As Lucy and Noah entered the grand house, they were greeted warmly by Noah's parents, Alpha Richard and Luna Amelia. The atmosphere was filled with an air of elegance and tradition, making Lucy feel both excited and slightly nervous about the announcement she and Noah were about to make.
After exchanging pleasantries, they all settled down at the dining table. A sumptuous meal had been prepared, and the delicious aroma filled the room. As they enjoyed the food and engaged in light-hearted conversation, Lucy couldn't help but notice the close bond between Noah and his parents. It was clear that they shared a deep love and respect for one another.Once the plates were cleared away, Noah cleared his throat, his eyes flickering with a mix of nervousness and excitement. Lucy's heart raced in anticipation as she reached out to grasp Noah's hand for support."Mom, Dad," Noah began, his voice steady yet filled with emotion. "There's something important that Lucy and I would like to share with you."Alpha Richard and Luna Amelia exchanged a curious glance, their attention fully focused on Noah and Lucy. They sat attentively, waiting for the revelation that was about to unfold.Noah took a deep breath and continued, his voice filled with conviction. "Lucy and I...we're engaged."Silence hung in the air for a brief moment as his parents processed the words. Then, a mix of surprise and joy painted their expressions. Luna Amelia's eyes glistened with tears, and Alpha Richard's face broke into a wide smile."Oh, Noah! Lucy!" Luna Amelia exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth. "This is wonderful news! We couldn't be happier for you both."Alpha Richard nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with pride. "Indeed," he said, his voice reflecting his happiness. "Lucy, you have been a wonderful friend to Noah. It's only fitting that you now become an official member of the family as Noah's fiancée. Welcome, officially, to the family."Lucy's heart swelled with gratitude and relief. She had hoped for Noah's parents' acceptance, and their genuine joy brought tears of happiness to her eyes. The sense of belonging that enveloped her in that moment was indescribable."Thank you," Lucy replied, her voice filled with emotion. "I feel incredibly blessed to be welcomed into your family. Your love and acceptance mean the world to me, and I promise to cherish and care for Noah with all my heart."Noah's parents stood up from their seats, and one by one, they embraced Lucy and Noah, sealing their acceptance and love in a heartfelt display of affection. It was a moment of unity, a celebration of their bond and the future that lay before them.As they settled back into their seats, Lucy couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude and happiness. The love and support she had received from Noah's parents reaffirmed her decision to spend her life with him. She knew that with their blessing and the strength of their pack, she and Noah would overcome any challenges that lay ahead.As the evening continued, laughter and joy filled the air. The engagement became a topic of celebration, and stories of love and commitment were shared. Lucy felt embraced by Noah's family, enveloped in the warmth of their acceptance and the knowledge that she had found not just a fiancé, but a family who would always stand by her side. Lucy felt bad that they were lying to these wonderful people.After the initial excitement of their engagement settled, Noah took a deep breath and turned to his parents once more. "Mom, Dad, there's something else we would like to discuss with you," he said, his voice brimming with anticipation.Alpha Richard and Luna Amelia exchanged curious glances, their interest piqued. "Go ahead, Noah," Alpha Richard encouraged, a supportive smile on his face.Noah's eyes met Lucy's, their gazes filled with shared excitement. "Lucy and I have decided to have our wedding in two months' time," he announced, a touch of nervousness and anticipation in his voice.Luna Amelia's eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and delight on her face. "Two months? That's wonderful news!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "We're thrilled for you both."Alpha Richard nodded approvingly, his voice filled with pride. "Indeed, son. It's a joyous occasion, and we'll be honored to witness your union as you start this new chapter of your lives together."Lucy's heart soared at their response, grateful for the love and support she felt radiating from Noah's parents. She couldn't have asked for a more accepting and encouraging family to be a part of.Noah continued, his voice filled with anticipation. "We were also hoping to visit Lucy's family this weekend to share the news and discuss wedding plans. It would mean a lot to us if you could join us."Luna Amelia's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Of course! We'd be delighted to meet Lucy's family and celebrate this joyous occasion together," she replied, her warmth evident in her voice.Alpha Richard nodded