I was in the middle of a video call with a few shareholders when my Instagram notifications suddenly exploded, distracting me.
At first, I thought nothing of it, dismissing the buzz as another random post. But when I saw the name—Amber— a name that sent a quick jolt through me. She was a she-wolf from an allied pack, one that I’d gone to school with.
Amber: "Hey, everyone! So excited to share that Darren and I are getting married in two days! It's happening, guys! Can’t wait for the big day!"
I blinked. Darren? My husband? The Beta of my pack. The man I was still married to. My brain tried to make sense of what I was seeing. This had to be a joke, right? Maybe someone was messing with me, or worse—maybe Darren had a twin who liked to pretend he was him. I quickly tapped the live stream to watch, hoping to catch a glimpse of something that made sense.
But no. There he was, clear as day. Darren. My husband. He was standing next to Amber, smiling widely, his arm wrapped around her waist. They looked... so fucking damn happy!
My pulse quickened, and I leaned closer to the screen. I knew there was no mistake—this was my Darren. But the Darren I knew wasn’t the kind of man who’d parade his affection for anyone else while still married. At least, he’d never been that obvious. I could feel the betrayal rising in me as the live stream continued.
Amber spoke up again.
Amber: "Two more days, guys! The big wedding is finally here! Darren's been so amazing planning everything with me, and I’m just so lucky!”
I gritted my teeth. Planning? So, he was planning a wedding with Amber, and he never told me?! What the hell was going on?
I leaned back in my chair, trying to process. Was this some kind of elaborate mistake? Some prank? I scrolled through the comments on the live feed, desperate to find any clues that would explain this insane situation.
[Elliana! You’re watching? OMG, what a cute couple they are! You must be so excited for them!]
I froze. My former classmate mentioned it to me.
[Hey, Elliana! Can you believe Amber's getting married? I bet it’s all real! Just saw the wedding venue details. Amber’s got it made! Can't wait to see everything.]
My hands began to shake. No. No way! This wasn’t a mistake. This wasn’t a prank. Darren was really getting married to Amber. But why? I mean how. He's my husband!
I kept scrolling, unable to stop myself. More comments poured in.
[Elliana, are you coming to the wedding? It’s going to be amazing! It’s all anyone’s talking about.]
[Elliana, you were always close with Amber, right? Will you be there to celebrate?]
I couldn’t even respond. There was too much to process. I’d spent years with Darren. Years of my life, thinking I knew him. How had I missed this?
The stream continued, Amber and Darren’s smiles burning into my brain. I felt a sick twist in my gut as Amber blew him a kiss, and he returned it without a second thought.
I snapped out of my trance and quickly texted my assistant.
Me: "Cancel the rest of my meetings for today. I need to take care of something."
I grabbed my keys without another word. If Darren thought he could go ahead with this wedding, if he thought I wouldn’t find out, he was wrong. I had to see it for myself. I had to confront him.
Two days. That’s how long I had to prepare myself for what was coming.
***
Two days later, I found myself driving my sleek black sports car—the same one Darren's used to borrow often. It felt strange to be in the driver’s seat instead of him, but something about it felt right, like I was reclaiming a part of what was mine. I needed answers!
The wedding venue was on the outskirts of town, tucked away behind a set of tall iron gates, surrounded by gardens and towering oak trees. As I parked, I noticed the crowd gathering outside. There was no mistaking the lavishness of the event.
I walked past the rows of luxury cars, making my way toward the entrance, where a massive banner hung overhead: "Warmly Welcoming Mr. Herault, CEO of International Group of Companies, to the Wedding!"
