Chapter 6: The Ugly Truth

Julie's POV: 

Hearing Jayden's voice made my skin crawl. I didn't expect to hear that monster's tone who turned my entire life upside down. 

Fearing that he could recognize me and capture me, with my back turned towards him, I quickly covered my face with the white veil that was sitting on top of my head. 

I internally sighed with relief knowing that I didn't give him a chance to look at my face. 

"Hey… I'm speaking to you." Jayden's tone intensified, showing how pissed he was at me and my silence. 

I couldn't move a muscle as my body struggled to keep my composure. I tried not to utter even a sound or show my trembling hands to him. 

If he learned who I was, I knew there was going to be nothing but trouble. 

"Wait… you came out from Brandon's room. You must be his mate. I apologize for raising my voice at you." he turned his anger down trying to appear friendly to me even though I knew the black heart that existed below his skin. 

Even though my back was turned to him, I still kept my veil over my face as he kept trying to steal a glance at it. 

"Um, Welcome to Mighty Howlers Pack." he said with an enthusiastic tone that was marred with confusion and irritation. 

I could tell that my silence was bugging him but there wasn't much I could do. My body would just shut down being close to such a monster. 

His rough touch on my bare skin could still be felt despite trying to push it all away at the back of my mind. 

Hearing the pack's name escape his lips, my heart sank to the pit of my chest. Gulping the salvia in my mouth, I dreaded realizing that I was in Alpha King William's pack. 

Is that what Brandon meant when he said he was visiting a friend's pack? The moon goddess continued to play dirty games with me even after I thought she finally began to have mercy on me. 

I felt like I was a sheep in a lion's den. No matter what, I couldn't show my face to Jayden or his father. I shivered thinking what the consequences could be. 

"Oh my god, what are you still doing here? Alpha King Brandon is waiting for you at the ceremony. Let's get moving on!" Ruby suddenly burst out of the room, horrified that I was still standing near. 

She immediately yanked me by my wrist, taking me to the ceremony that was taking place outside the packhouse on the open grounds where the full moon was. 

Though Ruby had taken me far away from Jayden, I wasn't able to stay calm as I wasn't out of dangerous waters. 

Via the porous material of the veil, I was able to notice everyone rising from their seats as soon as I arrived at the ceremony. 

Ruby's grip on me was tight as she walked me up to the stage where Brandon, adorned in a black suit, along with the pack's elder was present. 

It was usually customary for the father to bring his daughter to the stage but I didn't know my biological dad while my foster father was out for my blood. 

As I got up on the stage, my nervousness intensified even though I was standing not even a foot apart from Brandon. 

I was no longer excited for the rituals as I kept getting worried, shifting my gaze constantly in Jayden's direction who sat at the front. 

Alpha King William sat alongside him, his demeaning eyes sending me shivers and goosebumps. 

The pack's elder who also served as the pack's priest began by chanting the rituals as the full moon was shining right above us. 

With each passing second, I felt anxiety gripping on me even tighter. All of the guests' eyes including Jayden's never left Brandon and I. 

I tried to maintain my composure during the entire ceremony. It was supposed to be the beginning of a new chapter in my life… a potentially better chapter. However, I spent it as if I were eyed by predators surrounding me from all sides. 

"Please lift her veil" The pack's elder said as he bought a box of blessed coals, in order to let the holy smoke purify us for the wedding we were about to start soon. 

I suddenly felt my body heating up as sweat poured down my skin when Brandon stepped forward to lift my veil. 

My hands gripped on the sides of my dress as my mind scrambled while my body froze on the spot. 

I didn't know what I could do. There was nothing I could do. 

I felt my soul escape me when Brandon lifted my veil exposing my face to everyone present. 

My ears picked up the audible gasps I heard in the crowd when my gaze met their shocked expressions. 

Jayden's along with his father's too widened in shock, not able to believe that I would find myself in their pack. 

"Julie? Are you alright?" Brandon asked with concern, noticing my reddened cheeks as I struggled to breathe. 

He rested his palms against my cheeks, trying to hold me steady as I felt my vision grow blurry from the tears. 

Without any warning, Brandon scooped me from the ground and into his arms before taking me away from the ceremonial grounds. 

It wasn't long before we entered his room as he placed me gently on the bed. 

"Julie? What happened? You're burning up with fever." he asked, placing the underside of his palm on my forehead to check my temperature. 

I could see the worry etched in his glistening eyes but not a word was able to escape my lips. What could I say? 

My silence intensified Brandon's worry as he rushed into the bathroom, grabbing a towel along with a mug filled with water. 

He took my veil and jewellery off my face before soaking the towel in water and placing it over my head. 

"This should help bring your temperature down. I'll go grab the pack's doctor while you rest." He said, placing the mug aside. 

"No wait. Please don't leave me." I pleaded, holding onto his arm before he was able to walk away. 

Brandon gazed into my petrified ones before sitting himself next to me. With his finger, he wiped away the tears in my eyes before caressing my head gently. 

"I won't. I'm just fetching the doctor so he can see what happened to you." he explained with an assuring tone and a subtle smile forming his face. 

I lowered my head with anxiety gripping over me. I kept wondering what Jayden and his father were up to as I knew from their expressions, they were appalled to see me again. 

At that moment, I felt Brandon cup my chin in his hand, raising my head up towards him. 

"Julie… is there something you need to tell me?" he asked concerningly, noticing my sudden anxiety taking over me completely. 

"I noticed you were very scared throughout the ceremony. I'm your mate… you should tell me whenever there's something wrong." he elaborated. 

I wanted to tell him the truth. I wanted to tell him what Jayden had done to me but just as I was about to open my mouth, I closed it immediately. 

Fear infiltrated my heart when I realized that telling Brandon everything right now would get him extremely upset. 

Being an Alpha King, he would be very protective over his mate, causing him to clash with Jayden. I couldn't even imagine what would happen between them but I knew it would lead to huge conflict. 

We were in Alpha King William's pack. Brandon would be outnumbered if he decided to harm his son. 

I couldn't bear to see anything bad happen to Brandon, especially because of me. I couldn't put his life on the line because of the mess I found myself in. 

He protected me before and now it was my turn to protect him too. It was the least I could do, although it pained me to lie to him again. 

"No… nothing happened. It's probably just stress. I should be better with a little rest." I lied, shaking my head and forcing a calm expression over myself. 

Brandon's furrowed brows relaxed a bit as he let go of me. "Alright… but I don't want to take any chances. I'll get the doctor here and be back in a minute." he insisted, thankfully not asking me any further questions. 

I sighed, feeling a little relaxed however fear still had me gripped by my shoulders. 

As I bit my lips and fidgeted with my hands in anxiety, I heard the door opening with Brandon finally returning. 

I got out of bed, ready to speak to the pack doctor; however I tilted my head in confusion when I found Brandon entering the room alone. 

He approached me directly, towering over me with his intimidating figure. 

"Julie… are you sure, there's nothing you need to tell me?" He repeated his question. 

It perplexed me that he asked me the same question again but I figured that my sheer display of anxiety still kept him on his toes. 

"No, Brandon. There really isn't." I replied, holding onto his hand for assurance. 

Suddenly, a burst of clapping filled the room along with footsteps. 

As I turned my head to the door, my eyes widened in horror as I saw Jayden entering the room with a large smile painted on his face. 

"See, Brandon. I told you… she's nothing but a f*cking liar." he sneered as Brandon pushed my hands away from his.