36 Chapter 36 Wedding Bells Ring
35
Elena’s POV 1
Victor looked absolutely wrecked after spending the night locked up in the dungeon. His usually pristine appearance was completely destroyed – hair matted, clothes wrinkled and stained, with dark circles under his bloodshot eyes. I supposed they hadn’t exactly rolled out the red carpet for him down there.
I positioned myself at the back of the gathering crowd, watching as Marcus took control of the situation with the natural authority that made him such a respected Alpha. When he spoke, his voice carried across the assembled pack members with unwavering confidence. He formally accused Victor of sexual assault, but I noticed something that made my chest tighten with gratitude – he never once mentioned my name. He kept me completely anonymous, protecting my identity from the curious stares and whispered gossip that would inevitably follow.
–
“I, Alpha Marcus Hawthorne, sentence you to years in prison,” Marcus declared with finality.
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, their relief palpable. But as I scanned the faces around me, I spotted several young women whose reactions seemed more intense than simple satisfaction at justice being served. A few were actually crying, their expressions holding a mixture of relief and what looked like personal vindication. The realization hit me like a cold wave – they might have been Victor’s previous victims. The thought made my stomach churn, but it also explained why Marcus’s swift action felt so necessary and right.
The pack warriors moved efficiently, flanking Victor as they prepared to escort him to the town jail. As they led him away, I found myself turning toward the packhouse steps, trying to process everything that had just happened. That’s when Viviana emerged from the building, moving with her usual calculated grace to stand directly beside
Marcus.
“It’s about time we started cleaning up that kind of trash around here,” she announced to the crowd, her voice carrying just the right note of righteous indignation.
The pack members cheered again, clearly approving of their future Luna’s stance. But I remained frozen in place, studying Marcus’s profile as he stood there accepting their adulation. He hadn’t spotted me yet in the crowd, and I was grateful for that small
36 Chapter 36 Wedding Bells Ring
mercy. I couldn’t risk getting too close to him right now, not when my emotions were such a tangled mess and I had no idea what game he was playing.
Questions swirled through my mind like a tornado. Was he simply waiting for the perfect moment to end things with Viviana? Maybe he needed to ensure that whatever business deal he had with her uncle went through smoothly before he could break their engagement? There had to be some logical explanation for this impossible
situation.
I’d heard countless stories about Marcus’s reputation before Viviana entered the picture. He’d never been the type to form emotional attachments or spend entire nights with women. His approach had always been straightforward and detached – satisfy his physical needs and leave immediately afterward. No lingering, no cuddling, no breakfast in the morning. But he’d stayed the entire night with me. He’d held me, talked to me, promised we’d see each other again today.
2
Those memories felt like they belonged to a different lifetime now.
The sound of footsteps drew my attention as Beta Hugo emerged from the packhouse, taking his position on Marcus’s other side. His expression was grave, almost grim, as he surveyed the celebrating crowd. But there was something distant in his gaze, like he was looking through everyone.
“You shouldn’t be here, Elena.”
I jumped slightly as Jett appeared beside me seemingly out of nowhere. His voice was low and urgent, filled with a warning I didn’t understand.
“What are you talking about? What’s going on?” I whispered back, confusion evident in my voice.
“Trust me. You shouldn’t be here,” he repeated, his eyes darting between me and the scene unfolding on the packhouse steps.
But I couldn’t look away from Marcus, even as Viviana draped herself over him with possessive familiarity. Her hands roamed across his chest and shoulders like she was marking her territory for everyone to see.
“Alright everyone, settle down. We still have something important to share with you,” Viviana called out, her voice practically vibrating with excitement.
She gazed up at Marcus with a smile so radiant it could have powered the entire packhouse. Marcus returned the expression, but his smile seemed forced, lacking the
36 Chapter 36 Wedding Bells Ring
genuine warmth I’d seen from him just hours earlier.
“We have wonderful news to announce. Alpha Marcus and I are getting married! I’m going to be your Luna!” Viviana’s voice rose to an almost shriek of pure joy.
The words hit me like a physical blow. My chest constricted so violently I couldn’t breathe, while Tara went absolutely wild inside my head. She was clawing and snarling, her rage and pain mixing with my own until I thought my skull might split open from the pressure.
Jett’s strong hands caught me just as my knees buckled, preventing me from collapsing completely onto the ground. I pressed my palms against my temples, desperately trying to regain control over both myself and my wolf. When Tara finally settled enough for me to think clearly again, I lifted my head to find Marcus staring directly at
His expression was unlike anything I’d ever seen from him before – eyes wide with what looked unmistakably like fear. Not the confident Alpha who’d just delivered justice, but a man caught in a situation spiraling beyond his control.
“We’re throwing a celebration party right now, and the entire pack is invited!” Viviana announced triumphantly.
The crowd around me exploded into cheers and congratulations, but all I could focus on was Marcus’s stricken face as we locked eyes across the distance. The connection lasted only seconds, but it felt like an eternity of shared pain and impossible
circumstances.
I pushed away from Jett’s supportive grip and spun around, my legs carrying me away from the packhouse as fast as they could manage. I ran blindly back toward the trailer, back to the place where I truly belonged, leaving behind the celebration and the man who’d just shattered my heart into a million pieces.
