Chapter five

AXEL

My wedding day was finally here and all I could think about was how great this suit looked on me.

I stared at my glorious reflection one last time, adjusting my suit and running a hand through my permed hair.

Damn, I was fucking gorgeous..

“Ready to go get your bride?” Julian snickered from my side. He was also my best man.

And a great taunter as well.

I clicked my tongue in reply, 

“I was born ready. Now let's wed me off to Sofia, so we can get to the bedding stage already.”

We got to the venue where the wedding would take place.

“Lemonade….free Lemonade….” 

There was a weird servant I had never seen before at the entrance door, urging everyone to take a chug of her lemonade.

“It's goodluck lemonade…” she said, offering two cups to Julian and I.

New ridiculous shit comes out everyday cause when the fuck was there goodluck lemonade?

I rolled my eyes, eventually taking a shot and Julian did the same because she was fucking persuasive.

And when I entered the hall, I was seemingly impressed by the effort the event planning team had put into the decoration for what would be the wedding of the season.

The whole place was lit up like a fairytale wedding, none that mattered to me, all I was looking forward to was the wedding night.

The entire congregation hushed down at my entry, as I made my way down to the altar.

When the choir started the piano, I glanced around, I was surprised to find out that Father was nowhere to be seen…

For someone who had been anticipating the wedding, it was odd…

Also, I didn't see anyone from Pack Fidelis.

I smirked. Seems the princess was too hurt to honor my invitation.

She's probably somewhere bawling her eyes out.

“Where is mum, and the others?” I gritted to Julian by my side, when I also noticed their absence.

He shrugged, “probably spending hours over their makeup…”

Something felt odd, and my conscience tugged at me.

“Send Torac to check on them…” I ordered.

After that, for what felt like a millisecond, I felt a slight pain in my chest, completely startling me.

I frowned, rubbing the spot on my chest.

What was that?

Waving it off as some random chest pain, I tried to refocus on the ceremony once again as the wide doors opened to reveal my bride, entering through the doorway, with a thick veil cast over her features.

I couldn't help but wonder how she could see through all that thickness as she was led by her father, Alpha Fredrick, down the aisle.

And all I did was stare blankly because that's the only thing I should be doing.

I don't get why men cry when their bride walk down the aisle, this shit wasn't even emotional in the least.

Sofia stood opposite me after I helped her up the podium.

The priest appeared beside us Immediately.

Soon, he began the ceremony, raining blessings on our new union.

It was finally time to lift the veil, and I took the honors of doing so…..

When I did that, surprise washed over me like a lightning bolt, as I discovered the face of my bride.

Instead of Sofia, I found Diane, the same woman I'd broken. She was standing in my bride’s place, offering me a full blown smirk, completely unnerving me.

“Hello Axel..” 

“What the actual fuck?” The sight before me was unbelievable as my eyes widened in shock.

“Surprise, surprise!”her eyes twinkled in mischievous excitement.

“You… WHERE IS MY BRIDE?!” I roared, flicking off my guard.

I glanced around the stunned congregation.

Was this a fucking joke?

In the next second, her countenance changed to seriousness and she did the most unexpected thing. She revealed a gun, underneath the flowers in her hold, the cocking sound resounded in the entire hall as she pressed it to my forehead.

“Marry me now or Sofia dies.”

Now somebody gotta be shitting me.

Fisting her gun, I rammed it away from my face.

“You must be fucking kidding me? I invited you as a guest, not to be the fucking bride…”

She laughed sarcastically, turning away from me ever so confidently, while toying with her gun, “But how can I be a guest at my own wedding? As you can see I'm dressed for it.”

Jesus! I was loosing my fucking sanity.

“Guards! Get this Imposter out of here…” I snarled, keeping my heated glare on her.

“Nuh uh…” she wagged her gun in my face.

“I wouldn't do that if I were you, dearest husband….”

“Husband?” At the sound of that, I burst into a sardonic laugh, a laugh that rang on and on, it fucking annoyed her.

I tsked in mockery when I'd had enough of a good laugh and in the next second, I seized her neck in a chokehold.

“Tell me, you're still obsessed with me, you had to force yourself on me now huh? What the fuck do you think you’re playing at?” I glared into her eyes.

She only smirked, unnerving me, and with a single sentence, she caught me off guard.

“Your father is missing…” she whispered in dark amusement.

I frowned, how did she know?

Wait a second….

My eyes widened in realization but before I could say a word, she had pushed herself out of my hold with a sinister smirk.

“So sorry, let me rephrase that. I have your father, and Sofia, your bride, in my captivity. And in very bad conditions…” she tsked.

“Diane…” 

If this was an act, then she better fucking drop it.

The tension was rising by the moment and her confidence pissed me off.

“And...” she shook her head and turned to the congregation as my frown deepened.

“Not only that, I have also succeeded in poisoning almost everyone present here with wolfsbane….”

Now that fucking aggravated me.

“What the fuck do you mean?” I hissed, rage gripping my nerves.

“Take a look at your people Axel…” she smirked.

