Hailey's POV
"Ahh!" I woke up to Luna, my stepmother screaming.
I was so scared that my eyes flew open instantly. Then I looked under the sheets and found myself naked.
She had just walked into my room and found Vickson and me without clothes.
I looked beside me and saw Vickson there. He was still asleep.
I remember to return my gaze to Luna and realize that I have just implicated myself in a very big way.
"How could you do this to your sister Hailey? He is her boyfriend. I know you loved him, but you are wrong," she accused me as if I had entered his room.
She did not even make an attempt to find out why or how we were in such a position.
"Luna, it's not what it looks like. He came to me." I tried to explain myself to her, but the look of disappointment on her face showed that no matter the explanation, I would still be found guilty.
"What kind of a stupid excuse is that, and what do you think it looks like exactly?" She asked me, and I bit my lower lip feeling ashamed. I could not even meet her gaze. She must have been so disappointed in me.
"After all I did for you, why can't you just respect his wishes?" She asked me, choking with tears.
"Please don't tell her," I pleaded with Luna.
I knew how Ava was going to react. She already hates me and feels that I have taken everything that belongs to her, including her parents.
If Luna tells her about us, then Ava is definitely going to kill me. She won't spare me.
"Can you hear yourself talking?" She asked me and I kept my eyes off her.
"She said she was going to inform your sister immediately," so I ran out of the room.
"Get up." I kept tapping Vickson so he would get out of bed.
My whole body shook with fear and I swallowed hard doing it involuntarily.
"What's wrong with you?" He got up, yelling at me.
I wonder how he managed to sleep so peacefully when Luna was screaming like that.
"She saw us like this, Luna," I told him, getting out of bed.
"So?" He asked nonchalantly, and I was shocked.
How can he not be scared?
"Hailey!" Ava barged into my room, screaming.
"How could you betray me? I always felt you would trouble me a lot." Her scream was the signal, and when she rushed at me her hands began to fly at me.
I raised the duvet to wrap myself in it while continuing to evade her.
Hiding behind Vickson, I kept running around the room.
"Stop it, Ava. I'm sorry, please just stop." Vickson tried to hold her back, but she was beyond his control.
She managed to free herself from his grip.
She jumped on me and gave me a slap across the face.
"How dare you attempt to take Vickson from me? Do you think you can steal him from me, foolish girl?" she reprimanded. I wiped my sweaty palm on my swollen cheeks, tears filling my eyes.
I began to sob. Where was I at fault?
"I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't stop targeting Ava." I defended myself.
"I don't care. No matter how much you try, I am never leaving Vickson," Ava said resolutely.
How did it come to this? How did I start fighting with my step sister over the person I loved most?
"Well, listen up everyone. We are still going with the wedding as planned. Let's just pretend this did not–" Alpha Vickson got interrupted by Ava who smiled with relief.
"That never happened, hun." Ava snapped her fingers while crossing my face, and my stepmother nodded.
"You are truly an Alpha. Thank you for not disappointing us. This can't get out to anyone else." My stepmother added that and then turned to me.
I had never heard Vickson use such a tone before. He seemed so indifferent and emotionless just like last night. I swallowed hard.
"Luna?" I questioned.
"Shut up, I won't allow you to bring shame to me." She retorted and also gave me a slap that nearly made me lose my balance.
"Did you not hear the Alpha?!! You just wasted your virginity, you fool."
"I will marry Ava, as I already said." Alpha Vickson put on his shirt and avoided my gaze. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have an important meeting to attend to."
"As for you, Hailey! I won't let you be another threat to my daughter! Get out and don't come back!" Luna shouted as she stormed out of the room.
My step-sister looked at me and laughed sarcastically. "Bitch!" she cursed and left the room but not before she shot back, "Make sure you leave and never come back!" By the time they were gone, I collapsed on the floor and cried my eyes out asking the moon goddess what I had done wrong to deserve this life.
I wandered into the woods, living on my own without anyone to cater for me. It has been a roller coaster as I started to do some research as to when my step-sister was going to have her wedding.
Finally, I heard from a passerby in the market that it was scheduled to take place in a month's time. The days passed so quickly, and today was my step-sister's wedding day.
Deep down, however, I felt a rage boiling within me that my step-sister was marrying Vickson even though he was in love with me-how cruel of him.
I wanted to stay home, but another part of me wanted to go to the wedding reception and see Vickson for the last time. I armed myself with the outfit I had procured earlier for the wedding and also got myself a nose mask.
I put on my overflowing velvety gown along with my slip-on shoes, and gently headed towards the wedding venue. My heart was thudding fast, still I took a seat among other congregants, and thanked the goddess for my mask: neither Ava nor my stepmother recognized me.
"Do you, Vickson Jack, take Ava Baldwin to be your lawfully married wife and partner until death do you part?" The priest asked. I could see Ava was looking at Vickson with a big smile on her face.
"Yes I do" he answered with no care in the world as though he were doing it under duress.
"Do you, Ava Baldwin take Vickson Jack to be your lawful wedded husband and husband, till death do you part?" The priest asked my stepsister, who still smiled at Vickson.
"Yes I do" I couldn't help but notice her excitement "You may kiss the bride" the priest instructed.
My heart boiled over with anger. I saw her face turning red as Vickson lifted the veil and was about to kiss her lips when he suddenly stopped and turned his head toward the crowd. His gaze finally settled on mine.
'Hold on. Could he sense me?' I wondered as I rubbed my sweaty palms together.
He frowned his face and gently pecked Ava on the cheeks while everyone applauded them.
One tear slipped out of my eyes as I started hearing the whispers coming from the guests. "The bride is so beautiful." I heard that personal compliment as Ava got lost in the crowd of people greeting and congratulating her.
I could see how Vickson was so eager to come to me, but honestly, I don't know what is stopping him. It's a mystery to me why he made the choice that he did. I know there was some factor in his decision as to why he chose Ava over me, but I just can't figure it out.
I wiped my tears and meekly stood up from among the crowd, making my way out with tears dropping on my nose mask. I was almost at the exit when a hand grabbed me and pulled me to a corner pinning my hand to the wall—it was Vickson.
"Let me go!" I whispered, before he took off my nose mask.
"I knew it" He pulled me closer and then I heard his heart beat faster. "Hailey, I'm sorry for the pain I caused you. It wasn't my intention to. I still love you but..." he paused now and softly reached out to my lips. I wanted to say no.
I wanted to run away.
But I can't! I fucking can't!
I clasped my hands around his neck and let his lips do the talking. Little did we know a maid was spying us from behind.
My eyes were still adjusting when I saw her standing with a phone pointed at us, her flashlight beam hitting our eyes.
Vickson snatched her phone quickly and tried to erase the pictures, but it had already gone viral.
"Hailey!" I could hear Ava scream from the wedding hall.
"I am in trouble," I shouted, looking at Vickson who had already plunged his hand into the neck of the maid.