The long white veil.
The flowers that were embedded in her dress
The way her ring sat coldly on her finger.
The mating ceremony was supposed to be the most wonderful day of every girl's life. She was supposed to meet the love Of her life and they would start their union in endless bliss as they sealed it in front of all their people but for Erica, the tears that slid down her cheeks at the thought of her having to mate with a monster were only a reflection of what she felt On the inside.
She had thought that she could do this, she wanted to. Her father had told her that this was what would be best for their pack. It was small and they were eligible to attack by supernatural hunters. With her mating with Alexander they would be able to unite the two packs and he would provide her with the protection she needed.
At least that was what her father had told her. It was what she wanted to believe. "Chin up sweetheart. You are getting later and by the end of the night you will most likely be a crumpled mess on his bed." She heard Jessica say and the rest of her maidens giggle.
She gulped, nodding her head because they did not get it. They couldn't understand what it was like having to spend the rest of your life bonded to a monster who had killed thousands of innocents simply because they wondered only about his pack.
She felt a bile rise in her throat at the thought of their screams and she forced herself to close her eyes shut. "Okay, we are all done. Your father will
Come to collect you". She heard her say as she shot back up. She let out a sigh from her Lips as she felt she could finally breathe again.
Jessica was the last to leave as she placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "You have to do this. It is your duty as the Alpha's daughter to protect our pack. I will say this is your only duty. We have all had to make sacrifices and this is yours. So wipe those tears and paste a fake smile if you have to." She said to her in a hissing tone.
She was relieved when she finally let go of her after a moment and walked to the door. Leaving her alone. Her hands shook as she looked around her childhood room. It was the only home that she could remember and now she would be forced to go somewhere unfamiliar.
She wondered what he would be like. She remembered the day that he had his men come riding into their land. He had been touring the world searching for His mate and their pack was one of his last spots. She had prayed that he would leave them alone but the moment she had met his piercing green eyes she knew he was her mate. It was the worst day of her life and she had wished now that she had ended it all when she had the chance.
She was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard the sound of a loud knock on the door. She cleared the throat as she slowly made her way towards it. She found her aging father on the other side. After losing his mate and her mother he had gotten weaker and he barely shifted these days. That was what true love did to you. It weakened you when it was gone. That was the only thing she was happy about. The knowledge that she would never fall so hard for Alexander.
He looked towards her with a sad smile as he offered her his elbow. She held her breath shaky before she slowly took his arm. "I am sorry that this has to happen. I would stop him if I could but you know I am not strong enough. But you do look beautiful." He said to her.
She didn't respond because the truth was that despite everything she didn't in fact hate him. Instead she hummed, nodding her head at him. "I don't want to be with him. He is a monster. I don't want things to be like this. I can protect us. Please father do something". She said to him desperately as they headed onto the path that was illuminated by bright candles and rose petals.
"Like I said , I can't. Now please don't cry. I know he won't hurt you. You are his mate". He said to her but she didn't know exactly who he was trying to convince at that moment.
"It didn't stop him from marrying my back before." She said to him in a mutter. She watched as her father froze in his step as he turned towards her with a look of shock on his face. "He did that to you. You said it was a rogue." He growled and she gulped as she shook her head.
"You Can't let him do this. He will Kill me or worse."
She said to him in a pleasing tone. He stared at her for a moment longer before he turned away and continued to walk. They made their way down the aisle where Alexander stops at the end. He had a bright smile on his face and he wore a fancy suit. He bared his teeth at her causing her to freeze as she came to a stop in front of him.
Her father let go of her as he stared at him. "Treat her well." He said and Alex smiled as he grabbed her hand. "I will". He said. "Well then we are gathered for the mating of these two on this day and we wish for the loon goddess to bless their union. If anyone opposes to this they may speak now." He said and Erica was tempted to speak but instead cried out when she felt his claws dig into her flesh.
"I oppose." She heard her father call out. She looked towards him in shock as her eyes widened. He stood from his seat as he sat the end. "He is a monster who has abused my daughter and I refuse to allow him to continue to torment her any further." She spoke as his words echoed.
"Is this true?" The priest asked Alex. Alex only smiled at him as he grabbed him by the neck. "Well yes she is my mate I can do as I please." He said.
"Now be a good girl and give me your hand." He said to her. She looked towards the crowd and her father before she shook her head. She panicked as she reached for the blade at the alter and stabbed it into his chest.
She watched as he groaned falling to the floor as she ran. "You will pay for this". He called out. She tried to reach for her father bit froze as she heard the sound of an arrow whiz through the air. She widened her eyes at the sight as she watched as her father fell to the ground.
She raced for him pulling him Towards her chest. To her horror she watched as he gulped on his own blood before he went limp. She looked towards Alex through blurry eyes as she watched him stumble back up to his feet peeling the blade from his chest.
He struggled to make sense of what was going on. "You See I knew that you would try something like this and that Is why I had a witch protect me. And now because of your foolishness. They are all going to die". He roared and she watched as several men came through the forest.
They shifted into their wolves and she watched as they mauled her pack. She was left helpless as she watched them die one after the other. An anger she didn't know was vibrating through her. She heard his footsteps approaching her as he came to a stop in front of her. He lifts up her chin to look at him.
"Don't worry I won't kill you. But I Alexander Martin reject you as my mate. And I hope you spend the rest of your days in pain of that knowledge." He spat.