Xavier's pov
The wedding was the talk of the town, a spectacle of grandeur and excess.
The guest list read like a who's who of the city's elite, a parade of influential names from the president to top CEOs, all mingling in their designer suits and shimmering gowns.
I stood at the back of the opulent ballroom, deliberately fading into the background. The room was a dazzling display of wealth and status, and I felt out of place among the power players and socialites. I had to be here not out of desire but because fate had dictated it.
The black limo, adorned with white ribbons and flowers, made an entrance that turned heads. As I stepped out, I straightened my tie and adjusted my expression to one of indifferent detachment, though inside I was anything but composed.
Walking through the crowd, I felt a growing irritation and impatience, each step toward the altar amplifying the dull ache in my chest. The venue was nothing short of spectacular — a picture-perfect garden with white chairs adorned with delicate floral arrangements and an aisle that seemed spun from sugar. It was Ashley's vision made real, but it wasn't mine.
Ashley, my soon-to-be wife, stood before me in her gown, a delicate lace creation that hugged her figure and trailed behind her like a shimmering river. Her heels, elegant and sparkling, added a regal air to her already
stunning presence. She beamed as she walked down the aisle, a vision of radiant beauty that drew the gaze of every attendee. For a moment, even I was struck by her appearance, feeling a flicker of something admiration, perhaps though it did little to quell my growing restlessness.
Her father, with a proud and emotional look, guided her down the aisle, his eyes misty with unshed tears. Ashley was the epitome of a perfect bride gorgeous, breathtaking, glowing with happiness. For a fleeting second, I felt a pang of something akin to regret, but it was quickly overshadowed by my mounting impatience.
The moment we reached the altar, the handover of Ashley from her father to me felt more like a business transaction than a heartfelt gesture. I took her hand, its softness a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me. We faced the officiant, who continued with the ceremony, the vows waiting to be recited, our words echoing hollowly in the silence of my heart.
Then, a scent drifted through the air, sweet and enticing. It teased my senses, and my inner wolf stirred restlessly. I stopped in my tracks, my
gaze darting around the room.
"We've found her!" My wolf said to me in my mind. The realization hit me with a rush. The sweet scent could only mean one thing my mate was here.
"Would you take Ashley Baker as…" The officiant's voice faded into a distant hum, drowned out by the pounding of my heart.
"I'm not going to marry anyone…!" I declared, my voice cutting through the murmur of the crowd as I stepped down from the altar, ignoring the stunned expressions around me.
The sudden silence was deafening, then shattered by a chorus of shocked whispers. Ashley's voice, sharp and angry, cut through the chaos. "Wait… what do you mean?!" Her voice wavered, almost breaking under the strain
of her disbelief.
"I've found my mate!" I shouted back, my voice exploding from my chest like a primal roar, echoing through the grand hall. The words were torn from me with a raw urgency that left no room for hesitation or second thoughts. I could feel the weight of the room's collective gaze, the shock and dismay of the assembled guests, but none of it registered. The ceremony, the lavish decorations, the pomp and circumstance — they were all distant, irrelevant distractions now.
My gaze remained locked on the figure, my entire focus centered on her, as though she were the only person in the world. The intensity of the moment was so consuming that I could scarcely think of anything else. The certainty I felt was so powerful that it left no room for doubt or hesitation. This was more than a chance encounter; it was a fundamental shift in my
existence.
"I've found my mate!" I repeated, my voice carrying the same primal intensity, a declaration of something that felt both inevitable and
extraordinary. I felt a deep sense of purpose and urgency, knowing that this revelation had irrevocably changed the course of my life. Everything else was secondary to the profound realization that my true destiny was
standing right before me.
Ashley's shock transformed into fury, her expression a storm of rage. But before she could react further, my attention was drawn to a small figure standing in the shadows. Her head was bowed, her body trembling slightly.
Driven by a fierce protectiveness, I moved toward her.
Grasping her arm tightly, I looked into her eyes — emerald green and luminous, like sparkling gems. They were full of wonder and fear, a rare and beautiful treasure that captivated me completely.
"You felt it too, right?" I whispered, my voice trembling with a mixture of awe and desperation. I was acutely aware of the profound significance of this moment, despite my own inner turmoil.
Her eyes widened, and a single tear rolled down her cheek as she nodded
slowly. "Yes…" she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. The sense of recognition, of belonging, was overwhelming. The knowledge that this was
my mate, the person I was destined to be with, filled me with a profound sense of wonder and awe. My heart raced as I tried to process the enormity of the moment. This was not just about breaking off a wedding; it was about embracing a
destiny that had been waiting for me all along.
The crowd's murmurs grew louder, a mix of confusion and curiosity, but I paid them no mind. All I could focus on was the woman before me, the one who had captured my heart with nothing more than a look and a shared scent. In her eyes, I saw a future I hadn't imagined, a connection that went beyond words or ceremony.
As I stood there, holding her gaze, the reality of our bond settled over me like a comforting weight. This was the beginning of something profound and transformative, and nothing else mattered more than the journey we
were about to undertake together.