Hi everyone! I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE FINALLY HERE!!! If you've come this far with Animal I appreciate you from the bottom of my heart and I truly hope you'll enjoy this (almost) finale. Part 2 will be in Jason's POV. 

xxx

03:49

Alexia's heart pounded hard against her rib cage, and she thought self-destructively, it would be so wrong to do this without trying to reach out to him for the last time.

So, she dialled his number and waited. With clammy hands, she pressed her phone against her ear, her knees trembling.

And waited.

And waited.

The phone rang three times. Five times. Seven times.

"This is Jason. Leave a message after the tone—clearly I'm busy now." Beep.

He hadn't picked up. She thought, surely he'd pick up if she was the one calling. They were each other's soul mates after all, she couldn't go this long without contact. Yet, he hadn't picked up. Just like he'd been ignoring everyone else these past few weeks. Alexia was no exception. She was nothing special. She was just his ex-girlfriend, and she was about to get married. Why would he pick up?

Her lungs burned as she closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

xxx

07:30

When Cat had barged into her room and drawn the curtains open, Alexia had been feigning her sleep. Truth to be told, she'd been awake for hours, contemplating everything this day would offer her. She knew it would be a warm day by the torrid, muffled air inside the room. Her sheets were kicked to the sides and even in shorts and a top she was sweating excessively.

The morning light streamed through the window and left a pool of gold on the part of the floor where it shone. She should've been grateful for the tropical weather, but Alexia felt nothing but betrayal. It was like the universe tried to make Alexia see that it was a happy day. It wasn't. It would never be.

"Good morning, my sweet bride!" Cat whooped. She wore a white robe, had sponges squirmed in between her freshly, red-painted toes to keep them apart, and her hair shrouded around purple rollers. She looked like the epitome of a bridesmaid, and it saddened Alexia deeply.

Ever since they made up, Cat's been trying to make Alexia feel better about the wedding. Though Alexia appreciated all of her efforts, it irked her that her older sister wouldn't seem to understand that this would be nothing other than a dreadful event to her.

"Hi." Alexia responded groggily, turning on the mattress. If only she could try to catch a bit of sleep...

"Oh no, honey." Cat exclaimed, grabbing Alexia's wrist and digging her nails into her skin. "You are not going back to sleep. We have a whole schedule—the mani's and pedi's have already started. All the bridesmaids are gathered downstairs, Katia, Lola, Maya—even Chloe is there. Get your ass up, sis."

Though the mention of Damian's horrible sisters Katia and Lola had sent a miffed shiver up her spine, it instantly drew back once Cat brought up Maya and Chloe. Maya was a daily visitor but the last time Alexia had seen Chloe was before she and Chaz left for Europe and she'd missed her like crazy.

Alexia let out a groan but forced herself up, swinging her legs off the bed. "Help me, God." She begged out loud before wringing her arms into the robe Cat held out for her. Cat chuckled lightly, "Not God. Cat. Help me, Cat."

But Alexia was certain she meant God.

xxx

07:55

"Alexia!" Chloe staggered off her feet, carrying herself and her belly towards the door, which Alexia had just walked through. Seeing her best friend was like seeing light at the end of the tunnel, and it almost made her emotional.

"Chloe." She whispered, engulfing Chloe into a tight hug—as tight as the belly let her. "I've missed you so much, you have no idea."

"I have an idea, alright. I missed you too, Lex." Chloe whispered back, her arms enclosing themselves some more. After the embrace, Alexia took the time to look at her best friend.

Chloe was absolutely glowing. Her blonde hair was rolled up similarly to the way Cat's was, and just like Cat she had sponges keeping her toes apart. Her smile was from ear to ear and her eyes glistened fiercely. There was a faint blush colouring her cheeks, but the prettiest thing out of it all was her stomach.

Her beautiful, round stomach. Her beautiful baby. Alexia's wild thoughts calmed down for a mere moment, realizing how serene the baby must be feeling. Safely tucked in her mommy's belly—nothing was out of order. Nothing would hurt her. Her mommy was keeping her safe.

