CHAPTER THREE: THE BARNSLEYS

The day I dreaded finally came. My wedding day and my declaration as alpha. I and Lucien were still on board with my escape plan. I was in a shed standing next to a mirror admiring the white dress I had on when Joshua came in.

"You look beautiful...your parents would be so proud" he said with a high smile on his face.

"I wish they were here to see me in my wedding gown, to walk me down the aisle..." I said in a sad tone and then Joshua interrupted me.

"I was your father's right-hand man. Whenever he wasn't around, I would step up in his place. I'm here for you Andrea... I always will be" Joshua said as he pat me on the shoulder.

"I got you these" he continued bringing out a beautiful pearl necklace. Then he wore them around my neck. I felt the pearls against my neck and then I looked in the mirror.

"I look just like her" I said almost in tears.

"Very beautiful indeed. I'll be back in a sec" Joshua said and then he left. A few minutes later, Lucien came in.

"Go away. It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding ceremony" I said shooing Lucien away.

"Remember, the weddings not gonna..." Lucien said but was interrupted when I turned around.

"Wow...you look...amazing" Lucien said surprised.

"Thank you...you were saying" I stuttered.

"Oh, everything is ready for your escape. The paths are set, no one is gonna find you... because you'll be living amongst the humans" Lucien said.

"The humans? If the Barnsleys find out I'll be a dead wolf" I whispered nervously.

"That's the only choice we have. You can't hide here, my dad will fish you out in less than a minute" Lucien said and I agreed with him.

"All you just have to do is learn how to control your inner wolf. No one must suspect what you are because suspicions attract the Barnsley's and when they come crashing in, your life goes crashing down" Lucien declared and this made me doubtful about the plan. I almost wanted to back out but I summoned up courage and prepared my mind for the worse.

"I understand" I said and then Joshua came in. He saw his son with me and was surprised.

"Lucien, it's bad luck to..." He said but I cut him short.

"We've gone through that Joshua" I said jokingly.

"Wait for your bride on the altar. Go, the people are waiting" Joshua ordered his son and then Lucien left.

"Are you ready?" Joshua asked me moments after Lucien left the shed. I let out a deep breath and told him I was. Then he took my hand and led me out of the shed. The wedding was held out in the woods where the moon was visible.

There we were, like father and daughter. As we walked down the aisle hand in hand, people stared at us with huge smiles on their faces. Lilian, my best friend was up on the altar as my bridesmaid along with Lucien and Elder Ada who was to conduct our marriage. There was a huge smile on all of their faces. Liliana was almost in tears because I was getting married, but I was in tears already because that was the last time I was going to see her. We got to the altar and Joshua took his seat with the wedding guests. Elder Ada standing before Lucien and I administered the marital oath;

Elder Ada: we are gathered here to witness the coming together of these two beautiful young couples; Lucien Denver and Andrea Brigadier. This was the wish of her father before his untimely demise. Now, Lucien Denver, do you take miss Andrea Brigadier to be your mate through trying times, in sickness and in health, till death do you apart?

Lucien: I do.

Elder Ada: And you miss Andrea, do you take Lucien Denver to be your mate through trying times, in sickness and in health, till death do you apart?

This was it. The part where I reject Lucien. I was afraid. I looked into Joshua's eyes and they just screamed "say I do!" I then turned and looked at Liliana and her smile made me melt on the inside, I couldn't abandon Lucien on the altar as we had planned. But I didn't want to marry Lucien, talk more of becoming an alpha. I stuttered as everyone stared at me waiting for my response. It became obvious that I was in doubt and Joshua could tell more than everyone did in the crowd.

"Andrea..." Elder Ada said impatiently.

"I'm sorry everyone, I'm sorry but I don't" I said already in tears and then I left the altar running back to my shed. Lilian chased after me. We both got to the shed and she began scolding me.

"Andrea Brigadier, what the hell's wrong with you? Do you know how many girls would kill to marry Lucien Denver? By the count of three, you better get your ass up on that altar and say I do!"

"It's all part of the plan Liliana" I said as I wiped my tears away.

"What plan? There was a plan and you didn't tell your best friend?" Lilian asked surprised.

"I didn't tell you... I didn't tell you because it involves me escaping, running away" I said trying to make Lilian get the whole point but she was more confused than ever.

"Running away to where?" She asked curiously.

"I don't wanna be alpha, and neither do I want to marry Lucien. But they are both duties I must carry out. So that's why I and Lucien decided that I run away, it's the only valid solution" I said.

"They'll sniff you out in two flat seconds, your plan isn't valid, it's stupid" Lilian said sternly.

"I'm not gonna hide here... I'm going to live amongst the humans" I said and Lilian was in shock as she stared at me agape.

"You cannot be serious, that's suicide! If the Barnsleys find out you're dead" Lilian yelled.

"Lower your voice" I demanded in a whisper tone.

"Liliana as my best friend, you are to support me no matter the choices I make. Please understand that I don't wanna be your leader or be the wife to Lucien Denver, I want to live the high school dreams"

"I understand. You know what, I'm hundred percent with you. But please promise me that you won't die" Lilian said.

"I promise" I said and we hugged.

"I'm gonna miss you so much" Lilian said and I said likewise. I left the shed through the window and left began running before anyone came looking for me. Moments later, Joshua came into the shed and met only Lilian in the shed.

"Where is she?!" Joshua asked angrily.

"She's gone. I couldn't find her. If I were you I wouldn't bother to look for her" Lilian said a bit nervous.

"You know something. Spit it out" Lucien demanded.

"I don't know anything" Lilian said. Joshua got pissed and realized he couldn't get anything from Liliana without using force which he didn't want to go into. He later left the shed and Lilian let out a sigh of relief.

Joshua went to the wedding ground and informed everyone about my escape. He then ordered some wolves to hunt for me, he thought that I wouldn't go past the boundary so he demanded that they searched within and not past. He apologized to everyone and promised that I would be found.

He and his son drove home after everyone had left the wedding ground.

"Would you look at that, we did it dad!" Lucien said to his father as he drove smiling and laughing.

"Don't get too excited son, next up, the Barnsleys" Joshua said sternly.