Alpha's One Night Bride
Alpha’s One Night Bride – Chapter 76

It’s been a couple of months since Jonathan and Erick left for war. The war hasn’t made Its way back to this side of the county, so I was hoping that meant whatever they were doing was working. However, I also haven’t heard from either of them, which worried me immensely.

However, Jess had heard from Jonathan last month and he told her that both he and Erick were still alive and fighting their souls out. He even took a couple of Benjamin’s speeches and recited them to a few territory packs, and they ended up converting and joining the side of Jonathan.

Jess didn’t seem too worried about him; she knew this was his destiny and that he was going to be a great Overseer. Despite her recent worries on the matter. I tried not to worry too much as I continued staying at home with Ronnie and caring for Emee.

Ronnie wasn’t doing as well; she had lost a drastic amount of weight because she didn’t want to eat or transition into a wolf and go hunting. Most of the time she would just lie in bed and cry. Erick hasn’t been reaching out to her because he didn’t want her to hear his voice and feel broken and worried; but what he didn’t know was that not hearing from him is what worried her the most.

She hated being left out in the dark; not that I could blame her. I too hated being left out in the dark, but I trusted Jonathan and I had to trust that he would return to me in time. If Jess, his mother, believed in Jonathan, I had to believe in him as well. Or else I would just drive myself insane.

I heard a knocking sound coming from the front door; my eyebrows crease as I walked towards the door. I wasn’t expecting anybody today and we didn’t often get visitors without a memo first. Typically, the unannounced visitors would be Rock and Melissa.

Or…

“Jessica?” I said, surprised as I saw my best friend standing there with a twinkle in her eyes.

I was, of course, happy to see her. But I wasn’t expecting her.

“Hi!” She cooed happily, throwing her arms around me gleefully.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her excitement, but the chuckle didn’t last long. It instantly turned into a scowl as Greggory appeared. He gave me a sheepish smile and a half-wave. I released Jessica and stared amongst the two of them, suspiciously.

“Greggory?” I asked; I wasn’t sure which of the two I was speaking to.

The last time I heard from Jessica was a couple of months ago when she linked me during my hunt and told me she caught Greggory having s*x with his luna. Jessica had expressed to me that she and Greggory were mates, even though Greggory was married. However, he had told Jessica that he was planning on leaving his luna soon so that the two of them could finally be together.

That didn’t sit right with me because I knew Greggory from my time in Moon-Valley; he was always a flirt with all the ladies, even while he was married. I didn’t think he was much more than that. I tried to express my concerns to Jessica, but she was so hellbent on him being her mate that she wouldn’t listen to reason.

I figured I was something she was going to need to learn on her own, so I dropped the subject. Then the day Jonathan and Erick left to tend to the war, Jessica reached out and said she caught Greggory having s*x with his luna.

I knew something like that was bound to happen and I didn’t want to say, “I told you so”, but I was certainly thinking it. I’m sure a lot of wolves were thinking about it. Of course, it wasn’t something I wanted to be right about though.

Jessica expressed how she was done with Greggory and how badly her heart has been broken. I tried to be there for her as a friend, but she was so distraught and broken that all she wanted to do was sob and lie in bed; much like Ronnie has been lately.

I haven’t heard from her in a couple of months; I assumed it was because she was in the process of healing and working on herself. But apparently, she was busy getting back together and played by Greggory.

This was not something I was happy about.

“We are getting married!” Jessica announced.

I frowned as I stared at their serious expressions. I couldn’t have heard that right. Wasn’t he already married? Don’t tell me he actually left his luna? Something wasn’t adding up here and none of it made sense.

Jessica frowned as she stared around my face.

“I know it’s a sudden move,” she told me, softening her tone. “But I love him, Arina.”

“And I love her…” Greggory chimed in, draping a protective arm around Jessica’s shoulders.

Something wasn’t adding up here.

“Aren’t you married?” I asked him, keeping my expression unreadable and my tone hard.

He frowned and shook his head.

“We divorced last month,” Greggory stated.

That was surprising to hear.

Soon, I heard the faint cries of Emee coming from her bassinet near the couch. She was taking a nap up until that moment; she was most likely hungry.

