Alpha Prince and His Replacement Bride

#9 You are Mine

Ivan's POV

When everyone left, I felt a weight crushing my soul. I wanted some cool air and a place to hide. So, I stayed back to drink to myself and my pitiful life. Mia's presence has affected me more than her absence. I was on my way to the peaceful lawn of the wedding venue when I heard a hotel staff telling the receptionist that they have found the wedding ring that Emma forgot. The receptionist informed him that Mia would be coming to get it soon. 

My heart raced just by hearing Mia's mere name. I was startled and overwhelmed. And in my stupidity, I asked the receptionist named Zenia to hand me over the ring. I also commanded her to inform Mia that I am in the hall's backyard without telling Mia that I had asked her to do so. 

It was a long wait, the longest perhaps. The time wasn't passing by as I waited for Mia to show up. I opened a bottle of whiskey that I was carrying along with me. I had an inner feeling that this whirlwind of stupidity was only going to get intense after what I did just now. I was afraid I do something like the night we kissed. But after few gulps of alcohol, I was beyond that reasoning as well. As the wait got more frustrating, I threw the overcoat to the grass below the stairs to get rid of some anger. 

I opened the ring boxes. I scoffed at what I was seeing. In one box, there was a heavy ring that screamed money and looked beyond uncomfortable. In another one, there was a subtle, elegant platinum band. I knew the latter was Mia's choice. She is the only one who had such tastes. 

I was anticipating if she would not come now. It was late. I was talking to the stars about my pity life when I heard the sound of heels clicking. My heart raced a bit as the familiar human smell washed over my nose. But this time, it had a hint of mint wrapped up with it. She pushed the half-opened door. Perhaps she wanted to run away, but after a long moment, she sat beside me. 

My heart was racing against me. I was worried if I won't be able to control my emotions that were all over the place. My heart and my mind were in constant battle throughout our conversation. Under the influence of alcohol or the pressure to release the frustration, I foolishly asked her if she cared about me. And simply to make my point, I had to confront her about the ring as well. I wish I could take it back, but my mouth kept speaking about it in a loop like a retard. And then I heard her expressing something bold that broke most of my resolve. 

"What if I chose it? What if I care? You are still marrying Emma. It changes nothing." Mia seethed. 

Her words had a more profound effect on me than I could explain. It made my heart flutter and confused at the same time. I wanted the time to freeze. I also wished to run away from here before I did something wild, like our first kiss. But I stayed glued to my place, inching towards Mia. She swallowed hard but didn't move away, giving me a fair idea that she and I were on the same page for once, wanting the same thing. 

The last time we kissed, I had to leave the subsequent morning because of some concern that needed our urgent attention. We never had time to talk. Mia thought I ignored her. When I returned for her eighteenth birthday, I wanted to discuss it with Mia to find out more. But, she left the party abruptly, and that was the last I saw of her. This time, I did not want to avoid it. No matter what.

I closed the distance between us. My breath had gotten erratic and loud. The closer I got to Mia, the more her mint and chocolate smell got stronger. My wolf purred when she closed her eyes, gripping my shirt, breathing heavily. It took years of dread and longing to be where we are. I was determined to go back and explain to everyone how I want Mia and Emma after this kiss. My wolf agreed with joy. The whole world evaporated around me as I closed my eyes to steal that kiss, not willing to waste time any longer.

I had merely brushed Mia's cherry-blossom soft lips when someone or some imbecile she-wolf screamed, tumbling upon the staircase. Even if she slipped, she could not be discreet. She had to shriek and grab Mia's attention. Mia gasped, putting a distance between us. She covered her mouth with both of her hands, startled after realizing what we would have done if that she-wolf had not barged in. She muttered some unintelligible words, grabbing the ring boxes and shoving them inside her bag before attending to the wolf, who was still squealing on the floor. 

"I am sorry! I didn't mean to startle. I came to check if the alpha prince needed something." Zenia kept apologizing. I scoffed. I had everything needed until she decided to check on me. 

But Mia had other opinions. Like always! How do I feel so attracted to someone so opposite? Am I destined to be doomed? After a day, Mia might be my sister-in-law. Everything between Mia and me is forbidden, yet I feel drawn to her like a firefly to fire.

