Chapter 1 THE WEDDING

HAZEL’S POV

Everyone had that day where they felt the most happy, over the clouds, and with a big joyous smile spreading through their body right from their lips to every nerve and vein in them. It could be getting their mate, shifting at an early age, having their favorite toy.

But for me, Hazel Grayson, my happiest day was today, nope...right now, walking towards the aisle to meet the man of my dreams with a joyous smile spreading through every part of me. All eyes were focused on me at each step I took in my white princess-like wedding gown, a bouquet of red roses in my hands and my eyes staring straight to my man, my mate, Lucas Sebastian.

He was dressed in a black suit, his brown hair slicked to the back and both of his hands folded on top of each other, tapping his foot on the floor either nervously or excitedly. I climbed the two stairs of the altar and faced him, the smile on my face stretching more widely and showing a glimpse of my teeth as he grinned back at me too.

“How are you feeling?” He mindlinked me.

I smiled more, nodding my head in response before replying, “Nervous. Excited. Everything.” I chuckled quietly, flicking my eyes downwards out of shyness.

“You look beautiful.” He added and I could feel my cheeks turn an absolute shade of pink.

Lucas and I had first met when he came to my father, begging him to help him for a position in his pack that was being snatched by his bastard brother. Since his pack was big, my father agreed only on one condition, that he take me as his bride. To other girls, it would be an arranged marriage but to me it was purely love at first sight. He was handsome, every girl’s dream, and also caring.

He checked up on me everyday, made sure I was comfortable with what my father said and didn’t push me too hard. He brought me flowers, went out of his way despite leaning and feeding off us to get me things that were so cute, like the necklace sitting on my neck with the first letter of my name engraved on it.

“Do you, Lucas Sebastian, take Hazel Grayson to be your wife, the Luna of your pack and the mother of your pups?” The priest asked, cutting into my thoughts.

A beautiful smile radiated right from within me as he replied with no hesitation, “who else is fit to be my mate if not her?” He said, looking straight into my eyes.

“Yes. I accept Hazel Grayson as my wife, mother of my pups and the Luna of my pack.” He further added, winking straight at me.

I glanced at the priest who was staring at Lucas with contempt in his eyes, like he was not satisfied with his answer. He rolled his eyes before looking at me, his entire look changing from the look of contempt to a sweet smile as our eyes met, “and do you my darling Hazel Grayson, take him to be your…

“Yes, Priest Ezekiel..” I butted in, not allowing him to complete his words. “I accept Lucas as the father of my pups, to be the Luna of his pack and my husband.”

He narrowed his eyes on me, squinting afterwards with a look that was asking one if I was sure. I had no idea why the priest was not a fan of Lucas, or what Lucas might have done, but he was never fine with anything he did, and it got worse when the news of our marriage was broken to him.

“You should let me finish, Hazel. This is not a joke.”

I opened my mouth to reply when a loud bang coursed through the entire room. My eyes widened in pure horror as I turned away from the priest, straight to my father who was seated at the front row of the hall. Murmurs filled the entire room immediately, people looking back and forth and whispering.

Before we could recover from the first one, another sound echoed through the room, followed by a loud shriek of someone being hurt piercing the already shaken room.

“What’s happening?” I asked, panic filling my body, replacing all my excitement and my heart pounding heavily.

Lucas grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to him, “don’t worry, Hazel. Nothing would happen.” He muttered, pushing me to his back and covering me with himself.

The door finally opened, and a loud gasp from the mouth of everyone filled the room once again. Everyone rushed away from where they were seated, falling into clusters of crowd, shaking and their eyes all staring at a particular place. I peeped from the back of Lucas and felt my heart sink to my stomach at the horrific image. My eyes went up to meet the man who was dragging a dead body in only to feel a familiar chord strike in my brain.

He was walking right into my wedding hall, dragging a dead guard and leaving a trail of blood as he made way towards the altar. As he stopped on the first stair of the altar, he dropped the dead body, his face now visibly clear and the familiar chord that I had seen him before striking me again.

My heart skipped a beat as he swiped his tongue against his lips, staring straight at my husband. His hair was packed into a ponytail, some strands falling to his face. His black orbs shimmered on his face, and his chiseled jaw complimented his tight lips. He was handsome, far handsome than even my husband and it killed me to admit it.

The entire hall went quiet and all eyes were on him. He flicked his eyes towards me and my heart froze, a chill running down my spine as our eyes met. The corners of his lips tweaked into a small smile, his lashes beating his lower lids as he blinked from me back to Lucas, “she must be the bride.”

