My wedding day… I have dreamt about this day since I was a little girl. But now that it was here, I didn't feel any excitement.
I kept staring out the window, watching guests arrive, some from the DarkClaw pack and others from neighboring packs.
I watched every car, waiting for the arrival of the one man I'd been thinking about for the past three weeks, but he didn't show up.
"I'll see you at the wedding, Brinley Vane," his last words echoed in my head. Did he change his mind about attending?
"Chloe? Do you think Alpha Caige is going to miss the wedding?" I suddenly asked her as she fixed her hair in front of the mirror.
"I doubt it," she answered, turning to me. "Aside from the fact that he's an important guest, let's not forget that he's Nik's uncle."
"Nik?" I tilted my head. "You sound like he's your bestie. I don't even call him that."
I noticed how her expression changed. "I'm sorry if saying his name offends you," she replied, sounding curt.
"Oh, no, no," I took her hands. "It's not that. I just wish I could see him familiarly like everyone does. I don't have a good feeling about any of this and honestly, if I had a choice, I doubt I'd be here."
I chuckled nervously and Chloe squeezed my hands.
"Don't worry. You'll get what you deserve," she smiled.
I smiled back and turned to face the mirror. My white dress was simple. It wasn't my first choice, but Chloe thought it was nice. It was a strapless ball gown, long enough to cover my silver colored shoes. My blonde hair was fixed up in a bun and my red lipstick stood out against my pale skin.
"You look amazing for what's about to happen," Chloe whispered, holding my shoulders.
"Thanks. You look radiant too," I complimented her. "Thank you for being my maid-of-honor."
"That's what friends are for. I'll get your veil," she said and exited the room.
Staring at my reflection again, I imagined Angus standing by my side. I shook my head, wishing the thought away as I wondered why I couldn't stop thinking about him.
I was getting married. Nikolas was going to be my mate, fated or not. But why did thinking about him make my heart feel hollow? My wolf has refused to recognize Nikolas's scent and whenever he touched me, she would recoil.
Was this how I was going to spend the rest of my life? Or would I fall in love with him along the line?
Just as I was thinking, I felt a familiar heaviness in the air so I went to look out the window. And there he was, Angus Caige, stepping out of a black Escalade in a dark suit. He looked handsome as ever, sporting a rugged stubble that made him look even sexier.
"Oh, goddess," I whispered inwardly. "Did I just refer to my groom's step-uncle as sexy?"
As if he had heard me, Angus suddenly looked up at my window, his grey catching me before I could hide behind the curtains.
"Damn it!" I cursed, refusing the urge to take another peek. I couldn't risk it.
A heavy knock on the door made me jump and I stared at it for a few seconds, wondering if it was Angus. Why would he come here today of all days?
As I was contemplating what to do, the doors opened and I let out the breath I was holding when I saw that it was my Dad.
"Daddy?" I called, walking into his open arms for an embrace.
"My Princess," he hugged me tight before pulling back. "You look very beautiful today. Your mother would be looking down on you with pride."
My face slowly fell, as it always did when my late mom was ever brought up.
"Can we not talk about her?" I asked and Dad sighed.
"It's been years, Bri. Would you ever forgive…"
"Dad, please," I cut him off gently. "It's all in the past. I just miss her." He nodded in understanding and I took the opportunity to take in his regalia. "You look great!"
He chuckled and gave me a spin so I could get a better look. "I know you got your looks from me," he bragged and I laughed with him, shaking my head. "But aren't you supposed to be wearing a veil?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Chloe went to get it."
"Hmm," he murmured thoughtfully. "She told me you were ready and since the ceremony is about to start, I thought I should come and walk you down the aisle."
"She should be here soon," I assured him.
My phone suddenly began to ring and when I looked around, I realized it was in the bathroom.
"Excuse me, Dad," I said, trying to recall when I put it there. I went to fetch it anyway.
Inside the bathroom, the number calling was unfamiliar, but I took the call anyway.
"Hello?" I said into the phone, but all I got was a heavy silence. "Hello?" I said again, staring at the phone screen. I kept trying to get whoever was on the line to say something, but they just kept mute, so I hung up. "Weirdo."
I looked at myself in the mirror one last time before heading out. I found the room and wondered where dad could have gone.
"Daddy?" I called out. Chloe walked in right then with the veil in hand. "There you are…"
"Arghhh!" Her sudden screech cut me off, leaving me speechless.
The veil fell out of her hand and when I followed her line of sight, I saw blood flowing from the other side of the bed, slowly soaking the veil.
Ignoring all the people who had gathered by the door, I walked over to see where the blood was coming from. Seeing my dad with a silver dagger plunged into his heart was not something I expected to see on my wedding day.
"Daddy?" I tried to call out, but my voice wouldn't come out.
"Why did you do this, Brinley?" Chloe's voice snapped me out of my shock.
"What?"
Despite my shock, my brows pulled together when I realized that Chloe was accusing me.
I was finding it hard to breathe. Those who just joined us were now staring at me with judgement in their .
"I… I didn't… Chloe… someone, help him! Call the pack doctor!"
They all sprang into action right then, taking out their phones to make calls, others rushing out to inform others.
My attention returned to my dad and I was trying hard not to panic. I slowly went to his side, crouching down beside him, not caring that my white dress was being soiled with blood.
"Daddy?" I called softly, praying to the goddess he'd hear me. But his eyes were closed and I knew he wasn't breathing.
Was this some kind of prank?
The blade in his heart didn't look fake. And it was mine. The very one he had gifted me when I first shifted. A werewolf was not supposed to have silver, but he had said it was for my own protection.
How could this same blade…?
"Why did you do this?" Chloe's voice came again, and this time, I just lost it.
"What is wrong with you?" I shouted at her, tears already streaming down my cheeks.
"I heard you!" She yelled, and when the pack soldiers arrived, her voice only grew louder. "I heard you screaming at him, accusing him of being responsible for your mother's death!"
"Please, back away from the Alpha," one of the men ordered, gently pushing me aside as he spoke into his walkie-talkie. "The Alpha is down! Secure the perimeter! Lockdown every exit!"
"What the hell happened here?" Chloe's father, the pack's Beta, demanded as he entered the room.
"She stabbed him," Chloe quickly pointed at me.
Everyone turned to me and I couldn't think about defending myself. My Dad was either dead or dying and I was being accused?
"Chloe, have you lost your mind?" I shouted.
"Restrain her!" Her father ordered and two soldiers grabbed my arms.
"Let me go!" I ordered. "Beta Greg, what are you doing? Is this some kind of joke?"
"The Alpha was murdered here in your bedroom with your own blade," he whispered, his eyes filled with disgust. "I'm sorry, Brinley. But until the council convenes, you are the primary suspect. Take her."
"No," I breathed, but I was already getting pulled out the door. "Chloe! Beta Greg! What is wrong with you people?"
Just then, I caught sight of Nikolas rushing up the stairs and he looked out of breath.
"Nikolas, help me!" I called out to him.
"Hey. Just go with them, okay?" he said, panting. "I'll fix this."
"What? No!" I protested. "I didn't do anything. Daddy!"
The hallway was now lined with wedding guests who had heard the commotion. When they saw me, they began whispering, shaking their heads, sending me dirty looks.
As we reached the bottom of the staircase, I spotted Angus standing aside, wearing a cold look as he watched.