A Worthy Wolf?

Chapter 18 - Raven

We had only been looking at wedding dresses for an hour and I felt like I was losing my mind. Every time I closed my eyes, visions of wedding dresses flashed before my eyes. Different styles of fabric... laces... cuts... Who knew there were so many cuts of wedding dresses?! I sure as hell did not, and quite honestly, with no intention of seeing this wedding through, I don’t think I would ever care.

But, despite my lack of interest, my mother’s eagerness did not falter. More magazines appeared from nowhere, and at that point I needed to escape. As she opened to a page with an over-the-top ballgown-style dress, and gave me that knowing look, which told me she was envisioning me wearing it, I gave her an apologetic smile. Before, I told her I had to go and meet my friend, Asha, but no plans had been made. I wanted to escape.

Thankfully, my Mum did not question my words, she simply looked down at all the magazines... enough to open a*****e, and smiled sadly, giving me a nod. I did not need her agreement again, and I rushed away. The moment I walked out from the house, my head felt like it would explode. ‘Well, if you ever need a career change, I don't know, like, say, a wedding planner or selling wedding dresses, I am sure you would be considered an expert now.’ Sable offered with a giggle. ‘In fact, are you sure your Mum doesn't have a side job as one? That woman can talk!’

As my feet rushed to get us away from the house before Mum had a change of heart and came to pull me back inside to discuss whether a mermaid –silhouette, or a ballgown was the way to go, I could not help but chuckle at my wolf. Mum definitely knew her stuff. Goddess knows how or why, but she did, and she was far too over-excited about the whole wedding prospect. I hated the idea of disappointing her, but the time would have to come.

‘Aww, Sae, she has been driving me mad!’ I told my wolf and she giggled again.

‘I don’t think I could have guessed. All the internal cursing. The blasphemous insults of the dresses... that is all perfectly normal for a girl enamored by the idea of spending time with her mama discussing wedding plans.’ Sable continued to tease as we made our way towards the forest rather than the pack coffee house like I had told my Mum. I needed peace and quiet. Not a busy, people-filled space.

‘This is not for me.’ I told her.

‘Well, we know that. The marriage was never going to work, with it being arranged to a suspicious, lowlife asswipe like him.’ I smiled. She had such a way with words...

‘No, Sae, I am not sure that I want any of this. You know even if I find the words to tell them. Or I confront Brayden. Someway, somehow this will end. I hope. But in time, you know as well as I do, that this will just bring about another wedding agreement. Another potential husband. Maybe one worse than him. If that is even possible. But that time may well be one that I have no dirt on to be able to use to cancel the wedding. Or I may not know the type of man he is until we are married and it is too late.’

My heart felt heavy at the thought. Deep down, somewhere at the back of my mind, I always knew this was a risk with an arranged marriage. A man chosen by my pack seniors. But having this happen with Brayden had made it all the more real. My pack seniors had chosen him, but even I had thought he was perfect. I had been excited at the prospect of marrying him. So, it goes to show how easy it was to act like you are something you are not to gain what you wanted. That scares me now. With a sense of ever-increasing dread within my gut, I stepped through the treeline. The shadows created by the trees provided some shelter from the heat of the sun.

Perhaps listening to my words, or sensing my dread, Sable spoke tentatively. ‘But Rae, this is what your life is. You know that. It is something you have always accepted.’

I sighed. The thing was, she was right. I thought it was. My phone buzzed and I slipped it from my pocket, only to see a message from Brayden. A message I had not expected to see. He had not really reached out to me much since he had left pack.

Good morning Angel.

I hope you are having a good day. A day you deserve. I assume by now your parents have shared the news of our engagement party. Let me just say, it will be a night to remember! I hope you are excited. I will ensure it is everything a girl could dream of, and more.

Brayden

My eyes drifted over his message. Nothing in there told me of his suspicion. Nothing implied of the test he had arranged for me. Brayden was acting normal with me. Never mind me not being someone he could not trust, it seemed he was someone I was unable to trust. He was quite content to act like all was well, while behind my back he was trying to set up my downfall.

No. I could not let him. And, the more I thought about it, the more I did not want any other man to be able to put me in that situation again. 'Once this is done, Sable, if they do not allow me to be free from this wedding agreement...' My words faltered as I tried to find the right ones. Tears stabbed at my eyes. 'If they are not willing to listen to me about how vulnerable this makes me, then I want us to run.' I declared, leaving a sense of unease within my wolf about what I had just suggested ...