in agreement. "It's important for our families to come together, to strengthen the bonds that will unite us through this union. We look forward to meeting Lucy's loved ones and offering our support."Lucy's heart swelled with gratitude as she watched the genuine enthusiasm and willingness of Noah's parents to embrace her own family. The prospect of having both families united in celebration filled her with immense joy."Thank you," Lucy said, her voice filled with emotion. "Having you all there means the world to us. Your presence and support will make our wedding day even more special."Noah's parents exchanged a look of mutual understanding and affection, reaffirming their commitment to be there for their son and his soon-to-be wife. Ever since the first day that Luna Amelia met Lucy, she loved the girl as if she was her daughter. Now she can have her as. A daughter since Noah is going to marry her.As the conversation continued, Luna Amelia's wise and caring voice filled the room. "Noah, my dear," she began, her tone gentle yet firm, "it's important for Lucy to become acclimated with our pack and our way of life before the wedding. According to our pack traditions, it would be best for her to live with you in the penthouse during this time."Noah's brow furrowed slightly as he considered his mother's words. He understood the significance of the pack's traditions and the importance of Lucy's integration. However, he also wanted to ensure that Lucy felt comfortable and respected in their relationship.Luna Amelia continued, her voice filled with reassurance. "Allowing Lucy to live with us will give her the opportunity to establish connections with the pack members, learn our customs, and deepen her bond with our family. It will also ensure a smooth transition for her as she becomes an integral part of our pack."Lucy listened attentively, her heart torn between the desire to honor the traditions of Noah's pack and the need to maintain her own independence and sense of belonging. She respected the rich heritage and customs, but she also valued her individuality and the life she had built for herself.Noah's gaze shifted between his mother and Lucy, contemplating the words that had been spoken. After a moment of reflection, he reached out to take Lucy's hand, his touch filled with love and understanding. "Mom, I appreciate your guidance and the importance of tradition," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "But it's equally important for Lucy to feel comfortable and have her own space during this time. We can find a way to honor the traditions while ensuring she has her independence."Luna Amelia regarded Noah with a mixture of pride and understanding. "You've always had a compassionate and understanding heart, my son," she replied, her voice softening. "I trust your judgment. If you believe that a compromise can be reached, then we will support you both."Noah smiled gratefully, his eyes locked with Lucy's. "Thank you, Mom," he said, his voice filled with appreciation. "Lucy and I will find a way to honor the traditions while also ensuring that she feels comfortable and respected. We want her to be an integral part of our pack, but also maintain her own identity."Lucy's heart swelled with gratitude for Noah's understanding and his willingness to find a balance that would accommodate both their needs. She knew that with his support, they could navigate the complexities of tradition while forging a path that honored their love and individuality.Luna Amelia nodded, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "I have faith in both of you," she said, her voice filled with maternal warmth. "As long as you communicate openly and respect each other's needs, I'm confident that you will find the perfect solution."With the tension eased and a sense of understanding established, the atmosphere in the room lightened. Noah and Lucy knew that they would face challenges ahead, And they are determined to pull through.“You don’t have to move in if you don’t want to. The rules were made by the council of elders to make the humans understand and see why they are signing for by marrying a werewolf. The elders were tired of the humans asking for divorce when things got too overwhelming for them. And thus the rules were made. Any human who is getting married to a werewolf must stay for at least a month and adapt to the pack members and their cultures.” Noah explained to Lucy.“It’s fine. I will move in with you. What do you want people to stay? That the son of the Alpha is breaking the rules of the pack? The less attention we get, the better for us. Besides, what could possibly go wrong with me living with you.” Lucy asked.“You not able to resist my charm.” Noah said and winked at Lucy and she threw a light punch on his chest as they both laughed.“I will be traveling for a month which means you get to live in the penthouse alone or do you want to come and live here with my parents?.” Noah asked her.