Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder by Alice Knightsky
Chapter 117: A Wedding No One Would Ever Forget
**Ethan’s POV**
“Alpha, shouldn’t you be getting ready? The wedding will start in thirty minutes.” Talon entered my office.
I flipped over another page of the intel report.
“I’m ready,” I replied without looking up.
“Alpha, just to put your wedding suit on will take you more than half an hour.” Talon brought in the clothes and laid them on my bed. “Also, the dressing experts are waiting to serve you. They are outside of your door right now.”
I put down my files and looked at my Beta. In the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the clothes- snow-white shirt, black jacket with coattails, golden wolf cufflinks.
I’d never wear something so stupid.
“So? Have I ever said I would change?”
It was Madalynn’s wedding day, and I was supposed to be the groom. However, I felt more like I was being prepared to be put to death.
“I can’t believe you’re going through with this,” Talon said, leaning against the table across the room. He was already dressed in a similar suit since he was to be my best man.
“It has to be done,” I said, firmly. “You know that better than anyone.”
“I do know that,” he said. “And of course, I will stand beside you, no matter what.”
I looked him in the eye and said, “I appreciate that.”
Talon looked away. He wasn’t used to my kindness. He cleared his throat. “Vicky said that she had to go with Madalynn to a dress shop that was not open, however, Madalynn found out who the owner was, and forced them to open it just for her. It took her hours to pick out one that she found suitable. When she finally chose one, she insisted on alterations that the dress shop owner said would take her all night to get done. Madalynn’s only response was, ‘And?’.”
Talon shook his head and picked up a glass of whisky off of the table, taking a long drink. “However, that wasn’t the terrible part of what I heard.”
I arched an eyebrow, not sure whether I wanted to waste more time on anything related to Madalynn.
“The dress shop owner had a newborn at home who she was nursing. She begged Madalynn to allow her to go home to feed the baby since she had already been out for a few hours. Madalynn said, ‘the sooner you’re done, the sooner you can go, so focus.’ Vicky had to send men to bring the baby over, fought with Madalynn’s guards, and finally was able to get the woman to feed her child in the middle of the night.”
I knew my expression probably didn’t look too kind at the moment.
I heard similar reports. Madalynn had become more of a monster than usual, barking orders and making demands. She had insisted on waking the jeweler in the middle of the night to try on necklaces and earrings. She’d made a mess of the shoe shop trying to find the perfect heels, and she’d had half of the flower gardens cut attempting to find the perfect bouquets, only to disregard the flowers brought to her and demand different ones.
I cursed under my breath, and really was not looking forward to seeing her at all today.
“Most of the residents of the capital are glad you only gave her two days, though,” Talon continued. “At least she only had two days to terrorize them.”
“Over this,” I muttered, and Talon laughed.
“So true. Did Alpha Ethan just make a joke?”
I didn’t look at him. “It’s not a joke if it’s the truth.” I wasn’t in the mood to joke around, and I hadn’t had any alcohol, unlike my best man.
I might need some, though. What I was about to do wasn’t going to be easy.
“How may I serve you, sir?” the older man in charge of my team of expert dressers said with a small bow.
“No need,” I said dismissively and waved my hand to send them away. They looked at each other but dared not to disobey me.
After they all left, I went to my closet and picked out the first black suit I could find.
As I put it on as I walked toward the door. “Let’s get this over with.”
Talon joined me.
I went to my spot on the dais set up in the garden outside. Madalynn had insisted on an outside wedding near one of the only gardens she hadn’t insisted be cut to pieces while looking for bouquets. She had an archway set up above us, and there were other decorations as well.
I didn’t really pay attention to any of that. I was ready to get all of this over with.
The king and queen satin the front row to my left, on my side of the aisle. I bowed to them, respectfully, as did Talon. James gave me a look- I knew he wasn’t happy about my choice of attire, but at this moment, there was nothing he could do.
The priest who would perform the ceremony stood next to me and gave the signal for the pianist to start the music.
How had Madalynn managed to get them to move the grand piano outside?
I could only shake my head with wonder.
Vicky came up the aisle first I knew she didn’t want to be Madalynn’s maid of honor, but again, she was doing this for me. Her smile was forced. Her bouquet didn’t seem to be all that splendid to me.
Behind her came a couple of children I didn’t know, one of them tossing flower petals, and then everyone stood for the bride.
Romero walked Madalynn down the aisle on his arm. Madalynn was wearing what appeared to be a ballgown. The white skirt was so wide, it barely fit down the aisle. The bodice was encrusted in jewels, possibly actual diamonds, and it barely covered her cleavage.
The jewels around her neck and hanging from her ears were also diamonds, huge stones that gleamed in the sunlight.
Apparently, Madalynn wanted this to be a memorable day.
Well, it was going to be….
By the time they reached the front of the aisle, she was crying. I hoped that makeup was waterproof, or else with how thick it was, she was going to be garish.
“Who gives this woman to marry this man?” the priest asked.
“I do, Alpha Romero,” he said with pride. Then, the father kissed her cheek and had a seat on the bride’s side of the aisle.
Madalynn came to stand beside me, handing her bouquet off to Vicky, and taking my hands. She smiled at me, and I fought the nausea that swirled around in my stomach.
She was an abomination. Everything about this woman was disgusting. When I looked at her, I thought about all of the awful deeds she had done, all of the crimes that she thought she had gotten away with, and all of the victories she thought she had won.
As the priest asked us to pray to the Moon Goddess for a blessing upon this union, all I could do was ask the Moon Goddess to bring down fire and brimstone upon this woman and her pack, to repay her for all that she had done.
The ceremony began, and Madalynn’s fake tears had dried up as she bounced excitedly next to me, so happy to finally be near her goal of having me as her own. I could hardly stand to have my hand touching hers.
The priest asked her, “Do you Madalynn take Alpha Ethan as your husband?”
In a sultry voice, Madalynn leaned toward me and said, “I do—forever and ever!”
Bile rose in the back of my throat. Now, it would be my turn.
“And do you, Alpha Ethan, take Madalynn to be your wife and Luna?”
I waited a moment, but not in hesitation. I only wanted to give her time to anticipate my response.
“No,” I said, pulling my hands away from her. “No, I do not.”
Madalynn’s mouth gaped as she stared at me and murmurs echoed through the crowd, quiet at first but growing louder with every passing minute.
Once she recovered her ability to speak, Madalynn asked, “Wh-what do you mean no? This marriage is a union of two packs, promised by the king! Who are you to say no?”
“Who am I?” I asked, taking a step toward her. She stepped back. “I’ll tell you who I am. I’m the man who has discovered that I have all the reason in the world to refuse you!”
I couldn’t help the hate that came through with every word that I spoke to her. I glared at her a moment longer. With that, I turned to walk away from her, to leave the entire scene behind.
“But you can’t do that!” Madalynn shouted after me as I heard the entire scene erupt in chaos. “Father! Do something! Make him stop!” she shouted.
“King James!” Romero’s voice sounded above the crowd. “You must punish Alpha Ethan for this horrific behavior!”
“How dare you!” Madalynn shouted. “How dare you!”
I only continued on my way, knowing that it was taken care of. Before I reached the door to go back inside, I heard Talon’s strong voice say, “Ladies and gentlemen, if you will be seated, please allow me to explain everything…”
A hush fell over the crowd, and I went inside, confident I would never have to deal with Madalynn again.