••• Arabella’s POV •••
I left the bar to return to the Red Moon Pack and realized it was nearly dawn.
Drafting the contract agreement took longer than I thought, but at least now we were both clear on what was expected of each other during our ‘marriage’.
Reaching my room, I went straight to the bathroom to wash my face with cold water to calm myself down.
My heart was still pounding because I had just done a very bold thing, even bolder than wanting to marry Shawn secretly.
The cold water did a good job calming me, and suddenly, I realized who that gorgeous man from the bar was.
He was Alpha Maximillian Versvertine of the Silentmane Canines Pack, aka the most ruthless Alpha as of now.
I couldn't believe I actually ran into him, heard his secret, proposed a contract marriage with him and even more unbelievable was that he actually agreed to it!
I gulped in nervousness and fear.
Did I just jump out of a fire and enter Hell willingly??
Suddenly I saw a figure barged into my room and I became angry.
How dared he still come to me!
“Where have you been all night?” he asked through clenched teeth.
“You have no right to ask me about anything,” I sneered at him.
“No right?”
He suddenly laughed evilly and said, “I’ve already spread the word that we are getting married tomorrow. Are you going to regret it? If yes, then you’ll be a joke and would be a disgrace to the Royal family. What will your dad think of you?”
How dare he threaten me!
His words made me so furious that I clenched my fists tightly, ready to punch him.
But when I thought of my plan with Alpha Maximillian, I began to calm down.
“Alright, I’ll marry you tomorrow morning as scheduled,” I promised him.
“That’s more like it,” he sneered and left after hearing my promise, and I breathed in relief, only for Abigail to appear in front of me, looking like she had been wronged.
“Bella, you have to believe me that it was Shawn who forced me to sleep with him,” she said with a sad voice.
Of course, I didn't believe any of her words.
But then she started crying and said, “I risked my life to save Aurora. How could I betray Aurora’s sister and my best friend?”
She continued sobbing and begged me, “Please don't tell anyone that I have anything to do with Shawn. Otherwise, as an Omega, I would be accused of taking someone else’s mate and banished from the pack.”
I was in a dilemma.
I knew she wasn't innocent, but she did risk her life to save my twin sister, although she failed.
Controlling the anger that had been bubbling in my heart, I finally told her, “I won't tell anyone about your involvement with Shawn, but we are not friends anymore.”
Then I left her and ran into my parents, who had just returned.
“Come with us,” Dad said, and we went to his office.
“Explain everything, Ari,” he glared at me once the office door was closed behind us.
“Dad, I’m sorry,” I apologized guiltily.
I should’ve listened to him before, but since I knew the truth about Shawn now, I would right it.
“You are going to marry him tomorrow morning?” Mom asked.
“Yes,” I said firmly.
“Ari, I’ve told you he’s not good for you,” Dad still tried to make me change my mind, but he didn't know about my plan with Alpha Maximillian, so I wasn't angry with him this time.
“Dad, I won't let you down tomorrow morning,” I told him.
“What do you mean by that, Ari? What are you going to do tomorrow?” Dad narrowed his eyes at me, trying to pressure me into telling him my secret without unleashing his Alpha aura.
“I can't tell you the details, but please just trust me, Dad.” I stared straight into his eyes, showing him how serious I was about it.
Dad opened his mouth to say something, but Mom beat him to it.
“Hayden, we should trust our daughter, okay?”
Mom took Dad’s hand, and I could see Dad’s anger practically melt away from that one touch.
“Alright. I trust you won't disappoint me tomorrow,” Dad finally told me.
I smiled brightly at my parents.
“Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad. You will get a wonderful surprise from me at the wedding tomorrow.”
“Off you go,” Mom said. “I still need to soothe your dad’s anger.”
I laughed because I knew Mom would certainly be able to do it. We all knew Dad wouldn't be able to get mad at Mom.
I waved at them and left the office.
Just as I closed the door, I heard bits of their conversations.
“She is just as stubborn as you,” Dad scoffed.
“Wasn't it your fault?” Mom asked.
