CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29: WEDDING BLISS GONE WRONG

"Congratulations!" Magdalene exclaims. "So, when do you plan to marry?"

"It depends on which comes first," Alpha Torrin replies. "Once we save enough money while we’re here, or once we manage to take back my pack."

Magdalene’s smile widens, deepening the wrinkles on her face, as she pulls out a credit card from her wallet then hands it to Alpha Torrin.

"That’s Dingle Valley’s treasury that our employees can use during special events or emergencies. Use it so we can wed you before this day ends. Don’t worry about the food and drinks, we have plenty here."

"Thank you. But we can’t accept this," I say.

"Oh, I’ll feel bad if you don’t," Magdalene chuckles. "You can have a second but bigger wedding once you’re back with the Frostveil Pack.... and don’t forget to invite us there."

Alpha Torrin and I glance at each other, silently agreeing.

"Thank you," we say to Magdalene in unison.

The elders happily let us borrow one of Dingle Valley’s cars so we can go to the market and buy what we need. Magdalene didn’t mention how much we can spend, and I was too embarrassed to ask.

"Let’s just buy a simple tuxedo and a simple dress, and maybe some cheap flowers," I say.

"How about our rings?" Alpha Torrin asks.

I glance at the wheat-straw ring he gave me last night, a smile crossing my face. "I’m fine wearing this. Plus, rings these days are expensive. I don’t wanna take advantage of Dingle Valley’s generosity and kindness too much."

Alpha Torrin smiles and nods. "I’ll buy you a beautiful ring one day."

When we reach the market, we pull on hooded coats as disguises in case we bump into our enemies again.

Since Alpha Torrin was born and raised in a wintery environment, he looks uncomfortable in our get-up. He’s sweating even though the climate isn’t that hot.

So I wipe his face with a handkerchief, making him chuckle sheepishly.

We enter a small boutique that offers pre-owned clothes, dresses, bags, shoes, and hats.

The staff assist us and direct us to opposite corners of the store.

There are only a few white dresses that could pass as wedding dresses, making it easy for me. I choose a simple, form-fitting dress with a semi-flowy skirt that kisses my ankles. There’s no lace or sparkle, but it makes me feel beautiful.

I complete the look with white shoes and a small hair accessory.

Joy warms my heart, and tears glisten in my eyes as I stare at myself in the mirror.

After everything that happened and is still happening, I can’t believe Alpha Torrin and I will marry this soon. But I’m not complaining.

When I return to the common area, my lips part in awe. Alpha Torrin stands on a circular platform looking like a real-life prince. He’s in a white tuxedo and white pants with gold accents, his mid-length curly hair pulled into a ponytail so all attention settles on his handsome face.

He stares at me with equal astonishment. "You look beautiful, like always."

"And you look magnificent, like always," I reply.

I can already imagine how our wedding will go, making me giggle in excitement.

After paying for our purchases, we head to a flower shop. Since white roses are expensive, we opt for white chrysanthemums and daisies instead.

But then,...

As we place the flowers carefully into the car’s trunk, sudden unwelcome presences appear behind us.

"Finally, we found you."

The voice sends chills up and down my spine.

When we turn around, Gammas from both the Frostveil and Dunebourne Packs stand before us.

Before Alpha Torrin and I can wolf-out, they shoot us with tranquilizers, making our bodies numb immediately.

We collapse to the ground, trying to reach each other’s hands.

Then,...

Complete darkness.

When I wake up, I’m handcuffed in a familiar place: the windowless, bright room beneath the Frostveil hospital.

"Your health improves a lot from the last time," Dr. Reyes says as she unempathically draws blood from me. "There were traitors who came here and ruined all the progress I’ve made with my experiment. They even flushed all of your remaining blood samples down the toilet. So I have to start from scratch again."

My heart stops for a moment. Oh my goodness! Were they caught too?!

"There were werewolves who did that?" I pretend not to know, needing to confirm if our plans are falling apart. "Who?!"

"We’re still trying to find out. But we’ll catch them soon," she replies confidently.

