The Unwanted Bride Of Atticus Fawn

~CARTER~

Waking up in the middle of the forest after my wedding day wasn't how I ever imagined it to be.

I wince at the pain in my head. Everything fucking hurt but nothing pained as much as my heart did. It fucking burned like never before.

I hated myself with everything inside of me.

I'd said things to Scarlett yesterday that I shouldn't have. I kept messing things up between us. Part of me felt I was intentionally sabotaging my relationship with her so I couldn't get more attached. I was already hooked on her and couldn't last a day without her by my side. There's no telling what will happen if I get any more attached to her.

I shouldn't be this fearful of my feelings. I shouldn't see it as the enemy.

I shouldn't be scared of this fucking curse. I was letting it rule my life and ruin it simultaneously.

Scarlett had an idea that something terrible happened on a full moon, but she still wasn't aware of what it was.

She begged me last night to tell her the truth, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I'd just gotten her back after letting her go in the past; I didn't want to lose her so quickly again. I wanted to spend some time with her as my wife before she found out the truth about me.

I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I saw the same hatred in her eyes that I saw in Nicole's eyes when she looked at my brother.

I wince as the sunlight hits my eyes. I froze when I realized what it meant.

We had classes today.

Fuck.

I was supposed to go with Scarlett today; it would be her first day back at the academy as my wife. I knew it wouldn't be easy for her after everything we went through together publicly.

The girls at our school were brutal when they wanted to be, especially girls who wanted a chance to be with me.

Damn it, Carter! How are you such a fucking screw-up?

I raced through the forest and didn't stop until I ran into the house.

Alaric stopped me before I could reach the stairs.

"Where is she?" I ask him.

"You're too late." He informs me. "She left almost an hour ago with Clara."

"Clara?" I ask.

He nods, "She came here to pick her up."

Damn it.

"Where were you last night?" He asks me. "It was your wedding night. You should have stayed with your wife."

I sigh and run a hand down my face, "I couldn't. I screwed up and had too much to drink. I didn't want to stay in the room with her when she kept asking me questions about the full moon."

"What?" He asks, his eyes were wide with surprise. "What does she know about the full moon?"

"Relax," I tell him. "She doesn't know anything. She knows that something bad happens every full moon, but she doesn't know the exact details of it. You can thank your wife for that. Scarlett only has an idea about everything because of her. Why is she so determined to ruin all of our lives?"

He breathes a sigh of relief, "I know Nicole does things without thinking sometimes. I'm sorry on her behalf, Carter. I'm trying to finalize the divorce, but she's suddenly acting like she never wanted to divorce me in the first place.”

I stiffen, "what do you mean by that? Does she not want the divorce anymore?"

Please say no. I couldn't stand that woman; I didn't want Scarlett near her. If Alaric chose to stay married to her, we would have no choice but to allow her into our home, and it's the last thing any of us wanted.

"I don't know." He answers me. "One minute, she says that she wants to divorce me, and the next, she claims it's the last thing she wants from me. I don't know what kind of game she's playing with me, but I'm growing tired of it."

"Don't fall for her trap, Alaric," I warn him. "She makes your life miserable. She doesn't truly love you; if she did, she wouldn't do the things that she did. Nicole is playing with your life; she's playing with all of us. I don't know what her problem is but don't get sucked into her world again. You're finally moving on with your life, and we are all behind you; we will support you; leave her out of your life."

His eyes snap to mine, and I can see he isn't over her. I never expected him to be. I knew he loved her. I wish he didn't.

"I've been trying to push her out. It was fucking hard for me to agree to this divorce in the first place." He confesses. "But now that she seems to want to make things work between us, I feel conflicted about what to do. I need some time to think about everything."

I take a deep breath. If he needed the time, there was nothing else I could say to make him change his mind.

"I have to go now," I tell him. "Scarlett would need me by her side today."Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

He nods, "I know. Those girls aren't going to make it easy for her. At least she has Clara by her side. I know she will protect her."

I quirk a brow at him, "Are you and Clara suddenly friends? You seem a lot closer to her recently than I remember.”

He pales at my question, "Nonsense. We aren't that close. She will be my student soon, and she's your ex-girlfriend."

I nod. "We can continue that discussion about Nicole later. I'll see you when I get home."

He doesn't say anything as he watches me leave.

I rushed to my room and quickly changed. I don't bother saying goodbye to my parents as I rush out the door.

I didn't waste a second jumping into my truck and reversing out of the garage.

Scarlett would need me today. I had to be there for her. I was already fucking late.