me, as he snatched my arm bringing me closer to himself. “Don’t do anything foolish. Go use the toilet and get back immediately,” he warned, letting me go. Ignored him, along with the burning pain he let go of my arm, as he shifted, and I stepped out. The second I stepped out of his eyes’ vision, I lifted my veil over my head. My heavy wedding dress hung up in my hands as I ran straight for the main mansion. “Alina?” I heard that familiar female voice call, halting my steps. Shock filled me as I turned to see Yulia standing just outside the kitchen door taking in my appearance staring at me in confusion. “Aren’t yo…are you supposed to be getting married right now?” She stuttered, staring at me in confusion. Seeing her felt like I could finally take at least a small gulp of air. “Yulia,” I breathed, moving to where she stood. “Why are you here? Why didn’t you come to my wedding?” I tried to hide the hurt in my tone but it was impossible. Yulia’s eyes turned down, as she clenched her fingers around the spatula she held in her hands. “It was Nate…that bastard,” she hissed. I frowned in confusion. “Nate?” “Yes. He ordered me to stay back and prepare food for Alpha Marcel about an hour ago,” She said through gritted teeth. “He’s the future beta of the pack, so there’s no way I could refuse his order, Alina. I’m so sorry. But why are you not at your wedding? Or is it over? I’ll curse Nate if I…” “No it’s not, Yulia,” I cut her off, still reeling in shock. “You said Nate ordered you to prepare food for Marcel?” I repeated, still reeling in shock. “Erh, yes.” I breathed, snapping my head back to take a good look at the house. “That means Marcel is still inside the house,” I breathed, in somewhat relief. “Is something wrong, Alina?” Yulia’s worried voice came this time, the easiness in her tone completely gone. I turned back to stare at her. My blue eyes took in our environment to ensure we’re alone. “I think something bad has happened to Marcel,” I said. Finally voicing out the one thing that had been stuck in my head for the past hour. And just then, my wolf crawled beneath my skin as she cried in pain. I coughed loudly in pain, gasping for air as Yulia quickly rushed to my side, in fear. I heaved breathing through the pain as I struggled to stand straight. “Alina…your hands,” Yulia stammered her wide eyes on my hands which were clasping my mouth a second ago. My eyes moved down to my hands, and my entire body shook, my blood running cold when I saw the blood coating my palm. I wiped my fingers through my lips as I realized the blood came from me. I stared at Yulia’s wide eyes, fear running through my veins. “I think Marcel is in grave danger, Yulia. The pain I’ve been feeling from our bond and now this blood. Something has happened to him,” I breathed. “I can’t even reach him through our bond. I have to save him, Yulia. I’ll die before I let anything happen to him,” I gritted, looking up at Yulia’s shocked face. “You’ve started preparing Marcel’s food right?” I muttered. Yulia shook her head. “Good, finish up quickly, he might need his energy afterward if he’s really in danger,” I said hurriedly, moving to leave, only to stop when I remembered. “And also Yulia, please don’t add pistachio to his food. It could kill him.” “Yes, I already know Alina. He’s allergic to it and all that. You’ve said it a thousand times already,” Yulia cut me off with a nervous laugh. I knew she was trying to lighten the mood, but it was useless compared to the sense of dread I was feeling. I swallowed as I spoke. “I’m going to search for him, if anybody comes into the house, inform me immediately Yulia, I’ll leave our link open,” I told her, and she nodded. Not even able to smile at her, giving her only a nod, I turned as I ran towards Marcel’s room. I pushed the door open immediately, happy to see it was unlocked, as I rushed in. But I froze when my eyes landed on the empty bed, along with the box where his wedding coat was supposed to be in. That meant he was dressed already. So what could have happened to him? I breathed, growing anxious in worry as I prayed to the moon goddess to protect my mate. Rushing out of the room, my hands moved towards my hair, taking everything in me not to run my fingers through. My entire form trembled with another earth-shattering pain. I gritted my teeth, wiping the tears that trailed down my cheeks. ‘What the hell could be happening to Marcel?’ I heaved. And just at that moment, a thought occurred to me, Yulia had said Nate ordered the food for Marcel, meaning Nate was in the mansion too. What if he locked Marcel up somewhere? Breathing hard, my eyes widened as I ran towards Marcel’s room. I barely had time to think the second I got there, as I pushed the door wide open immediately without any thought, only to freeze the next second when the sound which echoed through the room registered in my ears. “Arghh, faster Marcel!” Nate’s moan rang through the entire room as Marcel pounded into him from behind.