Was this the way Alexia felt when she was in her mommy's stomach? She didn't know. She'd never referred to her mother as 'mommy', anyway.

And then, all the wild and disturbing thoughts came back. They'd been at it non-stop for days now, and Alexia reckoned that the closer she came to the wedding, the worse they'd get. Chloe seemed to pick up on her afflictive gaze and put an arm around her waist, leading her further inside. "Think of this as a spa. A way to relax. Bad thoughts come later, yes?"

"Sure."

So she sat down in the middle and let the professionals paint her toenails and polish her fingernails, while a hairdresser rolled her hair up into the same rollers she'd seen her sister and her best friend sporting. The other bridesmaids were in the room too, albeit there were not many. Maya had stuck close, trying her best to keep Alexia at ease at all times, just like Chloe was. They whispered soothing words and endearing thoughts, and Alexia loved them for it.

Damian's sisters, Lola and Katia, were getting pampered as well. If Alexia had a choice she'd never assign them as her bridesmaids, but Emilio had insisted and Damian had worded this wish out as well not long after. So, Lola and Katia Albarran ended up being her bridesmaids, too. Their snarky comments weren't present this morning and they mostly kept quiet, which Alexia loved. She doubted she'd be able to handle all of that so early in the morning.

xxx

08:38

The door slammed open. All girls' faces snapped up to see what this disturbance was about, but when they saw it was nothing special, most of them went back to enjoying the coddling. That is, Maya and Alexia aside.

Alexia's heart almost leapt when she saw her brothers standing in the doorway, big white sacks and crunched smiles all around. The smiles turned genuine once they noticed their sister, but then they went back to afflicted ones. Alexia knew why.

They wanted this just as little as she did.

"We brought breakfast." Teo spoke softly, entering the room. To emphasize his words, Stefano and Dominic followed their brother inside, holding up more bags of food.

"We really need that." Maya answered, a tender smile gracing her lips. Teo bent over and pressed a gentle kiss on her lips before he sat down and emptied the contents of the bags. Stefano and Dominic mimicked his actions, occasionally flicking their gazes to Alexia. She wasn't sure what she looked like to her brothers. Did she look upset? Did she look afraid? She didn't know. She didn't know what she was feeling—her emotions were an unsure jumble.

Her brothers had thought of everything. They brought coconut and spelt pancakes topped with blueberry compote and vanilla butter. Yogurt with granola. Oatmeal with stewed figs, honey and almonds. Eggs Benedict. Huevos rancheros. Smoked salmon bagels. Buttermilk biscuits with Vermont butter and homemade jam. Pumpkin pancakes. Egg sandwiches with black beans. Eggs with chorizo. Caramelized onion omelettes coated in house-cured salmon. French toasts made with two very thick slices of challah—everything.

Alexia's stomach rumbled. "Whoa," she said, "Are you trying to make me fat?"

Everyone laughed.

"You're already fat, sis." Teo responded, a sly grin curling his lips. Alexia rolled her eyes and playfully shoved his shoulder.

"Well," she shrugged, "Let's eat then!"

Maya and Alexia dove in, and so did Teo, Stefano and Dominic. Chloe joined them and after a bit of protesting, Cat decided to eat something too. In the end even Katia and Lola took a bite.

Alexia cherished this moment. It almost felt like her life was ending and these were her last hours. She appreciated every gesture, every word said positively. Though there were many places she'd rather be—she wouldn't wish for different company, no matter what. Her brothers and her best friends were all here. The only people that were missing were Ryan and Chaz.

And Jason.

xxx

09:31

"Just listen to me! You have to do this, Alexia!"

"Why? Give me one good reason!" Alexia cried, her hands thrown in the air. She didn't understand—why was this so damn important?

Cat groaned loudly, glancing upwards before giving Alexia all of her attention. "You have to get lathered up first thing in the morning so the moisturiser is completely absorbed into your skin before you pop on your wedding gown! Is that so hard to understand?"

