Chapter 118: forgiveness
Arabella moved slowly through the space, as if afraid the moment might break if she rushed it. Soft lights hung from every corner, delicate strands glowing like captured stars. Little lamps lined the walkway, their warm light spilling onto the floor and casting gentle shadows that danced as she passed.
She touched the edge of a table, fingers brushing over flowers she had chosen herself, each one placed with care. The air smelled faintly of candles and fresh petals. Everywhere she looked was a piece of her—months of planning, quiet hopes, small compromises, all woven into one beautiful setting.
For a moment, she stopped in the center and simply breathed. Tomorrow, it will be filled with voices and music and eyes watching her. She pictured Victor waiting for her at the altar as she made her way to him. Her smiles shone brighter than lamps on the pathway. With reluctant steps she made her way back to her room, as she walked back home she couldn’t help the eerily feeling that settled deep in her stomach. She tried to dismiss the feeling but it kept on growing and soon she felt restless. She thought of calling Victor but she chose not to, because it is widely known to be bad luck to contact the groom before the wedding." So she told herself"
When she got to her bedroom, she was stressed beyond words, a gnawing feeling kept eating her up. But she forced herself to sleep dismissing it as nerves.
By morning Arabella woke up with dark circles underneath her eyes because of lack of sleep, but her happiness soon pushed away her nerves and she went to her dressing room and her stylist, who is also her best friend sophia was already waiting for her, she helped her dress and also made her up. Sophia, not feeling enthusiastic about the wedding, could only concede and wish her best friend luck.
"Why are your eyes like this? Did you sleep at all" Sophia asked.
"I know you don’t want to hear this bella, but are you sure?" She asked solemnly
Why would you ask this on my wedding day Sophie? Areballa asked "we have talked about this several times, victor is my chosen mate by the Moon goddess, what could go wrong? Areballa asked while smiling.
Everything could go wrong, Sophia tried to make her see reason, but Arabella was not having it, but Sophia has to say what she has to say.
"The fact that he is a scumbag should be enough reason why everything could go wrong"
"Stop it Sophie " Arabella couldn’t take it anymore.
"Remember he is your alpha and you would do well to show him some respect" Arabella reprimanded Sophia.
Sophia scoffed.
"Alright I just hope you know what you are doing" Sophia raised her hands up in submission
"I do, just trust me this once ok"
Alright let’s go before I start crying my eyes out, I’m one proud Mama Bear, seeing you get married really makes my heart swear" Sophia muttered amidst sobs."
"Come here don’t cry, Arabella hugged her "and you are just three years older than me, how you became my mother still baffles me" Arabella said amidst laughs. They were still hugging when a knock disrupted their little moment, Sophia went to open the door, and was met with a cold stare from Arabella’s step mother Lydia. She looked at her in disgust and informed her that the alpha is waiting for her at the altar. She turned on her heels after telling her what she came to tell her. Sophia was so pissed and almost lashed out but Arabella held her hands and smiled, signaling her to let it go.
"Shall we?" Sophia asked, giving her her hands to take. Arabella smiled and took her hand and walked towards the hall that would be used for the wedding.
Her white gown flowed on the floor as she moved, her white veil covering her face. Sophia helped her with her dress and when they got to hall, the guards stationed there gave them a weird look but still opened the door for them
When Arabella entered the hall everyone present gasped in shock and at the altar there stood victor with another lady on white gown and a pack elder helping them recite the vow. Due to the loud gasp and hushed gossip from pack members victor had to look at that door where Arabella was standing,
"What is going on here?" Arebella asked after getting over the initial shock of seeing him with another female at the altar.
"My wedding of course?" Victor responded, smirking. Do I need to take permission to marry ? Victor asked his brow raising.
Arabella looked at her step mother smirking at her. She wondered why she came to call her if the alpha is already getting married. Did she do it to embarrass her?
"What do you mean by this Victor?" Sophia asked.
"Stay out of this Sophia" Victor warned. Arabella held onto Sophia’s hand tightly.
I... I thought today was supposed to be our day?" Arabella managed to form a word
You thought what? That I would marry you. A female wolf with a F- class fertility rate. A wolf who can’t give me an heir? Victor intentionally shouted a bit and the whole hall gasped everyone began gossiping loudly. They were all surprised. Females with F-class fertility end up being breeders for their pack with no wolf to claim them because they can’t bear an heir. Most people never knew she was in the F-class category.
"But you told me it didn’t matter, since we were mates." Arabella responded softly.
"And you believe it?" Victor asked. Celine, already tired of the banter between Victor and Arabella, rolled her eyes and came down from the altar, when Arabella saw her face her heart shattered even more, "how come, it’s you" Arabella spoke in tears
Celine ignored Arabella and came to meet Victor. She calmly held onto his hand and spoke. "Why is my sister here? I thought you already broke the news to her?" She asked
"What news ?"
"You are only qualified to be a breeder, Victor was just trying to be nice to you for your father’s sake and you dare show your face here "
Chapter two
"But I planned this wedding, he told me he would..."
"He would, what Arabella? Marry you? You must be dreaming" she rolled her eyes
"You planned the wedding for me and the alpha when did this wedding become yours?"
"But we are mates." Arabella interjected softly.
"That doesn’t change the fact that your fertility count is low. You are cursed, If our alpha marries you, wouldn’t we all be damned. You are an anomaly and your only place is to become a breeder".
Sophia was not able to take it anymore. She pointed at Celine "you are going too far you wench, who gave you the right to come between two destined mates?"
"Enough" victor’s voice boomed. Using his alpha command voice forcing everyone to submit. This is my decision, I cannot marry a wolf with low fertility, I choose Celine because her fertility is high, a very rare B-class," the whole hall gasped again and the gossip raged on, B-class were rare, A-class is the highest but nobody has seen them in generations. They have since become extinct in a period where fertility has become extremely low B-class has soon become the highest level.
I hereby reject you" victor’s voice boomed in the hall silently all the gossip.
Please don’t do this, please you promised me that you would love only me" Arabella’s voice came out in frantic pleas, she knew what Victor was about to do.
"I’m sorry Arabella but it has to be done, I planned on doing this for a long time." Arabella felt her world crashing down on her.
"I reject Arabella Montclair as my mate," the string binding them broke and the pain pierced through Arabella’s heart, she fell down, the pain was so much that she coughed out blood and fell down, Sophia couldn’t stay still and slapped Alpha Victor, the slap was crisp and the whole hall went silent again, no one believed it. Everyone heard their breath
"How could you?" Sophia was restrained immediately by the guards. "You bastard, I pray both you and that bitch rot in hell, for everything you guys did. Her voice became faint as she was dragged away.
"Arabella you have to accept my rejection so the pain can become bearable." he lied. Arabella in so much pain wanted it to stop and did what he told her without thinking.
"I accept your rejection Victor Ashford" and she felt what was left of the bond broke.
Ashford merely squeezed his face, then his face returned to normal, the mate bond affecting him differently from Anabella.
"Take her to the slave quarters, from today she is officially a breeder." Alpha Victor commanded then took Celine’s hands and walked back to the altar like nothing had happened.
Arabella was dragged roughly and taken to the slave quarters and thrown into an empty room without a mattress.
Arabella, laid down on the floor, weak and in pain her wolf Lyra was baldly hurt when their mate broke the bond, she went to sleep. And Arabella couldn’t feel her again
