KYLIE'S POV
Why? Why did my fiancé do this to me?
Earlier, I stood before the arching display of flowers at the end of the red carpet. It was our garden wedding day, but the empty space for the groom on the makeshift altar and the worried faces of the guests told me something was wrong.
Despite the uneasy feeling, I swallowed hard and continued walking down the red carpet with my bouquet of roses. I had dreamt of this day, but why did every step feel like a nightmare?
Just then, I saw my mother hurrying towards me, her expression filled with anxiety.
"Kylie," my mom said. "Why don't you take a seat first?"
I looked at her, confused. "Seat? Mom, it's my wedding day. Brides aren't supposed to sit down."
My mother couldn't meet my gaze, so I looked around. My pack, the Raven Pack, was seated on the right, and my groom's pack, the Herekin Pack, was on the left. Most of them were whispering and gossiping, looking at me in a way that made me uncomfortable. I could see their pitying glances, the hushed whispers of the guests, their unspoken questions echoing in the deafening silence: What happened? Where is my fiancé? Where is Carion?
"Mom?"
"Kylie, honey," my mom said, looking down. "I'm sorry. Your fiancé—"
"Kylie!"
My mom was interrupted when Steven, my best friend from Herekin Pack, called my name. Without saying anything, he hugged me, which bothered me because he doesn't usually hug without reason.
"What happened? Why does it feel like a funeral, not a wedding?" I forced a fake laugh.
"Because it is," said Steven seriously. "Carion called me. He said he won't appear today because he changed his mind. He said he chose someone else to be his mate."
I froze, trying to process what I heard. He changed his mind? Was I hearing this right? Carion didn't want to continue the wedding? Why? What did I do?
Whispers, then accusations, escalated into a deafening roar of indignation. I noticed Carion’s pack becoming worried about their soon-to-be Alpha's disappearance.
My pack, on the other hand, showed their anger and disappointment. They felt offended by Carion's actions, but most of all, I was greatly insulted.
"Your member is a traitor!" roared Beta Jake, my uncle. "How dare he not appear today! Is he disrespecting our pack?"
"Carion is a man of his word," countered Alpha Lucian, Carion's father. "He'll be here in a minute or two. I'm sure he was caught in traffic, or else, he was abducted. We've started tracing him, Beta."
"Don't defend the traitor, or we're cutting ties with your pack."
I could smell my own pack's impending transformation into wolf form. Claws extended, teeth bared, I immediately stepped into the center aisle to stop them.
"Enough!"
Wearing my white gown, I stood between the two packs, hands raised.
"Maybe it's better to talk this out instead of resorting to battle. I know Carion. He's not the enemy here. My heartbreak is my own, but I won't let this break the bond of our pack. So, please, let's all be civil and act as if this didn't happen, even if Carion doesn't show up."
When the last guest departed, I stood in my wedding gown alone, without a groom.
"Kylie," a voice broke the silence, soft yet firm. I turned and met Steven's concerned eyes. Ever since we were kids, we are inseparable. Aside from that, he was also Carion's cousin. He was the reason I met the man who I thought was my fated mate.
"I know you're hurting. You don't have to pretend to be strong, Kylie."
I fought back tears. I had always appreciated Steven, especially his kindness and unwavering support.
"I just... I don't understand," I whispered. "He promised me... He swore..."
"It's okay, Kylie," he said. "I'll take care of this."
I hesitated. "But I don't..."
"Don't worry," Steven interrupted, his eyes filled with warmth. "Everything will be alright."
Then, Steven surprised me. He knelt, not with a ring, but with a sincerity that shone brighter than any jewel.
"Kylie," he said, "You deserve happiness. You deserve love. And you don’t have to settle for anything less. I’ve always admired you. You’re strong, you’re beautiful, you’re everything that matters. It's Carion's mistake for ditching you at the altar. Marry me instead, right here, right now."
I was too shocked to speak. The organizers, who were already cleaning the venue, stopped and watched. I noticed they are waiting for a response. To be honest, I felt pressured to answer yes to cover up my humiliation and not embarrass Steven, so I nodded.
"Y-yes."
If Carion wouldn't show up, I would save our packs by marrying his cousin instead.
He stood and embraced me. In that moment, I felt a sense of weirdness, but also relief, to have solved the brewing chaos between the packs.
Then, Steven said something that made no sense to me at that time. "I deserve to be your mate. I deserve to be at the top, and he will be doomed in my hands forever."