“I will be fine at the penthouse.” Lucy assured him.Just then, the door to the dining room kicked open, and Lucy, who had never seen it before, entered the room. He looked around angrily before fixing Noah with a cold stare.“No way. You... why are you here?” Noah. stuttered with wide eyes.What’s going on, is he a lover? My face flushed with embarrassment.“You should be in the academy right now,” said Luna Amelia . “Why are you here? Did the council of elders dismiss you early?”.The man fixed Noah with an icy stare, before turning to Luna Amelia. “Mom, are you crazy?” he asked.Mom? This must be the one and only famous Damien then. Noah’s elder brother who is the future Alpha of this pack. Noah had told Lucy that he was in an Alpha academy and won’t be back until five months from now. But here he is in flesh and blood.As Lucy was studying his face, the man turned his glare towards her. It felt so aggressive that she cringed and her heart started to beat very fast. No doubt that is the most handsome man he has ever had. Even with his angry face, he still looks handsome.I’m against this marriage!,” Damien declared as if he was giving a warning. Then, he yelled to let the whole world know, “I AM DEAD SET AGAINST THIS MARRIAGE.”Lucy Knew it. Lucy Knew it! This is her life. Always obstacles.Lucy Thought back to the parent-meeting, biting her thumbnail. Lucy Looked outside, but nothing came to her mind at all.“You are always like that when you’re nervous. It hurts,” Noah said, glancing at me in the passenger seat. He took out some gum from the pocket of his suit after making eye contact. “Chew this instead.”Lucy Took the gum from him, but her hand was visibly shaking.Noah looked at her hand in surprise. “It’s not a big deal,” he said.“What?” Lucy Asked. “Didn’t you see his eyes? He looked like he was about to hurt me.”“There’s nothing he can do. Everybody else is with us. What can he do? It’s a done deal. You don’t have to care about just one disagreement,” Noah answered calmly.“Lucydon’t care about that! He’s going to be her family, I’ll see him regularly after the marriage.” Lucy Broke a piece off of the gum in her hand and put it in her mouth, chewing slowly with tearful eyes.“You are scared, huh? A
“Huh?” I asked, confused.Alpha Damien beckoned to me, not caring about my response. He turned around and headed toward a cafe with his brother’s signature long stride.Here to say goodbye to me? Why? I took my phone out of my backpack and hesitantly followed him. Damien suddenly turned around and gave me a cold stare. He noticed my phone and frowned. It was so obvious that I immediately stopped and put my phone away. When he saw my phone completely disappear, he beckoned me again. I gradually started moving toward him.Ah...damn it. Why...? I wanted to believe it was nothing but I felt anxious, like I was walking into the enemy’s tent. If I screamed, would Noah come back from the departure gate? While I was imagining something Damien would do, I made it to the Cafe. Damien was sitting at an empty table. I sat across from him and put my backpack beside me. I looked over at the menu to order, but he crossed his arms and stared at the table.“Um... are you not gonna order anything?” I
I squeezed into the space right next to the toilet in the bathroom to talk to Noah on the phone.“Holy crap! Why is there so much!” I said too loudly. I could hear my voice echoing around the bathroom so I lowered it and covered my mouth so no one would hear me.While I was complaining, there was a knocking sound outside the door. I was paralyzed with fear because of my existing nervousness about this wedding. I was also anxious because I had 100k in my backpack, and I didn’t want anyone to rob me.“Hey, come out,” somebody complained from outside.“Ah, okay. I will come out. Sorry!” I replied. There was no one waiting when I got there but now there were many people in line.[What? Who are you talking to?]“Ah, This is the restroom,” I answered Noah as I stood up.[No way. You’re talking to me on the toilet?]“No, no, not like that...”I opened up the door and went to the exit, covering my mouth again.“He could still be at the airport. He might overhear our conversation. The female
I opened my eyes after I heard the sound of the door closing. When I lifted up my head to look, Damien was already gone. I came out of the bath and put some clothes on in a hurry.Why the hell is he here, why! I threw on some clothes without bothering to dry them off, but I stopped when I grabbed the doorknob. Although I thought he hadn’t seen my whole body, I wasn’t sure. I’d seen his face, the way he was frowning. That was not the face of someone who’d seen nothing.Crazy! I grabbed my wet hair and sat back down. No. It’s okay. So what? I got naked as a model. In front of an audience. Nothing different. This marriage is a play and that man is an audience. It’s just showing my body to an audience as a part of the play.I stood back up to grab the doorknob and took a deep breath. It’s alright, alright, alright. I tried to believe nothing even happened. Well...what? Did anything even happen? I don’t remember? I manipulated my memory and turned the doorknob.When I came out, Damien was
