Dawn broke, and the cheerful music outside Silkshade Palace snapped me back to reality. I peered at the main entrance, where a band of palace guards, decked out as a ceremonial troupe, marched in with pomp.
The lead guard called out, "Alpha Marcus, hearing Celeste's wish for a binding ceremony like any common mate, has sent us to escort her from her chambers!"
Celeste emerged from the main hall, supported by attendants, wearing the same wedding gown Marcus and I had admired together years ago.
Surrounded by her adoring crowd, she climbed into an ornate carraige.
In an instant, Silkshade Palace fell silent.
I stood, my legs stiff from sitting all night, stumbling a bit.
I wanted one last look at Marcus, one final goodbye.
After ten years together, we deserved at least that much.
But
