Eighteen

Remus.

The moment I caught wind of the changes, my stomach churned with anger. I'd been trying my best to stay calm today, to keep everything under control for Rhea's sake, but hearing about the flowers being switched and her dress going missing... it was the last straw. My mother had crossed a line, and I knew this had her fingerprints all over it.

I stormed down the hallway, my footsteps echoing with purpose. My mind raced, replaying everything that had happened over the past few weeks—how my mother had been scheming, twisting situations to her favor, all to undermine Rhea. She'd never been subtle, but today? Today she had gone too far.

I found her near the venue, standing by the entrance like she hadn't just caused a disaster. She wore that innocent smile, the one she used when she thought she could get away with something. But I wasn't fooled. I never was.

"Mother," I said sharply, my voice carrying an edge I didn't bother to hide.

She turned to me, her smile softening, acting like nothing was wrong. "Remus, darling, what's the matter? You look upset."

I clenched my fists, my jaw tight. "The flowers," I started, barely able to contain the anger simmering under the surface. "And now Rhea's dress? You think I don't know who's behind this?"

Her eyes widened slightly, but she quickly recovered, placing a hand on her chest like she was shocked. "I'm not sure what you mean, son. The flowers? I thought they needed a touch of elegance, something more... appropriate for the occasion. And as for the dress, surely there's been some misunderstanding—"

"Cut the act," I interrupted, my voice low but dangerous. "I know you, Mother. You've been trying to sabotage this wedding from the beginning. Don't act like you don't know exactly what you're doing."

She blinked at me, her expression cool, composed, but there was a flicker in her eyes—just a moment of realization that I wasn't backing down. "Remus, please, don't be so dramatic. I'm only looking out for you. I know what's best, and Rhea—well, she's not the Luna I envisioned for you. I was just trying to... help."

"Help?" I repeated, incredulity washing over me. "You call this helping? You've done nothing but undermine her since day one! She deserves better than this—better than you treating her like she's a mistake!"

Her face hardened, her usual softness slipping as she straightened, the real woman behind the façade showing. "You think you know what's best, Remus, but you don't. I've run this pack for years. I know what's at stake. Rhea is... she's not what we need."

"And I'm not my father," I shot back, stepping closer. "I won't let you control me the way you controlled him. I'm the Alpha now, and Rhea is going to be my Luna tonight, whether you like it or not."

She flinched at that, the mention of my father clearly striking a nerve. I could see the way her jaw clenched, her hands tightening at her sides. But she wasn't backing down either. "You don't understand, Remus. Everything I've done has been to protect this pack, to protect you. Rhea is a distraction. She'll make you weak—"

"Rhea makes me stronger," I growled, cutting her off. "And if you think for one second that I'm going to let you ruin this day for her, you're sorely mistaken."

For a moment, we stood there, locked in a silent battle of wills. My heart was pounding in my chest, anger surging through my veins. I couldn't believe that even now, on my wedding day, my mother still couldn't let go of her control. It was always about what she wanted, what she thought was best.

She lifted her chin, her expression one of cold resolve. "I'm only trying to ensure the future of this pack, Remus. You're blinded by your emotions. One day, you'll see I was right."

"I'm done with your games," I said, taking a step back, my voice icy. "This is Rhea's Day. If you do anything else to sabotage it, you'll regret it."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't respond. She thought she could still manipulate me, still control the situation. But I wasn't the boy who used to follow her orders without question anymore. I had my own life to live now, my own decisions to make.

Without another word, I turned and walked away, leaving her standing there. My anger was still boiling beneath the surface, but I couldn't let it consume me.

All I wanted right now was to see Rhea. I needed to know how she was holding up with all the chaos that my mother and Tessa had stirred up. But of course, tradition stood in the way. "No seeing the bride before the ceremony," they all reminded me. It was maddening, but I had to respect it. I sighed heavily and turned on my heel, heading back to my room. It was time to get ready anyway. I couldn't let the day's madness affect my focus.

As I entered my room, I found Dante already there, busy with some last-minute tasks. He was sorting through a bunch of papers and texting furiously on his phone. The guy was always working. He looked up as I walked in, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Guests are already arriving, Alpha. You've got less than an hour before you need to be at the front of the aisle," Dante said, not missing a beat. His words snapped me out of my thoughts, reminding me that despite the drama, today was still about one thing—marrying Rhea.

"An hour?" I repeated, feeling the pressure start to mount. I had so many things running through my mind, but I needed to stay focused. Today wasn't just any day. Today was the day I got to call Rhea my wife and my Luna.

"Yeah," Dante confirmed, glancing at his watch. "Time's ticking. We need to get you into that suit before your mom tries to pull any more stunts."

I exhaled sharply and nodded, walking over to the suit laid out for me on the bed. It was sharp, a perfect blend of dark navy and black, tailored to perfection. It was the kind of suit you wear when you're about to commit to something monumental. Marrying Rhea was that and more.

I slipped on the crisp white shirt, my fingers feeling slightly clumsy as I buttoned it up. My thoughts kept drifting back to her—how beautiful she must look right now, how nervous she must be. I hoped she wasn't letting the flowers or the dress get to her. I wanted her to feel like today was hers, no matter what obstacles were thrown our way.

Dante, ever the practical one, stepped in and helped me with the cufflinks. "You good?" he asked, sensing my tension.

"Yeah, just... thinking about everything," I muttered, my mind still on Rhea. "I don't want anything to ruin this day for her."