Alpha DamienNo matter what the shameless girl said, I ignored her and went to my older brother’s bedroom to turn on the audio with a remote control. When I played classical music, the noise outside the door was completely buried. I closed my eyes and crossed my arms to calm down, lying on the bed.However, I couldn’t really be calm, so I took out my phone to make a call. When mom picked up, I immediately started to argue.“Mom, tell me something. Noah is not your child, huh?”[What kind of question is that?] she asked.“If he is, how is this even possible? How did you let him get married to a girl like that! My brother doesn’t deserve that!”[He likes her. The person who is going to live with her is Noah. As long as he’s satisfied, that’s all.]“What do you mean? Our family is not like that. We are members of the aristocracy! This is not his own matter. It is a matter of the honor of our family. Mom, are you going to humiliate me like this?”[I’m not going to consider the financial a
HOW CAN HE DO THIS TO ME!” I yelled while I walked up the stairs. There was no elevator in the villa, and this made me even angrier since I needed to walk to the fourth floor. I got madder and madder at her for creating this mess. How can she flirt with him? How can my nice brother treat me like this!I sighed like a fire breathing dragon as I arrived in front of her home. It felt like Noah’s voice was still ringing in my ears.“My life has been with you for the last 32 years. If I must choose, I’d rather be with her for the next 32 years,” he had said.My brother made a stupid choice like that because of you! I angrily stared at the door, thinking about Lucy behind it. Suddenly, the door opened and someone came out.“Oh my god!” The middle-aged woman who walked out of the door looked at me with surprise.“Is Lucy living here?” I asked.“Have you come here to meet her?” asked the woman.“Yes. I have something for her. Is she here?”She examined me, looking unsure, but then a look of r
I barely caught him outside the villa since I was still barefoot. I stood in front of him, out of breath, babbling unorganized words.“I...I didn’t intentionally do that... I didn’t know you were there...I just talked....I didn’t know... you were listening...” I finally managed to collect my words. “I didn’t know you were here. I literally didn’t know.”Damien looked away as if he didn’t even want to make eye contact with me.“Even if you didn’t know, does that resolve everything?” he asked.“No, I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m sorry,” I said.My guilt made me keep talking. “I don’t know what Noah said but don’t take it too seriously. He probably–”“Hey, if you are going to act shamelessly, at least have some sense! Do you think I want to talk to you now?” Damien said, glaring at me.I stepped back reflexively, but noticed something unusual. On his scowling face I spotted...a tear? This guy is crying! I would be less surprised if I saw a statue crying.“Hey, are you crying?” I ask
I made the day Noah returned the end date to my goal. I imagined welcoming him with Damien who would be on good terms with me. In order to make my fantasy real, I started my plan.First, I studied Damien. From personality to interests, I gathered all the information I could and went to Noah’s house. When I arrived there, I saw Damien’s shoes in the entrance. I remembered Noah once told me that Damien was so clean, he brushed his teeth while being carried to the Emergency Room.He cries, but organizes his shoes. I started giggling, thinking he was cute. I took off my shoes cautiously and headed toward the living room. It looked the same as it had when I’d left the day before. I put my stuff down on the table where all of the bags were. The table was the same except for one thing: Noah’s letter was gone.He threw it away. Throw it away! It wasn’t even a surprise. He hadn’t flipped the table or cut up the letter, just thrown it away.I was about to leave but then I found something odd. T
That’s how I wrapped up my story. None of it was a lie, I retold it exactly the way it had happened. Except for the fact that I excluded some parts. But the words I said were all the truth. Alpha Damien must have been mulling over my words, because he continued to look down in silence. Then he opened his mouth.Well, if that’s the case then I understand. But you put your hands on me, and violently no less, I cannot forgive. I will definitely tell my brother about this.After the warning, he turned and left for his room. After overcoming that hurdle, I sighed in relief and sprawled on the ground. What did Henry Johnson want to talk to me about?I was anxious and couldn’t get rid of the irksome feeling. I started to chew my fingernails again.At that moment, I heard Alpha Damien talking to his brother, tattling about me and what had happened today. Well, now Noah will know I met Henry Johnson.As of now, let’s wait for Noah’s phone call. Until then there’s no point in fretting over it.
