Chapter 3

2

"The Alpha King is a legend I've looked up to since I was a pup. I won't let you drag his name through the mud!"

Caleb's friends chimed in, throwing more insults my way as the crowd gathered.

Seeing that the ceremony time was approaching, Caleb grabbed my arm and started dragging me toward his estate.

I fought back, clawing at his hand, but his Alpha strength was too much for me.

We reached the main hall, where his fiancé, Genevieve, was waiting.

She saw my tattered but expensive wedding dress, and a flash of pure jealousy crossed her eyes.

"Genevieve, this woman claims she came here to kneel and serve you tea today," Caleb said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

He pulled Genevieve into his arms, kissing her temple while looking at me like I was dirt.

"She actually thought wearing a white dress and hiring a carriage would make me take her in as a mistress. Truly delusional."

Genevieve gave me a look of pure disgust and snorted.

"That was just Caleb being polite. Even if you crawled on your belly, I would never let a stray like you inside these walls."

Caleb nodded, looking down his nose at me.

"Of course. She isn't even good enough to wash my feet. She's probably just man-crazy and looking for a handout."

The friends around them began to cheer and agree.

"She's just obsessed with Caleb's status. She won't stop stalking him."

I stared at Genevieve, but my heart stopped when I saw the bracelet on her wrist.

It was my mother's heirloom, the only thing I had left of my family, and the token I had given Caleb when we pledged ourselves to each other.

I fought back tears of rage as I looked at him.

"That bracelet on her wrist... it belongs to my mother. Since you broke our promise, give it back!"

Caleb frowned, reaching for Genevieve's hand as if to take it.

But Genevieve snatched it off herself and held it up, mocking me.

"This piece of junk? You really think taking care of Caleb for a few days gives you the right to act like a noble?"

"You want it? Fine. Take it and get out!"

I reached out to catch it, but she intentionally threw it against the stone floor.

It shattered into a dozen pieces at my feet.

My breath hitched as I stared at the fragments. It was the last memory of my parents, and they had destroyed it for fun.

"Lady Genevieve, this woman almost made a fool of you today. Letting her go is too easy," one of the guys whispered.

"She's too kind to hurt you herself, so we'll do it for her. We need to teach you a lesson so you stop clinging to Caleb like a leech."

Caleb took Genevieve's hand and looked at me with cold, dead eyes.

"She did promise to kneel and serve tea, after all. We can't let her break her word."

One of the men grabbed a filthy, grease-stained rag and threw it in my face, and the room erupted in laughter.

I couldn't take it anymore. I lunged forward, grabbing a wooden bucket and swinging it at his head.

"Get the hell away from me! I am marrying Alaric Nightshade today, not a coward like Caleb!"

The man I hit turned red with rage and kicked me squarely in the stomach, sending me flying back.

"You arrogant bitch! The Alpha King is marrying a high-born lady from a noble pack, not a disgraced Omega like you!"

"It's been this long and he hasn't come for you. You're a liar!"

Genevieve giggled, her eyes full of contempt.

"Look at her. She can't get into the Blackwood pack, so she invents a fantasy husband. How shameful."

"Don't worry, Genevieve. We're going to give her exactly what she deserves."

The man grabbed me by my hair and dragged me back toward the front gates.

He pointed at my dress and screamed at the crowd.

"She wore this to try and embarrass the new Luna! We can't let her get away with this!"

Caleb stepped out and gave the order.

"Destroy that dress. I don't want anyone thinking I would ever settle for someone as low as her."

Genevieve leaned into him, purring. "I knew you loved me most."

I looked at Caleb's cold face, and it felt like my heart was being shredded.

I remembered the winter when we had no food and no medicine.

I gave him every bite of my bread, starving myself so he could regain his strength.

And now, just because I was passing by his house on my wedding day, he was humiliating me in front of the whole town.

He had forgotten every single thing I did for him over those three years.

"You're going to pay for this, you worthless bitch!"