"She's strong, Alpha. She'll handle it," Dante said, his voice reassuring. "Besides, you've got bigger things to focus on—like standing in front of that aisle and not losing your cool when she walks down."

A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips. "You're right."

I slid on the vest next, the sleek fabric fitting snugly around my chest. Dante handed me my jacket, and I slipped it on.

"You look sharp," Dante remarked, stepping back to give me a once-over. "Rhea's going to lose her mind when she sees you."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "I hope so."

Dante handed me a tie, and I carefully looped it around my neck. My hands were steadier now, the act of getting ready calming some of my earlier nerves.

This was it.

The moment I'd been waiting for, despite all the chaos leading up to it. I tightened the knot, smoothing it down before looking at myself in the mirror. The suit was flawless, but the reflection staring back at me was more than just a guy in a suit

"Alright," Dante said, clapping me on the back, "let's get you down there."

I took a deep breath, nodding. "Let's do this."

As we made our way to the venue, my mind raced with a blend of anticipation and nerves. The hallway felt longer than usual, and each step brought me closer to that moment—the moment Rhea and I would become one.

We reached the entrance of the ceremony venue, and I paused, taking one last deep breath. Dante stood beside me, his presence grounding. "You've got this," he said quietly, giving me a firm nod.

I nodded back, my heart pounding in my chest. I could already hear the soft murmur of the guests outside, the faint sound of music beginning to play.

I shortly, I stood at the front of the aisle, The pastor was by my side, and so were a few of my groomsmen, but it was Dante, my best man, who stood closest. I tried to focus, to keep my cool, but knowing that Rhea would soon walk down this aisle towards me made it nearly impossible to stay composed.

As the music began to play softly, my eyes immediately turned toward the back of the room. The large double doors slowly swung open, and there she was—Rhea.

My heart nearly stopped.

She looked stunning, more beautiful than I had ever seen her before. I almost didn't notice that the dress she was wearing wasn't the original one that she had picked out. But none of that mattered now. Her smile, radiant and glowing, made everything else fade away.

Her veil was thin enough that I could see her eyes clearly, and the way they shone made me feel like I was the luckiest man alive. She was beaming with joy, her smile so wide and pure that I felt myself getting choked up.

As Rhea slowly made her way down the aisle, it was like everything else melted away. The decorations, the guests, even the slight nerves I had felt earlier. All I could see was her, every step bringing her closer to me, her dress flowing elegantly behind her. Each second felt like an eternity and yet passed too quickly. The moment she reached me, I could hardly breathe.

I reached for her hand as she came to stand in front of me, her fingers slipping into mine perfectly, like they belonged there. For a second, I forgot where we were, forgot about the guests, the pastor, even Dante at my side. All I could focus on was her, standing in front of me with a look that told me she was just as excited and nervous as I was.

As the pastor began the ceremony, I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her smile was infectious, and seeing it made my heart swell with more love than I thought possible.

Just as the pastor asked us to exchange our vows, I heard a gasp from the audience. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement—Tessa. She let out a dramatic sigh and collapsed to the floor, drawing attention away from the altar. The ceremony was halted immediately, and people rushed toward her. I felt my stomach twist. Of course, it had to be Tessa.

I looked at Rhea, her eyes no longer shining with the same joy but with disturbance and suspicion. She knew as well as I did that Tessa was faking this.

She wasn't the type to faint, but she was exactly the type to pull a stunt like this to draw attention to herself. I could feel the rigidity rise in the room, whispers circulating among the guests, all eyes on Tessa lying dramatically on the floor.

For a split second, I felt my anger flare, but I didn't want this moment to be ruined by her antics. I wasn't going to let her take this away from us. Tightening my grip on Rhea's hand, I turned to the pastor and spoke firmly, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Continue," I said, my voice leaving no room for argument. I could feel Rhea's hand squeeze mine in gratitude, and I gave her a small smile. This was our day, not Tessa's.

"But, Alpha..." Dante whispered cautiously, his eyes flicking toward the scene unfolding behind us.

"I said continue," I repeated, my voice even more resolute this time. I wasn't going to let her, or anyone else, steal this moment from us.

The pastor looked tentative for a moment but then nodded. He cleared his throat and continued the ceremony, and just like that, the focus shifted back to where it should've been all along—on me and Rhea. Tessa was still being "attended to" by a few guests, but the rest of the crowd had turned their attention back to us.

I gazed into Rhea's eyes again, the warmth in her smile returning. Despite the madness, despite the interruption, the love between us was unshakable. I could see it in the way she looked at me, in the way her hand never left mine.

As the pastor spoke the final words, asking for our vows, I took a deep breath and spoke from my heart, knowing this moment was all that mattered. "Rhea, from the moment I met you, I knew you were meant for me. Today, I vow to stand by your side, to protect you, to cherish you. No matter what, nothing will ever come between us."

I could see tears welling up in her eyes as she softly began her own vows, her voice trembling slightly but full of emotion.

"Remus, you have shown me love, strength, and kindness in ways I never imagined. Today, I promise to be your partner, your support, and your strength. I promise to love you, no matter what life throws our way."

As the pastor pronounced us husband and wife, I pulled her closer, wrapping my arms around her as I leaned in for our first kiss as a married couple. The cheers from the crowd were loud, but in that moment, all I could hear was the sound of my own heart, beating in perfect rhythm with hers.

No one—not Tessa, not my mother, no one—was going to take this away from us. Today was ours.