“Come with me,” Astride said, taking Penelope’s hand and leading her to the center of the dance floor.

“What are you doing?”She asked laughing, as his hand rested on her back.

He lead her slowly in circles, as they had their first dance.

Penelope couldn’t help but gawked at him. She was totally in awe of him.

This was not the ferocious, dangerous, untamed Alpha of the enemy pack she have been hearing of. He is so caring and so gentle with her. It almost feels unreal.

“Why did you do all this?” Penelope asked, meeting his intense gaze, “You could have anyone here. Why me?”

All eyes were on them. The astonished gaze of dozens of girls were fixed on him, as if they still don't believe he actually married her.

“It is best for everyone,” Astride rules in a calm voice. “Our packs have been at war for a long time. I think this is the best way to bring peace, don't you?”

Penelope nodded, knowing he’s probably right about this. Still, she can’t shake the feeling that he is holding some other reason.

But she decided not to asked. At least, not now.

Her eyes began to wander around the room. And then she saw him:

Killah standing in front of the door, in the doorway. His mouth is wide open, and his eyes rake over her with hatred.

“I'll be right back,” She said to Astride as soon as the piece was over. Everyone burst into applause, but she step away heading to the bathroom, wanting to avoid Killah .

But just then, Killah grabbed her arm and pulled her into a corner.

The gesture was brutal and painful.

She rubbed her arm when she felt a bruise already forming. She was taken aback. This look nothing to do with the man she knew.

“What the f*ck did I just see?” he almost roars but Penelope was lucky the music was loud enough, or else it would’ve attracted everyone's attention.

“Killah, please lower your voice,” She said, trying to be reasonable, “Can’t we discuss this like adults?”

“No, I won't!” he roars. “How fucking dare you, did you marry that bastard Astride Grant?”

His anger was overwhelming,and a little frightening to her.

She had never seen this side of him before, and it’s ugly. But Penelope tried to keep calm.

“Yes, I have,” she answer defiantly, “I didn’t think it mattered to you anyway. You just left me at the altar.”

“How could you do that to me after I left to help Olivia? This is ridiculous! This was my wedding!” His hand closes around her arm tighter.

“Stop! You're hurting me!” She begged him, “What is wrong with you?”

“The groom should have been me! I was your boyfriend, not him!” Killah bursts out. “Were you perhaps cheating on me with that bastard Astride Grant?"

“Of course I wasn't!” She snap at him. “How do you think I could do something like that?”

“What the fuck are you doing marrying him then?” Killah said angrily.

Before she could nswer him, Astride stood between theny. His hand closes around Killah shoulder as he pulled him away from her.

“Take your hands off my wife!” He ordered and Penelope could swear his voice did things to her.

It makes her want to follow every word he says.

His fist impacts Killah face as he tried to retort and knocks him down. Silence falls in the hall except for the music.

Penelope gaze remains lost between the man she love, or used to love, and her husband, as the confrontation breaks out between the both of them.

A happy hoax

“Enough!” She shouted. The music stopped and the guests present stared at them.

Immediately two men come and help Killah to his feet.

“Has he hurt you?” Astride asked and places a hand on her shoulder. She felt the heat from his gaze and Penelope couldn’t tell what was happening to her but managed to shake the thought off.

“No. I’m just a little... shocked.”

She muttered.

Alpha Astride looked at Killah angrily.

“Take him away,” He said to the men holding Killah, wrapping a protective arm around her.

“Don't worry. I know the way out,” said Killah, separating from the two men giving Penelope a venomous look on his way out.

She sigh.

“Are you all right?” Amber said, , running up to her.

“I am,” She responded, taking Amber’s hand.

She turned to Astride and said “ I need some moment to breathe,”

“Of course,” he replied, placing his both hands into his pant pockets

Amber patted the back of Penelope’s hand nd lead her out.

“It's not a good wedding if there isn't a fight,” Amber joked.

“I guess that's true,”She sigh, as she is in no mood for jokes.

“Pene?” A voice called, approaching slowly.

Penelope turned to see Olivia, who walked towards them.

She was looking beautiful in a pearl blue dress that matches her sweet, heart-shaped face perfectly. But instead of a happy expression, her eyes and cheeks were stained with the tears she kept shedding.

As soon as she’s in front of them, she throws herself into Penelope’s arms. She began to cry copiously.

Penelope looked at her, not understanding what is happening.

“Amber, could you leave us alone for a moment?” She asked her best friend.

“Sure,” she answered, with a deeply empathetic look.

As soon as she left, Penelope pulled Olivia away from her a little, so she could wipe the tears from her face.

“Olivia, what's wrong?” She asked gently.

“What do you mean what's wrong?” She sniffles and looks at Penelope with deeply hurt eyes. “I ruined your wedding!” she shrieked.

“You didn't ruin anything. Calm down,” Penelope tried to comfort her in a gentle voice.

Penelope eyes moved to Olivia’s hands. They were shaking.

“Are you all right?” She asked instead, worried.

Olivia nodded.

“I am,” she replied, then grimaced. “I mean, I'm still terribly frightened, you know? It was a horrible experience.”

“I know. It must have been,” Penelope reply, patting her hand.

As a child, Olivia had suffered a trauma. She almost drowned when she got caught in the waves of a strong current. Since then she has had a terrible fear of very deep water.

Honestly, Penelope doesn't understand what she was doing today so close to the surface of the lake that she fell in.

She naturally avoids big water bodies.

Penelope wanted to asked but she feels it's not the right time to ask her about it. She is clearly still terrified about what happened.

“Oh, Pene. I am so sorry,” Olivia says, sniffling,”I'm definitely responsible for everything that has happened. If I hadn't been so clumsy, Killah wouldn't have had to come to my aid, and your wedding wouldn't have been ruined.”

Penelope sigh again.

Olivia expression was pitiful. Her nose was so red from her continuous cries.

“You didn't ruin anything,” She tells her, trying to calm her down, “What happened between Killah and me is entirely personal. You bear no responsibility for it.”

But Olivia stubbornly shakes her head.

“None of this was my intention,” She said, while wiping her nose with a handkerchief.

“I'm sure of it,” Penelope comforted her.

She knew Olivia would never hurt her intentionally. She wouldn’t have the intention of doing so

“If I had known he would be so upset about it, I would have been more careful about going near the lake.”

She muttered amidst tears.

“I know, honey,” Penelope assured her, “Don't worry. None of this is your fault.”

Her gaze drops and then her brow furrows. She looks around and finds Alpha Astride, off in the distance.

“Can I ask you something?” she says with total innocence.

“You know you can,” Penelope replied.

“What's all this about you marrying Astride Grant?” she asked curiously. Her gaze fixes on me. “I mean... I thought it was Killah who you loved and were going to marry.”

Slowly, her lips compose a fake, but utterly convincing smile.

“The designs of the Goddess are mysterious,” Penelope answered vaguely as she tuck a lock of hair behind her ear.

Olivia didn't seem convinced by what Penelope just said.

Her brow furrows and for a moment Penelope thought she saw annoyance in her expression.

“So, are you two really married, are you his wife?” she asked.

“I am,” Penelope replied with a sweet smile, “Till death do us part.”

It seems Penelope words trigger something in her. Olivia’s face is again streaked with tears.

“I'm sorry,” she whimpered, “I'm still very upset about what happened this morning,”

“Why don't you go get some rest,” Penelope said soothingly, “Then we can catch up on all this.”

“Yeah. It'd be best,” she winced. “I keep replaying all those horrible moments in my head, and I just... I need to rest. That's all.”

Without letting her say anything else, Olivia stood up and ran out.