"I don't want to get moisturised!" Alexia snapped in annoyance. She didn't want it because one, she hadn't shaved yet and if Cat found out she'd go ballistic, and two, getting lathered up as Cat called it made Alexia feel that she'd have to have sex with Damian again tonight, even though she was vowing to do her best to fall asleep early. She didn't want moisturiser.

"For the love of God," Cat sighed, shaking her head. "We have to start getting ready at 11, Alexia. This is your last chance to just relax."

Alexia kept her mouth shut. Her sister was right, but she didn't want to admit it out loud. Somehow a part of her was really opposed to this moisturising idea.

"Do you want me to do it?" Chloe asked, raising her eyebrows. Katia, Lola, Chloe and Maya were all gathered around Alexia and Cat, riveting the argument with wide eyes. No one comprehended why Alexia was so against getting moisturised, and it seemed that even she was keeping herself in the dark. Just a little bit.

"Yeah, that's fine." Alexia mumbled, turning around to meet Chloe's eyes. Chloe smiled sweetly, "Alright, let's get you upstairs to the bathroom then."

Smart Chloe. Chloe knew damn well that Alexia hadn't shaved.

xxx

09:49

Seventeen and a half weeks into the pregnancy, anxiety was starting to kick in. Chloe talked all about her growing bump and the way she'd been dealing with it for the past weeks. "She's the size of an onion. Or a pomegranate. People are saying different things." She babbled, carefully sliding the razor blade over Alexia's leg.

Alexia listened eagerly. Hearing Chloe talk about the baby calmed her down immensely. It was nice to know that some things weren't ruined yet. She couldn't imagine.

"We have a doctor's appointment next week to reveal the gender. Do you want to come?" Chloe hopefully asked.

Her eyes were so wide and so expectant that Alexia couldn't decline. She didn't want to, but she wasn't sure whether Damian would let her go. After all, he'd be her husband by then.

Her stomach churned. Alexia swallowed uncomfortably, plastering a fake smile on her face. "I wouldn't miss it for the world." Although she meant it, it was still quite hard to say. What if Damian wouldn't let her go? What if he'd force her to cut off all contact with her friends? She'd die. She'd actually die.

Oh, God. She didn't want to marry Damian. She hated him with her entire existence, there was nothing she wanted more than to get rid of that man. How on earth was she going to survive? Why was she going through with this? It hadn't downed on her until this very moment. She'd been feeling stupefied all morning, weirdly pastoral. But it was kicking in now.

Oh, it was kicking in now.

"Shit, Chlo." She gushed, her belly making a flip and her lungs feeling jammed in her throat. "What the fuck am I doing?"

Chloe put the razor blade down, thrown off balance. "What do you mean?"

"What. Am. I. Doing? I don't want to marry that psychotic bastard! Am I out of my freaking mind? Look at where we are! In my bathroom! You're shaving my legs! Because I'm getting married in a few hours! To! Damian! Fucking! Albarran!" her breathing hitched in her throat, tears burning in the back of her eyes. This was happening. Did she still have time to stop it? What would happen if she went out there and announced the wedding was off?

Chloe frowned and kicked the blade away, pulling Alexia into her arms. "Calm down, Lex."

"I can't calm down! I don't want this!" she felt suffocated. Extremely, absolutely suffocated. Tears rolled down her cheeks onto Chloe's arms. She hadn't even realized she'd started crying, but once she did, she seemed to be unable to stop.

"I know, sweetheart." Chloe soothed. "Honestly, if you're about to quit—I'm all for it. I'll support you through anything, and I'll definitely support you with getting away from Damian."

Alexia sighed, holding on to Chloe's warm and familiar arms with her dear life.

"But think about who you're doing this for. This is for Jason, baby. You're doing this to keep him safe. If you know another way to do that, I'm all ears. I'll sneak you out of the house and put you on the first flight to Italy if you want to. As long as you don't do anything you regret."

Just like that, reality hit Alexia in the face. That was true. The only reason she was going though with this whole ridiculous ordeal was because of Jason, because he deserved to live a normal and happy life. By ending it she'd endanger him again and she'd promised to never do that again.

