Chapter 2

Hailey's POV

"Ahh!" I woke up to Luna, my stepmother screaming.

I was so frightened that my eyes popped open immediately. And I looked beneath the sheets and found myself naked.

She had just walked into my room and found Vickson and me naked.

I looked beside me and saw Vickson by my side. He was still fast asleep.

I turned to look at Luna's face, and I knew that I was in so much trouble.

"How could you do this to your sister Hailey? He is her mate. I know you loved him, but you are wrong," she blamed me as if I had come to his room.

She didn't even bother to ask me how or why we were in such a position.

"Luna, it's not what it looks like. He came to me." I tried to explain myself to her, but the look of disappointment on her face showed that no matter the explanation, I would still be found guilty.

"What kind of stupid excuse is that? And what exactly do you think it looks like?" She asked me, and I bit my lower lip in shame. I couldn't even look her in the eyes. She must have been so disappointed in me.

"After everything I did for you, why can't you just respect his wishes?" She asked me, almost breaking down in tears.

"Please don't tell her," I pleaded with Luna.

I knew how Ava was going to react. She already hates me and feels that I have taken everything that belongs to her, including her parents.

If Luna tells her about us, then Ava is surely going to kill me. She won't spare me.

"Can you hear yourself?" She asked me, and I looked away from her.

"I am going to tell your sister right now," she told me, and I dashed out of the room.

"Get up." I kept on tapping Vickson so that he would get out of bed.

My whole body was shaking in so much fear that I swallowed hard, unwillingly.

"What's wrong with you?" He got up, yelling at me.

I wonder how he managed to sleep so peacefully when Luna was screaming like that.

"Luna saw us like this," I told him, climbing out of bed.

"So?" He asked nonchalantly, and I was shocked.

How can he not be scared?

"Hailey!" Ava barged into my room, screaming.

"How dare you betray me? I always knew you were going to be trouble for me." She screamed, and as she came at me, she began to throw her hands at me.

I held up the duvet, using it to cover myself, while I kept avoiding her.

Hiding behind Vickson, I kept running around the room.

"Stop it, Ava. "I'm sorry, please just stop." Vickson tried to hold her back, but she was beyond his control.

She managed to free herself from his grip.

She jumped on me and gave me a slap across the face.

"How dare you try to snatch Vickson away from me? Do you think you can take him away from me you fool?" She scolded me. I rubbed my palm on my red cheeks, tears in my eyes.

I began to sob. Where was I at fault?

"I tried to stop him, but he didn't want to stop Ava." I defended myself.

"I don't care. It doesn't matter how much you try. I am never going to leave Vickson," Ava declared firmly.

How did things get to this point? How did I begin to compete with my stepsister for the man I loved the most?

"Well, listen up everyone. We will go with the wedding as planned. Let's just assume this did not–" Alpha Vickson's words were hijacked by Ava who smiled with joy.

"None of this happened, girl." Ava snapped her fingers crossed my face while my stepmother nodded.

"You are truly an Alpha. Thank you for not disappointing us. Others cannot get to know about this." My stepmother added before turning to me.

I had never heard Vickson talk in such a tone before; he sounded so cold and without any emotions just like last night. I swallowed hard.

"Luna?" I questioned.

"Shut up; I refuse to let you bring shame to me." She snapped and sent me a slap that almost made me lose my balance.

"Did you not hear the Alpha?! You just wasted your virginity, you idiot.''

"I will Marry Ava as I've said earlier." Alpha Vickson took his shirt and avoided my eyes. "Now if you will excuse me, I have an important meeting to attend to."

"As for you, Hailey! I won't have you be another threat to my daughter! Leave and never come back!" Luna declared as she made her way out of the room.

My step-sister looked at me and laughed mischievously. "Bitch!" She cursed and left the room before she shot back "Make sure you leave and never come back!" By the time they were gone, I crashed on the floor and wept my eyes out questioning the moon goddess about what I had done wrong to deserve this life.

******

I wandered into the woods, living on my own without anyone to cater for me. It has been a roller coaster as I started to do some research as to when my step-sister was going to have her wedding. Finally, I heard from a passerby in the market that it was scheduled to take place in a month's time. Days went by so quickly, and it was my step-sister's wedding day already.

Deep down, I felt a rage burning within me that my step-sister was getting married to Vickson, even though he was in love with me–how callous of him.

I wanted to stay back but another part of me wanted to attend the wedding party and to also see Vickson for the blast time. I put on the cloth I had already bought for the wedding ceremony and got myself a nose mask. I put on my overflowing velvety gown and my slip-on and gently headed for the wedding. With my heart thudding faster I took a seat amongst the congregations and thanked the goddess for my mask, neither Ava nor My stepmother recognized me.

"Do you, Vickson Jack, accept Ava Baldwin as your lawfully wedded wife and mate till death do you part?" The priest asked, and I watched Ava look at Vickson with a huge smile on her face.

"Yes, I do," he replied nonchalantly, as if he were being forced.

"Do you, Ava Baldwin, accept Vickson Jack as your lawfully wedded husband and mate, till death do you part?" The priest asked my stepsister who looked at Vickson with a smile still on her face.

"Yes, I do." I couldn't help but notice her excitement.

"You may kiss the bride," the priest instructed.

My heart was just boiling with anger. I could see her face redden as Vickson lifted her veil and was about to kiss her on the lips when he stopped abruptly and looked back at the crowd with his gaze finally settling on mine.

'Wait a minute. Can he sense me?' I thought to myself as I knocked my sweaty palms together.

He frowned his face and gently pecked Ava on the cheeks while everyone applauded them.

A tear escaped from my eyes when I began to hear the murmurs coming from the guests. "The bride is so fine." I heard one compliment while Ava was lost amongst the crowd who were greeting and congratulating her.

I saw the way Vickson was eager to come to me but honestly, I don't know what is stopping him. Why he made the decision he made—it remains a mystery to me. I know something was behind his decision as to why he picked Ava over me. But I can't seem to wrap my head around it.

I wiped my tears and gently stood from among the crowd making my way out with tears dropping on my nose mask. I was about to leave the exit when a hand grabbed me and pulled me to a corner pinning my hand to the wall—Vickson.

"Let me go!" I whispered before he removed my nose mask.

"I knew it." He pulled me closer and I could hear his heart beat faster. "I'm sorry for the pain I caused you, Hailey. I didn't mean to…I…still…I still love you but…" he paused and gently reached out for my lips.

I wanted to say no.

I wanted to run away.

But I can't! I fucking can't!

I wrapped my hand around his neck and allowed his lips to explore mine. Unknown to us a maid was watching us from behind.

My eyes opened and saw her with a phone pointed at us and her flashlight entering our eyes.

Vickson took her phone in a flash and was about to delete the pictures, but it had already gone viral.

"Hailey!" I could hear Ava scream from the wedding hall.

"I'm in trouble." I cried out, staring at Vickson whose hand was already buried in the maid's neck.