“Why was it my fault?” Dad scowled.
“You said she was as stubborn as me when I was delivering her,” Mom teased.
“If you put it that way… Then, indeed, it was my fault,” Dad chuckled.
I couldn't help but smile when I heard how loving they were.
It was my dream to have a loving life with my mate, but Dad had always had a different thought. He wanted me to be a strong Luna and thus was very strict with me.
Could I still find a mate after rejecting my fated mate and getting into a contract marriage with the most ruthless Alpha?
I sighed heavily but turned determined when my phone rang, and I saw Alpha Maximillian’s name on my phone screen.
It was not the time to be wistful.
I had to ensure my plan with Alpha Maximillian was perfectly executed, so I turned serious when I picked up his call and said, “Hello, Alpha Maximillian. My wedding will be held tomorrow morning…”
***
The day of the wedding came, and everything proceeded flawlessly as planned.
This time, I was dressed beautifully in a proper wedding gown, and Shawn and I still looked like a perfect couple.
We stood before the priest, and Shawn had just finished saying his vow to me. It would have been lovely and touching if I hadn't discovered that he was actually a scumbag.
The priest turned toward me, and someone put a mic in front of me so everyone could hear my vow clearly.
I took a deep breath and smiled sweetly at Shawn before opening my mouth and repeated what I had told him during my birthday.
“I, Arabella Fallon, the Alpha Princess of the royal pack, the Red Moon Pack, reject you, Shawn Evander, the Alpha of the Battleclaw Banes Pack, as my mate.”
The priest and everyone were shocked when they heard my words of rejection.
“Princess Arabella, why did you reject your fated mate?” the priest asked me in shock.
For Aurora’s sake, I didn't tell them about Abigail.
Instead, I lied, “Shawn and I were never fated mated. We were wrong all along. We were just each other chosen mates.”
Shawn was extremely furious at me and forcefully grabbed my shoulders.
I saw Dad and Mom stand up, and guards were coming toward us, but I mindlinked them not to do anything.
We all heard the church’s door being opened loudly and saw a tall, gorgeous man wearing a black bespoke suit, showcasing his muscular body, striding toward us.
I couldn't help but smile when I saw how lazy he looked, yet his aura was still powerful.
He looked at Shawn’s hands on my shoulders and growled, “How dare you hurt my mate!”
Everyone became shocked again by the new revelation.
“You… You can't be Bella’s mate! I’m her mate!” Shawn shouted.
I smiled calmly at the intruder. “You are wrong, Alpha Shawn. Alpha Maximillian Vestvertine is my fated mate.”
There was a hint of amusement in Alpha Maximillian’s eyes when he heard my words.
Shawn finally let me go and staggered back, mumbling repeatedly, “It can't be… It can't be…”
When Alpha Maximillian reached the altar, he stood before me and pulled me into his arms, whispering in my ears, “Hello, my mate.”
His hot breath tickled my ear, and even though I knew it wasn't true, my heart was beating very fast for some reason.
“Let’s go…” he whispered into my ear again.
“Wait, I need to let my parents know,” I told him.
He looked at me for a while before finally nodding and agreeing.
We went to where Mom and Dad were sitting and greeted them, ignoring the shocked guests and Shawn and his family.
“Mom, Dad, this is my mate, Alpha Maximillian Vestvertine of the Silentmane Canines Pack,” I introduced my ‘mate’ to my parents.
“Alpha Queen, Alpha King,” Alpha Maximillian greeted my parents.
“Is this the surprise you were telling us about?” Mom asked with an amused smile.
I couldn't help but blush and nod.
Dad was silently scrutinizing my ‘mate’, but Alpa Maximillian didn't seem to mind.
“Are you going to take our daughter back to your pack now?” Dad finally asked.
“It is what I plan to do if Alpha Queen and Alpha King are okay with the idea,” my ‘mate’ said politely.
“Alright, bring her out of here for now. Leave the rest to us here,” Dad said before adding, “Bring her back in a few days. We need an explanation.”