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[Denali’s POV]

“Wait!” Anastasia’s voice echoes around us, drawing both mine and my father’s gazes to the top of the stairs where she waits.

“Something wrong?” My father asks, clearly annoyed by her stopping me.

“I just want to have a word with my sister.” She explains, beginning to make her way down the stairs with Alexander in tow. “Would it be okay if we spoke with her privately?”

We. I knew she used that word just to rub salt in my wounds, but I don’t let it show on my face.

“You have five minutes.” My father huffs. “We don’t want to keep your sister's new husband waiting.”

“Of course.” Anastasia beams. “It won’t take long.”

Nodding, my father looks from me to Anastasia and back before finally leaving.

For a moment, Anastasia doesn’t speak as she continues to watch my father’s retreating figure. Only once he is far enough away for her liking does she turn her gaze toward mine.

“Now,” she says happily. “You’re getting married, so you should certainly stay away from my Alexander.”

Her Alexander. As the words leave her lips, I look at the man himself, who is staring at me with an unreadable expression on his face. When I continue to hold his gaze, a growl of anger escapes Anastasia.

“Alexander!” She snaps, drawing his attention to herself. “Tell her!”

“Yes,” I agree, wanting to hear the words from his lips so that I can have some sort of closure after such a miserable experience. “Tell me.”

Growing quiet, I wait as Alexander continues to look at me. From the look on his face, you would truly think that Anastasia was twisting his arm behind his back. It is clear that he is torn, which just makes all of this that much worse.

Why? If he was so fucking miserable about the way things were turning out, why did he cheat on me and choose my sister in the end?

“Go on.” I urge him, feeling what is left of my heart shattering while icy tendrils flow through my veins. “We don’t have all night for you to wish me luck in my marriage.”

Maybe I was being petty and trying to get him to show even more emotion, but I was hurting, and I didn’t want to be the only one who was feeling this way. Maybe if he wasn’t showing that damn expression while Anastasia clung to him, this would be easier.

“I’m sorry.” He says, not giving me any sort of explanation. “This is how things are.”

“Alright.” I say quietly. “Then please break up with me properly.”

At my words, Alexander’s eyes grow wide, and Anastasia’s smirk of satisfaction grows even more.

“Alexander.” She says, nudging him with her hip. “You heard Denali, you should properly break up with her so that she leaves with no attachments.”

No attachments. Ha! She was speaking like I had no attachment to Emerald Moon. But I guess she was right; since my mother died, I truly didn’t have any attachments to the pack anymore.

“I’m sorry, Denali.” Alexander begins. “This is how things are, so I truly wish you nothing but happiness in the future.”

“Right.” I chuckle. “Thanks for that.”

Since there is now nothing else keeping me in place, I turn and head out of the house where my future husband’s butler is waiting. When he spots me, he pulls a pocket watch out of his pocket, peeks at it, and then closes it again.

“About time.” He huffs, not bothering to hide his annoyance. “Let’s get going.”

“Sorry.” I murmur, making my way down the drive, but stopping as my father bursts out of the packhouse and makes his way toward me.

“Denali!” He calls, only prolonging this whole thing even longer. “Wait.”

“Yes?” I ask, turning and waiting as he closes the distance between us. “Did you forget to tell me something?”

“Don’t you dare attempt to run away or try to force a divorce. If you so much as step out of line, don’t forget what will happen.”

“I understand.” I say, knowing that he would stick to his word. “You don’t need to remind me.”

“Good.” He says in satisfaction. “Then get the hell out of here.”

Opening my mouth, I feel the need to argue, to tell him what I truly feel, to finally unleash all the pain and anger I’m feeling, but I don’t. Instead, I snap my mouth shut and turn, tucking tail, then climb into the car that is waiting for me.

The ride to my new home, where my future husband is waiting for me, is silent, and when we arrive, I’m forcefully pulled from the car.

“This way.” My ever-stoic guide announces leading the way.

Keeping my gaze fixed on the enormous building in front of me, I can’t help but feel a chill race down my spine. Now that I was actually here, and the wedding was happening, my fear and anxiety were growing.

“Don’t dawdle.” The man in front of me snaps, pulling open the door to the packhouse. “Haven’t you already wasted enough time while my master has waited?”

I don’t bother responding to his question since I already know that he isn’t looking for an answer, anyway.

“My apologies.”

“Hmph.”

After giving me a look that screams loathing, the man continues to move until we reach our destination.

“He’s just inside.” He announces, stepping aside. “Please, head in.”

Feeling my heart drop, I reach out a shaky hand and pull open the door in front of me. So what seems to be a small cathedral appears, and standing at the very front of it is who I can only assume is my husband.

“Go.” My guide snaps, placing a hand on my back and shoving. “Do not keep Alpha waiting!”

Gasping, I feel myself stumble, tripping over my own feet, and then fall so that I land painfully on my knees.

Flushing in embarrassment, I try to ignore the snickers that sound around me from the few who are present for what I can only assume is my wedding.

“Get up.” My future husband growls, his powerful aura pressing against me. “And get your ass up here.”

As his voice echoes around the area, the urge to run hits me, but I fight it, getting to my feet and then fixing my gaze straight ahead.

Swallowing down the fear that is consuming me, I move toward my new future.