Trinity POV
“A glass of champagne for the bride. And there will be another glass of a different champagne for the toasts.”
My smile falters a bit as I tilt my head and stare at the glass in my brother, Trent’s hand.
“Why will you give me another glass, Trent? One should be good enough.”I can’t put my finger on it. Something just feels off. My gaze goes back to the bubbly drink in front of me. My eyebrows furrow together as I contemplate whether to drink it.
Trent nudges my arm and says ironically. “Aren’t you going to drink it? I’ve been told this is for good luck, to bring you good luck with your marriage. I’ve also been told the bride and groom must drink this glass first, before the champagne for the toast.”
My head whips up, and my gaze meets my husband, Drake’s dark eyes, which sparkle as he lifts his champagne glass in the air and motions for me to do the same. The corner of his mouth curves upward, almost in a smirk.
Again, I push the uneasy feeling away. This is my wedding. What could possibly happen?
I can’t hold back the wide smile and my laughter as I watch my silly but dashing husband dance. His black tuxedo gives him that little extra flair to make him look like a model, and his shiny black hair shimmers under the strobe lights.
I’m the luckiest woman alive, aren’t I?
My hand slowly lowers back down to the table, but the next second one thought that the war with Lycans was still unresolved stopped my hand. I, as a potential Alpha, must always be on my guard.
“My dear sister, you better drink it if you want this position? You have already agreed with father’s order to marry a man you don’t know and who isn’t your fated mate. All for gaining the Alpha title. Now see who is the greedy one.”
He slowly looks me up and down. A look of disgust fills his gaze. “You are even using your body to please Drake, and in turn, you are using him to secure your title.”
What the heck? I’m not using Drake to secure my position, nor am I using my body. Even without the marriage, I would get the alpha title. He knows that.
I shake my head. “Trent, father is doing what he thinks is the best for the pack and following our traditions. He has ruled our pack for over thirty years, and he is still our Alpha. I can’t help it if I was born first.”
I spin in my seat to face him. His victorious look fuels my growing frustrations. “If this marriage strengthens our alliance with Dark Moon pack, I will do whatever I can to improve our pack, as an Alpha heir.” I pour all my growing irritation into my last two words, drilling home that I’m the heir.
I know he was hoping father would ignore our tradition of the firstborn being the heir and select him instead, but father didn’t. He upheld our customs and announce me as the alpha heir.
This is also the first time in our pack’s history an alpha has had a girl as his firstborn. For generations, the alphas have only had boy pups. The pack was so surprised when my father announced I was a girl. The elders immediately began combing through the ancient texts and journals, looking for another incident of this happening before, but they couldn’t find one.
Throughout my childhood, an uncertainty has hung over me. Will I actually become the next alpha?
I know my existence deprives Trent of his alpha future. But as a leader, Trent is too young and warlike. Father knows my brother would lead our warriors to challenge the Lycans once he was in power, but our pack doesn’t have enough soldiers to win a battle on that magnitude. The Lycans would outnumber us 10 to 1. Plus, they are stronger and better fighters than us.
We would lose everything.
His eyes narrow, and our eyes lock. “You really believe that this farce of a marriage will improve our pack? Ha. Neither Drake nor his stupid pack would help us defend our land and people against the Lycan. Lycans are beasts. If they want to be in power, they can do it any time they want. We need to gather our warriors and attack them immediately. This is a waste of time playing around with some stupid wedding drama.”
He will never learn. You can’t go charging in on someone else’s land and attack them because you don’t like how they handle things, or you think they are a threat. Now, if they do something to warrant a preemptive strike, that is a different story, but the Lycans haven’t done anything to us.
He is basing his whole dislike for them on rumors. As alphas, we can’t do anything because of a rumor. We must have solid evidence first.
He knows this, but he just refuses to be submissive.
With a grunt, he bolts up and storms out of the hall. I watch him disappear through the far doors, hoping it will ease my frustrations, but it doesn’t.
I scoot my chair back and glance around the table at the others. “I think I need some air. If anyone needs me, I’ll be outside on the patio.”
My eyes drop to the champagne glass. Should I take it?
Well, Drake has already drank his. For our marriage, there is nothing to lose.
Without thinking about it again, I take the glass and walk away.
***
As soon as I step out the door and onto the patio, I take a deep breath, letting the cool night air fill my lungs. A soft breeze whips around me, making the satin white fabric of my wedding dress flutter, while the cool air tickles my bare arms and shoulders.
Am I doing the right thing?
I hope the moon goddess agrees with my decision.
The door suddenly opens, and my best friend Bethany walks outside in her beautiful flowing royal blue maid of honor dress with a large bag slung over her shoulder. “I thought I would find out here. I’ve brought the bag you asked for. Why do you need a change of clothes at your wedding? It doesn’t make any sense.”
I snort and shake my head. “Just to be on the safe side. Thanks. I greatly appreciate it. Plus, this big wedding dress is starting to get uncomfortable. A pair of jeans sounds so much better right now.”
She shakes her head. “Can you not be in alpha mode for once? This is your wedding, and you should be enjoying it.”
I shrug my shoulders and take the bag from her. “I can’t help it. It won’t be long, and I’ll be the Alpha.”
She spins around and leans up against the railing. “It feels so weird having a female alpha. I keep wanting to call you luna instead of alpha. I’m sure I’m not alone either.”
I nod. “I’m sure you aren’t, but I’m the firstborn and it is tradition. The moon goddess has a reason for this, but we won’t know right now. In time, it will become clear.”
A faint, distant howl rings out.
I stiffen and stand tall, perking my ears and straining to hear it again.
A few seconds later, another faint howl rings out.
My heart slams hard against my chest. I whip my head around and stare at Bethany’s wide eyes.
Nothing is coming through the pack link, but I know what I’m hearing. That is our call when there is an intruder or someone has been attacked.
I guzzle down the champagne and set the glass on the railing before I dart to the side of the building behind some tall shrubs. Within seconds, I’m out of the dress and have shifted into my wolf. I stop for only a moment and give Bethany a look before I bolt off into the forest with the bag slung around my neck.
I dart around the trees and over boulders as fast as I can. Every few minutes, the faint howl rings out again.
The hotel and the city disappear behind me.
I knew this was going to happen. Why didn’t I pay attention to that annoying uneasy feeling I’ve had all day?
Keeping my focus on the forest in front of me, I dodge around a low-lying branch and jump over a fallen tree.
The distinct howl rings out again, but this time it is behind me.
My paws dig into the soil, and I come to an abrupt halt.
Wait. I know I haven’t run past it yet. I’m fast, but not that fast. I haven’t been running for that long.
I spin around and catapult forward, but I only take a few steps before a group of werewolves jump out of the brush and block my path.
What the heck?
They are my own pack members.
Before I have time to figure out what is happening, they lunge forward and attack me.
Seriously? They dare to attack their Alpha? I was completely hit by them on the ground.
Fuck!
