Chapter 2

The grand hall was plunged into silence when the double doors creaked open. 

Heads turned and eyes widened as the bride sauntered into the room, gracing the guests with her angelic presence. She was like a maestro conducting an orchestra, her movements precise and confident, as she walked down the aisle.

“Isn’t Freya just so beautiful?”  Luna Rosella shared a smile with Melissa. 

“She is indeed,” Melissa smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she watched her daughter. 

The guests seated next to them gazed in complete admiration. 

One of them leaned forward, her elbows on the table as the bride sauntered by. 

“She is simply exquisite.”

"She's so beautiful, isn't she?" An omega wolf whispered to her son. He replied with a grin. 

"Of course. Her family must be so proud of her."

"Freya will make such a wonderful bride.”

Melissa couldn't help but feel a sense of wwe and pride as she watched Freya walk. At last, their dream was finally coming true.

A gentle breeze tugged at the veil and Melissa pinched her eyelids. This Freya had an arched brow and what was worse? She had wider hips. 

The Freya she knew certainly didn't have hips like that and she couldn't have possibly grown one overnight. 

Her hand flew to her chest when she put the pieces of the puzzle together. 

“Maya?”

Maya arrived at the altar only to find it empty. It was just her and the priestess. She looked at the priestess with furrowed brows. 

“Umm…where is the groom?”

“You don't have to worry about that, my dear,” The woman beamed a warm smile. “We will carry on without him.”

Maya was taken aback. 

“Excuse me?” 

Whispers began to hover in the room as the people wondered about the groom’s whereabouts. 

Melissa leaned in to whisper to Luna Rosella. 

“Your son isn't here yet?”

Rosella palmed her forehead. 

“I am absolutely sorry, Melissa, but I don't think he'll be coming.”

“Oh dear.” Melissa exhaled. 

Maya looked around her. She was too stunned to speak. Not only did her one sister not show up at her own wedding, now the groom was nowhere to be found?

“I hate you, Freya!” She cursed quietly under her breath.

Luna Rosella’s eyes a striking blend of emerald and falsed a message, one the priestess understood. 

“We will now begin the mating ceremony!” she called out in a solemn voice. Then she looked down at Maya, “If you would look at the people, Ma'am.”

Maya rolled her eyes as she faced the people with the roses still in hand. 

The priestess began in a solemn note. 

“Dearly beloved, we gather here to celebrate the union of a - -”

Her words muffled in Maya's ears as all she could think about was escaping the room. 

As the ceremony drew to a close, Maya surrendered herself to the expectations of playing the gracious hostess, making small talks with guests while pasting a forced smile on her face. 

“You look absolutely ravishing, Dear Freya.” Mr. Drake, the designer of Freya’s wedding gown, planted a gentle kiss on her gloved hand. 

Maya almost choked on the wine in her mouth. She swallowed hard, her eyes round as she gave him a smile. 

“Why, thank you.” He squinted his blue eyes while stroking his chin. 

“Although I don't remember your hips being this big. Did you gain some weight?”

Before Maya would respond, an arm link with hers.

Her lovely mother's voice chimed in to the rescue.

“Ah, Mr. Drake, how lovely to see you. You look breathtaking tonight.”

Mr. Drake combed his hand through his hair with an odd air of sophistication. 

“Why, thank you.”

Melissa gripped Maya's arm so tight she nearly winced in pain. 

“Do you mind if I steal Maya - I mean Freya for a moment?” 

Maya gasped in shock as she looked at her mother but her refusal to look at her sent her eyes flying even wide like saucers. 

“Oh, that's alright.” Mr. Drake bade them goodbye as he joined the other guests. 

“Mom,” Maya winced as her mother grabbed her elbow, dragging her towards an empty room.

“Not a single word.” Melissa glared at her and she pursed her lips.

They arrived in the empty room and she shut the door behind them. Maya twiddled her thumbs. 

“Mom, it's not what you think.”

“Oh. If it's not what I think, then by all means, enlighten me.” Melissa stood at akimbo, her face burning red with rage. Maya heaved a sigh. 

“It was all Freya's fault. She chickened out at the last minute. Said she wanted to run away with Kelvin. It's not my fault I stepped into her shoes.”

“She what?” Melissa began to pace around the round, her feet moving in a frantic movement. “Oh no. God, no.”

Maya noticed the terrified look on her mother's face. 

“Umm…it won't be a problem, right?”

Melissa gave her a sharp look. 

“Problem? No, it won't be a problem…”

Maya instantly knew she shouldn't have asked. Her mother would reply in a sarcastic way. Melissa went on. 

“It'll be catastrophic. Ah, maybe even a singularity in the time-space continuum!” 

“Mom, please!” Maya massaged her temples which began to throb all of a sudden.

“Luna Rosella doesn't know! What if she finds out? We'll be more screwed than we already are!” Melissa screamed.

Maya rushed to cover her hand over her mother's mouth. 

“Shh. At this rate, you'll tell everyone the truth.”

Melissa pushed Maya's hand away. She reached for her purse, her hands trembling as she took out her phone.

“I have to call Freya. Now.” she tried to dial the phone, her fingers stumbling over the keypad in panic.

Maya drew her mother into her embrace. 

“Mother, please. Nothing will happen.” Melissa relaxed in her hold and began to sob. 

“Why did Freya do this?” 

“It's going to be okay, mom.” Maya's eyes almost filled as she consoled her sobbing mother. 

Not only that, her mother did not stop sobbing even when the car came to take Maya to her new home.

“Stay safe, M - Freya!” Melissa wailed loudly as she waved at her.

“Calm down, mom. I'm not heading to the lion's den.” Maya swallowed a nervous chuckle as she waved back at the woman.

The SUV moved and Maya looked at her mother's face till she couldn't see her any longer. 

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit warehouse, a blood-curdling scream echoed in the air before it seized and silence settled over the place. 

A few moments later, an upbeat music broke the tranquility and a soft grunt followed.

A figure stuffed his hand into his pocket and whipped out an Iphone. 

He swiped right and put it on speaker. 

“Si.”

“Ciao, Compare,” the voice on the other end of the line greeted. “Your bride has arrived at the castle.”

A sinister grin rose to his lips. 

“Excellent. I'll return in a moment.”

“Yes, Sir.” And the line went dead.

He pocketed his phone and turned to the man lying on the floor in the pool of his own blood, his body was a canvas of cuts and bruises.

“Please!” The man cried out but his screams were muffled.

“Now, where were we?” The figure’s grew bright red and sharp fangs protruded from his fingers. It didn't take long till screams followed.