That doesn’t give me the slightest relief.

"Where’s Alpha Torrin?" I ask.

"Torrin is a threat to Alpha Atticus and Beta Damian’s throne. Do you think they’d let him survive this time?" she answers.

"I know you’re only following orders. Please, release me. I promise once we take the pack back, we’ll pardon you," I say.

She grins coldly. "I won’t give up on this experiment. It’s every doctor’s and scientist’s dream. If I succeed here, I can change the world, and everyone will look up to me with adoration."

She continues drawing blood, making me dizzy and weak again. Afterwards, she carefully places the vials into two suitcases.

A couple of Dunebourne Gammas enter the room when she presses a red button near the door. They’re smirking at me as they take one of the suitcases.

"Just let me know if you need more of her blood," Dr. Reyes says before they leave.

She then turns to me. "See? The Dunebourne Pack is also experimenting on you, desiring the same results we do. I can’t lose to them. I have to succeed before any of their scientists and doctors do."

Trying to fight or escape in this condition won’t work. But if I don’t act fast, Alpha Torrin may...

I close my eyes, desperately trying to shove away the dark thoughts racing through my mind like visions of him being tortured until he dies.

A moment later, Dr. Reyes returns with Gammas following behind her, and finally removes the handcuffs.

I try to wolf-out to kill them, but I’m far too weak.

The Gammas drag me to the underground parking lot, shove me into a car, and drive me to the Frostveil prison where Alpha Torrin, just as I feared, is being tortured.

"No!" A horrifying scream tears from my throat, snapping everyone’s attention toward me, including Atticus and Damian, who look disturbingly satisfied with what they’re witnessing.

Damian steps forward. "You did a good job uniting the Frostveil and the Dunebourne Packs after turning them into enemies."

He opens a chest sitting near the wall and pulls out the white flowers Alpha Torrin and I bought earlier. He hurls them onto the filthy floor and stomps on them repeatedly until they’re destroyed.

Next, he pulls out Alpha Torrin’s tuxedo and my dress, ripping them apart with his bare hands before shoving the torn pieces into my face.

Lastly, Damian pulls out the Dingle Valley’s credit card from his pocket and holds it up to my face. "So, this is where you’ve been hiding the whole time? I wonder how much they’ll regret sheltering you from us if we attack them."

"No, please. You’re not heartless. The Damian I know..."

"...is gone!" he growls, cutting me off. "I forgave you for almost killing me, for severing our bond. But to leave me so you can be with Torrin and marry him? You’ll need to do a lot of work to earn my forgiveness again. Playing nice didn’t work, so maybe being heartless will."

My body trembles when he clutches my jaw, forcing me to meet his terrifying gaze.

But then,...

His gaze softens slightly as it descends to my lips. He swallows hard, as if controlling the desire to kiss me.

"Damian, we need to finish Torrin now. Let that b.itch witness his death. We can’t take any chances," Atticus interrupts coldly.

My desperation surges more.

I fall to my knees before Damian, wrap my arms around his legs, and beg, "Please, spare Alpha Torrin and the wolves at Dingle Valley. I’ll do everything you want me to do."

"Everything?" he echoes menacingly.

He forces the elixir into my hand. Then he drags me to my feet and pushes me toward Alpha Torrin’s cell.

"What were you thinking?!" Atticus growls behind us.

"We don’t have to kill Torrin just yet. Trust me, no one will want a ruined Alpha to come back. So your title will remain unchallenged," Damian replies without looking at him.

I try to pull away, but Damian clutches my hand tightly and forces the elixir I’m holding into Alpha Torrin’s bruised and partly open mouth.

A harsh sob tears out of me, followed by another scream that scrapes my throat raw.

My knees give out, and I collapse in front of Alpha Torrin.

"I’m sorry," I whisper like a desperate mantra, as if somehow, saying them might undo the damage, or at least keep my heart from breaking completely.

After all the progress we’ve made so far, we’re still gonna end up facing this elixir again!