My heart pounds, and it continues to do so, louder and stronger by the second till it becomes everything that fills my thoughts and ears.
I wish I could say this is a good thing, but I had been so absorbed in focusing on trying to steady the beat of my heart, that I didn't notice when I missed a step, which caused me to trip over myself.
Gasps rise in a hushed tone as every eye in this hall turns to meet me.
At once, the pounding of my heart becomes so loud, I fear it will break out of my chest.
"Get up." A voice whispers into my ear, my father's voice, Migail Marquis.
The Alpha of the Gerindail pack. Once a mighty pack, now reduced to a group of backwater wolves.
"Get up." He repeats, anger glazing his tone, as he squeezes my arm and pulls me up.
I try to steady myself, as I peer through the veil covering my head, towards the Alpha standing at the altar, waiting to wed me.
Darius Cristalsteel is the epiphany of masculinity, handsomeness and desire.
He towers above all men at six feet six inches, his sharp red eyes can bore a hole into anyone he stares at, and his blonde hair and chiseled face do an impeccable job at highlighting the strength and power that exudes off of his terribly muscular body.
In simple terms, he is a massive, hulking, handsome devil.
Who steals the hearts of every girl he points a gaze towards.
Not only is he the fantasies of many girls above and below the age of 18 - my age - but he is also Alpha of the Leviakon pack, the strongest and most powerful pack to exist in this country for over 200 years.
"Let's go." My father whispers again, which is accompanied by another squeeze on my arm, causing me to wince in pain.
But I don't linger, so I move ahead, keeping my father's pace as we approach the altar.
My beating heart never ceases and as we get closer, it only grows in intensity.
Today is supposed to be 'The day' for every girl, it is supposed to be the happiest day of any girl's life.
I'm about to be the mate of the most powerful and handsome Alpha in America.
A dream of every girl within and outside this country.
But yet, I cannot help but feel the desperate need to cry.
Because he is not my mate.
It is said that once a girl reaches the age of 18, in that instant, she will feel the pull and or call of her mate.
And as of yesterday, 10th of January 2024, I felt the call of my mate, and it has been driving me crazy ever since.
I can feel his pull, I can feel his presence, I know where to go, I know what direction to take, I know how to find him.
Don't ask me how I know, I just know.
I should be in my wolf form, chasing this feeling so I find my mate.
But instead, I am here, being wed to the wrong wolf.
All because he found me beautiful.
Yes, beautiful, beautiful is what I have been called since the day I was born.
Beautiful, is what every boy that ever talked to me called me, beautiful is what I have been told has been the sole reason why I basically have no friends.
Because they either are envious of me, or want to sleep with me.
Most people say that being beautiful is a blessing, but as far as I am concerned, my beauty has been nothing but a curse.
And because of this curse, I will have to spend the rest of my life, in agony, craving for a mate I will never have.
I will have to suffer the worst fate imaginable to any she-wolf, a fate worse than death as I have been told.
And as of yesterday, I can feel that truth in my bones.
Have I not been hurt enough?
"Abigail." My father's voice pulls me from my head and I discover I've already made it to the stairs, where the Alpha waits for me just a few steps up ahead.
"Make sure you don't do anything stupid." Father says to me for the last time, before releasing his grip on my arm, which I know is bruised.
But it isn't really anything new, as father had always been the one to hammer instructions into his subordinates with a whip, and I'm no different, despite being his child.
Had it not been for the healing abilities of the Kerigore pack, which my father has close ties to, I would be covered in bruises, swells, and purple spots.
He steps aside and watches as I ascend the rest of the stairs by myself.
My feet had never been heavier, or, at least I thought so, until I come face to face with Darius, and I meet his bloodred eyes, and his sinister and yet dashing grin.
My feet clamp to the ground, my heart skips a beat for the wrong reasons, my throat becomes hoarse and my butt cheeks clench.
Besides the agony I am going through because of not being with my mate, I...am... afraid.
Because, everything I have heard about Darius, has been nothing but cruel.
I have been told he is the most ruthless and dangerous wolf to roam this city.
And everything my father has done to me this far, is nothing compared to what this wolf has done to his subordinates.
Not only that, but I heard he kills anyone who annoys him without a second thought.
At least I wish I just heard, it's what I keep telling myself, but...I actually saw him, extruding his claws and slashing the throat of his subordinate who had disappointed him.
And I have heard the same for the several mates he has had before me.
My hands start to shake, and my lips start to quiver.
I look down, avoiding his gaze as if it would do me any good.
And above the pounding of my heart filling my ears, I hear a voice calling out to me.
"Abigail."
"Ye...yes?" I stutter with a pitched voice like a fool.
It is only a second later that I realize the question is coming from the priest beside me who is wedding us.
"I said...do you take Darius Cristalsteel, to be your lawfully wedded husband, in the eyes of your pack and of God?" He says.
The wedding process is already about to be over? Did I space out?
"Abigail?" The priest calls out again, I look to Darius...I force myself to look at Darius, now, his grin is replaced with a frown, which I could not believe scares me even more.
I want to look at the row of seats, I want to see my mother and my older brother, seated there.
But it would be a wasted effort.
Even the only friend I have - Rosemary - could not be allowed to attend this procession.
No one to turn to, no one to look at, to give me strength.
Only my father, who I am sure is boiling with anger, as I keep everyone in suspense of my response.
I grin, there's nothing I can do.
Either this or suffer my pack to be wiped out by the Leviakon pack.
I grin at the lack of a life I am to live.
No point in stalling any further.
I muster up every strength within me, and I speak.
"I do."
I say, then Darius raises his hands towards me, causing me to flinch.
My pounding heart doesn't cease, I'm truly about to do this, mate a wrong Alpha.
When I steady myself, he continues to raise his hand, till he grabs my veil, and lifts it over my head.
I can now clearly see his face, more handsome than I thought I already saw.
He wraps his hand around my waist, pulls me closer and leans in, the grin now on his face again.
He is overpowering and still frightening, and with his lips locking with mine, it is made obvious just the kind of person he is.
Because by the time the kiss is over and done with, my tongue and lower lip are wounded, and are bleeding.
The crowd roars and rises, cheering for our unification.
The Gerindail pack more so than the Leviakon pack.
As the roars proceed, energy flows through me and I can feel my eyes glow, as everything in sight turns gold.
I see the same amongst the entire pack, roaring.
They feel it too, they feel the powers of our pack, being shared, being spread amongst every member of both the Gerindail and Leviakon pack.
Because, as our unification is complete, so too is the unification of our abilities.