Chapter 0033
Chapter 0033
Alexander’s POV
News of Ella’s kidnapping had remained mostly contained. Her father was working hard to ensure it, and I was doing my part to keep the rumors from spreading in my own pack
Rogue activity in the south was an issue that none of the Alphas wanted to admit they had lost control over. The fact that a Luna and an Alpha’s daughter had both been taken so easily would cause panic throughout the entire kingdom if word got out.
Still, it was a problem we Alphas had to address, and I knew without a doubt it would come up at the next council meeting
Focusing on the practical aspects of controlling the rumor mill gave me some relief from the anger the incident had brought out in me. It wasn’t just the brazenness of the rogues putting their hands on Ella and her mother- there was a more personal reason behind my anger.
But I couldn’t allow myself to focus too much on that. All that existed between Ella and me was a deal. I couldn’t let it become more than that. I had to stay in control of my feelings.
Even so, the thought of those rogues putting their filthy hands on her filled me with rage that was difficult to contain. When I found out who was responsible, they were going to regret their actions.
I would make sure of that.
Ella POV
Planning a wedding the second time around was easier, though still stressful. There were so many little details to think about–from the color of the napkins to what cocktails would be served, even down to the flowers on the bathroom counters.
This time, I simply had to recall what we’d done in the original timeline and repeat it. Although it wasn’t something I liked to dwell on, I had been so happy on our original wedding day, and it had all been a lie.
Thinking about it left me feeling foolish and heartbroken, but I couldn’t avoid it, as my second marriage to David
as fast approaching
The wedding was to be held in a large, old house owned by a relative of David’s, which meant working with members of his pack to plan it.
It was awkward, but it seemed like David, Amanda, and everyone else in the pack were pretending as though nothing strange had happened. I wasn’t even sure how many people knew about the kidnapping
David barely mentioned it, only offering an awkward apology for the fact that I’d been scared.
David was desperate for power–I was certain of that. The more time I spent in his pack lands, the clearer it became why. Despite the appearance David’s family tried to keep up, they were clearly struggling financially.
His mother’s once beautiful clothes were outdated, and his father’s expensive cars sat untouched in the garage because they couldn’t afford the fuel.
It was obvious how badly they needed my family’s money. To them, the wedding was an investment.
We were in a floral shop on David’s pack land, looking at flowers to decorate the wedding venue. David and Amanda were there, and aside from the guard my father had insisted accompany me due to the recent kidnapping, I was alone with them.
I wasn’t enjoying it, but I knew I had to appear invested in making these choices.
+25 BONUS
“These flowers would be good for the table décor,” David said, holding up a small bouquet of white and pink
carnations.
I made an exaggerated face of disgust and wrinkled my nose. “I hate them,” I said emphatically.
Amanda’s face twisted in annoyance at my snobbish attitude, while David’s expression fell. I knew he had chosen the carnations because they were cheap.
“I want roses,” I declared. “Red roses. A dozen on each table.”
“Isn’t that a bit much?” Amanda asked, clearly irritated.
“I’m only planning on getting married once,” I replied coolly. “I want it to be special. Red roses are the most romantic. Besides, after all of the scandals, we need to make sure that we make a grand show for the other packs. Our wedding has to overshadow all of the rumors.”
David and Amanda exchanged a look before he set the carnations back down. “Let’s keep looking,” he said. “The roses will be our backup plan. I bet we can find something more unique.”
“You love unique things,” Amanda muttered.
He walked away toward another row of cheap flowers, still determined to find something I would agree to, while I made my way toward the roses. Amanda followed at my heels, huffing in irritation. “You’re being so difficult,” she grumbled.
“Do you really think so?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said. “What’s your problem?”
I looked at her in disbelief. “Are you really asking me that after everything that you and David have put me through recently?
She looked at me with shock on her face.
I wasn’t sure why, but it did make me more suspicious that the kidnapping had been her plan. She had been so calm during the entire thing; it wasn’t until after our release was ordered by the mysterious man that she became upset and began to cry.
Plus, she had volunteered for me to be the one injured in order to get back at David for not showing up in time with the money.