"Are you alright, Zenia?" Mia attended to her, more concerned about Zenia than me or the kiss we missed. It irritated me, but her concern towards Zenia made me stunned. It was weird how she knew the name of that omega wolf. Now that I looked clearly at Zenia, I found that she was the receptionist. 

"She is bleeding. Ivan, get me some first aid." Mia glared at me. It baffled me how she had that effect on me. She was calling me by the first name in front of an omega wolf. 

"Zenia is a wolf. She will heal." I scoffed. My mood was spoiled, and I held Zenia responsible. Perhaps, she deserved it. But Mia glowered at me as her eyebrows furrowed in anger. 

"What?" I hooted. 

"She is an omega. She won't heal like us." Mia scorned, taking her handkerchief to help Zenia. Zenia was quick to pull her leg, but Mia was more stubborn. Mia glared back, telling me with her eyes to get the first aid. I knew it was my cue to get it without disappointing the great Mia anymore. 

When I returned, Mia was attending to Zenia's wound on her toe. I was surprised that she was still healing at such a slow pace. I had never been around omega's much to know that they did not recover that fast. As I handed over the first aid box to Mia, I wondered what else I don't know. I was so busy being a prince that my circle expected me to become that I forgot about my subjects. I looked at Mia in awe. I knew she was kind beneath her arrogance. But seeing her tending to someone's toe was beyond me.

 Zenia was afraid that a higher-rank wolf had to do that. It terrified her that she might have to lose her job if someone found out. But Mia ignored her apprehensions. After applying ointment and something that Mia carried in her bag, Zenia started recovering at a faster rate. I was curious about the other ingredient. But I kept it to myself for now.

When Zenia was finally able to walk, she bowed, willing to leave. But I stopped her. She had seen us almost kissing. If the word got out, it would bring havoc. So, I sternly threatened her to keep her mouth shut. Zenia was smart despite her dumb look. She left, leaving the two of us alone again. 

Mia grabbed her belonging, following Zenia as if nothing had happened between us a while ago. I grunted at her audacity, brushing my hair. I groaned with anger. But as her retreating figure disappeared, the pain of separation became too much. I scoffed, stomping my foot. I followed her like a hopeless, love-struck puppy. It baffled me how Mia Hemming had me, the alpha prince wrapped around her little finger. But I wanted to talk about what happened between us. She was willing to have that kiss a moment ago. So why was she trying to ignore my existence? Is it because I am about to marry Emma? Then we need to discuss this more urgently because we don't have much time left.

I was able to catch Mia when she was just in front of the car, ready to leave. The driver tried not to seem interested, but I could tell it surprised him to see me barge like that and Mia yelling back at me. But she sighed quickly, realizing it was too much to shout at the alpha prince in front of a driver. So, she agreed to talk with me at some distance. I could feel the glowering eyes of the driver on us, but I was going to ignore it for now.

"Why would you do something like that?" Mia heaved, folding her hands against her chest. For a while, I wondered who was the alpha prince. 

"You can't run away from what happened!" I groaned back. 

"You aren't even drunk like you pretended to be." Mia squeaked. 

"I was never drunk. But if it takes to get drunk to have this discussion, I am willing to drink the entire bar." I shrieked. It was weird how we both kept talking like we loathed each other. But deep down, those emotions were killing me. I wanted to hold her in arms, taste those luscious lips, and sweet-talk to her.

Mia let out a long breath, closing her eyes. When she opened them, she had an odd calmness in them, as if she had turned cold just like that. She stared into my eyes and said in a rather composed and clear voice, "Ivan, technically, it is past twelve, so you would be marrying Emma tomorrow. Focus on your bride, then me. What we had a moment ago was a mistake. Possibly, it was because we had not seen each other for years. Forget about it. I will return after everything is over, and you will never have to see me again. Just pretend like you can't see me for the remaining couple of days. You and I are not possible. I hate you, and I am no fool to think it is not vice versa." 

Mia did not wait to see me or hear me out. She just ran from there as if her dear life depended on it. I stood there baffled, rejected, and lost. I hated her more than ever as the distance between us increased. No one had ever repudiated me before. And this was outrageous. My heart churned as I felt a profound pain in my body. I dropped down as I screamed in fury as her car moved farther away from me.

"I will not let this pass like nothing, Mia Hemming. I will not! You are mine." I whispered to myself.