Only after we grabbed a taxi did I breathe a sigh of relief. My whole body was drenched in sweat, so I fanned my face with the wedding invitations.Are you insane? Why the hell are you acting like this? Alpha Damien frowned at me.I don’t know, I, uh....I can’t really think of what to say right now. I admitted.Don’t tell me what you think, tell me the truth, Alpha Damien blurted out in anger.Ah...what do I do...Put in a difficult situation, I squeezed my eyes closed and increased the speed of my fanning.How can I explain this? What excuse should I give?After a lot of thought, I placed the wedding invitation on my lap and took a deep breath. Let’s just tell him what type of person Henry Johnson is. I’ll let him know how horrible a person he is and tell him I don’t want to invite him to the wedding.Looking down at the invitation, I strengthened my resolve and nodded my head. Suddenly, I got an inkling that something was off. Why...am I only holding two invitations? I’m sure I had
I handed out my wedding invitations to the three friends sitting opposite me. Nervous, I kept stealing glances at Alpha Damien who sat next to me. As always, Alpha Damien sat with his mouth tightly closed and watched us. He was civil, even at my introduction of him as my future brother-in-law, so I assumed he would just sit there and watch us quietly for the rest of the night.If that’s the case, I would be so grateful. I stole glances at Alpha Damien from time to time.Lucy, your fiance is the guy that came to the theater a long time ago, right? Jean opened up the dialogue from across the table and Darcy joined in.That’s right! He was friends with Henry and was glad to see you when he visited. Didn’t you say it had been a long time since your reunion?So you started dating at that time? my other friend piped up.Because the 3 girls sitting opposite me took turns shooting questions, I started to feel frazzled.“Not, not since then. Well...we were just continuing to keep in touch... I
People used to say that there is no one that is unable to survive one year of a marriage test. It means that however difficult it may be, as long as the time is short, it is possible to push through it. I’d like to meet the person who uttered those words. I cursed the person who spoke so easily of it. I had only endured a month of it and I’ve already become ragged. I told this to Noah over the phone.Even though this one month is killing me, how do you expect me to do this for a year? I’ll never last a whole year. It’s just a relief that it’s only for two months.I was alone, other than the taxi driver. It had been the first time in a long time that I was able to speak my mind truthfully to Noah. A conversation that I could never utter in front of Alpha Damien.I feel like a prisoner with a month left of sentence before freedom. I put x’s on the calendar counting down the days until you return.[Why did you choose to accept this useless challenge. You didn’t have to.]Who would have
Sautée the prepped beef, stir in the tomatoes and vegetables, then put them in the sauce. Then, put in the wine and cook it long and slow on low heat. Add salt and pepper to taste....I now only have to put in the mushrooms and bring it to a boil. At the moment I was about to put in the mushrooms, I heard the door open from the bedroom. I put down the empty plate and hurriedly went to greet Alpha Damien.Did you sleep well? Good morning! As I gave my morning greeting with a huge smile, Alpha Damien frowned and opened his mouth.What is this gross smell? Did you let in a hobo?Smell? Ah, I made beef bourguignon. Does it smell okay? Is it weird?Alpha Damien went toward the pot, closed his eyes, and with a serious look smelled the dish. A few moments later, he opened his eyes and glared at me with discontent.You didn’t get rid of the meat smell.Meat smell?I put my head close to the pot and sniffed it.Isn’t this just the smell of meat when you boil it? It’s supposed to be like this w
