Left at the Altar, Alpha King Backs Me Up

Chapter 3 Goodbye, Ex-Mate

As I made it back to my room, I slammed the door behind me for good measure and took a deep breath.

In some ways, I wanted to thank my dear sister, because without her little sad plea for him to mate with her, I might have actually married this two-faced low life scum. Though he’s an alpha and that should mean something, I knew I had dodged a silver bullet.

Somewhere far below in one of the rooms on the first floor, I heard someone yelling above the hum of the others. I shook my head, imagining it had something to do with our Alpha. Then again, you’d hear plenty in these paper-thin walled rooms.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door and it swung open before I could say a single word. Veronica stood there, panting for breath, with a smile on her face that made me wonder what was going on.

“What is it?”

“Alpha Trystan might just be losing his marbles in the living area and his mother isn’t far behind him,” she said, her smile growing wider. “He told her he thought you’d be better than this and waited for him.”

“How funny. We see how that went,” I laughed,“My sister strikes again.”

“At least this time, she’s taking out the garbage for you,” Veronica replied, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

“That is true,” I said before looking over at the jewelry I would have worn tonight. Most didn’t mean a thing to me. They were just trinkets I picked up at random shops or costume jewelry. I gathered it up and put it in a small box before turning back to Veronica. She had made herself at home on the corner of my bed.

“I guess I won’t be needing these pieces anymore since her royal Luna to be wants them.”

“Are you sure about this?”

I was positive and honestly, if he was going to be like this, then I didn’t want to be his luna, anyway. “It’s fine, Veronica.”

She nodded. “For what it’s worth, I think you would have been an amazing Luna for this pack. You’ve worked hard for us and I hate that Alpha Trystan threw it all away.”

I smiled at her, but it wasn’t a happy one. It was pained and full of grief I had yet to let go of. When she got up and left, I finally cracked a little.

One tear slid down my cheek as I thought about what could have been.

The next morning my phone dinged, letting me know that money had been deposited into my account. I was angry, but who in their right mind would say no to money?

I turned back to the jewelry box to finish packing it when my phone rang. My brows furrowed, because the screen said the call was from my dad. I almost didn’t answer, but I picked it up to get it over with.

“You can’t even visit your dying sister?” He said, his voice growing louder with each word.

Of course, this was something I had grown used to over the years. He loved his other family more than he ever loved his first family.

I reached up, looking at my fingernails as they sharpened into points. “Should I bring a cake? Maybe some fireworks to celebrate with?

He scoffed. “What is wrong with you, Aurelia? What kind of question is that?”

“Relax,” I said, almost unleashing a growl. “It’s a get well soon cake. And hopefully it brings her good luck.”

My dad went silent.

“And of course, this moment when she marries the man who was supposed to be my mate is worth celebrating, isn’t it?”

“Aurelia Barker! You’re just as your mother-”

I hung up on him before he could insult the memory of my late mother. The thought of him raging, but unable to reach me made me chuckle darkly. Could Laura’s illness be karma for her parents’ sins?

The Moon Goddess was fair, I guessed.

I sighed as I picked up the box with the jewelry, a match, my phone, and then picked up some fireworks on my way out of the room. My steps were quick as I made a path directly to the car, then drove over to the pack’s hospital to see my sister. If my father wanted me to visit, then I would.

Mostly, I just wanted to see Laura’s dying face.

Just as I was about to knock on my sister’s door again, I heard a voice speak up.

“Aurelia’s probably thrilled with her sister’s death,” Rebecca’s voice wavered. “She always hated Laura. She has been her biggest bully since she met her. Now, my poor baby is sick and I bet that woman is laughing in her sleep about it,” she said before breaking down into sobs. Then I heard her voice grow louder, more hateful. “Why won’t the Moon Goddess take that scheming girl instead? Why does it have to be my darling daughter?”

I didn’t waste any time after hearing that. I kicked the door open, and it flew back, banging against the wall.

Inside, my father cradled Rebecca while sobbing. It was like a scene of some tragic romance novel I had heard about. Everyone turned, their eyes widening as they took me in.

Trystan recovered from shock first. “Aerie, you came.”

He stepped forward, acting almost warm toward me. I ignored him as I pulled up the match and the set of firecrackers I held in the other hand.

