The Substitute Bride

Nadia's POV

"Where is she!?" My stepmother shrieked in anger, almost knocking me out of the way as she strode towards Nina's room for the umpteenth time in one morning.

"I-I she's not in her room." I stuttered, heading out of her way before she pushed me away in anger.

"Try calling her cell phone again!" My stepmother's voice rang through the hallway.

I dipped my hands into the pocket of my sunflowered gown to fetch my phone immediately. Dialing her number for the umpteenth time in one morning, I placed it close to my ear and let out a sigh to blow off some steam.

This was definitely no way to start a wedding with the most important person in the Pack, Alpha Will. It was Nina's wedding day and yet she was nowhere to be found.

Hi there, it's Nina. I am unavailable at the moment but you could leave a message, I'd attend to it when I am available.

She had successfully thrown us all into panic when she could have quietly quit her relationship of five years with Alpha Will without causing him any drama.

I hung up looking more confused than ever. Papa sat on the chair crestfallen and for once I wished I had the super powers to know where she could have escaped to but I didn't.

We weren't close and after she slept with my ex boyfriend the week before, we certainly would never be close again. 

"Do you realise that everyone is waiting!?" The brown door burst open revealing Alpha Will who looked so handsome in his brown suit and matching loafers.

I had never seen him this angry before. His dark curls were tousled and had been styled to a sleek perfection. His blue eyes were blazing with pure fury and pain as he paced our sitting room.

Long gone was the young cheerful man I had a crush on two years ago. I watched him lean on the walking stick as he strode inside. The accident had taken away his cheerful countenance and I wished I could make him smile.

The atmosphere was so intense that I could even feel the heat radiating off him. We locked gazes. The tension between us was tangible, almost electric. He stared at me with burning eyes, and the intensity of his gaze was almost palpable as well. 

My lips were dry. I licked them, nervously. His gaze burned holes through my head as he continued to study me. My heart thudded heavily in my chest as I gaped at my soon-to-be brother-in-law in a lustful way. Then he broke the connection.

"We are sorry, Alpha Will. She-" 

"I do not care about any excuses you cook up. I won't be brought to shame before my Pack members like this neither will I be the next trendy gossip in town!" He interrupted my father who had stood up and was cowering in fear.

My protective instinct kicked in and I stood between them shielding my father from him. 

"Fix this, Winterbourne!" He said, his words coated with anger.

"What will happen if we can't? " My shoulders sagged in despair.

"I am not sure your family members will live long enough to know what will happen if you dare bring disgrace on me!" He threatened viciously and I knew it was real.

Every fiber of my bone felt it as I gulped hard. Alpha Will didn't go around town making empty threats especially not after being dumped at the altar.

He swirled around and dashed out of the room. Fidgeting, I reached for the glass of water on the center table and downed it. 

I wished this was all a dream and Nina could for once lay off her selfish nature and come back home.

"That is it. We will no longer wait." My father said in a clipped tone as he reached to sit down.

"What does that mean Papa?" I turned around,not still seeing Nina in sight and hoping that it was one of her stupid pranks but deep down I knew it wasn't.

Ever since Alpha Will's accident, things changed between them and Nina didn't speak about him with much pride as she used to.They had been lovebirds and their relationship had blossomed.

Why did she have to develop cold feet on the morn of the wedding? And why did she have to do it without informing us?

"There is no time. You'll replace your sister." He sighed.

"What?" Shock clawed at me in unimaginable ways.

"You heard me right! You will be the substitute bride for him."

This was the last thing I expected to hear especially from my father who looked forward to the wedding. And although I liked Alpha Will, I didn't want him like this.

"You can't do that Nick. Nina won't-" 

"Oh dear, would you rather be banished from Barkley Cove because as you can see Nina isn't here to speak about what she likes or not and the last thing I'd do is waste one more minute trying to wait for her." My father spat out in anger, interrupting my stepmother.

"And just before you say something else, I hope you do know the punishment for bringing disgrace to the Alpha." He  said bitterly

I wanted to soothe my father's pain away however I stood there awestruck at his words. Just as usual, Nina had run away leaving me to clean up after her. 

"Go in and change into wedding gown immediately." My father nudged me.

And just like that, I was signed off to my sister's lover as a lamb of sacrifice for her foolishness and I didn't get to have a say in it.Well, that wasn't the issue, the issue was that I had become Alpha Will's rebound. 

What other cruel fate could await me? Would he ever love me or would I live in Nina's shadow for the rest of my life pining after a man who settled for her bastard sister?