“Killian, stay out of this!” Lucas growled right in front of me.

From the corner of my eyes, my father stood up from his seat, his eyes blazed with anger, “you tyrant!” My father growled out, his canines elongated instantly.

“He’s the murderer! The king of the Black Leash pack! The rumored Alpha King!” Someone yelled out from the crowd, throwing everywhere into a frenzy.

That was when it started to click to my brain. I looked at Lucas' face and there was a hint of resemblance between the two of them. My hand rushed to cover my mouth as I took some steps back, looking back to him.

He was Lucas’s brother. The one who stole the alpha position from him and murdered their father. His eyes met mine and another chill ran down my spine, the atmosphere turning cold. Lucas had said a lot about him, but one thing he always emphasized on was how cruel he was.

“Guards!” My father growled out, taking off his jacket.

“They won’t do anything. I made sure to take care of each of them before coming here.”

“Everyone leave now!” Lucas yelled out, lunging straight to him.

I trembled where I was standing, my knees weak as I fell to the ground, watching how easily he grabbed my husband, his hand wrapped around Lucas’s throat and his eyes blazing with a fiery red color, “it’s better you stay out of this, brother. I’m not here for a fugitive like you.”

He flung Lucas to the side, cleaning his hand with his cloth like nothing had just happened. I watched as his eyes roamed around the room, looking at everyone who was obviously afraid only to smirk,

“This would be quick if all of you let me get what I am here for.”

He turned to look at me immediately, the corners of his lips stretching more. I shook my head, my heart skunking low into my chest. No…no..it can’t be me…he can’t be here for me…

Like a flash, my father rushed towards me, standing right in front of me and shielding him from me with a threatening growl, “you take a step towards my daughter, you devil and I’ll kill you!”

My heart beat rapidly and shook violently on my chest, my mind and brain in a haze. I racked my brain, trying to find out why he would be here for me.

“I’ll count to three!” His voice boomed through the entire room. “I’m here just for two things, to arrest my fugitive brother who has abandoned his home land for years now, and for another thing, which was not a thing until I got here.”

“So just let me take these things and I’ll spare everyone’s life. Simple!”

“You’re a murderer and you’ll die here today!” My father growled out.

I watched as he smirked at my father, as if wanting him to know that he was just a rat compared to him. He twisted his head to both sides, sparing me just a glance that shook my entire being, “let’s see then.” He murmured before lunging towards my father.

It didn’t take him a minute to subdue my father, bringing him straight on his knees with his sharp claws pointing to his throat, “if anyone interferes again; I’m going to kill this man here and I do not care anything! Mark my words! There would be more blood if anyone interferes!”

He flung my father off just like he did to Lucas, and the entire hall went silent so that even if a pin dropped, the sound would be heard by everyone. His boots only made the next sounds as he walked towards the altar, my heart beating heavily as he neared me. I scrambled up my feet, ignoring my shaky hands and shaky breath and gathering all the courage I could as I stared back at him.

“Don’t come near me.” I managed to say, loud and clear.

This only made his black orbs twinkle with amusement, halting in his steps with a curious gaze at me, “what would happen if I do, princess?”

I gulped down, feeling a subtle coldness and a shiver of fear rushing into my soul. I glanced at the eyes of everyone, peering at me like I was going to die already.

“You won’t get away with it if anything happens to me.” I muttered, taking a step back.

A low hiss escaped his lips as he picked up his feet, walking towards me. I moved back and forth as he neared me, trying to get away from him until my back finally hit the brick wall of the stupid hall the priest had picked. My eyes wandered through the crowd to see the priest looking at me with pity at a far end corner.

“Don’t come near me!” I yelled out.

But he was the devil and the devil never listened. He stopped right in front of me, his scent filling up my nostrils as our eyes bored right into each other. The sense of familiarity returned as I looked directly into his beautiful orbs. I felt my breath hitch as he pointed one of his fingers to my chin, raising it more to pull me into his orbs.

“I’m disappointed in you, My Luna. Have you forgotten your promise to me? How dare you pick that bad character boy...” he glanced back to look at Lucas, flicking his eyes towards me again, “over me? Am I not your Alpha anymore?”

“I…i..don’t know..

He grazed his thumbs on my cheeks, his eyes darkening as a smile slipped on his lips, “Let me remind you then, Hazel..”