Alpha Prince and His Replacement Bride

#5 The Rehearsal Dinner

Ivan's POV

It was frustrating how Mia ran away again. Despite her blunt attitude and straightforwardness, she was someone who runs from a situation than facing it. I have hated it the most. When we were kids, she used to be stubborn and fight back. A few even called her a biter. But as we grew, she started avoiding everything. I am unsure how and when it changed, but as time passed by, Mia became colder and meaner. She confined herself, only to burst out at all wrong places.

In her arrogance, she treated me the worst. She blamed me for everything that went wrong. She looked me in the eye and despised me as if everything she thought was wrong was my doing. Even if it was, I could never accept that disrespect and stubbornness. I am the alpha prince. She is the youngest daughter of the Bloodmoon pack. Not like she was going to be the next alpha or something. Because of her tenacity and selfishness, I was sure she would not be even a Luna or gamma of a substantial pack. But one fine day, she disappeared from our lives. She ran away rather than proving us, proving me wrong. And she did it again after telling me how much she hates me.

Well, the feeling is mutual. I have never despised anyone more. I can't even stand Mia most of the time. But why am I feeling so empty when she isn't around? Where is she? She had disappeared for the entire day. Now I am wondering if she will miss the rehearsal dinner as well. I doubted if she again ran to her human city like a coward.

My family had already arrived at lunchtime. My mother, Ursula, and the Luna of Bloodmoon pack Clara Hemming are childhood friends. So, they shared a special bond. So, it was natural for my mother to overlook any mishap. She was excited about the union the most. But when my father, Marcus Black, the alpha king of werewolves, complimented the Bloodmoon pack and Tristan, I felt assured. He has high expectations and not someone who could be easily pleased.

It is not like my father was fond of Emma. He felt she lacked the fire that a Luna should have to rule beside. But he believed Emma is the best choice from the lot we had and that my mother can guide her because she had the rest of the qualities fitted for a Luna. Since Emma was not my mate and he had his apprehensions, he came up with the contract. I instantly liked it because it gave me the independence to work and an option to keep looking for my mate. The truth is, I am a lone wolf who pretends to get along, but I like to work as an individual. I am very particular and prefer to keep things as it is. I am not very welcoming towards unnecessary changes. So, less interference from Emma suited my taste. Also, my mother was particularly interested because Emma was most eligible and the daughter of her friend.

As I entered the hall for the rehearsal dinner with my sister Isabella and her husband Danny Greybeard, my eyes naturally wandered to search for Mia when I should have been looking for Emma. I knew it was wrong. But I just could not help it. It's not like anyone could find it. In the front, I always look blank and cold-hearted. A future alpha king should never look very approachable. I was taught well from a very young age to control my emotions and not get driven by them like Mia.

"Where is Emma?" Isabella whispered, looking for my bride everywhere. I was secretly glad because she reminded me why I was here. I let out a deep breath, adjusted my tie and coat a bit to shrug off Mia from my mind. That girl always had a way to capture my mind, even if she wasn't around.

"She had informed that she might be late from the parlor," I replied.

"How delusional! Does she think she is already the alpha queen? How can she keep the guests waiting in her rehearsal dinner?" Isabella scoffed. Well, she had always been judgemental and quick to make impressions.

Isabella was the most prejudiced towards Mia. Mia, Emma, and I had to accompany her to buy the wedding ring for Danny. She was looking for a heavy wedding ring. I had no interest, so I was wandering, passing my time while flirting with a few part-timers. It was then I overheard Mia nagging to Emma how she was unsure why anyone would prefer a heavy and uncomfortable ring on their finger for their entire life. A wedding ring should be comfortable and simple while full of love, like how the relationship should be between the two people marrying.

Later, when Isabella asked me what I would prefer, I found myself repeating Mia's words. It was strange that her words made such an impact on me that day. I still have not forgotten it. I looked at my finger, wrapping it in a fist, as I scoffed. I was confident that the ring that the Hemmings would have bought would be extravagant and uncomfortable. Thomas and Gerard would never settle for anything plain and simple.

I had barely entered the hall when Emma entered. She smiled at me brightly, and I returned her a smile of my own. It was more of a formality. She walked towards me elegantly as if we were madly in love. I had to keep up the act so that the guests would not find out the reality. It was all an act until my heart went numb before a sudden thump when I saw Mia following Emma.

