Chapter 2: Penelope

My wedding day arrived three days after the incident. despite how much and how long I had spent on praying to the moon goddess to make this unreal, to make my marriage to the said ruthless man not to hold, everything has gone in vain.

I stood and then sat in front of the mirror, my wedding dress, a plain white dress, hanging from my frame like a shroud.

I felt the hot tears pricking at my eyes, the pain of betrayal of everyone around me, threatening to consume me, I tried to keep my focus on my reflection, but I couldn't help but notice the two figures in the corner of the room.

My ex-boyfriend, Logan and my sister, Violetta whispered and laughed, their bodies close to each other, their eyes full of mischief, occasionally stealing kisses from each other and touching each other in places others weren't supposed to see. My heart was breaking, the pain too much to bear. I felt like my world was ending, right in front of my eyes.

As I looked at myself in the mirror, I felt like I was looking at a stranger. I couldn't recognize the woman staring back at me.

She was a broken shell of who I had once been, her eyes haunted and empty.

I tried to imagine a future with this man, this ruthless stranger who was about to be my husband.

But all I could see was future of unhappiness of misery, of pain. I wanted to run, to escape, but I was trapped, bound by family obligation. I felt like I was suffocating, the air being squeezed from my lungs.

"Don't discourage yourself, PEN!" a voice jumped out and I quickly recognized her as my wolf! After not getting my wolf for my 18th birthday, I thought I would never be able to have my wolf, but just today! she showed up.

That's right, I almost forgot it was my 20th birthday! I wanted to know why my wolf showed up when I was 20, but the room was suddenly kicked open with force.

"You foolish girl! The guest are waiting, hurry out now. Do you need to begged?!"

He yelled again, pointing outside the door.

I gulped.

I wanted to move but my legs felt heavy and wouldn't cooperate with me. I wanted to open my mouth to beg dad, my Alpha who was meant to be my protector and guardian to stop this doom in the guise of doom but lips trembled but said nothing.

"Now put a smile on your face!" Dad sneered.

As I walked down the hall, my father's hand clasped tightly around mine,  I felt like I was in a dream. I smiled at the cameras, flashing light all around us, but I it was a smile that didn't reach my eyes. 

I

could feel the tension in my father's hand, and I knew that smile wa just fake as mine. We were both putting on a show for the world, Pretending to be happy family on the outside, but on the inside, we were a mess.

I tried push the thought from my mind as we approached the door to the hall, but they wouldn't leave me.

I felt the cold dread creeping up my spine as the doors opened, revealing the hall, filled with people I barely knew. I force my feet to keep moving, knowing that if I stopped, I might never be able to move again.

I smiled and waved at crowns, but inside, I was screaming. This was not the life I wanted, not the wedding | had dreamed of. But I had to keep going, one step at a time, one fake smile at a time.

I walked down the long red carpet, my heels sinking into the plush fabric with each step. The

carpet led me to the altar, where ny groom, stood, looking like a dark prince in his black suit.

His face was a mask of indifference, his expression cold and unreadable. But I couldn't help but think he was the most handsome man I had ever seen.

His dark eyes and chiseled features made my breath catch in my throat. I stopped in front of him, my eyes latched on him. I couldn't believe he was so handsome... and tall, contradicting what had been said about his ugliness. Kaia purred, I was internally happy.

My eyes flew to Logan and Violetta, her expression was dark and green. I sent her a wink, my lips curled.

Logan couldn't dare to compare with Giovanni. My husband was the definition of preternatural beauty.

But as I got closer to him, my senses got more excited, and I knew what it was!

"Mate!" Kaia screamed in my head. Correct, my future husband is my MATE! My eyes suddenly widened, and my heart couldn't contain its wild beat, the Moon Goddess hadn't given up on me! My mate will surely take me away from this hell.

But my excitement was not conveyed to the handsome man standing opposite me, I saw the same shock in his eyes, but soon his eyes turned cold as if he was doubting me and Kaia.

"No! The bad won't be on us forever." Kaia whimpered trying to convince us. While Kaia and I were trying to confirm the powerful man's attitude, the Elder announced that the ceremony had begun.

I had to go up and take his hand, and I sensed his reluctance, but he eventually held my hand. My skin hummed on having physical contact with him.

We took each others' hands, let one of the elders draw our blood and mixed it in a goblet with a colorless wine, asking us to drink.

We took the drink, after turns and then proceeded to say our oaths in the presence of the elders, without breaking each other's gaze.

"From today onward, Penelope of Nightfall's Pack ceases to be part of our member and till death, would remain part of the Dark Moon pack and their Luna." The elder said, raising his hand, before dropping it.

I couldn't describe the amount of joy that blossomed in my heart at the thought of leaving this pack that had made my life a living hell.

"Ahhem!!" The elder cleared his throat, pulling me out of my reverie. We turned to him. "You both haven't kissed?"

A blush crept to my cheeks.

Giovanni's expression turned ugly, making my heart go still.

"It's not necessary. I have no time for that, I'm a busy man and I need to return immediately." His tone was venomous, it felt so suffocating.

me?

Kaia quickly comforted me. "You worry too much, Penelope.

Perhaps he's shy. I believe there would be passionate sex when you get back to his pack, I can smell it."

I blushed again, looking away.

The ceremony was over and it was time for us, the couple, to march out. Before I could take a step, I heard someone scream.

"Wait!"

Everyone turned to the direction, to see Violetta holding the hem of her gown and marching toward me, her expression furious.

Giovanni instinctively moved to shield me, his muscular frame blocking my view. My heart skipped.

"Alpha Giovanni." Violetta says.

"I have something to tell you." His go on, escaped as a rumble, Violetta sighed. "Penelope is a wolfless waste and doesn't merit to marry an Alpha. I mean take a look at her. Timid and pathetic!

How would she rule over your pack as a Luna? How would she stand beside you?"

All the blood in my body turned cold. My teeth began to chatter in cold horror and I swallowed the lump in my throat. My father paled.

Violetta wanted to destroy me but she never realized that she would soon be destroying our father's pack!

How could our father want a stupid daughter but not me? I wanted to tell the truth, but Kaia stopped me. I respected Kaia's advice.

Giovanni stiffened. And then turned. I quickly took a step back on seeing his claws protrude, many gasps escaping the guests' mouth.

"What's this, Angus? You played me 

HOW DARE YOU MARRY A WOLFLESS DAUGHTER TO ME?!!!" His face turned extremely dark, each of his words, like a sharp dagger, cut through my heart. My eyes stung.

The next thing I could hear was my dad screaming in agony and Giovanni's claws dug into dad's neck, drawing blood, applying more pressure, I could see my father turning white.

Everyone screamed and I

hesitated to tell the truth but Kaia still stopped me. " Pen, it is not the right time yet because we still can't shift. our confession will only

bring more ridicule."

I fell silent, Kaia was telling the truth, and the scene was becoming more and more chaotic, I should be happy that my family who tormented me finally got their punishment. But when they were literally suffering in front of me, I realised I couldn't bare it.

l immediately ran in front of Alpha Giovanni and shouted. "Enough!

You can reject me! If you don't think I'm worthy of being your mate!"

I saw everyone's expressions turn shocked, they must not have been able to imagine that an omega, who had no wolf in their eyes, was the mate of the mighty Alpha Giovanni!

The joyful banquet scene turned into a dull guillotine in a second, everyone waited with breathlessness for Alpha Giovanni's answer, especially my father, whose face turned whiter and whiter the longer the silence.