Hearing that, my head whipped in the way of the audience and I actually took time to glance around and was stunned to find most of my guests slumping into unconsciousness, the more agile ones were fighting inner torment.

“Including you…” she added, and as if on cue, a harsh pain sliced through my chest. It continued to spread and turned even more intense as it ended up bringing me to my knees.

My veins burged as I struggled to overcome the poison spreading within.

“It's wolfsbane…” she whispered in spite, eyes shining mischievously.

“You are strong. That's why the effects aren't taking a big toll on you, but be rest assured it's effects will last even as long as four hours….”

“Why the fuck are you doing this?” I gritted out, as my entire system threatened to give up.

By now, fear and rage had become tangible forces intermixing within me and I felt like I could explode any minute but the pain in my chest was more fucking excruciating.

She snickered, “Are you seriously asking me? Well it seems you don't remember but I'm doing all of this just to be with my son. The joy you stole from me.”

She caressed my jaw, but I was too weak to pull her away. I could only express my hate for her with my heated glare but she seemed unbothered, “And for that to happen, I can survive anything, even an unwanted marriage with you….”

Her frown only deepened as she continued, “You said I was your revenge, and I thought, what better way was there to have my revenge against you, if not granting you your very own revenge, Axel. Now the tables have turned….”

Her audacity got on my fucking nerves, lighting my insides on fire.

“I will never get married to you, if that's what you're aiming for tonight…” I spat spitefully.

With challenging eyes, she replied, “You will get married to me tonight, Axel. I’ll make sure of it..”

“Infact, do you even know? A bomb is ticking…” she grinned maliciously at the terrific announcement that slipped from her lips.

“What?” I growled.

“I have implanted a bomb around this vicinity..” her eyes twinkled in malicious delight and I wouldn’t have believed her, had she not shown me a remote that activated it.

“You're fucking dead…” I growled, fisting my palms but she only offered me an annoying over relaxed grin.

“The life of your people is in your hands tonight, Axel. If you say no, I’ll click this button. We can all die together….” saying that, her hand teased the button.

I glared at her and the determination in her eyes told me she could do it.

Then I realized.

The woman before me was truly not the same person I had broken over a year ago.

Instead, she had turned fierce and daring, with a fueling rage, one that completely shocked me.

“Even your dearest aunt Irene…” she tapped her jaw in reasoning.

“Hmmm…you must be wondering where they are, your mum..your sister….”

“Diane…” I sneered.

Now she had crossed a fucking line.

Ignoring the ache in my chest, I forcefully drew her in. “Where are they? What did you do with them?”

“I have them, they are safe, but not for long…”

She showed me a short clip of them being held hostage at home and it fucking set me off.

“Stop with these fucking games now….” I growled.

“Marry me then…” she offered.

“In your fucking dreams…..” I sneered but a harsh stinging settled in my heart again, making me bite back the pain.

Fucking hell!

This woman was set to kill me today.

Ignoring her stupid smirk, I mind linked my beta.

/Where are you? What the fuck is happening? Get in here/

His reply was swift, / At the pack house. We can't leave. There’s no way out. Warriors from pack Fidelis, have surrounded this building with guns from every angle, once we step out, they will penetrate us…./

Fuck! 

Guns with silver bullets were a wolf's biggest fear and right now, my people could be victims.

/Some of our warriors have been injured, and I'm fucking weak, I don't know why/ He continued. 

It was probably the wolfsbane acting on him as well.

I glared at the woman before me.

The only solution to this entire problem was right in front of me, but it was fucking hard to give in.

She shook her head, tsk tsking, as if she listened in on the mind link, 

“You don't take me seriously now, do you? Remember a bomb is ticking. I'll blow up the place where Aunt Irene is, first of all then I'll blow here up as well. Oh I'm having so much fun tonight…” she grinned like a maniac.

“How the Fuck did you pull all of this off?” I seethe with rage.

She only smirked, “I am Diane, Alpha Giselle’s daughter. Axel, you shouldn't have messed with me…” Saying that, she revealed the box bearing her ring.

“Now should we get married or do I just press the button?” 

I glared at her for a few moments as I weighed my options. 

Alot of people were passing out amongst the congregation, my people were in danger, the consequences of my refusal were clear and glaring and she looked like she was fucking serious.

The safety of my family and the entire pack was more important, so eventually,I had to succumb.

“Priest, hand me my ring…”

“Great…” she clapped, with a wide grin and when the ring was brought, she brought forth her hand with much enthusiasm.

I wanted to break those fingers as I glared at them, but there will be enough time for that after we are married, so holding back for now, I pushed the ring into her finger, professing my estranged vows.

“I wed thee Axel Ivankov in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit…” she slid a ring into my finger as well.

It was done. We were married.

Diane Russelle was my wife now.

“You just made the biggest mistake of your life. I'll make this marriage a living hell for you. Mark my words…” I snarled at her.

“And I can't wait to see that happen. Happy married life to us ..” she smirked, making my jaws clench.

We’ll see about that.

I will fucking break this woman, and when I'm done, I'll send her back to her town in shame.

Now it will only be a matter of time.