01: The Wedding

SUNSHINE: 

My heart pounded wildly against my ribcage as I continued to stare in the mirror. I looked better today compared to my previous look. I invested so much of my time beautifying myself even if we already had our own makeup artist. 

Will Alpha Jericho think I am beautiful now? It would be a matter of a few minutes and the wedding organizer would call me and it was my time to walk down the aisle.

The wedding was an intimate one, participated by my Mother, my stepfather, and my stepbrothers. No friends. Just them and there were also a few on Alpha Jericho’s side. 

I drew a deep breath as I felt my hands cold. No matter how much I told myself to relax, my body would not listen anymore.

I jumped when someone suddenly knocked on the door.

Glancing over my shoulder, I frowned when I saw it was none other than my favorite stepbrother, Alpha Knoxx whose goal was to make my life miserable. Note the sarcasm. 

His eyes roamed over my body, but did not say anything.

If not for Alpha Ezra, I would never invite him to my wedding. There was always a tiny voice in my head that always told me that he was up to no good. 

“You’re ready,” he commented and nodded in agreement. “You’re so excited.”

I hated to say this, but it was undeniable that he looked dashing with his black suit and his clean-shaven face. He looked younger compared to his rugged look. I thought he would make himself a beggar just to anger me or to cause embarrassment in my stead. 

I was wrong. 

Still, his presence alone inside this tiny room was enough to make him destroy my mood. 

"Not now, stepbrother," I said, taking control of the fast beating of my heart. "This is my wedding. If you want to say anything, say it after."

“I’m here to say my congratulations.” He smirked and leaned on the doorframe. "Still excited to marry that bastard, huh?"

I clenched my fists and put them on the vanity table. 

Of all the time to visit me, why now?

"If you have some issue with Alpha Jericho, please don't involve me. I am begging you right now. Please don't do anything stupid or foolish. Just for this day, will you behave?"

He snickered. "I am behaved."

"Oh, please. You are always up to no good. Alpha Jericho is my mate. We both loved each other. No one can separate us. Not even you. I don't care about your hatred towards each other. This is my wedding. We had countless sleepless nights just to make this a success. Don’t ruin this."

Alpha Knoxx laughed.

“You're funny, Sunshine.”

“I’m not making you laugh.”

Rumor had it that once they were close, but all because of one woman whom they both liked, their friendship was destroyed. They said that Knoxx's girlfriend cheated on him and that man was no other than Jericho.

I did not know if those were true, but I also had not asked Jericho about it. I cannot afford to ask him for fear that he will get mad at me.

"You haven't got an inkling on whom you're going to marry," he added.

“We have known each other for half a year now and I can say that I already know a lot about Jericho.”

He watched me with pity, then pulled something out of his pocket. “Oh, I see.”

"Stepbrother. I am not in the mood to play with you right now."

"Who said I'm trying to play?"

I backed away when he sauntered towards me until my back hit the wall. 

His eyes roamed my body and rested longer on my chest.

I crossed my hands in front of my chest and glared at him.

"I always know you are a pervert. Jericho is nothing like you."

"Don't compare me with that mutt."

He shoved something on me. Pictures? Without looking at them, I asked, "What are these? Edited pictures?"

Leaning over my ears, he responded, "You have eyes to see. Why don't you use them now?"

"I'm not going to believe in your lies, Knoxx."

His expression turned cold.

My breath hitched. 

"See for yourself first before saying anything."

Yanking my eyes away from him, I stared down at the pictures and my heart stopped beating for a moment. It was Jericho walking side by side with a woman. His hands were on her butt. Another picture was them kissing while he pressed her on a wall while the woman's hands were on his neck.

No!

These were not Jericho. My groom was someone who loved me. He was sweet and never even attempted to hurt me. He accepted even if I was an omega of my previous pack. 

My hands shook and tears simmered from my eyes. 

"These are not true." It had to be. Knoxx will do anything to ruin my wedding. He hated me that much because his father married Mother. 

The corner of his lips lifted. 

"I know you won't believe that. You're always oblivious to your groom's extracurricular activities. You are head over heels in love with him. You're a fool for putting all your heart to someone who did not even love you for an inkling."

Each painful word was like a stab in my chest. He never knew how to filter his words when it came to me. He hated me that much. 

He fished out something in his pocket. A phone. "See it for yourself."

With trembling hands, I pressed the start button. 

The video played. It was Jericho, fucking a beautiful woman in bed. Their moans of pleasure filled the air. They fucking loved fucking each other. 

I covered my mouth and controlled my sobs from breaking. 

"You think that video was edited? Your beloved groom is an asshole."

I must not cry in front of him and show him the satisfaction that I was hurting.  I won't do that.

Mustering my courage, I asked, "Why are you doing this?"

"Simple. I hate you and I don't want you to be happy."

"All because our family became one? You're an alpha but you're like a baby throwing tantrums, Knoxx."

He smiled widely, grabbed the phone out of my hand and pocketed it.

"I felt like I was in hell when I saw you smile, Sunshine. I want you to lose your sunshine." He turned his back. "After letting you see the evidence and if you still wanted to push your wedding, then I will believe you're a fool. I'll be waiting for you in the venue, my beloved stepsister. I hope you will enjoy your wedding."

Enjoy my wedding? After what he had shown me?

I clenched my fist. 

"You think this will make me stop loving the man you hated so much? Well, you are wrong, stepbrother. I will still walk down the aisle."

Something crossed his eyes before he hid it again. "If that's what you want, my little stepsister. Don't be crying on your Mother then." And he slammed the door shut.

My knees gave out.

Knoxx, how could you do this to me?