BANG!!!
The church doors flew open.
For one stupid heartbeat, I thought it was traffic. I told myself Rowan could never be late. The famous Alpha of the North Pack didn't miss his own wedding. Not when the whole city was watching. Not when cameras were waiting outside.
My heart raced anyway.
Then I saw him.
Rowan stood in the doorway, tall, perfect, untouchable... with Amelia on his arm.
My sister.
His fingers were wrapped around her waist like she had always belonged there.
No.
No, no, no, no, no!!!
My bouquet slipped in my sweaty hands. My knees shook. The whispers began instantly.
"That's Amelia..."
"Isn't that the bride's sister?"
"Oh my God..."
I walked forward, every step heavy. "Rowan..." My voice trembled. "Tell me this is a joke."
He looked at me like I was nothing. Like I was an inconvenience.
"I don't joke," he said calmly. "Especially not about mates."
Mate.
That word stabbed deeper than any blade.
Amelia lifted her chin. "You should've known. He never loved you."
I laughed softly, broken. "You hugged me this morning."
She smiled. "And?"
I turned to Rowan. "You stood beside me. You promised me."
He tilted his head slightly. "I promised what I thought was right at the time."
"At the time?" I whispered. "So what am I now?"
He stepped closer, his voice low and sharp. "A mistake."
The church gasped.
My chest burned. My vision blurred. Hot tears poured out and my mascara began to bleed down my cheeks, black streaks staining my skin.
"You're doing this in front of everyone?" I cried. "You couldn't even reject me in private?"
He didn't flinch. "You wanted a grand bond. You should accept a grand ending."
Amelia crossed her arms. "Even Mom said you were never meant for him. You were always second."
Second.
I looked at her. My own blood. "You took him."
She smirked. "He chose me."
Something inside me shattered.
I raised my bouquet and threw it at her feet. Flowers exploded across the marble floor.
"Take it!" I screamed. "Take the ring, the flowers, the man, the life-take everything!"
My tears fell harder. My makeup ran. My chest felt like it was tearing apart.
"You humiliated me!" I shouted at Rowan. "You turned my wedding into a circus!"
He finally looked annoyed. "Stop crying. You're embarrassing yourself."
That killed me more than his rejection.
People were whispering. Phones were up. Recording. Watching.
I laughed, hysterical. "You won't even look guilty."
Rowan turned away from me and placed a hand on Amelia's shoulder. "Come. We're leaving."
Leaving.
Like I was nothing.
"I will never forgive you!" I screamed. "Never!"
I ripped the veil from my head. I kicked off my heels and ran down the aisle, sobbing, mascara streaming, my dress soaked with tears.
Outside, chaos exploded.
Flash! Flash! Flash!
Cameras blinded me instantly.
"Miss, is it true Alpha Rowan rejected you?"
"Were you cheated on?"
"Is Amelia his true mate?"
"Did you know before today?"
I covered my face but it was too late. My ruined makeup, my torn veil, my shaking hands... it was all being filmed.
Behind me, Rowan and Amelia stepped out.
More flashes.
"Alpha Rowan! Why did you choose Amelia?"
"Is she your real mate?"
"Was this planned?"
Rowan didn't look at me.
"She is the woman I choose," he said calmly to the cameras. "The wedding was a mistake."
Mistake.
That was me.
The crowd murmured.
"She deserves that."
"Why would he choose the sister?"
"Power chose power."
Amelia leaned into him, smiling like she had won.
I stood there, shaking, mascara dripping down my face, my heart torn open in front of the world.
They broke me.
They humiliated me.
They crushed me publicly.
I wiped my face and laughed through my sobs.
"They think this is my end?" I whispered. "They think this is my fall?"
No.
They are going to watch me rise.
And when I come back...
I won't be crying.
I'll be burning them.