I held tightly to my cell phone and ran out into the night. I caught a taxi, and hurriedly arrived at Noah’s house. I rushed into the living room and saw Alpha Damien on the sofa with his arms crossed and a sour look on his face as he glared at me.What were you doing at this hour that you come now?Oh, I, I was at home. My home. I was going to sleep there, and come back in the morning.I had come so quickly at his beckoning that I had forgotten about my embarrassing situation. Alpha Damien answered back in a tone that clearly indicated his disapproval of me.Two months, every day. 24 hours a day. I told you that I am going to live here with you for that time frame. I mentioned this a couple hours ago, didn’t I?.Oh...yes, you did.You wanted to annoy me so you went home on purpose, didn’t you?What?My brother told you to use this house, but like last time you’re going to pretend like I kicked you out. Isn’t that why you went back to your house?&quoOh, no it’s not! I shook my two ha
Oh, all right. As the doctor went to go get the scissors, Alpha Damien paced beside me not knowing what to do with himself.As the doctor took the scissors to my shoes, Alpha Damien squeezed my shoulder. Then he spoke to me face to face.Just hold on a little. Taking it off like this won’t hurt as much.The doctor took the scissors and snip snip, started to cut open the shoes. The sound made it feel like my skin was being sliced up and it sent chills down my spine. At the same time, I was stuck imagining another gruesome scene which made me lose my mind a little. I grabbed Alpha Damien by the collar and shook him.You think that just because you take it off without hurting me, this is okay? It’s the next part that’s the problem! The next part! Shit, what are you going to do about my leg, my leg!The doctor had carefully slipped off the shoes, and even cut off the sock. As the air touched my bare feet, I covered my face to shield myself from the horrific sight.Ah, I can’t look....Alp
With rickety steps, I walked out of the mall parking lot.Are you okay? Are you sure you don’t have to go to the hospital? Lucy followed me with worry in her voice. It was really loud when you fell...Are you sure you’re okay?I stopped walking and with my teeth clenched replied to her, Are you a goldfish? Do you forget after 3 seconds? I already told you I was okay? Three times.It’s just that I’m so worried...What if you are not okay but are just saying you are ok...If I’m not okay, then there must be a reason I’m saying I am okay!What, why? Are you embarrassed? It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s alright. You’re only human, you can fall. Don’t worry about it. I understand, she said.You think I care if you understand or not? No, do you think this is something you should even try to understand in the first place? This is something you should be apologizing for!Me? Why?Because it’s all your fault! I blurted out angrily, and stomped toward the car.That’s right. The reason I
Alpha Damien had made such a fuss and nit-picked at everything when I was doing the choosing, but he just picked everything. He chose every single one of the store’s display of tableware sets.I mean, if that was all he was going to do, why did he make such a big deal about it in the first place? The design has to be like this, the use has to be like that. He was going to end up buying everything without any differentiation anyways!He even bought the Vera Wang special edition! After scolding me when I chose it!Because of my credit limit, I split the purchase between three different credit cards and shed a tear looking at the receipt. My precious money, gone. Even if I somehow got a million dollars, I would never be able to spend like this.I mean, why do we need to buy 20 sets! I exploded, but remembered Alpha Damien was there and quietly changed my tone. There must be a reason you bought it. You wouldn’t just buy all this without reason. Isn’t that right?I tried with all my might