Chapter 54: Chapter 54

✧ Luke's POV ✧

“We leave tomorrow,”

The monks of the royal chapel look at each other, exchanging silent words.

The rituals are complete, three days have passed. The beast is peaceful, as peaceful as he can be knowing that his mate is out there without him to protect her.

“Very well, Alpha.” One of them says “We see great potential in you, despite the darkness that looms inside.”

I have to stop myself from rubbing my temple. They talk about it as if I haven’t been controlling it since I was eleven.

With a brief nod, I leave the small temple they have on the side of the chapel. Goddess, I’d be glad to get out of this soon forsaken robe and into a proper shirt.

I take quick steps towards the residence nearby, the evening sun spills its golden light all around, making the shadows grow taller.

When I reach my room, I strip off the robe and after a quick shower, get dressed in a plain shirt and pants.

Tomorrow, I will go back to my pack. As soon as we can manage, Hazel and I will leave for the New York HQ along with her mother. I’d told father not to get started with that contract until I’m there, Hazel and her mother would be safe within our pack borders.

What would my little queen be doing right now? Laughing at something, making trouble, or finding some to get in.

The door of my room bursts open, my head snaps in its direction, eyes narrowed.

Casper hurries inside, paying no heed to my glare, his face set in panic.

“What is it?” I ask, already steeling myself for some kind of trouble

“We’ve been invited to a wedding tonight.” He holds out an invitation card

“We can't attend, we’re leaving tomorrow,” I say

“Take a look,” the worry in his voice makes me grab the card

My eyes go over the words, not making sense.

Alpha Ethan Parks weds Ms. Elise Attwood

Elise's POV

I pace around nervously in my wedding gown. The sun has long gone down, we’re waiting for the moon to reach the highest point of the sky.

What am I doing What am I doing What am I doing?

My clammy hands skim the soft white tulle of the skirt, pearly beads scattered on it. my eyes flicker to the mirror.

The makeup artist has outdone herself, I look like an angel.

A fallen angel. I tear my eyes away from the beauty in the mirror and pace the room. Alone.

Is this what I wanted my wedding to be like? Without friends? Without planning? With my freaking memories?

Stop it, I shake my head. You can have a huge wedding reception after this, this is necessary.

I go to the window, the sky is beautiful tonight, the moon is high. I open the window to let the cool air cascade over me, my eyes fall shut.

“I’m afraid I will close my eyes and when I open them again, you will not be here anymore. You will not be mine.”

My eyes snap open and I suck in a sharp breath. That voice. Who was that? My head throbs with pain, something desperately claws at my head.

The door clicks open, I snap out of my trance. Mom is dressed in an elegant soft pink dress, her hair arranged in a top knot.

“You look, beautiful dear,” Mom smiles at me, tears glistering in her eyes

“I don’t know mom,” I say quietly “everything feels so heavy.”

“It’s alright sweetie,” Mom comes over to me and wraps her arms around me “You’re going to be okay.”

I cling to her, like a child fearing the dark. But the heavy stones in my stomach don’t go away, the lump in my throat is super persistent. I can't think, I can't reason my stupid emotions.

“It’s time to go,” I pull away from mom to see Carlos in the doorway, dressed in a suit

He offers me a hand, I swallow thickly before taking it. He’s going to walk me down the Altar.

Everything is fine. Ethan is your soulmate, the man you’ve been waiting for all this damn time. Your freedom, your escape.

The church is only a little away from the packhouse, so close we can just walk to it. Carlos opens the door of a car

for me, I hesitate, feeling sick just by looking at it.

“Can't we just walk?” I ask

Carlos raises an eyebrow “Your dress we get messed up.”

“It won't take more than five minutes, dear.” Mom squeezes my hand

I look at the tall trees, for some reason, they look familiar, like old friends. Under the dark sky, they seem so pristine, a wild beauty.

Pain finds beauty a reliable disguise.

A hiss escapes my lips and my hand goes up to my head, pulsing with pain. That voice again.

“Come on, sweetie,” Mom’s voice reaches me, a note of worry in it “We’re getting late.”

She wasn’t lying when she said it won't take more than five minutes because the ride ends far too soon. We reach the church too quickly.

Mom kisses my cheek and Carlos puts my arm through his. When my gaze meets Ethan’s, I don’t feel freedom, I feel chocked, I feel caged. Every cell in my body is screaming at me to run.

Soon enough, my hand is given in Ethan’s. His blue eyes are so beautiful. Why don’t they look to be of the right color?

The priest takes his place. The local church for Lycan weddings is deep in the woods, the roof open to give a view of the moon. Ethan’s voice reaches my ears;

“While we both wish it, I give you what is mine to give,

I shall serve you in those ways you require,

Happiness will be sweeter coming from my hand,

I pledge to you my heart and soul, and you are all I desire.”

Why isn’t his voice like the one I just heard? If it wasn’t him saying that, who was it then? I swallow, my tongue seems to be in dust but I force the words out anyways;

“I pledge to you that yours will be the name I say in the night,

And the eyes into which I smile in the morning,

For you will be my body and mind, every bit of my love,

May the moon allow our hearts to meet, our souls to intertwine.”

It had taken mom quite some time to make me memorize them, but since I have so much vacant space in my mind, I didn’t forget.

“Now you may mark the bride,” the priest steps away

I numbly register Ethan’s arms wrap around my waist, the scent of sandalwood and cinnamon drifts over to me.

“You look beautiful, Elise.” He’s so close, I can see the flecks of grey in his blue eyes

My mouth has been glued shut, my mind scattering like sand, and everything in me is recoiling and yet still.

“It’s going to be okay, love.” He lowers his head, I feel his lips brushing against my neck “Everything is going to be better.”

He presses a soft kiss to my skin. Why Why Why don’t I feel desire? Need? Something other than this feeling of being hanged into icy waters?

“Elise,” his canines scrape my skin and I suck in a sharp breath “Tell me to do it.”

I try and fail to swallow. People are staring now, my nerves are sky-rocketing

“I… I—”

The doors of the church slam open. Ethan pulls away from me, his arms wrapped in a protective hold around me.

My eyes fly to the doors and I realize they aren’t open after all. They’ve been ripped off their hinges.

One man stands in the doorway, his voice rings with a heavy growl when he says;

“—Already have a mate.”