She might have done that out of fear, but I knew better.
“What do you mean by that?” she asked.
“Your love confession at the restaurant!” I answered. “What else would I mean? Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was to have you hanging all over my fiance and declaring your love for him in front of all of those people?”
Amanda looked down at her feet and twisted her hands together nervously. “I didn’t mean that,” she said. just the hormones of my heat making me say it. I thought that you understood that.”
“How could I understand when we haven’t talked about it?” I asked. “You’ve acted like nothing happened and just expected me to move on. Even though I’ve tried, you’ve continued to do things that make you seem suspicious. You attended the banquet with David without telling me, and the two of you are still together all the time.” “We’re friends,” she answered, lifting her eyes to mine. “I promise you on my life, Ella, we’re only friends.”
I stared at her for a long time, waiting for her to show any sign that it was a lie. She looked completely serious.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0033
“These flowers would be good for the table décor,” David said, holding up a small bouquet of white and pink
camations.
1 made an exaggerated face of disgust and wrinkled my nose. “I hate them,” I said emphatically.
Amanda’s face twisted in annoyance at my snobbish attitude, while David’s expression fell. I knew he had chosen the carnations because they were cheap.
“I want roses,” I declared. “Red roses. A dozen on each table.”
“Isn’t that a bit much?” Amanda asked, clearly irritated.
“I’m only planning on getting married once,” 1 replied coolly. “I want it to be special. Red roses are the most romantic. Besides, after all of the scandals, we need to make sure that we make a grand show for the other packs. Our wedding has to overshadow all of the rumors.”
David and Amanda exchanged a look before he set the carnations back down. “Let’s keep looking,” he said. “The roses will be our backup plan. I bet we can find something more unique.”
“You love unique things,” Amanda muttered.
He walked away toward another row of cheap flowers, still determined to find something I would agree to, while I made my way toward the roses. Amanda followed at my heels, huffing in irritation. “You’re being so difficult,” she grumbled.
Do you really think so?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said. “What’s your problem?”
1 looked at her in disbelief. “Are you really asking me that after everything that you and David have put me through recently?”
She looked at me with shock on her face.
I wasn’t sure why, but it did make me more suspicious that the kidnapping had been her plan. She had been so calm during the entire thing, it wasn’t until after our release was ordered by the mysterious man that she became upset and began to cry.
Plus, she had volunteered for me to be the one injured in order to get back at David for not showing up in time with the money.
She might have done that out of fear, but I knew better.
“What do you mean by that?” she asked.
“Your love confession at the restaurant!” I answered. “What else would I mean? Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was to have you hanging all over my fiance and declaring your love for him in front of all of those people?”
Amanda looked down at her feet and twisted her hands together nervously. “I didn’t mean that,” she said. “It was just the hormones of my heat making me say it. I thought that you understood that.”
“How could I understand when we haven’t talked about it?” I asked. “You’ve acted like nothing happened and just expected me to move on. Even though I’ve tried, you’ve continued to do things that make you seem suspicious. You attended the banquet with David without telling me, and the two of you are still together all the time.”
“We’re friends,” she answered, lifting her eyes to mine. “I promise you on my life, Ella, we’re only friends.”
I stared at her for a long time, waiting for her to show any sign that it was a lie. She looked completely serious.
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Chapter 0033
+25 BONUS
I sighed. “I’ll try to believe that,” I said. Then I turned and walked after David.
It seemed that Amanda might be a better actress than I gave her credit for. At this moment, I saw no sign that she was lying to me, even though I knew what the truth was.
After spending the day working on wedding plans, I returned home.
Sitting in the backseat of the car, I messed around on my phone as we made the drive home. I had a few more things to take care of before the wedding day arrived, and it was approaching fast. Everything needed to stay on a
schedule.
tip
As I glanced at the calendar on my phone, I noticed I had the day after the wedding marked off.
Curious, I clicked on the date, trying to remember why I had noted it. My eyes went wide, and I couldn’t help but smile as the reminder popped up.
Reminder: Amanda’s birthday.
Chapter 0024