Gradually calming down, Alexia nodded and wiped her tears away. She didn't want to do this because of Jason, but she also did want to do it because of him. It was a two-way, but she knew exactly which road she was destined to take.

"You're right." She muttered, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry." She composed herself, the same quiescent stance washing over her. She was doing this for Jason.

Chloe shrugged and chuckled softly. "Don't apologize. If I were you I would've freaked out a long time ago. Besides, what's a wedding without a bit of wedding anxiety?"

Alexia snorted. True that.

xxx

10:30

Cat wasn't happy. That much was evident by the way she ran around the house and answered her incoming phone calls. She tried to appear cheerful and ecstatic in front of everyone, but Alexia knew better. It must be difficult for her to be managing everything about her little sister's wedding while she was in love with the groom. Not long ago, the groom made her think that he was interested as well.

She had such a big heart that she still tried to make this as perfect as possible for Alexia. Nonetheless, Alexia saw right through her.

"Took you really long to get moisturised." Cat accused Alexia as she walked off the stairs with smooth legs and a calm exterior. She shrugged, "We wanted to do it perfectly, right Chlo?"

"Right."

Cat exhaled deeply. "You have thirty minutes left to relax. Your hairdresser and the make-up artists will be here in thirty minutes, if not earlier. From then on—you better not try messing around." Her threats were heavy and serious. Alexia snickered humourlessly, "Okay, sis."

A phone rang loudly. Cat cursed and took her phone out of her pocket, instantly accepting the call. There was a short pause before she started talking. "You absolute idiot! I told you—the pre-ceremony music starts the very second the guests arrive. Cocktail hour is at 5:40. Do you even listen to me when I tell you stuff?"

Her cheeks were flushed red and she exited the room, angrily screaming. Chloe and Alexia glanced at each other, both stifling their laughs. Maya was the first to openly burst out into laughter, holding her stomach. "I'm sorry!" she yelled out between fits, "It's just so hilarious to see Cat so wound up!"

Not long after, everyone joined in. Even Katia and Lola sniffled a bit, awkwardly.

xxx

13:48

This day was sincerely going too slow for Alexia's liking. She's been seated in this uncomfortable, wooden chair for hours now, a foreign hairdresser harshly poking her head and tugging her hair. Her bridesmaids were undergoing the same torture, although some of them were already getting their make-up done. Alexia, however, seemed to take the longest.

Of course. She was the bride.

Her limbs felt lump, a jolt of pain rushing through her as the hairdresser pressed a bobby pin into her scalp. "For fuck's sake!" she yelped, automatically shooting forwards, away from the hairdresser. He sighed, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm trying to do this as fast as possible. Come back here."

She irritably did so, allowing him to continue fondling around. Cat eyed her from across the room, momentarily pushing the make-up artist away who was about to apply some bronzer on her cheeks. "You better let him, Alex." She paused and glanced at her watch, "He has exactly twelve minutes left to finish your hair. After that the make-up artist has to start doing your make-up, otherwise we'll be late."

"I'm letting him." Alexia puffed, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "What's going to happen when we all finish our hair and make-up?"

"It'll probably be 3 by then, so that's when the photographer arrives. Hey, I'm done talking—you can continue."

Alexia furrowed her brows. Photographer? She thought that Cat had ran every idea by Alexia, yet it seemed she hadn't done so. "I didn't know we hired a photographer." And she didn't want one. Was her sister that delusional? Alexia already wanted to forget this day—she doubted that in ten years she'd look back and think, 'ah, what a good day!'. She doesn't need anything to remind her of this horrible wedding she's forced to participate in.

"I thought you knew." Cat mumbled carefully, not wanting the make-up artist to ruin her face. "It's normal protocol."

Alexia pressed her lips into a firm, thin line. It was useless to start an argument so she didn't do it, but that didn't mean that she agreed. Fuck protocol.

And as if Maya had read her mind, she pulled away from her hairdresser for a mere moment to shout, "Fuck protocol!"

xxx

15:17

Alexia skimmed her eyes absently over the neckline of her gown, the soft, thin fabric brushing against her skin. She was in utter awe, staring at herself in the mirror as if the person in the mirror wasn't her.

