Alexa’s Point Of View
“Alice! Alice! Alice wake up!”
It was my wedding day. I was clad in a wedding dress that weighed a ton. I imagined my husband taking it off me on the night of our wedding as we have our first night together as husband and wife.
I thought my wedding would be the most joyous day of my life but here I am, standing beside my supposed husband, watching him try his possible best to revive a strange woman. His wedding clothes were stained with her blood.
It angered me.
I was frustrated.
Why now? Why did she have to show up?
Who was she to have him shaken up on the night that was supposed to be our happiest? Who the hell is she to stain his wedding clothes with her blood?
I sound petty and inconsiderate right now but I hate the fact that all attention was on her, on my wedding!
“This is not good. Let’s get her treated.” Xena said and before she could try to help carry the woman, Akira had already carried her in bridal style. He should just let a guard carry her. Must he go through the trouble?
“Get the physician ready, now!” He ordered as he walked away with the woman in his arms. Xena followed behind him but I couldn’t. My dress was too heavy for me to run. Gosh! Why is this happening?
“Will you go inside, your highness?” Raya asked and I bit my lower lip to stop myself from crying.
“Don’t call me that. I’m not your highness until I get officially married to your alpha.” I said and she looked at me sadly. I looked away from her in embarrassment. “Gosh, this is so annoying.”
She supported me on my shoulder and said, “it’s getting cold. Let’s go in.”
I nodded and she helped me walk inside. Going in, I noticed we were not moving in the direction of the main palace.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Your new residence,” Raya replied. We walked until we got to the front of a building. It was a fortress. We went in and got to the front of a room with silver twin doors. The doors were pushed open and I was helped inside. With one look at the room, you’d figure out it was for newlyweds. The beds were decorated with red bedsheets and the pillows were red too with beautiful embroidery on them. The bed curtain was also of rosy red colour and decorated with lights. Roses were spread on the aisle leading to the bed and candles were lit.
A beautiful gold chandelier dimly lit the room, adding to the romantic atmosphere. A set of tables and floor pillows were arranged in the middle of the room.
“That’s where you’ll have your first drink together as husband and wife.” She told me and I nodded.
“The bride is to wait patiently for her husband to come and take off her bridal robe,” Raya explained as she helped me sit on the bed.
I fiddled with my fingers as different thoughts crossed my mind. What if he doesn’t show up? Raya must have noticed my sullen expression.
“It’s okay, your highness. He’ll surely show up.” She assured and I forced a smile at her. She adjusted a pin in my hair before walking to the door.
“Good luck,” she said before leaving.
Husband and wife, huh?
The priest didn’t even get to pronounce us before the woman showed up. Technically, we’re still not mated. Does this mean I’ll have to wait a whole month before we get wedded? Aish! This is all her fault! Why didn’t she go collapse somewhere else?
With my whole strength, I pushed myself further on the bed to rest my back on a pillow. My back hurts so much and my toes hurt. The shoe is pinching my toes. Even my neck is tired from carrying this heavy coronet. He should come to take these things off already!
Ten minutes…
Twenty minutes…
Thirty minutes…
An hour passed! But Akira was nowhere to be found. I am not to leave the room but I’m getting tired of waiting! My eyes are so tired. If I shut them, I might sleep off. I’m trying so hard not to sleep. What if I do, and he eventually comes? Gosh, but my back is killing me!
I’ll just lie down. I won’t close my eyes. I’ll just lie down to rest my back. I supported my head with a pillow as I lay down.
“Gosh, this is so comfortable.”
I tried. I really tried but it wasn’t easy keeping my eyes open. I gave in in the end and let my eyelids close. The night flew by so fast that morning came like lightning. I opened my eyes, only to be hit by a very intense headache.
“Ouch!” I winced, supporting my head with my palm as I sat up. My vision became clearer and I was able to see where I was. Where am I?
Ah, yes.
This room.
The room where I was supposed to have my first night with Akira. That asshole didn’t show up! That bastard! That son of a…
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.
“Um… yeah?” I replied.
“We’re here to clean you up, your highness.” I heard Raya’s voice.
“Come in.”
The door opened and maids trooped in. Raya’s eyes widened when our eyes met. Her gaze roamed up and down my body and I felt even more annoyed. She must be wondering why I was still clad in my wedding clothes.
“Good morning, your highness.”
“Don’t call me that.” I snapped. “Just come get these things off me,” I said and three maids came forward. One began taking off the accessories in my hair and the others took off my clothes and shoes. I was clad in my silky undergarment.
“Ah,” I breathed in satisfaction as I stretched my neck. I can finally feel my neck again. I was escorted out of the room to a very huge bathroom. The bathtub was circular and very huge. It could contain ten people. Rose petals were spread on the surface of the water. I stripped off my undergown and stepped into the water.
It was so warm and it smelled very nice. I immersed myself in the water and stayed underwater for about thirty seconds before coming back up.
Raya was placing some clothes on the hanger. I looked around and didn’t find any maids except her around.
“Where are the others?” I asked.
“I told them to leave. I thought your highness could use some alone time.” She said and I sighed.
She smiled and asked, “are you okay?”
I shook my head. “I’m not.” I said. “he didn’t show up.”
She nodded. “You must have been heartbroken.”
“That inconsiderate jerk!” I swore.
“Your highness, that’s the alpha you’re cursing.” She whispered.
“No, I’m cursing my…” I don’t even know what to call him. He’s not my husband yet.
“Can even call him my husband?” I asked and she hummed.
“Officially, you can’t because the priest didn’t pronounce you both husband and wife but unofficially, you can. If he ain’t your husband, what is he? Your lover?”
