Chapter 3
Hardin
My father had only been informing me of his intention to marry and did not really care about my opinion. I realized shortly after he told me of his wedding to Camila, a member of the pack that I hadn't known existed until he mentioned her name.
The preparations were already underway to my horror and a day had been fixed for the ceremony even as I struggled to come to terms with the fact that my father was replacing my mother whether or not I liked it.
And now three weeks later, in the garden of our mansion, my father was tying the knot with Camila, with or without my blessings.
I wanted to be anywhere but here, forced to wear a suit and pretend like I was happy for their union like the rest of the smiling crowd.
The last thing I wanted to do was be here. Even worse was the fact that I had to stand beside Camila's daughter to be their ring bearers. Not that I had met the woman's daughter yet. And all for the better. I wanted to delay seeing my stepsister for as long as possible. And I hoped she truly felt the same way.
I didn't think I would ever forgive my father for doing this. Or Camila for forcing her way into this family.
As I stood beside my father, waiting for the bride to enter, I heard him whisper.
"Thank you so much for being here with me, son. It means a lot to me."
Giving him a smile that was so fake, as my lips struggled to curve up. It would have been better if I frowned at his words, and then I nodded in response.
"You didn't give me much of a choice now, did you?" I said through my teeth and he was about to reply when the marching song started.
Camila's daughter walked down the aisle holding the rings but that was not what held my attention.
It was who she was. Jasmine Scott
Jasmine Scott walked towards us, dressed in a peach silky dress that clung to her body, accentuating every curve that she possessed.
She looked like the definition of temptation and sin.
Her ebony hair was in a twist, bringing her crystal clear green eyes into focus and when those eyes landed on me, there was no look of surprise in them.
What the fuck?
How was this happening?
I didn't know what was worse. My father remarrying or realizing that my stepsister was none other than The Jasmine Scott that had cussed me out and had zero regards for my personality.
There was a large possiblity that she knew that my father was getting married to her mother. Was that why she had mouthed off to me and acted like she could talk to me anyhow she pleased? I could only wonder.
Of course, she did. She was well aware. Jasmine Scott was a gold digger like her mom, and only took joy in benefitting from what she did not deserve.
There was no way she did not know she was going to be my stepsister if she knew her mother was marrying the Alpha.
If I was mad at Jasmine before, the wedding changed things by a long mile. I hated her. Both she and her money grubbing mother would pay for all of this.
I didn't care what my father said about what he required of me and how he wanted me to treat them, but I had no intentions to ever accept them.
As Jasmine and I stood opposite each other, listening to our parents recite their vows, I tried to get Jasmine to look at me. To catch a glimpse of what she was going to expect moving forward.
When our eyes finally met and she frowned, I smiled malevolently.
Well, that makes two of us, sweetheart.
That didn't lessen the way my chest tightened when the priest announced that my father was officially married.
It took everything for me to not storm out of the garden and just run. To find something to pour out all of my rage on.
The reception was going to take place in the house and when my father announced that I was going to take the dance floor with Jasmine alongside him and his new bride, I fought the urge to vomit all over the floor.
It was a damn shame that I was sober.
Downing four glasses of whiskey one after the other, I faked a smile and walked up to where Jasmine stood with some girls.
"Oh my God, he's so handsome." The two girls on either side of her gushed and I smirked, watching as Jasmine frowned when I stretched out my hand.
"Hello, stepsister. Would you like to dance?"
She looked at my hand like it was a sword pointed at her chest and for all intents and purposes, it was.
Because the last thing I would ever offer Jasmine and Camilla was a warm hand to hold. Not in this life or the next did I approve of this marriage.
When her hand touched mine, my eyes widened momentarily at how soft her palm was.
"Don't be fooled, Hardin. That was how her mother deceived your father into this sham of a matrimony,"I reminded myself.
Escorting her towards the dance floor, I wrapped one hand around her waist and pulled her to me, our chests brushing.
She smelled like flowers and strawberries. It would have been a delectable scent for a female if I didn't see her for who she was. An opportunist.
"So, tell me, Jasmine Scott, how does it feel to finally be surrounded by riches? I bet when you were mouthing off to me about being poor but upright, you didn't think to enlighten me and the rest of the school of your little scheme?"
Her eyes widened and she pulled back to look at me, her gaze confused and defiant.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Hardin." She whispered and my grip tightened on her waist.
So soft. So fragile her entire frame was. So riddled with curves that could bring a man to his knees.
Unfortunately for Jasmine, I saw more than her pretty face and innocent eyes.
"I'm talking about this sham of a marriage. How did your mother manage to trap my father in something like this?" I asked with a smile and watched as her eyes widened in shock and rage.
"I beg your pardon, Hardin." She spat and tried to release herself from my grip.
"We have to talk!" I snapped at her immediately, "you better stay calm and come with me. Or are you willing to cause a scene and ruin your mother's big day?" I mocked, and she stopped struggling, allowing me to take her hand and lead her away from the crowd.
Taking her into my father's study, I closed the door and turned to face her.
"How much?"I asked, while her face distorted in confusion.
She looked at me like I was demented.
"How much, Jasmine? Tell me how much you and your mother want, to get the fuck out of our lives!" I screamed and she flinched, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Fuck you, Hardin." She replied and I was all I could do, to not see red.
Pinning her against the wall, I lowered my face until I was staring at her.
"What did you say?" I asked and she whimpered, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"What the fuck did you say to me, bitch?" I roared and she started crying in earnest.
It should have made me release her but I was far too gone.
All I could see was my mother's face as she took her last breath.
And now, Camila and Jasmine who were only after my father's money were going to get to live here and start a family?
"Unless I was dead!" I cursed.
"Leave me alone." She pleaded and I smirked.
"Not until you tell me what it will take for you and your gold digger mother to leave this house for good. Name your price."
The door to the study opened and my father walked in, his face distorted in rage.
"Get away from her this instant." His voice boomed, echoing round the room and I frowned, stepping away from Jasmine who looked like she was about to faint.
Well, that made the two of us. Because I was about to pass out from being so angry.
"Go upstairs, sweetheart. I'm so sorry about him." He said to Jasmine and she scurried out of the room immediately, shutting the door behind her.
Turning to face me, his face hardened.
"I have done everything to make you feel alright since I told you about this wedding and I have allowed you to be when you lashed out and revolted, even refusing to eat for days. I have let you talk to me however you please because I understand that you are hurting, Hardin. But one thing I will not have you do is disrespect my wife and her daughter. Try this again and you will be punished. Do you understand me?"
I didn't answer. I actually did not need to, because Russo Morales had passed across his message.
Nodding when he saw the look on my face, he walked out of the study and slammed the door behind him.
I was still certain about one thing. If I could not get Jasmine and her mother to leave, then none of us would know peace.