Chapter 1 One
Harper’s POV
“Stop this wedding!”
My voice rang out, echoing across the grand hall, sharp enough to silence the music and chatter. All heads turned at once, the weight of a hundred eyes pressing down on me. My heart pounded in my chest, but my steps were steady as I walked closer to the aisle. The gasps, the murmurs, the disapproving stares—none of it mattered. I had waited too long for this moment.
The look on Alpha Derrick’s face was priceless. Pure shock. His lips parted as if he couldn’t believe anyone would dare interrupt him—especially me. My smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. I hated that my mother was standing beside that despicable man, smiling nervously as though this day was meant to be the happiest of her life.
“Harper, what are you doing?” my mom stuttered, her cheeks coloring with embarrassment as the entire crowd turned their attention toward us. I could hear the judgmental whispers already spreading like wildfire.
“Mom, I can’t let you ruin your peace by marrying this man,” I said, my voice ringing with desperation. My throat tightened, but I pressed on. “I told you over and over that this man isn’t fit to be your husband, but you refused to listen to me. And you know why? Because I had no proof. But today, I do.”
The silence that followed was heavy, suffocating. I could see my mother’s hands trembling, the bouquet quivering slightly as she tried to smile through her confusion.
“What’s going on here?” Derrick’s deep voice sliced through the air, his brows furrowing. He looked at me the way a wolf looks at prey, his face darkening with every passing second. “How dare your daughter interrupt our wedding?” he barked, his tone laced with fury.
The priest cleared his throat, visibly uncomfortable. “The time for the wedding is passing,” he said hesitantly. “We should begin.”
“There won’t be a wedding,” I snapped before anyone else could speak. My words echoed like a dagger thrown into the silence. The guests gasped, murmurs rising as people shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
“You are overstepping your boundaries, Harper,” my mother said sharply, her embarrassment shifting into anger. “Is this how I raised you? To humiliate me in front of everyone?”
Her disappointment stung, but I refused to falter. My fists clenched at my sides.
“You can’t marry this man, Mother!” I shouted, my voice cracking with fury. “Because he already has a wife!”
The words dropped like a bomb, and the crowd erupted into chaos. Gasps, whispers, shouts—everyone talking over each other. And just like it was rehearsed, the massive doors creaked open.
A woman stepped inside, her face pale, her eyes downcast. In her arms, she held a small child who clung tightly to her dress. The entire hall went silent again. My smirk widened.
The moment Derrick’s eyes fell on them, the blood drained from his face. His lips parted, his hands curling into fists. That reaction alone was enough proof, but I wasn’t done.
“Mom, this is his wife,” I said, spitting out the words with venom. “And that boy? His son.”
My mother’s entire body froze, her mouth opening in shock. I could see the betrayal flash in her eyes, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
“Derrick, how could you do this to me?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “When this young woman came to me and told me her story, I didn’t believe her. I defended you. I told myself my Derrick could never betray me. But seeing this…” Her voice cracked, and she pressed her hand against her chest as though her heart was breaking into pieces. “I am shattered.”
The guests murmured louder, eyes flicking between Derrick and the woman holding his child.
“This is ridiculous!” Derrick roared, his face twisting with anger. He stepped forward, his voice booming. “I don’t know these people. They’re liars!” He forced a laugh, though it came out strangled. “Honey, don’t listen to her. This is just a desperate attempt to stop us. You know your daughter doesn’t like me—she’ll do anything to ruin us.”
His words were frantic, desperate, and the more he spoke, the guiltier he looked. He grabbed my mother’s arm roughly, dragging her toward the altar.
“Let’s finish the ceremony. Ignore her. Ignore all of them.”
The sight made my blood boil.
Before I could even shout, the sharp sound of a slap rang through the hall. My eyes widened. My mother—my timid, grieving mother—had slapped him.
“How dare you,” she hissed, her body trembling, her hand still raised. “How dare you drag me into this humiliation, Derrick?”
Derrick’s head snapped to the side, his cheek red from the impact. His entire body shook with rage.
“You—” he began, but my mother cut him off.
