Chapter 9
Simon’s Pov
5 Points
I froze mid-step, my claws halfway out and breath caught in my throat.
“What did you just say?” I growled, not even bothering to mask the sharp edge in my voice.
“She… she posted on social media,” the warrior stammered. “Alpha, she’s getting married.
Today.”.
My heart slammed against my ribs like it was trying to claw its way out. I yanked my phone from my pocket with shaking fingers, ignoring the way my wolf snarled beneath my skin.
One tap. Then another.
There it was,
My mind blanked out.
No. No, no, no. This had to be a joke. Some attention-seeking stunt. Judy wouldn’t-
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couldn’t-get married. Not without telling me. Not without at least throwing the news in my face like she always used to when she was
pissed.
But this?
Married?
To who?
Judy’s POV
The car barely rolled to a stop before I stepped
out.
Simon’s face turned pale the second he saw
me, like he’d just seen a ghost. A ghost in a wedding dress.
“Judy?” he stammered, his voice cracking. “Why are you here?”
I tilted my head, lips curling into a smirk. “Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that,
Simon?”
Then I saw her-Wilona-wearing my wedding
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gown, clutching my bouquet, standing right where I was supposed to be.
For a second, I thought maybe my wolf would go feral, that I’d shift right then and there and tear the whole pretty scene apart. But no. I
didn’t even flinch.
Wilona’s smile wavered, the color draining from her face. She hadn’t expected me to show up, much less in full bridal gear. She looked
like someone had shoved wolfsbane down her
throat.
“I-” she started, but it was too late.
Then came the waterworks.
“You knew,” she said between sobs, “you knew I was marrying Simon today. That’s why you wore that dress. You want to steal him back, don’t you?”
She actually had the nerve to play the victim.
“I’m dying, Judy!” she wailed, collapsing to her knees with a dramatic thud. “I don’t have much time left. Just let me have this. After I’m gone,
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Chapter 9
+ 5 Points
Simon can be yours again. Please-don’t ruin this for me!”
Her words echoed around the courtyard, loud enough to pull a small crowd of wolves from the ceremony. Murmurs buzzed like flies.
I could feel their eyes on me-the jilted she-wolf who couldn’t let go. They thought I was here to cause a scene. That I couldn’t stand losing.
Let them think what they want.
Wilona clutched her chest like she might faint right there in the dirt. “Please, Judy,” she sniffled, “this is my only wish before I die. Let me be his Luna for just one day.”
Simon finally stepped in, all huffing, and pulled
her to her feet.
“Wilona, stop it,” he said gently, before turning to me with that same pleading look I used to
fall for.
“Judy, I never meant for things to get this far. I didn’t want to lie to you. Her condition… it’s gotten worse. She might not make it through
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the month.”
I didn’t say a word.
He stepped closer and grabbed my hand. “Please. Just go home-for now. After the wedding, I’ll come back for you. I swear it.”
I yanked my hand away, my voice calm but freezing. “Simon, who told you I came here for
you?”
That shut him up.
“Don’t make this harder than it already is,” he said, eyes darting nervously at the onlookers. “I know you’re angry. Let’s just say I’ve wronged you, okay? When I come back, you can yell,
scream-do whatever you want.”
A familiar voice piped up from behind him. One
of his friends, a lanky mutt with no spine.
“Yeah, sis-in-law,” he said, stepping forward like we were still friend. “Things are what they are. Just let Simon marry Wilona.”
Then came the chorus.
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“You’re the understanding type.”
“Simon still loves you.”
“Don’t make him choose between love and duty. Be the bigger wolf.”
I let out a sharp laugh. Understanding? These same wolves would probably smile and hand their mates over if a dying girl asked nicely
enough.
“I’ll say it one more time,” I said, locking eyes
with Simon. “I’m not here for you.”
And I wasn’t.
With that, I stepped past them, heading for the chapel entrance. But of course, Wilona wasn’t done playing the victim.
She lunged forward and threw herself in my path, sobbing so hard she could barely speak.
“Why, Judy? Why can’t you let me have this?” she cried, “Do you want to watch me die?”
I didn’t even blink.
Then, before anyone could react, she clutched her dress and ran-straight into a pillar.
