Chapter 0003

BRUNA’S POV

I was adorned in the most exquisite bridal attire. It was a novel experience, as I had never worn such elegant and expensive clothing. It was a round-neck embellished ball gown with several layers to it. With the assistance of one of the maids, I put on the wrist-length bracelet that adorned my hands. After securing my chocolate brown hair in an elegant bun, the maid skillfully adjusted the delicate lace-edged vintage bridal veil.

I would wake up every morning to see myself in the mirror covered in scars, but today was a completely different day. All my scars and wounds were concealed, and I never thought I could look this beautiful. Everything felt like a dream, and I wished with all my heart that I could marry my beloved mate. However, the harsh reality came crashing down on me, and I realized that I had to play the role of a substitute bride for the ruthless Alpha.

“How long is it going to take, huh?”

I heard Linda grumble as she entered my room with her beloved daughter, Regina!

Regina’s face went red as she looked down at me with disgust. Giving me a quick once-over, she abruptly said, “The car has already arrived to pick you up! So, lift that ass and come down right now!”

From how she glared at me, I knew she was jealous to see me in the white gown specially designed for her. But it wasn’t my fault. She was the one who pushed me into all of this!

Her jealousy soon spilled into action as she harshly grabbed my wrist and forcibly made me stand. She growled, “We don’t have the entire day to doll you up!”

I couldn’t help but follow every f*cking order they gave me. Soon, I was outside the pack house to see a black limousine waiting for me. As I was about to sit in the backseat of the car, Regina abruptly and forcefully turned me around.

Grabbing my arms, she hissed, “Don’t you mess up anything today! For the world, and Alpha Silas, you are Regina Walters, so better behave like that!”

Linda stepped closer to us and released me from Regina’s grasp. Plastering a wicked smile, she smirked, “Don’t worry, darling. She wouldn’t create a mess if she still wanted her grandma alive!”

I sat inside the car, and off we went to the banquet hall organized for Regina’s wedding.

As I entered the banquet hall, my heart ferociously throbbed against my chest as it threatened to explode at any moment. Feeling the eyes of everyone on me was freaking me out. I somehow held myself together as I walked down the aisle. That was it! Right now, there was no way to avoid becoming Alpha Silas’ Substitute Bride.

As I was walking down the aisle, my eyes were turned downward. I didn’t have the guts to face the cruel Alpha of the werewolf world, but when I arrived at the altar, I was shocked. Alpha Silas hadn’t arrived yet.

I stood there like a dummy and waited for Alpha Silas, waiting for that moment to arrive wherein I would vow to become his wife, submit myself to him, and let him make my life a living hell!

The wait was minimal as I could hear the announcement, “Here comes our greatest, one and only Alpha Silas!”

As the announcement echoed through the microphone, the entire audience turned their heads in unison, and their gaze fixated on his entrance. I nearly went breathless, and my hands tightly clung to the wedding gown.

With a sinking feeling, I realized that the moment of darkness had descended upon my life, but I summoned the courage to raise my eyes and steal a glance at my future husband.

As I lifted my eyes, I could see a wheelchair and my soon-to-be husband draped into a black wedding suit sitting on it. My eyes went shaky, especially when I saw Alpha Silas’ body. Despite being in a wheelchair, his strapping body radiated an undeniable presence. However, what truly caught my attention and sent a shiver down my spine was the ugly, black mask covering his face.

Why did he have that mask on? Was it because his face was so ugly that he had to conceal it? My heart drummed against my chest, and I shivered when his wheelchair was parked beside me, and the burly werewolf who had driven the wheelchair stepped behind and disappeared into the crowd. I assumed him to be the Beta.

It was the scariest moment of my life, but that was how it was meant to be, so I consoled myself, “As long as I am obedient to the Alpha of Blood Moon Pack, my life will not be as difficult as it is here.”

The wedding ceremony started as the priest read the holy verses and then ushered a moment wherein he said in his crisp voice, “Do you, Alpha Silas Raynott of the Blood Moon Pack, take Regina Walters of the Blue Moon Pack as your wife?”

A brief moment of complete silence ensued, during which I glanced at Alpha Silas, anticipating his response. To my surprise, he remained silent and merely nodded his head, and the priest took it as a yes.

Why wasn’t Alpha Silas uttering a single word? His reaction added to the fear that was already lurking in me. The priest looked at me and said, “Do you, Regina Walters of the Blue Moon Pack, take Alpha Silas Raynott of the Blood Moon Pack as your husband?”

I trembled on hearing those words and tried to stay still. I opened my mouth to speak, but my tongue was tied. I couldn’t utter a yes, my heart protesting against it. The once-pervasive silence shattered, replaced by hushed murmurs from the audience, questioning my reluctance to speak. The intense gaze of Alpha Silas, piercing me with his crimson eyes, startled me to the core.

I swallowed hard and croaked, “Y…”

A booming laugh emerged in the banquet hall before I could complete a YES. We all turned to the source of laughter, and I found a man with buzz-cut hair standing beside the stage, holding a microphone.

“Congratulations to our Alpha, and hello, everyone. I am his brother, Frederick. Thank you for attending my brother’s wedding. This is the bride we bought for him!” He said over the microphone with a burst of evil laughter.

Those words pinched me hard, and I could feel the rush of humiliation as everyone eyed me up and down as if I were a thing they had purchased for their cruel Alpha.

Frederick continued in his evil tone, but this time it wasn’t to me but to Alpha Silas.

“Unfortunately, Alpha, you scared the bride. Do you dare to take off the mask to the bride?” He mocked Alpha Silas.

That mocking didn’t go well with the Alpha, and I could hear him inhaling a sharp breath. His previously relaxed hands clenched into tightly wound fists, and with a swift motion, he struck one of the armrests of the wheelchair. His voice grew menacing as he growled at me, “Regina, if you’re so terrified of me, I see no reason to proceed with this wedding!”

That was the first time I heard his sharp, cold voice, and it took me a moment to process his words.

I witnessed him signaling to the Beta in the crowd, who swiftly made his way onto the stage. As the Beta held onto the wheelchair, it dawned on me that he had covertly instructed his Beta to drive him away.

No, this shouldn’t happen! In no way should this wedding ceremony be left incomplete, or else, those monsters will harm my grandma.

My eyes widened when I saw them going away, and I immediately took a few steps and blurted out, “Wait a minute! I hereby swear to be your wife, for richer or poorer, in health or sickness, I am willing to live with you forever.”

Thankfully, my words halted them, and I seized the opportunity to hasten my pace toward Alpha Silas. The realization of what I was about to do to the most dangerous Alpha was almost unbelievable.

I hurriedly squatted down and lifted my veil. In the next sweeping second, I inclined my face to the left, brought my mouth close to the Alpha Silas’ neck, and marked him.

I anticipated pulling away from him swiftly, but my stiff body went loose as his captivating scent enveloped me, causing my heart to race. I was irresistibly drawn to him with a fierce intensity.