I huffed. “Gosh, I’m so mad! Who was that girl anyway?”
She thinned her lips. “I’m not sure if I should tell you this.” She said and my ears perked up. I swam toward her and folded my arms on the edge of the tub.
“Tell me. I wanna know.” She smiled lopsidedly and cleared her throat.
“Some years back, there was a rumor flying around that our alpha found his mate.”
“Huh?”
“They said the girl’s name was Alice.”
Alice? That was the name Akira called the woman.
“The town folks said alpha and her were inseparable. She was bold, sharp, strong, and a great warrior, fit to be a Luna so everyone imagined, or rather wished that she was the Luna. She and alpha related so well that many people thought that there was something special going on between them. They played together, fought, and won battles together. What did people call them? Ah yes. The power couple of Whitepeak Pack.”
“P… power couple?”
“Yes! People would scream her name in delight whenever she passed by.” She said in a high-pitched voice. She sounded like a fan of this Alice girl, which angered me. “The children loved her so much and she…”
She paused when she saw the expression on my face. “Um… yeah, that was what happened.” She said and bowed briskly.
I hissed and turned away from her. Alice. Wait, don’t tell me…
The girl Akira didn’t want to talk about. The girl he had a serious relationship with. Don’t tell me that Alice girl is who he was talking about.
Nah, it better not be. I’m not about to live under the same roof with one of his exes.
“But don’t worry, alpha is your man now and..” I threw her a glare and she swallowed her words.
“I’m sorry.”
I rolled my eyes and washed my face. I stepped out of the tub and I was wearing a white robe. I was led back to the room. When I got in, the wedding night decorations were nowhere to be found. The red bedsheets and pillows were already replaced with lilac ones. The roses and candles were already taken out and everywhere was tidied up.
I sat in front of the mirror and my hair was worked on. My ginger curls were brushed back and packed in a half-up and half-down style. The half-up part with clipped in place with a gold clip. They decorated my hair with accessories and did light makeup on my face. I wore a corseted yellow off-shoulder gown that had a flowy trail. The skirt of the gown had a sparkly flowery veil which added to the beauty.
“You’re beautiful, your highness,” Raya said and I winked at her.
“What are we doing first?” I asked her.
“You’re to pay respect to the Luna Mother first and elders first.” She said and I nodded. Maids trooped behind me as Raya led me to the residence of Luna Mother.
We got to the front of her door and my presence was announced.
“Let her in.” She said from inside. The door was opened and when I got in, I found Akira sitting opposite her. When our eyes met, I didn’t hesitate to send a deadly glare at him.
“Your highness,” I bowed in respect at Luna mother.
“My child. Hope you slept well.”
I smiled. “Like a baby, your highness.”
“Come sit.” She said and I nodded. I went to her and sat opposite her, making sure I left enough distance between Akira and me.
“Akira and I were just talking.”
“Oh… were you?” I said, not sparing Akira a glance.
“Yes, about last night’s party crasher.”
At this moment, I glanced at Akira. He stared at me apologetically but I kept a hardened expression.
“Who was she?” I asked him.
“She is Alice.”
“I didn’t ask for her name. Who is she?”
“She was a pack member.”
I raised my brow in disbelief. “Maybe you two should chat outside?” Mother suggested and I nodded.
“That’d be better.”
“You two are dismissed then.” She said and I quickly stood up. I bowed to her and turned to the door.
“Alexa. Alexa, wait.”
He kept calling me but I didn’t spare him a glance. Nor did I wait.
“Alexa, please.”
I paused in my tracks and turned to him. “What?”
“I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?”
“I-”
“No, tell me, what are you sorry for? Is it for leaving me at the altar? For not showing up to consummate our marriage? What am even talking about? We didn’t even get to get married because you ran to another woman before we could!”
“Yes, all that. I’m so sorry. I just… seeing her in that state, I just couldn’t leave her and…”
“You could have let one of the guards take her to the doctor but no! You had to act like a knight in shining armor and carry her like she was your bride!”
“Alexa-”
“You know, I waited for hours last night, hoping you would show up! But you didn’t! You… you didn’t and-” I threw my head back, trying to stop my tears from falling. My make-up is too beautiful to be messed up.
“I know I sound petty. I know I sound like an immature child but I’m not going to pretend as if I was not hurt. I am not going to pretend to care and ask if the girl is alright. Sorry if I disappointed you but I-” In the middle of my rant, he pulled me closer by my waist and shut me up with a kiss.
He broke the kiss and said against my lips. “At least allow me to apologize.”
“You asshole,” I mumbled and he chuckled.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for leaving you on the altar. I’m sorry for neglecting you on the night of our wedding. I’m ready to take any hits coming my way. I’m very sorry, Alexa.”
I dropped my gaze, “Do you… do you know what people were whispering as I passed by them this morning? They were saying you neglected me because I wasn’t fit to be your Luna. They said that girl is stronger and fitter.”
“No, Alexa,” he whispered, tilting my head up with my chin. “There’s no one fitter to be my Luna than you. I chose you. You’re my Luna. You’re my Queen. No matter what anyone says, you’re my life. You’re the air I breathe. Without you, there’s no me, there’s now Whitepeak Pack. It’s you. It has always been you. Or do you want me to pull out the tongues of those that badmouth you?”
“Is that possible?” I teased and he laughed.
“If that’s what you want.”
I shook my head and hugged him. “No. They can talk all they want. So far you’re by my side, whatever they say doesn’t matter.” I said and he chuckled.
“Good girl. Don’t let what people say to pull you down.” He said as his arm tightened around me. I was enjoying the moment until I heard a very aggravating voice call…
“Akira.”