Chapter 3

I didn't say a word, just scrolled through my phone.

On Instagram, Summer Wells had just posted an update.

The photo showed a messy pile of a man's shirt and a woman's underwear on the floor.

The caption read: *Someone said he could only stay for ten minutes, but now he doesn't want to leave~*

She had even tagged the location—the very hotel room I knew all too well.

A mutual friend had already commented: *Summer, who are you trying to kill with jealousy?*

Summer replied: *Whoever is waiting at the altar in a wedding dress without her groom!*

I screenshotted it without any emotion.

Hailey was right. I should be furious, in agony.

The physical kind—if Lucas and I shared a mate bond.

But we didn't.

He had never marked me. Our ten years were built on habit, not a fated bond.

So his betrayal didn't make my glands burn, nor did it make my bones ache.

But my heart still hurt.

A dull, suffocating pain, like a rusty needle driving into my chest, inch by inch.

"Elena, stop waiting!" Hailey snatched the phone out of my hand. "Look at this trash!"

"You gave up your right to inherit your family's Alpha title for him! Do you have any idea how angry your parents were?"

"Back then, Lucas was nothing. But you dared to bet ten years of your life against your parents! And now, you've lost everything."

"If you hadn't worked day and night to draft plans, secure resources, and secretly use your family's influence to pull his pack out of the dirt, would he be where he is today?"

"And now he's messing around with another woman!"

"I had no idea he was such a good actor. He kept the act up until the night before the wedding, and then sneaks off to a hotel with someone else!"

Hailey's eyes grew red with anger. "Elena, stop waiting. It's time to live for yourself!"

"Hailey, thank you for being here today. As for my parents... after the ceremony, I'll go back and admit my defeat."

If you lose a bet, you accept the consequences.

Today was the day I paid the price for my failed gamble.

After comforting my friend and calming myself down, I walked out to the balcony at the end of the hallway to get some air.

Just as I was about to push the door open, I heard male voices inside.

The groomsmen were hiding out there, smoking.

"Wait, is Lucas really not coming back?"

"He said Summer is basically glued to him. He can't get away, so he wants us to stall."

Brian Clarke took a drag from his cigarette. "How long do you think Elena's temper will hold?"

"Look at her today. She's dressed up, walked the red carpet, and the groom ran off, but she didn't even blink."

"With a wife like that, what more could a man ask for?" Jason Miller sighed. "Lucas really doesn't know how lucky he is."

"Lucas doesn't care about that right now. Summer has him completely under her spell."

They laughed.

Then, one of them initiated a FaceTime call. "Lucas, you finally picked up. Elena is still waiting. It's not right for you to skip this."

Sounds of heavy breathing and rustling sheets came through the speaker.

"Can't you see I'm busy?" Lucas's voice sounded irritated and raspy with lust. "I'm not coming back. Just take care of the guests."

"Alright, alright, Lucas. Enjoy," Brian Clarke smirked. "Anyway, Elena is easy to handle..."

Before he could finish, I pushed the balcony door open.

Their smiles instantly froze.

Brian Clarke quickly hid the phone behind his back. "Elena..."

I looked at them. "The ceremony starts in three minutes. Why are you hiding out here? There are over three hundred guests from different packs waiting out there. Are you going to make them wait, or let them laugh at us?"

The moment I finished speaking, they burst out laughing.

"Elena, stop joking," Jason Miller laughed, waving his hand. "Is three minutes enough? Our boy Lucas isn't that fast. He can't make it—"

"That's enough."

I cut him off calmly and turned to leave.

Brian Clarke realized the video call was still active and glanced at the screen.

"Lucas, Elena says the ceremony starts in three minutes. Hurry up."

Lucas's deep chuckle echoed from the phone.

It carried the lazy afterglow of sex.

"Three minutes? Does she have some kind of misunderstanding about me?"

A woman's soft giggle came through the speaker, whispering something sweet.

"Lucas..." Brian Clarke asked quietly, "Then..."

There was a brief silence on the other end, followed by Lucas's impatient voice. "Go on. Help me keep things under control. I'll head over as soon as I'm done here."

As he spoke, a woman's playful moan sounded in the background again.