Greggory’s eye lit up as he made his way over to her; I rushed to her side because something about him I wasn’t trusting, and I didn’t want him near my daughter. Though, I tried not to make that obvious.

“Sorry,” he said, reading my expression. “I just love kids. I always wanted them, but Rachel never did,” he explained. “Jessica told me a lot about Emee. She’s a cutie.”

I shot a look at Jessica who looked at me in return with confusion on her face. I picked up Emee and walked over to her, still frowning and angry.

“Can I have a word with you…?” I asked; I glanced over at Greggory who was staring at us, frowning. “Alone.”

Jessica nodded and followed me outside; I wasn’t sure if I trusted Greggory inside the house alone, but at least I had Emee with me and not inside with him.

Jessica stared at me through her dark lashes and batted her eyes innocently. It made me frown even harder.

“Are you kidding me right now?” I hissed to her. “Married?”

“What? Are you the only one allowed to be happy?” She shot back, her expression hardening.

That took me by surprise.

“No, of course not,” I said, defensively. “But Jessica, he isn’t good for you…”

“Says who?” Jessica shot back. “You?”

“He cheated on you,” I reminded her.

“He was cheating on her with me. He was married and now he’s not,” Jessica said in return. “He loves me, Arina. He’s proved that time and time again over the last couple of months. He didn’t want me to leave.”

“Of course, he didn’t,” I said, raising my tone. “He’s using you.”

“That’s not fair,” she said, tears forming in her eyes. “I finally found someone who makes me happy, and you have the nerve to stand there and judge me? You’re supposed to be my best friend.”

She was right. I felt awful for being so judgmental over the situation, but I really didn’t’ want to see her get hurt. I know what it’s like when someone marries someone else that doesn’t love them. I didn’t want the same thing that happened to my mother, to happen to Jessica. I couldn’t watch somebody else I cared about, lose themselves to marriage.

I sighed.

“I’m sorry,” I finally said after a beat of silence. “I don’t mean to be judgmental. Of course, you deserve to be happy, Jessica. Forgive me?”

After a pause, she smiled and wrapped her arms around me for a hug.

“Of course, I forgive you,” she whispered.

“What can I do to help?” I asked her.

“Actually yes, the wedding is going to be next week in Moon-valley. Your entire pack, both Ironclaw, and Sabrebite are invited,” she paused. “I want you to be my maid of honor obviously.”

I smiled.

She was my maid of honor for my wedding; I was honored she wanted me to be her maid of honor as well.

“I would love that,” I told her.

Emee started to get a bit fussy, so I rocked her slowly to calm her down as Jessica continued.

“If Ronnie is around, I would love for her to be my bridesmaid,” Jessica added.

I frowned and thought of Ronnie; she has hardly left her room in the last couple of months, and she’s been such a mess. But maybe getting out and celebrating something new is just what she would need. I made a mental note to talk to Ronnie about it later on if I could get her to say more than two words to me.

“I will talk to her,” I told her.

Jessica smiled with glee.

“I’m so excited. I can’t believe I’m actually getting married,” Jessica nearly screamed.

Greggory poked his head outside and stared amongst us for a moment.

“Cool if I come outside?” He asked; he looked nervous.

I had to keep myself from rolling my eyes and making things worse for him.

“Yes, we are about to leave,” Jessica told him. “Arina agreed to be my maid of honor and she’s going to talk to Ronnie about being my bridesmaid.”

A flash of relief went through his face as he stepped outside and joined Jessica’s side. I could tell Jessica loved him, but Greggory was hard to read. He always has been.

“So, we will see you next week in Moon-Valley?” She asked, hopeful.

I nodded.

“Looks like we are going to Moon-Valley,” I confirmed.

She clapped her hands together in excitement as she turned to leave. Greggory stayed behind for a moment; his eyes went down to Emee, and I saw something flashing in them that I didn’t recognize, and it made me uneasy.

I shifted Emee so that she was closer to my chest. I held onto her tightly and eyed Greggory carefully. He finally met my eyes and his lips turned upward into a grin that gave me chills down my spine.

“Keep her safe, Arina,” Greggory spoke in a low tone as he turned to follow Jessica.

Something about his tone didn’t sit right with me. It almost sounded like a warning.

I wanted to be happy for Jessica; I really did.

But at what cost?