Howl of the Unchosen

4

**Chapter 4: Fiona's POV**

"A Night to My Big Day"

As the sun rose over Ashford's elegant estate, joyful anticipation filled the air. The fragrance of fresh flowers mingled with the aroma of baking pastries and the hum of activity. Laughter and the sound of last-minute preparations echoed through the halls as the estate buzzed with life.

I stood by the grand windows, gazing at the flurry of activity outside. Cars pulled in and out, delivering decorations and guests. The estate, lined floor-to-ceiling with festive decor, felt alive with energy. A soft beep from my phone drew me away. I picked it up, my curiosity giving way to confusion as I scrolled through the messages. The words blurred, but one phrase seared into my mind: "Jason Frostwood affair!"

My breath caught, and the room began to spin. Jason—my loving fiancé, my childhood companion. This couldn't be true. I had to know more. Summoning Maeve, my closest confidante, I paced the room until she arrived. Her grey skirt and light-blue chiffon blouse swayed as she walked in, her jet-black hair brushing her shoulders. But before I could speak, Maeve's trembling voice broke the silence.

"I need to tell you something," she said, her eyes clouded with worry.

"What is it?" I whispered.

She hesitated, then admitted, "There are rumors about Jason... having an affair. I didn't want to believe it, but... I saw the pictures."

My world shattered. Laughter, tears, promises—all felt like lies now. Questions raced through my mind. Was it true? Had Jason betrayed me? How could this happen on the eve of our wedding?

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. "Come in," I called, my voice strained.

The door creaked open, and my brother Ethan stepped in. His concern deepened as he saw my tear-streaked face. I nodded to Maeve, and she left us alone. Ethan sat beside me, pulling me into a comforting hug.

"What's wrong?" he asked gently.

"Rumors about Jason... and a mortal," I stammered.

Ethan's face darkened. "Don't believe it," he said firmly. "Jason loves you."

I was surprised by how much confidence he had in Jason—they weren't that close to each other. And most times I thought he misunderstood Jason. Even so, his willingness to stand up for Jason made me question if there was more to Jason than I had given him credit for, or maybe he just wanted me to be happy... Yes, that was it.

"How do you know?" I questioned, my voice cracking. "What if it's true?"

Ethan's expression softened. "Then we'll face it together. Don't let rumors ruin your happiness. Trust him."

His words soothed my turmoil, and I found myself recalling Jason's kindness, support, and our shared laughter. Taking a deep breath, I nodded. "You're right, Ethan. I trust him."

"That's my sister," he said, smiling. "Now get ready for tomorrow's big day."

I managed a laugh, feeling a flicker of hope. As Ethan left, I changed into a cozy sweater gown and headed downstairs. The warm aroma of breakfast greeted me, and I joined my family around the table. Conversation flowed easily—laughter, stories, and wedding plans lightened the mood.

Yeah, everything was bright and sunny until someone suddenly spoke up, bringing back the shadow of the earlier news and dampening my spirits instantly.

"What is this I hear about Jason?" Lucien questioned, his voice suddenly turning serious from the previously relaxed and festive tone.

"What is it you hear?" I questioned in return, wanting to tread carefully. Dad wasn't someone to go about on social media, and definitely not the one to call me out on random rumors he might have heard somewhere online. He had ministers of information and reliable sources to get everything he acted on from, so for him to be speaking, well, there might be something to it.

"Jason and someone else," he started quietly, taking a sip of his drink before looking at me and raising an eyebrow. "What's more—" A pause. "—a human."

I choked on my drink, but he wasn't done yet. "I'm just saying this because I want you to know that I'm here for you," he continued. There was a certain danger in his voice that made the entire support thing not so warm anymore. "If Jason so much as hurts you at all or deviates from the plan, he'll face my wrath!"

Being the overly protective brother that he was, Ethan Looked at me with worry in his eyes. Maybe I was a little more distraught than I thought because he turned and glared at father.

"Dad, how could you?" he stuttered.

"My bad," he said coolly. "I shouldn't plant such thoughts in your mind at a time like this." He continued, "I just thought you should be ready for anything." He paused before looking at me frankly. "Maybe even heartbreak, a fight..."

"Jason would never do something like that to me!" I perked up, glaring at him and almost rising from my seat.

It was extremely rude of me to yell at the Alpha like that, but I couldn't help myself. I couldn't be sure whether it was my insecurity speaking or my love for Jason acting up—and that fact bothered me to no end.

Tension filled the room as I waited apprehensively for his reaction before deciding to dissolve anything before it started.

"I'm sorry," I said in a small voice.

I was about to start brooding when my mother intervened.

"The designer is waiting. Let's do the final fittings," Mother said with a chirpy voice. Though it was hard to wipe away the impending feeling of doom, I forced it out of my mind, or at least into a corner. I wasn't letting anything spoil this. Nothing at all!

The rest of the morning was a whirlwind of trying on gowns. Each dress was more stunning than the last. Hours passed as we deliberated between two final choices. Finally, I made my decision—a shimmering gown with flowing skirts and delicate straps, perfect for my special day.

Exhausted but exhilarated, I changed into comfortable clothes and collapsed onto the plush couch. My mother brought me a soothing cup of tea, her warm smile reassuring me. "You've had a long day. Rest now," she said.

As I sipped the tea, the chaos of the morning began to fade. I retreated to my room, slipping into bed as the calming scent of lavender enveloped me. My thoughts drifted to Jason—my trust, my doubts...

With a deep sigh, I let exhaustion take over, hoping tomorrow would bring clarity and joy. It didn't!