Her wedding gown was gorgeous. More beautiful than it had looked in the fitting room. The dress had a sweetheart neckline with spaghetti straps, and though the upper part was completely fitted, the dress debouched from her waistline downwards. The skirt was grand, layers on layers of fabric, and big. Tiny bits of sheen were woven into the fabric and twinkled whenever Alexia shifted.

She felt like a princess. Her heart pounced against her ribcage, tears pooling in her eyes. Her hair was up in a wavy, labyrinthine ponytail and her make-up was impeccable. She looked perfect.

"The tiara, the tiara!"

All the bridesmaids were done, too. They wore champagne-coloured, chiffon, A-line bridesmaid gowns with the same draped bodice Alexia's gown had. Their skirt was gathered and they all sported a natural waist with an Alabaster beaded trim. Chloe was the only one without the sparkly sash, but she didn't care.

Cat was running around, looking for Alexia's tiara. Alexia had to admit; the girls looked amazingly stunning. Cat had done her best to make sure everyone looked as excellent as they did, and Alexia had to give her credit.

"Care to finally tell me about the gown?" Maya appeared by Alexia's side, cloaking a loving arm around her waist. Alexia's lips curled upwards for a bit, looking at Maya with watery eyes. "Hayley Paige. It's the Chandon gown, 6709."

"Honey," Maya lipped, "It's beautiful. I—I'm speechless."

Me too, Alexia thought. Her heart lurched in her throat as she glanced at herself in the mirror again, her stomach clenching. She looked so unblemished you'd almost say that she was into this wedding. It made her sad to know that the man out there wasn't her man and that she wasn't the least bit interested in the one she was supposed to marry.

Her heart shattered as she thought about Jason. Perhaps having him at the wedding would be too hard to bare, but it would've been better than him being all the way in Italy—away from everyone and everything. As pathetic as it sounded, Alexia needed him. He was the only one that could calm her down, the only one that put her racing mind at ease.

If only she could see him for one last time... she'd regain all her confidence in this plan. One glance and she'd be reminded of who she was doing this for, of how important it was that Alexia married Damian.

"You can do this," Maya whispered, breaking her out of her thoughts. "You can freakin' do this, okay? You're Alexia Valdez and no one messes with you. Don't let this whole Damian shit get to your head—you're still fabulous and you're still superior to him. Live. It doesn't matter that in a couple of hours some papers say that you're married to him. You know the truth."

Alexia snorted, smiling stoically. "Alexia Albarran. I won't be Alexia Valdez anymore, I'll be Alexia Albarran."

Man, that made her nauseous.

Maya didn't get the time to respond. Cat appeared on Alexia's other side, a relieved smile gracing her lips. "Thank God," she panted, "I found the tiara." Cautiously, she slid the silver tiara into Alexia's hair.

"It's... wow." She exclaimed, her eyes wide. Maya whistled, but Alexia didn't feel like looking up to watch herself in the mirror.

She didn't want to see it.

"Look up, sis! It's beautiful!" Cat tried, tugging Alexia's arm.

Alexia swallowed the sob that had threatened to come up, glaring at her older sister. At that very moment she couldn't help but hate Cat, and with glazy eyes she hissed, "I don't want to fucking see it."

She turned around and walked away, leaving Cat bewildered.

xxx

16:45

Thump.

"Katia, you're up!"

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

"Okay Lola, you're next. Don't trip, yeah?"

Thump.

Thump.

"Go."

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

"Chloe, you're up. And please try to not lean your bouquet on your stomach."

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

"Maya—don't look at me like that—just go. Make sure Teo doesn't scowl."

Thump.

"Hold her tightly, dad. She looks sick."

"Of course."

Thump.

"I'm serious. She'll trip."

"I'll hold her very tight, Cat."

Thump.

"God, I'm so nervous for her. It's my turn to go now."

"Then go."

Thump.

"Please just—just help her get through this part. I know how nerve-wracking it is, I've had it before."