“Aurelia!” Trystan screamed. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Celebrating,” I said cheerfully.

My dad connected the dots first. “Don’t you da–”

I set off the firecrackers inches away from the alpha’s feet. He yelped, diving a few feet away to get away from it while the other scrambled away like the bugs they were. It was priceless.

If it wasn’t for a few others visiting, I would have brought the higher grade fireworks to send my sister off with a bang. Smoke filled the room, setting off the smoke alarms, which blared to the point of hurting my ears. The sprinklers went off, drenching everything in the main room of the house.

The pack doctor came running into the room, his face a deep red from rage. "This isn't some backwater exorcism! If fireworks can cure leukemia, we would've sold them in the gift shop!" He rounded on Rebecca, "I understand your distress, but this superstitious nonsense—"

Rebecca cried out, “It was her!” She jabbed a single finger in my direction. “She did this on purpose. Alpha Trystan should imprison her.”

The pack doctor shot me a look before looking at Laura, who was currently drenched on the bed. “I will have to move her elsewhere, so she can remain dry and comfortable.”

Laura, who was drenched and shivering, clung to Trystan as he helped her stand. The assistants to our pack doctor scrambled through the smoke and water, trying to figure out where they’d move her to. Rebecca shot me a look that could melt steel but went after them.

My mission was accomplished, except I still had the jewelry. Sighing, I followed them across the room. Laura was sitting on a chair, waiting for someone to help her change. For once, she kept her venom in check, probably playing the sweet angel for Trystan.

“What now?” Rebecca snarled, emerging from the attached bathroom with a towel in her hand as she dabbed her hair. “Haven’t you done enough?”

Ignoring her words, I approached my sister and ex mate, dropped the velvet box on the sheets on the bed beside them.

“Congratulations, Laura. You’re finally getting your dream wedding,” I said, smiling sweetly. “Though I supposed the whole part about ‘til death, do us part’ or until the Moon Goddess takes us comes quicker for you. Consider your wish fulfilled, I guess.”

“Aurelia!”

Sadly, it was true. On my sister’s eighteenth birthday, before she set her sights on Trystan, Laura had made a wish. She would rather die if she couldn’t mate with him. She got exactly what she wished for.

But even with my harsh words, Laura didn’t lash out. Instead, she looked up at me with glistening eyes, her voice trembling like a delicate moonflower. “Thank you, sister, for letting me have Alpha Trystan. I know you are angry with both of us, and I don’t blame you for what you did just now. This is all my thought.”

A single tear rolled down her cheek. And all I could think was this had to be some kind of show.

“Laura, when we were younger, at least you had the guts to be openly vicious. What happened? Afraid my ex-mate won’t like you if he sees the real you?”

She sniffed, fully committing to the pitiful act. “I was just an innocent child back then, and you were always so perfect. I only acted out because I wanted attention, like you had. You’d never understand what it’s like to feel like an outsider in your own home.”

Oh, this was rich coming from her. I became an outsider the moment her mother moved into my home and we realized the truth of what they were. If the wolves had an award for victim complexes, then she would win it every single year.

I didn’t bother arguing with her. I turned and grabbed the jewelry box, moving it closer to Laura. “Enjoy. Your beloved mate-to-be already paid for it.”

Laura glanced at Trystan in disbelief, almost questioning him silently about it, but he stiffened.

“So, when is this mating ceremony going to be?” I asked, feigning concern. I’d assumed they’d wait at least a month and choose the next full moon.

Laura smiled sweetly, revealing her venomous side. “Oh, you know, since everything is already ready, we’re just going to mate tonight instead of you.”

My stomach dropped. Not only had she stolen everything from me, but now she was going to steal the same night I was to mate with Trystan.

Rebecca noticed my reaction and her mouth twisted into a dazzling smile. “Why waste pack money? Everything is already booked and the invitations were sent to all the pack members, along with other packs. And Laura is family. Surely she can make use of them.”

I clenched my fists, my fingernails turning into claws and biting into my palms to keep from shredding her to pieces. The official plans for our mating ceremony had taken me six months to prepare, and now, it would all be hers.

“What? Keep it in the family?” The laugh that escaped me was bitter. “Is this what they mean by blood being thicker than water?”