001-The Elope

Tina's POV

Pulling up my shabby truck to the peaceful, secluded chapel, I made sure that no one was around before I hurried off. Though nervous as hell as butterflies fluttering in my chest, I can't stop myself from smiling because this is my wedding day!

Except we don't have any wedding settings, guests, nor a wedding dress. But still!

I'm marrying the love of my life here and today. Even though I'm already standing here, it feels like a too-good dream. Not just because I'm only 19, but because the whole world is against us.

I'm a wolfless. Though my dad was a beta, I lost him before I was even born and grew up with my omega mom who has struggled to provide for me. In short, I hardly get what I want in life. I never expected to even find a mate, let alone to mate Soren Corvus, the most handsome, loving, powerful Alpha heir.

Well, he won't be an Alpha heir after today.

While he doesn't mind me for being a wolfless from a low-level family, his family took it hard when they found out about us. I don't blame them. Soren is the kind of person that's born to be on top. 6.2 feet tall. Deep blue eyes and golden hair. Soren is too perfect a creation of the goddess herself to be with an ordinary girl like me. He's sunny in character, he has a bright, warm smile like a mid-summer day, and he is loved by the whole pack.

But now he is giving all these up just to be with me, because the pack won't have a wolfless Luna.

I have struggled about it at first. I rejected him when he confessed his feelings to me on my 18th birthday, but he gave me the saddest puppy face and it melted my heart. I ran to another city when I found out about his father threatening to take his title away if he insisted on being with me, and he fell out heavily with his father before he ran three days straight just to find me.

If Soren Corvus wants something, he gets it. No matter what. I can never win against him, and that's how I end up here, halfway through his eloping plan.

Yes, eloping.

He couldn't change his father's mind, so he decided to escape from his father's tight surveillance, come with a minister, marry me in this abandoned chapel before we go and hide in some place that not even the Corvus family can find, and maybe let our baby win their grandfather over in the future.

I have my doubts about this plan.

Squatting by the short rail on the porch, my nervousness temporarily overcomes my excitement when I remember the last time I saw Soren.

He had announced to his family that we had broken up just to throw them off, so we couldn't see each other for quite a while. But I couldn't bear the fear and went to find him three days ago. He was tired and stressed.

"I told you we can't be seen together and you come to the Alpha's house?!" Soren snapped the first thing he pulled me into a corner after finding me lurking on the skirt of the mansion, "Imagine if anyone else spotted you! They'd--!"

It was the first time he ever raised his voice at me, and I froze scared, and couldn't stop my tears from swelling up.

He sighed. He hated seeing me crying, but it wasn't like I could help it most of the time.

"I'm sorry baby girl...It's just, I'm dealing with a lot right now, and it's very important to convince them that we really aren't together..." He pulled me into his arms, landing small kisses on my neck. That always soothes me.

"But I miss you..." I murmured, feeling wronged, my ears burning up. I never really had a say in front of Soren, partly because I know I'm a lowlife when he's going to be the Alpha, and partly because he's just a dominant.

"I knowww! I miss you too..." Soren rubbed his chin on my head softly, my ear pressed against his throat. I could hear the vibration of his voice conducted through our bones, and the loud rumble made me feel safe like a heavy anchor.

"You were mean to me..." I rose my head to find his eyes, pouting, finally recognizing the tender mate I knew him to be. He laughed at my pout, poking me gently on my cheek as he nodded--

"And I was wrong. If Teenie forgives me, then I'll consider letting her drive a little in three days, how's that?"

"Deal!" I tiptoed to kiss him on his collarbone. I bit him there once, and it left a scar. It has been his favorite spot since.

But he stopped me.

"Remember, Teenie, NO ONE can know about this, okay? No one! Go to the chapel by yourself after school, and you won't be missed until late in the afternoon." He urged with his hands cupping my face, his deep blue eyes nailed into mine.

"I know, I won't tell." I kissed his hand mildly, "But we can mindlink mom after, right? She would worry."

