Alpha's Substitute Bride

#Chapter 5: You’re The One I Want

Ethan gets surrounded by reporters. He’s pulled away from the situation between me and Dora immediately, and I can only see the top of his head above the flanks of journalists begging for an answer to their endless questions.

“There’s no way,” Dora’s hand was pressed to her cheek. A bright pink hand print began to form on her skin. “It’s not true.”

She began muttering to herself about how everything was too strange and it shouldn’t be this way. I couldn’t help but mimic her sentiments.

Ethan? The CEO?

I had a hard time wrapping my head around what this would mean for our future together. Or if there would even be a future with us together at all. Considering his newfound fame, there was no reason for him to want to marry me anymore. He had nothing to gain from it.

I thought he’d be too good for me as a poor bodyguard, but as the CEO and Alpha I realized he was far beyond my reach. He was unattainable.

I slipped through the crowd and took off my apron. I didn’t want to be there anymore, I couldn’t. I threw the apron on the counter nearest to me, and left the event as quickly as possible. Luckily, the house wasn’t far from the restaurant and I was able to walk all the way home.

After that, I didn’t hear a peep from Ethan. Not once did he try to contact me within the entire week leading up to our wedding.

I saw him in the media, of course. He was all over my social forums and news outlets. ‘A hot shot business tycoon’, as many reporters were calling him. Each picture of him was more handsome than the last.

He laughed haughtily in his interviews, basked in the spotlight in talk shows, and was practically glowing  in every paparazzi picture that floated across the screen. Ethan had outgrown me.

I waited each day for him to tell me he had taken back his promises. Part of me thought that he would burn the contract and send me the ashes as proof that our agreement was over. But the news never came.

In fact, invitations were sent out to my family confirming that the wedding was still taking place. I found the information from sneaking into my father’s study and taking the card off his desk to read it.

As far as I knew, the wedding was still happening as we agreed.

On the day of the ceremony, I got myself ready in my small bedroom alone. I was about to slip into the dress when the door burst open. Dora and Hellen, Dora’s mother, came storming into my space.

“Give me that!” Dora took a fistful of the skirt and yanked it from my grasp. The fabric slid from my fingers with little hesitation.

“What are you doing?” I cried out, reaching out to grab it back. Dora held it just far enough away from me so that I couldn’t get a grip on it.

“The engagement was mine first, this is my dress, it’s my wedding!” Dora hissed at me. She quickly undressed herself and pulled my perfect wedding dress over her head.

“Stop it!” I begged. “ I signed the contract. Ethan and I made a deal.”

I lunged forward to take back my gown, but Hellen grabbed my shoulder and pushed me into a sitting position on my bed.

“If you don’t let my daughter marry this man,” Hellen seethed, her grip on me tightening. “I will let your floozy mother die sick and alone.”

Tears streamed down my face at the thought. As happy as I thought Ethan could make me, I couldn’t sacrifice my mother for him. I swallowed thickly and agreed to let Dora take my place.

Hellen let go of me. She was holding onto me so tightly that I felt bruises developing on my skin from the pads of her fingers. She and Dora left after that, as quickly as they came. I was told to finish getting ready for the ceremony anyways.

I had to be there to show I supported the decision, according to Hellen.

I put on the only decent dress I owned, and rode to the venue with my father and Hellen. Dora took another car, one that was sent by Ethan for his bride.

At the venue, I sat beside my father. Ethan had outdone himself. Flowers adorned every corner and sunlight streamed into the aisle like a perfect spotlight. It was beautiful. The perfect wedding.

There were only a handful of people in attendance. Ethan assured me before it was going to be a small affair, I thought it was because his salary wouldn’t support a large wedding. I now realized it was for privacy.

As everyone began to settle into their seats, the doors opened and Ethan walked down the aisle in an expensive suit, followed by the beta from his pack. I recognized them as some of the Blue Moon Group businessmen I saw at the gala a week ago.

Ethan’s hair was slicked back so that it didn’t cover his face so much. He looked more confident than I had ever seen him. I don’t know how I didn’t see it before, he’s a natural leader. A true alpha.

He looked straight ahead, never catching a glimpse of me. My heart ached at the thought that he may never truly see me again, and I would be stuck watching him on television or in interviews. Married to Dora of all people.

As he made it to the altar, the organ played the ‘Wedding March’ and the doors opened once again. Dora sashayed down the carpet, a white veil fixed over her face. The dress - my dress - looked amazing, but it obviously didn’t fit her quite right.

Dora was always the favorite in my family. Growing up, she would get new clothes and I was stuck with her hand-me-downs. Nothing was ever bought for me. Dora would get to pick out anything she wanted.

I didn’t have toys because Dora never liked to get rid of hers and my mom didn’t have the money to buy me any. My father refused to support me financially because he was so busy doting after Dora.

Nothing was ever mine and Dora always got what she wanted. It was a rule of life. It only makes sense that she got this too, I suppose.

As she steps up to the altar, Ethan turns and flips the veil up to reveal her face. His expression morphed from elation to cold indifference in a matter of seconds. He withdrew his hand from her, scowling.

His brows creased and he stepped away. “Where is she?”

“Who? I am your fiance, Ethan,” Dora loudly declared, playing innocent. She had the audacity to be shocked at his reaction.

“No, you’re not. I want Ava.” Ethan stepped down from the altar, looking through the few faces in the pews. His gray eyes found me almost immediately, causing his face to light up with joy.

I couldn’t believe what he said. Why on earth would he choose me instead of Dora?

Dora was the smarter choice for him, in my opinion. She held a higher standing in our pack than I did. She wasn’t wolf-less or the daughter of a maid like me. I never imagined that someone with Ethan’s prowess  would so decisively choose me over someone like her.

The few members of Ethan’s pack secured the entry points of the chapel so that no one could come in or out. I stepped away from my father and into the aisle to meet Ethan halfway.

He rushed to me, his furrowed brow starting to ease with every passing second. When we were finally face to face, he grabbed my left hand and raised it to his mouth.

“Ava,” He breathed and placed a gentle kiss on my ring finger, “You are the one I want to marry, no one could replace you.”