An Engagement Against Their Will
1122 Words
How to get engaged against your will.
Step One: Let Your Betas Plan Your Future Without Permission
Celeste had exactly two seconds of peace that morning until Lisa stormed into her office, dragging Logan behind her like a hyperactive wedding planner on steroids.
“We have a problem,” Lisa declared.
Celeste, who had barely touched her coffee, blinked. “What kind of problem?”
“The best kind,” Logan said, grinning. “A wedding-sized problem.”
Celeste choked on her coffee.
Lisa beamed. “Don’t worry. We’ve handled everything.”
Celeste coughed violently. “Handled what?”
Lisa and Logan exchanged knowing looks, and Celeste felt dread settle in.
“Lisa.”
“Yes, my dear Alpha?”
Celeste narrowed her eyes. “What exactly did you do?”
Lisa grinned. “Well, technically speaking, the packs may or may not be under the impression that your wedding to Hunter is...”
“Happening this weekend!” Logan finished cheerfully.
Celeste froze, and then she exploded. “YOU DID WHAT?!”
Step Two: Denial is a Useless Coping Mechanism
Meanwhile, in Hunter’s territory, Dean, one of his warriors, and Beta Logan's brother, looked suspiciously guilty.
Hunter stared at him. “What did you do?”
Dean scratched the back of his neck. “So, the funny thing is..."
Hunter crossed his arms. “Spit it out.”
“Lisa and Logan may have convinced both our packs that yours and Celeste’s wedding is, well, happening this weekend.”
Hunter’s brain short-circuited. “My what is happening when?”
Dean cleared his throat. “Congratulations?”
Hunter stared at him like he’d grown a second head. “Dean.”
“Yes, Alpha?”
“I AM NOT GETTING MARRIED THIS WEEKEND!”
Dean winced. “Yeah, about that, everyone already thinks you are.”
Hunter pinched the bridge of his nose. “Kill me now.”
Step Three: Realize You’re Completely Screwed
Celeste and Hunter stormed into neutral pack grounds at the exact same time.
The second they saw each other, they simultaneously pointed. b“YOU.”
Celeste glared. “Did you know about this?”
Hunter groaned. “I just found out.”
Lisa and Logan grinned from the sidelines.
Logan shrugged. “It’s not our fault everyone got excited.”
Hunter looked like he was seconds away from committing murder.
Celeste clenched her fists. “How. Did. This. Happen?”
Lisa cheerfully pulled out a clipboard. “WELL. Since you two are fated mates and obviously destined to be together...”
Hunter gagged.
Lisa ignored him, continuing, “the packs wanted to do something special for you both! So we might have, um, accidentally-on-purpose, kind of told them to start planning.”
Celeste stared. “Planning what?”
Lisa’s grin widened. “Everything.”
Hunter’s eye twitched. “Define everything.”
Logan held up a very long checklist.
Celeste grabbed it and instantly regretted it.
Venue: Already decorated.
Catering: Booked.
Dress and tux: Being tailored.
Flowers: Ordered.
Wedding cake: Chosen (chocolate raspberry).
Guest list: Everyone in a fifty-mile radius.
Celeste gaped. “Are you KIDDING ME?!”
Hunter looked over her shoulder. “Oh my goddess.There’s a rehearsal dinner planned.”
Lisa clapped excitedly. “I KNOW! Isn’t this great?”
Celeste looked at Hunter, and Hunter looked at Celeste.
Both simultaneously screamed, “WE’RE NOT GETTING MARRIED!”
Step Four: Try (and Fail) to Stop the Madness
Unfortunately, trying to cancel a wedding that wasn’t real turned out to be very difficult.
“No refunds,” the caterer said cheerfully.
“No take-backsies,” the decorator added.
“The elders are already on their way,” Lisa whispered ominously.
Hunter groaned. “I’m going to kill your Beta.”
Celeste crossed her arms. “Not if I kill yours first.”
Lisa and Logan stood smugly nearby, looking incredibly proud of themselves. “We just want you both to be happy,” Lisa said innocently.
Hunter scowled. “YOU JUST WANT A FREE WEDDING.”
Logan grinned. “That too.”
Step Five: Make It Worse by Accidentally Being Cute Together
While trying to undo the damage, Celeste and Hunter somehow ended up stuck in a wedding cake tasting. “Just eat it,” the baker demanded.
Celeste grumbled but took a bite, Hunter rolled his eyes and did the same.
They both chewed and looked at each other.
Hunter swallowed. “Okay. This is actually really good.”
Celeste hesitated. “It is, I agree.”
Lisa immediately pounced. “AWW, LOOK! THEY AGREE ON SOMETHING!”
Celeste and Hunter instantly pulled away, and Celeste snapped. “We’re not getting married!”
Lisa winked. “Sure, sure.”
Step Six: Public Embarrassment - because, well, this is Celeste Rivers and Hunter Blackwood.
The packs had fully committed to the wedding, noted by the decorations that were everywhere and the band that had begun warming up.
There were literally SEATS FILLED WITH GUESTS.
And worst of all, their wolves l, Luna and Rogue, were LOVING IT.
Luna practically pranced. "This is wonderful." She couldn't wait to be marked by her mate.
Rogue smirked. "Finally, a wedding is worth attending." He too was eager.
Celeste gawked at them. “TRAITORS.”
Hunter rubbed his temples. “This is a nightmare.”
Then, just when Celeste thought it couldn’t get worse, an elder spotted them. “AH! THE BRIDE AND GROOM!”
Celeste and Hunter froze.
The elder smiled. “You both look wonderful together.”
Celeste forced a smile. “Thank you.”
Hunter muttered, “Kill me now.”
The elder gestured behind them. “Now, go take your places.”
Celeste and Hunter turned and realized with horror that they were standing at the altar.
Step Seven: Just Accept Your Fate (Or Try To Escape)
Lisa and Logan smirked. “We did so good,” Lisa whispered.
Logan nodded. “We deserve awards.”
Celeste, very much not enjoying this, whispered to Hunter, “we are getting out of this.”
Hunter muttered, “How?”
Celeste scanned the crowd of delighted pack members, then an idea hit. She grabbed Hunter’s hand and yanked him toward the exit.
The guests gasped.
Lisa gasped dramatically. “THEY’RE ELOPING.”
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Celeste groaned. “I hate them all.”
Hunter sighed. “At least we escaped.”
Lisa called after them. “SEE YOU AT THE REAL WEDDING!”
Celeste whipped around. “THERE IS NO REAL WEDDING!”
Lisa just winked, and Logan laughed.
"Oh, there will be," Lisa chuckled.
Hunter sighed. “We are never going to live this down.”
Celeste gritted her teeth. “No. No, we are not.”
- Writer
