I quickly folded the doctor's report in one of my dress pockets as Laura burst into my dressing room, frantic. "Ariel, it's Louis," she gasped. "He's nowhere to be found."
My hands froze over my wedding gown. "What do you mean?" I asked, trying to stay calm.
He sent me my gown and a sweet note pinned to it. I showed Laura the gown.
"I don't know Ariel but people are beginning to talk". Laura handed me the tablet that showed the guests being captured by the CCTV camera restless on their seats as they grumbled amongst themselves.
"Let me call Louis , I know he'll have a good explanation for being late." I zipped open my purse to get my phone. I dialed his number, only for it to go back to voicemail. Louis always picks up his phone. What's happening? I whispered to myself.
"Laura, please keep the guests busy I'll go to his house myself." I took my purse lying on the makeup table. I sneaked out of the hotel and hailed a cab to Louis's place, thankfully remembering he always kept his spare keys in my care.
As the taxi swivelled dangerously across the road, I sped off. I prayed to the moon goddess that Louis would be safe. The burning sensation in my chest and my wolf Cora's whining did little to calm me down.
I came down from the taxi in a rush and almost forgot to pay the taxi driver. I searched for his house keys in my purse, silently praying for protection. With a click, I slotted his keys into the keyhole and opened his house door.
The couches in the parlour were turned upside down, and I could see blood marks all over the white couch Louis boasted of, severally to me.
The smell of bleaching agent hit my nose. It was scrubbed all over the couches and on the floor, as if someone deliberately tried to hide the foul smell of blood.
Louis was an orderly man and hated dirt. "What is happening here?" I whispered to the flying thoughts going on in my head.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I caught sight of a bracelet ripped into two. I picked it up; my heart beat amongst my ribs. This was my adopted mom's bracelet, which she cherished and wore with her everywhere she went.
Confusion blared across my face as I climbed the stairs in search of Louis. I kept hoping that he wasn't hurt. The staircase did nothing to calm me down, as I could see the trail of blood and Louis's clothes on the floor leading to his room door.
I turned his doorknob gently, not wanting to be caught snooping in. There was no one there. I looked panicked at the sight of the empty room. "Louis! Baby, where are you?" I shouted frantically at the empty room; my voice echoed off the walls.
I heard the sound of running water from his bathtub. "Probably, he might be having his shower," I said to myself as I tiptoed to his shower room. "Baby, you are late for the ceremony," I knocked gently on the door. No response. Everywhere was quiet and suspiciously calm. I couldn't hold it in anymore and opened the door.
My hand flew from the door handle to my mouth. There, on the bathtub, lay my adoptive mother's body, floating in the bathtub. Her head was covered in blood, and for a while, I couldn't recognize her face.
I rushed to check her pulse; her hand was cold and devoid of warmth. With a shudder down my spine, I realized she was already dead.
"No!" I shook her body violently, willing her to wake up. Tears filled up my eyes, even though she wasn't the perfect mom to me. I didn't want her dead.
"Mom, please wake up! Stop... kidding around," I said, my hands rubbing against her bloody clothes in an attempt to wake her up.
Panic washed over me, and for a moment, time seemed to slow down. I looked at the lifeless body of my mom with a sudden cold realization that I had totally forgotten to lock the doors behind me.
As I got a hold of myself and quickly rose to lock the door, I turned to see Louis and our pack's elders staring at me. They were standing outside Louis's room.
"Ariel, how could you!" Louis yelled, entering the room.
"No, I didn't! This is all a big mistake! I came here to look for you, only to find her dead," I exclaimed.
"We don't believe you, Ariel. After all, you always wanted to see her dead," one of the elders spoke up.
"Louis, baby, believe me, I won't do anything like this," I whimpered.
"She's right; I don't think she could have done this," Louis responded.
I was glad that he was on my side.
"She had an accomplice,search the room, check the surrounding. Her accomplice might not be far gone," Louis yelled at his Beta, who scampered to look around the house.
Louis's gaze was now fixated on me, his eyes unforgiving and cold, nothing like the man who rocked and cuddled me during the night.
"No, this was not happening to me. Today was my wedding day, and I would try to convince Louis that I am not a murderer," I thought to myself.
"Louis, please believe me, I didn't kill my adoptive mother," I pleaded.
"Is that so, Ariel? Why are your hands filled with blood, and you were the last person to be seen inside this room after your mom?" Louis asked, his voice cold and detached.
"Louis, I am being framed," I exclaimed, desperation creeping into my voice.
Enough, Ariel! I have had enough of your lies," Louis said, his voice rising in anger. "I can't have a murderer as my Luna, so I, Alpha Louis of the Blood Moon Pack, reject you as my mate."
Everywhere suddenly felt hot, and I couldn't breathe properly. With teary eyes, I pressed my lips together, willing myself to speak.
"I accept your rejection, Alpha Louis," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
I could feel his eyes filled with pain as he spoke his next words: "Ariel of the Blood Moon Pack, you are hereby banished from the pack. You have only 48 hours to leave the pack."
He turned his back as the guards positioned outside his house dragged me away.