Chapter 8

The pitter-patter sound of rain that drummed on the roof the previous night was replaced by scorching rays of sun the next morning.

“Mia?” Lauren knocked softly on the door and popped her head through it.

Mia opened her eyes sheepishly. “Mother, isn’t it too early?” She asked as she stifled a yawn.

“No, Mia. It’s not. “The sun is up already,” Lauren chuckled as she walked into the room.

Mia sat up on the bed, and Lauren placed a kiss on her head. “Good morning, mother,” Mia said with a smile.

“Morning, love,” she replied as she sat on the bed.

“What brings you this early to my bedroom?” Mia asked.

“It seems like you’re forgetting something, Mia,” Lauren said, peering into her eyes.

Mia chuckled. “What am I forgetting, mother?” “You’re very aware that I do not forget things,” she replied.

“Tomorrow you’ll be getting married,” Lauren reminded her.

Mia slapped her forehead. “My, I should be getting prepared for my wedding,” she said in realization.

Lauren chuckled. “Hmm, hmm. “You should,” she replied.

Mia scrambled off the bed. “I have to get ready and head to the store with Freida,” she said. Freida was her personal omega in the pack house.

“Settle your horses, young lady,” Lauren said, laughing at her daughter’s hurry to get ready to pick out the things she needed for the wedding as she pulled her back.

“There’s just so much to do, mother,” Mia replied.

“Your mother has got it covered,” Lauren said with a smile.

“Really?” Mia asked in surprise as she lowered herself in front of her.

“Yes, my dear.” “Your wedding dress is being handled by the dressmaker already, and your shoes are with the craftsman,” Lauren explained.

“Oh, mother, you’re the best!” Mia exclaimed as she hugged her mother tightly around her waist.

Lauren smiled. “You’re so excited about this wedding. Tell me, Mia. “Why do you have no objections against this marriage?” She asked.

Mia lifted her head from her mother’s thighs and smiled. “I really do not know, mother.” “I’m just happy,” she said.

“Hmm, so tell me what you think of Alex.” “The man you’re about to marry,” Lauren requested.

Mia sighed as a smile crossed her lips. She stood up and walked over to the window, pulling the draped curtains apart as the image of Alex flashed through her mind. All she could think of was those warm green eyes hidden behind that cold façade he presented to the outer world.

“He’s an enigma, mother, and he has these eyes that I just can’t explain about,” those eyes that pull me in more than I could ever imagine, she added in her heart. “He’s not really as they describe him, mother.” “He’s more handsome in person,” Mia said, and she sighed as she turned to her mother.

Her mother's eyes were wide in surprise. “You like him already?” She asked.

Mia shrugged and grinned. “That’s for me to know, mother.” “I’m heading to the bathroom,” she replied, walking in a bubbly manner towards the bathroom, and Lauren chuckled.

•

Alex was seated over a breakfast of scalloped potatoes and roasted chicken marinated in garlic when Hendrix joined him. “I’m quite surprised that you’re not out already, finding something suitable to wear for your wedding,” Hendrix said, as he sat down opposite him.

Alex lifted a flask of ale to his lips as he stared at Hendrix. “I’m the least interested in this wedding.” I’m not bothered about what to wear. “It is not a marriage of willingness or love,” Alex replied to Hendrix, as he placed the flask of ale down.

Hendrix chuckled. “Be it out of willingness or not, Alex, you’re becoming a married man by tomorrow,” he said with a Cheshire grin.

“One more word about it, and I’ll stick this fork into that throat of yours,” Alex threatened lightly, and Hendrix lifted his hands up in surrender.

“Apologies, Alpha. “I’m shutting up,” he said with a chuckle, and Alex stared at him before forking a roasted chicken into his mouth.

•

Mia walked into the jewelry shop with Frieda. “There are so many jewelries to choose from,” she said in excitement.

“I’m sure you’ll see the one that best suits you,” Frieda said with a smile.

They took a look at the various jewelries on display, and Mia finally settled on one: a silver necklace with an aquamarine pendant and matching bangles and earrings.

“Ah, you’ve chosen the perfect one, Miss.” “This necklace is said to bring good luck and love to whoever wears it,” the shop owner, a woman, said, and Mia smiled as she looked at the jewelry, and the pendent reminded her of green eyes.

Later that night, Alex looked into his closet just to reaffirm that he knew what to wear on his wedding day. He discovered that his favorite outfit, which was a blazer, was gone, and he had intended to wear it tomorrow.

He ran his hand through the lines of clothing on the hangers, and still he could not find it. He swallowed hard, refusing to let his anger surface. He walked out of his room and into the dimly lit hallway. He saw one of the omegas and stopped her. “Did anyone do my laundry today?” he asked.

“That, I am not aware of, Alpha,” she replied with her head lowered. “But I shall make inquiries about it from the other omegas,” she said.

“Go,” Alex dismissed her and sensed that the anger he was trying so hard to hide was becoming uncontrollable, so he walked back into his chambers, slamming the door shut.

His eyes twitched to red every few seconds, and Alex knew that the demon inside him that he was trying so hard to keep under control was surfacing.

Hendrix walked into the room and saw Alex clenching his hair tightly. “Alex, are you alright?” He asked him.

Alex turned in his direction. “My favorite blazer is missing, and you expect me to be okay?” He demanded in anger, and his eyes turned fully red, awakening the demon.

“Alex, calm down,” Hendrix said calmly as he took a step back.

Alex grabbed his hair tighter than before as he fought to regain himself, but the demon was taking control of him. Hendrix called him again, but Alex was not himself anymore, as he bellowed at Hendrix.

Hendrix immediately hastened out of the room to get Alex’s temporary remedy. a “sagyu” rope, which was very powerful and could not be easily cut off.

Alex growled as he fell on his knees, slowly losing his self-control, but he was fighting. He was fighting with all his might not to let this demon inside him take total control of his whole being.

Hendrix returned with the sagyu rope and tied Alex with it. It was more of a whip that could easily be wrapped around Alex without getting too close to him because the demon was very chaotic whenever he was in control.

Alex groaned as he fell to the floor, but the demon was yet to leave him alone. Usually, once the sagyu rope is around Alex, he immediately returns to normal and regains his self-control, but tonight, Alex was finding it difficult to do so, and it occurred to Hendrix that the demon was slowly taking over him, and he feared greatly for the life of his friend.