Mia was wearing a light pink laced, schiffli wrap dress that hugged her sculpted figure well. It was the most modest dress for the night, but she dazzled in my eyes. She had kept her hair open. Her naturally wavy hair suited her heart-shaped face. A pair of arched, thick, shapely eyebrows looked down on all-embracing eyelashes. As she blinked, looking at the guests uncomfortably, my heart flickered a bit. But when her enticing, constellation-blue eyes gazed at me over her puffy, luscious lips, my heart jumped out of my chest. I felt suffocated at how I was feeling after seeing Mia. It was not right. But I had no way to stop it.

"Hi," Emma bowed a bit, speaking in her sugary voice, yanking me back to reality. I extended my elbow for Emma to hold it as decided. We needed to look like a couple in love. I had expected Mia to scoff or give some bitter remark after how she had declared her hate for me for agreeing to this wedding with Emma, but the girl refrained herself, surprising me. She stood there with a blank expression as if she was attending something outrageously boring but cannot avoid it.

"Mia?" Isabella was quick to catch up. She could be mean when she wanted. And with her dislike towards Mia and Mia's fiery personality, it would not surprise me if the situation blows up beyond repair.

But to my surprise, Mia gave a forced smile to Isabella and then to Danny. She even smiled at me that looked like a frown to me. It was beyond me to understand what happened to her. She was really trying to keep a low-key. Was it because of Emma? Perhaps. Mia loved her sister dearly.

The dinner was boring and mundane like any event of werewolves. Even though the backdrop was a wedding, the discussions were predominantly political and from a business point-of-view. It wasn't how I had imagined my wedding to be. There was no joy, no excitement. We were just two people pretending to be in love when we weren't even sure about each other's favorite color.

I saw Mia sitting in one corner, texting someone over the phone, trying to maintain distance. Not many approached her, nor she was keen to mingle. Mia had a genuine smile plastered on her glowing face, unlike the forced one she gave us earlier. I could not help but wonder if she was talking with her boyfriend back in the human city. She smelled too human to have any essence of a wolf. So it bothered me even to think how close she would have been with her boyfriend. It was weird how my heart churned at that mere thought. The more she smiled, the more I wanted to find out. But it was off-limits.

"Is that really Mia? She looks okay. But shouldn't she be wearing better?" Samantha and Keira asked Emma. I had not even noticed when they had come.

"You know how Mia is. She does not like to doll up." Emma tried to cover.

"But wearing that to your sister's rehearsal dinner is rebelling." Keira gloated.

"I wonder if she is talking with her human boyfriend. She is smiling a lot. I had never seen her smile so much in my entire life." Samantha bombarded. The girls were so opinionated that they hardly gave Emma a chance to reply.

It was then I saw Mia leaving to talk somewhere private as she received a call. She was happy about it. It was as if she felt relieved.

"I wonder if it was her boyfriend calling her. Do you know anything, Emma?" Samantha added.

"It is not how you think. Mia is probably talking to one of her friends." Emma brushed it off. "Do you want to see the wedding ring I chose?" Even though her cousins wanted to continue discussing it, Emma was smart to divert their attention.

Emma excused herself, leaving with her annoying cousins. I finally had a moment of respite. Before anyone else would get hold of me, I went out for a breather, asking Isabella and Danny to cover up.

Ever since I reached Bloodmoon pack, I am constantly feeling bewildered and anxious. This unknown feeling was making my heart flutter, thump, jump, numb, and churn. I felt confused. How can Mia Hemming make me feel so overwhelmed? I would have understood if I could smell her distinctive essence, confirming a mate bond. But the only scent she gave off was that disgusting human odor. But she was driving me crazy!

Is it because she said she hates me and I could not revert? Is it because I am lagging? Perhaps, I needed to confront her and explain to Mia that I was not the mere boy she could blame for everything. I was the alpha prince, and she should start paying more attention to me? But why do I need her attention? Why was I craving it? Is it because she is ignoring me? Is it because my ego is wounded? Everything seemed like a whirlwind of emotions, confusing me more and more.

I went outside to the lawn beside the pool, where there was no one. I sighed to release some of my frustration, looking at the stars. Even after all these years, Mia still made me feel confounded and overwhelmed by her presence. I hated her most because of it. Around her, I lose my control. I don't like it when things change. The more I try to stay in control, the more she makes me want to loosen up. Why? Why would I feel so around her even if I can't pick on her essence? A stupid idea made its way to mind when, for a split second, I considered kissing her to confirm if my wolf could connect with hers. But I brushed it off immediately. There was no way the moon goddess would pair the future alpha king to a rebel who loathes wolves.

I was about to leave when the disgusting human smell filled my nose. I knew it was Mia. I turned to see her passing by rather awkwardly. She was in a hurry to leave. But I had other plans! Even if I was unsure why!