"Catalina, vete."

"Okay, I'm gone."

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

"We're next, amado." Emilio Valdez murmured, looking at his youngest daughter. He was heretofore emotional, his palms sweating and his throat closing. His little baby, his little Alexia... getting married. She looked mesmerizing in her wedding gown and the flashy tiara. But, her heart clearly wasn't in it, and Emilio was worried.

"Baby, are you here?" he nudged her.

Alexia blinked rapidly, forcing herself to smile. "Yes. I heard you."

Truth to be told, Alexia hadn't been listening to anything other than her heartbeat. It was the only thing distracting her from this heinous situation she found herself in. Her lungs were jammed in her throat, her stomach flipped nauseatingly and her entire body trembled. She was completely shaken to the core, terrifying thoughts shadowing every logical speculation in her mind.

This. Was. It.

All the crap she and Jason went through, all the shit they had to put up with... it was all shoved to the side. Nothing had worked. Their efforts were not good enough. In just a few minutes, Alexia would be vowing to stay by Damian's side for the rest of her life, and Jason wasn't even in the country.

It was all over. She had to accept it.

And she did. She felt nothing other than numbness as her father pinched her arm playfully, trying to get a reaction out of her. "You look asleep with your eyes open. You're okay?"

"I'm fine." She insisted. "Let's go."

Outside, the well-known tunes of the wedding march galled through the speakers. Emilio swallowed loudly and held out his arm. Alexia smiled bitterly as she hooked her harm through his, leaning her half her body weight on him. Her dad and her definitely weren't as close as they used to be, but she still loved him. It felt nice to have someone hold her.

"I'm so proud of you, baby." He whispered as they started taking their first steps. Alexia focused solely on her feet. Don't trip. Don't trip. She'd worn Louboutins again, Pigalle Follies. It seemed the right choice at that moment and Alexia had been relying on the lucky red soles of the shoes to get her through the day, but now she was doubting her choice.

If she tripped, she'd turn around and run straight back.

"Don't let me fall." She murmured, gripping his bicep with her other hand. Emilio flicked his gaze at her, a grin curling his lips. "I would never let you fall, Alexia."

Tears welled up. "Don't make me cry. Cat would kill me if I had mascara streaks on my cheeks."

Emilio laughed.

Together they marched from the enclosed room to the pathway cleared out for them outside. Alexia's breathing hitched in her throat, her heart still ramming in her chest.

It was an angelic day. The pathway led to the altar, which was embroidered with countless white roses, all flowing in on each other. The guests' chairs were also garnished with the similar flowers, causing a mild, sweet scent to wave through the air. The sun shone brightly, the hanging trees looking more magical than ever. Birds could be heard chirping over the music.

The chattering of the guests had halted promptly once Alexia and her dad made it to the outside path. A gasp went through the people, followed by everyone pushing back their chairs and standing up.

Alexia's head spun. Her foot almost glided, but her dad caught her like she weighed as much as a feather. "I got you, kiddo." He whispered.

A tear rolled down her cheek. Why had her father urged her to marry Damian? Her father was such a good man. Why had he let Damian manipulate him? Why did he get so attached to Damian till the point of no return?

She nonchalantly brushed away the tear, plastering a phony smile on her face. Her cheeks felt hot and her heartbeat rose as her eyes slid through the hordes of people, gawking at her like they'd never seen anything more magnificent.

Most of the guests were people she didn't know. It was important for everyone in the business to show up, and clearly she hadn't gotten to meet all of the hundreds-thousands working for her father. She anxiously searched the crowd, trying to find a single pair of eyes she knew. Just one.

She did. They were seated all the way in the front, but both of them had been holding her gaze—forcing her to look at them.

Chaz and Ryan.

Her stomach plummeted. They were the only two not smiling. In fact, they had alarming looks crossing their faces.

She knew they felt sorry for her. She knew they didn't want this for her. She loved them for it. She was glad they were here to support her nonetheless. Without them she wouldn't have been able to proceed walking.

