Alpha's Cursed Mate

chapter 2

Chapter 2: Left at the Altar

The Great Hall of Silverpine buzzed with excitement. Hundreds of candles floated near the roof, casting a warm glow over the guests. Pine trees and silver bells hung everywhere. The sweet smell of Christmas treats filled the air.

Adrian Blackwood was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is he?" asked Tomas, Adrian's best friend and best man. He checked his watch for the fifth time. "The ceremony starts in ten minutes."

The werewolf pack members shifted uncomfortably in their seats. The humans talked among themselves. The Marked—those with special powers—exchanged worried looks.

Marcus Shadowvale, the town's respected peacekeeper, approached Tomas with a cool smile.

"Is there a problem?" he asked, leaning on his silver wolf-headed cane.

"Adrian isn't here yet," Tomas said. "He's never late."

Marcus nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps I should check on our bride while you look for him?"

Before Tomas could answer, the side door burst open. Adrian's second-in-command, Victor, rushed in. His face was pale, and he clutched a letter in his hand.

"Tomas," Victor said, his voice shaking. "We have a situation."

The two men huddled in the corner, reading the letter. Tomas's face changed from fear to shock to anger.

"He can't be serious," Tomas hissed. "On their wedding day?"

Victor shrugged. "Alpha's orders."

The traditional bells began to ring, calling everyone to take their places. Guests rushed to their seats. The music started—a beautiful, haunting tune played on silver flutes.

All eyes turned to the main doors, expecting to see Evie in her wedding dress.

Instead, Victor walked to the front of the hall, his face hard as stone. He unfolded Adrian's letter and cleared his throat.

"Ladies and gentlemen, wolves and humans, honored Marked," he started. "I regret to inform you that today's ceremony will not take place."

Gasps filled the room. People turned to each other in confusion.

"Alpha Blackwood has been called away on urgent matters," Victor continued, his voice growing louder. "His true mate, Lila Hart, has fallen gravely ill with his unborn child."

The hall exploded in shocked whispers.

"True mate?" "Lila Hart?" "A baby?"

Mara Frost, standing at the back of the hall, covered her mouth in fear. She had just left Evie, who was walking toward the hall right now, totally unaware.

"Alpha Blackwood extends his apologies for any inconvenience," Victor said coldly. "He also asks that Evelyn Frost vacate pack lands by morning. Her presence would be... inappropriate given the situation."

The doors swung open. Evie stood there in her beautiful ice-blue wedding dress, a bunch of white roses in her hands. For a moment, no one moved or spoke.

Then everyone turned to stare at her.

Evie's face, usually so calm and controlled, crumbled as she understood what was happening. Her eyes darted around the room, looking for Adrian, finding only sorrow and cruel amusement instead.

From the front row, a red-haired woman stood up. Lila Hart—Adrian's cousin—smiled a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Evie," Lila said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I never meant for you to find out this way."

Her hand moved to her stomach, though there was no sign of a baby bump under her tight green dress.

Evie's face went white, then red. The roses fell from her hands, spreading across the floor like drops of blood on the snow-white carpet.

Without a word, she turned and ran.

Tomas moved to follow her, but Victor caught his arm.

"Alpha's orders," Victor reminded him. "No contact."

Outside, the winter wind whipped snow into a rage. Evie ran through it, tears freezing on her face, her heart pounding with shame and rage.

Back in the Great Hall, the guests began to leave, buzzing with the juicy gossip of Adrian's treachery. Soon, only a few people remained.

"Well," Lila said, brushing imaginary dust from her dress. "That went better than expected."

Victor gave her a cold look. "I hope you know what you're doing."

"Following orders, just like you," she responded with a wink.

Across the room, Marcus Shadowvale watched them with attention, his mismatched eyes—one brown, one pale blue—missing nothing.

"What an unfortunate turn of events," he said, approaching them. "Poor Miss Frost. To be abandoned on her wedding day..."

"These things happen," Lila said with a shrug. "The heart wants what it wants."

"Indeed it does," Marcus agreed, his fingers tightening around his cane. "And what of your... condition? Should you be out in this weather?"

Lila's smile faltered. "I'm stronger than I look."

"I certainly hope so," Marcus said. "For everyone's sake."

As they spoke, an older woman with silver hair and angry eyes stormed toward them. Mara Frost looked ready to fight.

"What is the meaning of this?" she asked. "Where is Adrian?"

Victor stepped between them. "Alpha Blackwood is not available. And you heard the news. You and your niece need to be gone by morning."

"This is outrageous," Mara said. "We've lived on these lands for three years!"

"And now you won't," Victor answered. "Pack rules."

Mara's eyes narrowed dangerously. "This isn't over."

"Yes, it is," Lila said sweetly. "Adrian has made his choice. Me."

Something flashed in Mara's eyes—a quick silver light that vanished as quickly as it came. She took a deep breath, seeming to control herself with effort.

"You'll regret this day," she said quietly. Then she turned and left to look for Evie.

Marcus watched her go with a thoughtful look.

"Such strong words," he whispered. "The Frosts always did have a flair for drama."

Lila laughed uncomfortably. "It doesn't matter. By tomorrow, they'll be gone, and we can move forward with the plan."

"Ah yes, the plan," Marcus repeated. "Speaking of which, where is our dear Adrian?"

Victor and Lila shared uneasy glances.

"He's... resting," Lila said carefully. "The preparations took a lot out of him."

"I can imagine," Marcus said. "Creating such a spectacle requires energy." He tapped his cane on the floor. "Well, I should be going. Busy night ahead."

After Marcus left, Lila's confident smile vanished.

"I don't trust him," she whispered to Victor.

"You shouldn't trust anyone," Victor answered. "Especially now."

Outside, the storm grew worse. Snow fell so thick and fast that the Christmas lights of Silverpine were barely visible. Perfect weather for hiding—or hunting.

Miles away, in the deepest part of the forest, Adrian Blackwood lay on a stone altar in a secret cave. His handsome face was twisted in pain, black veins spreading across his neck like cracks in ice.

"Please," he gasped to the shadowy person standing over him. "You promised it would stop the pain."

"And it will," the figure promised him, placing a cold hand on Adrian's forehead. "Once we have what we need."

"The Frost girl?"

"She's only part of it," the figure said. "We need the Storm as well. Frost and Storm together—that's the key."

Adrian shuddered as another wave of pain hit him. "What if she dies out there? The blizzard—"

"She won't die," the figure said firmly. "He will find her. They are drawn to each other, whether they know it or not."

"And then?"

The figure smiled in the darkness. "And then the real game begins."

In the whirling snow, far from both the town and the secret cave, Evie still ran. Her wedding dress was torn, her feet bleeding, her mind numb with cold and shock.

She didn't see the cliff edge until it was too late. Her foot slipped on ice, and suddenly she was falling, tumbling down the rocky hill toward the frozen river below.

A strong hand grabbed her wrist, stopping her fall. Evie looked up into amber eyes that glowed in the darkness.

"Careful, little frost-heart," a deep voice said. "I've been looking for you for too long to lose you now."

As she hung over the edge, Evie realized two important things: this stranger had just saved her life—and he wasn't human.

The truth hit her with the force of the roaring wind.

Her revenge plan was wrecked. Adrian had betrayed her. And now she was at the mercy of a mysterious creature in the middle of a dangerous blizzard.

Things couldn't possibly get worse.

Then the ice beneath them cracked.