“I should have seen it sooner. You were desperate for this marriage, and now I know why. You wanted to make me your second wife. You’re nothing but a lying, selfish monster!” She raised her hand again, but this time Derrick caught it mid-air.
His expression darkened. He shoved her back with a force so strong she stumbled and fell hard against the floor.
“Mom!” I screamed, running to her side. My knees hit the marble as I cradled her trembling body. My heart thundered in my ears, fury burning in my veins.
Derrick’s eyes glowed red, his wolf simmering beneath the surface. “How dare you lay your hands on me, an Alpha!” he thundered. “You pathetic omega. Do you know what you’ve done? I wanted to save you both. I wanted to bring you out of your lonely, miserable existence. And this is how you repay me?”
I stood, placing myself between him and my mother. “You weren’t saving us. You were using us. And I swear on my father’s grave, I’ll never let you touch her again.”
His nostrils flared. His hand raised, ready to strike me, but before he could, the woman—his real wife—stepped forward.
“Aren’t you ashamed of yourself, Derrick?” she spat, her voice sharp. “You’re supposed to be a leader, an Alpha. Instead, you’re a disgrace.” Her eyes glistened with tears. “In front of everyone here, I renounce this marriage. You’re no longer my mate. I want a divorce, and you’ll never see your child again.”
The crowd gasped louder this time, the shame settling over Derrick like a cloak. His lips trembled, but no words came.
“You can’t do that to me, Tracy!” he bellowed, but his wife turned her back, holding her son close as she walked away.
His gaze snapped to me, fury burning in his bloodshot eyes. “This is your fault,” he spat. “You ruined me, you little brat.” He took a threatening step closer.
“Stay away from my daughter,” my mother growled, surprising me with the strength in her voice. For the first time in years, I saw her wolf glimmer in her eyes. “I may be an omega, but I won’t let you harm her. Leave. Now.”
I smirked through the rage in my chest. This was the mother I needed.
Derrick let out a bitter laugh. “You’re both pathetic,” he sneered. “Mark my words—I’ll be back. And when I return, you’ll regret crossing me. Because you’ll always remain what you are: a worthless omega and her wolfless daughter. Nobody wants you. Nobody ever will.”
With that, he stormed out, his cloak sweeping behind him. The doors slammed shut, and the hall erupted into whispers and chaos. Guests rushed out, eager to escape the scandal.
As soon as they were gone, my mother collapsed into sobs. She fell against me, her shoulders shaking violently.
“Mom, it’s okay,” I whispered, tears spilling from my own eyes. “We still have each other. Please don’t cry. Please.”
Her cries grew heavier. “I’m sorry, Harper. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you. I only wanted you to have a father figure again. I didn’t want you to grow up alone.”
I hugged her tightly, burying my face into her shoulder. “It’s okay, Harper . We’ll leave this place. We’ll start over somewhere new. We’ll forget all of this.”
It had been one month since that night.
I sat in my new room, sunlight streaming through unfamiliar curtains. The air smelled different here—cleaner, fresher, untouched by old memories. I ran my hand across the bed, smiling faintly. This was our new beginning.
Mom and I had moved to a new city, far from Derrick, far from the whispers of the Thang clan. Tomorrow, I’d be starting at a new school, where no one knew me, where no one whispered about my past. I had a chance to start over.
A sound came from the living room, pulling me from my thoughts. My heart lightened immediately. Mom was home.
I rushed downstairs. “Mom!” I said, a wide smile on my face.
She dropped her bags and wrapped me in a tight hug. “Harper.”
I melted into her embrace, grateful just to have her here.
“Oh, Harper, I’m so excited,” she said, her voice trembling with joy.
“Me too, Mom. This is it. Our fresh start,” I said, pulling back to grin at her.
“Yes, Harper. But there’s more.” Her eyes sparkled, almost nervously. “I have good news.”
My heart fluttered with curiosity. “What is it, Mom?”
She lifted her hand, and the glint of a diamond caught my eye. My smile froze, my stomach sinking.
“I’m getting married,” she said softly, her voice filled with hope.
The world tilted. My chest tightened.
My smile vanished. “What!”