"Not mindlinking. We need to break out of the mindlink web or the Alpha could locate us. But we will find some other way to send her some words, like mail or something, okay?" Soren tapped my chin lightly.

I nodded, drowning in his soul-sucking eyes without understanding what I agreed to.

He nodded with a satisfied smile, and I reached my lips for his collarbone as our routine goodbye, but again, he pushed me away.

"You need to go," Soren rubbed my hair with a resigned smile, looking extremely tired, "Go far into the woods and get away from the mansion before you reach for the road, okay? I'll see you in three days. Promise!"

Then he sneaked back to the house, leaving me alone in the dark woods. I did hear the excitement in his voice, but the whole plan made me feel unsettled, like a tiny boat thrown into the middle of the ocean, nighttime.

Taking a deep breath, I suppress the urge to mindlink Soren, letting my eyes fall on the grassy garden of the abandoned chapel. Our eyes flicker when mindlink, so I couldn't mindlink him because it could get him in trouble. All I need to do is to not be a burden, and wait for him here, I repeat to myself over and over when suddenly--

"Soren?" I jump up scared at a rustling sound in the chapel, a wall away behind me. It's too early. It can't be him, but I still whisper, unsurely.

"Tina!" A hand grabs me and pulls me into the chapel abruptly. I only let out a small yelp before he covered my mouth and pushed me against the wall.

It's Scott Tayler. I finally recognize him under his low hoody in frantic heart pounding, but the mean and nervous look on his face is not putting me at ease.

"What the hell, Tayler?!" I push him off me, whisper-shout, "What are you doing here?! You scared the hell out of--"

"Tina! Soren wants you dead!" Tayler cuts me off, eyes still scanning out of the chapel, his back paste against the wall as if on alert for a sniper.

I shouldn't, but I burst into laughter. Has Tayler gone mad? That thought cools my head down a little. I knew him only because he used to be in Soren's group. I'm wolfless. As much as Soren trained me, I'm no opponent against a young wolf on his best day.

"You are in danger! We can't stay here! You have to go with me!" Tayler reaches out to me with his eyes paste outside, only to turn when he realizes that I backed away from him, "Tina?!"

"Calm down, Tayler," I use a soft voice, peeking to look for entrances close to me, "I CAN go with you, but first, tell me what's going on, please?"

"This is a trap. Soren chose his title over you, and he lured you here to kill you. Les managed to get words to me and I got a car and--" Tayler blattered like a machine gun. While I couldn't believe any of this, I could no longer laugh because I see real fear in his eyes.

"Soren doesn't have a reason to because I have tried to reject him before. I would have let him go if he simply asks, and he knows that." I reason with Tayler, trying to grab on the little info from his frantic babbling, "Who's Les? Do you mean Lesley?"

"Yes, Lesley Brooks," Tayler snarls, apparently getting irritated at my doubt, "she's dating a Beta's son, and that's how she knew about this!"

"She dates a lot of people," I huffs, trying to keep my tone patient, "and on top of that, if there is one person who hates me in the school, it's her. I don't think her words--"

"Soren told you to let no one know about this, didn't he?" Tayler pushes close, and I back away at his intruding move, frowning at the hinted accusation in his tone.

"So?!"

"So, how come EVERYONE knows about this, even Les? Even me?" Tayler raises his eyebrows, demanding me.

"I--" I open my mouth, but I find little reason to argue that. Les isn't supposed to know, but Tayler did come at the right time to the right place, "...what do you mean everyone?"

"As in the Alpha, Les, and the killers that are on their way?!" Tayler lost his patience, rolling his eyes as he tries to grab me again, "I'm here to save you, okay? Believe me--"

"Why?!" I push his hand away, getting annoyed at the man blattering nonsense, "If what you said is true, then why are you here helping me, against your Alpha and Alpha-to-be?!"

"Because!" Tayler huffed angrily. He starts pacing around, tousling his hair like a trapped animal. I almost turn and dash for my life when he suddenly stopped and faced me--

"Because, I'm your fated mate, Tina Cleo."