Alexia took her time viewing her two best friends. Chaz was a bit tanner and had his hair tousled differently than usual. He wore a neat, grey suit, something she'd never seen him wear before. Ryan looked like he was kissed by the sun, his teeth whiter than ever. He, too, wore a suit.

They both nodded at her when they noticed that she was looking back at them.

'You can do this.' Chaz mouthed.

'We're proud of you.' Ryan mouthed.

She nodded in return, sniffing.

"You holding up?" Emilio asked with a smile. They were halfway the path. Alexia nodded, afraid that she'd burst into tears the very moment she opened her mouth.

The people standing by the alter were hard to ignore.

Chloe stood all the way at the end of the line, her eyes wide and her lips pulled into a firm line. She was holding a bouquet limply with one hand and had her other hand on her stomach. Maya's face was stormy, her brows downing on her eyes. Katia and Lola were both displaying cheery, smug smiles.

Cat was simpering. Her eyes were glazy and her bouquet shook in her hands, but she was smiling, and she looked genuinely happy for her little sister. Her eyes momentarily darted to Damian, and her smile fell.

Damian.

He stood closest to the priest and it was obvious that he was the man of the hour. He sported a smooth, black tux, his shoulders broad and his chest pushed forward. There was a sly, impish smile gracing his lips, one everyone seemed to mistake for proud. His hair was brushed backwards sleekly and albeit he looked handsome, his eyes on Alexia's were nothing such. They were dark and menacing, a kooky twinkle shooting through.

He was psychotic. It was so clear by the way he watched her, like he was having her as a meal for dinner later.

Reeling with panic, Alexia averted her gaze.

Not long left now. Just a couple of steps.

She switched her gaze to the other side of the alter in forlorn desperation, her heart skipping a beat when she saw who stood there.

Teo. Dominic. Stefano.

They were all there, supporting her, ready to protect her if anything went wrong. They would never let her do anything dangerous without them by her sides.

Stefano was fuming, he looked like he was about to pounce all of Damian's guts out of his body. Worry crossed Dominic's face and his nostrils flared. Teo, however, looked the most heartbreaking. His eyes hung. He looked sad. Sad that this was happening to his little sister, sad that this was happening to his best friend. Sad that there was nothing he could do to help, as much as he wanted to.

"I can't do this." Alexia whispered, glancing at her father. It felt like her heart had broken into a million pieces after seeing her brothers.

"Of course you can." Emilio whispered back, "I believe in you."

Alexia whimpered, but managed to keep herself restrained.

And then... they arrived.

It was dead silent as they stopped walking and Emilio pulled her close. "I'm so proud of you, my little baby." He spoke emotionally, "You've grown up so fast. You'll be an amazing wife and an even better mother. Your mom would be proud." He pressed a long, warm kiss on her forehead, and then let her arm go.

She was panicking. Her heart kept cramming against her ribcage and crashing to the floor, and then repeating the same motions over and over again. Her ankles quivered in her heels and her lower lip trembled feverishly. Her father had let her go. She was on her own now.

She had to walk over to Damian now.

Feeling like an absolute wreck, Alexia picked up the pace and stepped closer to the altar, stopping once she stood right in front of Damian.

He was so close, too close. His big, masculine body and his notorious smell wafted around her and she felt instantly intimidated, her gaze blurring.

Don't cry. You're doing this for Jason. Don't cry.

All the guests sat down. Alexia took a quick glance at the crowd, seeking her best friends' eyes. They all nodded at her as if saying 'we've got your back'.

Then, she looked up and met Damian's eyes. He chuckled.

Alexia's heart sank to her stomach.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses, to join Alexia Graciela Valdez and Damian Luz Salvador Albarran in matrimony commended to be honourable among all."

xxx

I know I usually don't add media, but I had to show you guys Alexia's dress!

This chapter consists of two parts so brace yourself for part two! This is also the last chapter (if you count out the second part) and after that there's only an epilogue and then it's the end of Animal :(

Anyway, we'll get to all the sentimental shit later. Hope you guys enjoyed the long chapter, let me know what you think! Don't forget to vote & comment!! Love, M