Author's pov
Danielle's heart pounded in her chest as she followed the procession out of the church. The ornate stained glass windows cast colorful reflections on the polished floor, but she barely noticed. Her mind was a storm of emotions, torn between the guilt of betraying her sister and the undeniable pull of the mate bond with Xavier. She clenched her hands, trying to steady
herself as she stepped into the sunlight.
Xavier was waiting for her at the bottom of the steps, his expression a mix of concern and confusion. He reached out to steady her as she descended,his touch sending a jolt through her.
"Danielle, are you okay? What happened in there?" His voice was gentle, but it only heightened her turmoil. Just as she opened her mouth to reply, a familiar, angry voice cut through
the air. "Danielle, what in the world are you doing?" Her father's face was
flushed with anger as he stormed towards her. "You're a disgrace, a looker!
How could you ruin your sister's wedding like this? Her heart sank at his words, each one a dagger of shame. She looked down, unable to meet his eyes. She wanted to explain, to tell him that this wasn't her choice, that the mate bond was beyond her control. But the words wouldn't come. Before she could gather herself, Claire, Ashley's mother, appeared, tearsstreaming down her face. "This is a nightmare," she wailed. "No one wants to marry my daughter now. She waited so long, and now this…"
Ashley emerged from the church, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She glared at Danielle, her face twisted with hurt and anger. "Yes, Danielle, no one wants me now. How could you do this to me?"
Their father turned to Xavier, his expression hard. "We had a deal, Xavier. Ashley was supposed to marry you."
Xavier sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know that wasn't the exact deal. But I am still taking the two sisters. However, Ashley will have
to take another car to their house."
Danielle felt a pang of guilt at his words, knowing how much Ashley had looked forward to this day. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
"Dad, Claire, Ashley… I didn't mean for any of this to happen. The mate bond… it's something I can't control."
Her father's eyes softened slightly, but his voice remained stern. "That may be, Danielle, but you still need to take responsibility for your actions.
Ashley's sobs intensified, and Claire put an arm around her, trying to comfort her. "What are we supposed to do now?" Claire asked, her voice
thick with emotion. "The whole town will be talking about this."
Xavier stepped forward, his expression determined. "We'll figure it out, Claire. I'll make sure Ashley is taken care of. But right now, we need to calm down and think about what's best for everyone."
Danielle nodded, grateful for his support but still feeling the weight of her family's disappointment. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice barely
audible.
Ashley looked at her, pain evident in her eyes. "You've ruined everything,
Danielle. I hope you're happy."
Danielle wanted to reach out, to comfort her sister, but she knew it would
be futile. The damage was done, and it would take time to heal. As she watched her family gather around Ashley, she felt more alone than ever.
Xavier gently took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We'll get through this," he murmured. "I promise."
She nodded, trying to find comfort in his words, but knowing that the road ahead would be a difficult one.