Beyond Fate

Wedding

I hated to admit it the place was beautiful one of the old barns had been refurbished into a chapel, giant green vines hung from the ceiling winding in between tiny lanterns that lite up the room, pink orchids lined the vines adding some colour to the mix of greens. A matching archway had been built at the end of the red carpeted aisle where the bride and groom would stand and make their vows to one another, surrounded by the entire pack. The only other light that came into the room was from the bifolding doors that had been opened wide for the big show. It was refreshing given how stuffy it felt inside this place, I figured it was probably just me feeling anxious given the situation.

I watched as people made their way to there seats, oak deck chairs were placed facing the makeshift stage that lead to the archway, there were peonies scattered around the chairs making the whole room

look like some kind of secret garden. It was beautiful and I hated that I loved it so much.

Pack members gasped at the extravagance of the decoration only acknowledging me enough to take a program, it wasn’t my job but it was better than having to stand awkwardly with the other bridesmaids and watch them fawn all over Mitchell, as if on instinct my eyes found him only the second they did I wish they hadn’t. He was standing with Johnny by the front doors, one of the bridesmaids Rachel, the unofficial pack bike, was placing her hand on his chest right at that very moment smiling sweetly at him. I secretly wondered who would be the one he’d escort down the aisle before Tammy made her big entrance. She had decided that the bridesmaids and ushers would enter first so that the entire pack would have all eyes on her as she walked down the aisle.

Guests were taking their seats and everyone seemed to be on a high. This whole wedding thing was quite a novelty for them, one because they had left the pack and two because most of us had never been to a wedding before. Colton was sitting in the front row with his arms around Katie. Colton hadn’t tried to approach me since the awkward exchange in the club but I would still catch him staring every now and then. Right now you’d never believe he looked at any woman besides Katie. They cuddled up to one another while they laughed and talked with several warriors, some had females on their arms, others were flying solo probably with plans to find a female later.

I was so busy watching them that I didn't feel anyone had come up to me. I jumped when I finally looked up. I recognised her immediately.

“ hello?” The little redhead asked, holding out her hand glaring at the program waiting for me to hand it to her. I couldn’t remember her name but I’d never forget her face the first time I’d seen her I’d passed out believing rose had returned from the dead but looking at her now she looked like a completely different person and I scolded myself for ever thinking my dear friend could ever be like this woman in front of me, her red hair was the wrong shade her face was pale with dark circles under them like she was run down and as for the dress it was extremely tight showing a little too much cleavage, she wore a red body con dress that glistened in the light, it would have looked fine had it not been a size too small or a different shade but in the light of day it clashed terribly with her hair and skin tone. Even without all that, the vicious scowl upon her pretty face was one my friend would never in a million years have made to anyone, even her worst enemy. Rose was pure sunshine where as this woman seemed to m leave you feeling cold.

You could say it was my loyalty to Rose and you could be right but there was something in my gut that told me I just couldn’t trust her. Even my wolf was on edge around this female. I'd heard that all her aunt's estates were settled and she'd been due back to her pack not long ago but something had happened and she had decided to extend her stay which made me even more suspicious of this woman. As if to prove my point, who should stop next to her but my one and only pain in the arse. Nathan.

“ Alisha” he smiled down at me, his expression just as cruel as the red head, I frowned knowing him well enough to know he was up to something as he took the girl's hand in his. He was brave getting so cosy with another wolf while…. It hit me. Kelly was missing from the event, I hadn’t seen her all day was this part of her punishment? It had to be why else would she be absent from her best friend's wedding.

“ err excuse me!” the girl waved her hand in my face as if I had zoned out but I was watching them both closely the reaction seemed to make them both happy and the red head cosied up to Nathan more. Wait, was that what this was? Nathan was using her to try and make me jealous, Mitchell really did order him to stay away, this event was Nathan’s only chance to get at me. I resisted the urge not to burst into a fit of giggles at their lame attempt to make me jealous. I was actually more curious as to why red was helping him. What would she get out of it? There had to be something, she wouldn’t risk Kelly’s wrath if there wasn’t something in it for her.

“Here” I shoved the program at her and then one at Nathan for good measure. I didn’t want to give them a reason to come back after taking their seats. Nathan looked down at the program and then back at me all the while a smug grin on his face like he’d won a damn war. I just wanted to smack it away.

They slowly began to walk away and I sighed in relief until I felt a hand around my arm but was shocked to see it wasn’t Nathan but red “ you may want to curb that attitude, you may get away with it now but when I become Luna I can’t have omegas thinking they can disrespect the pack Beta” she said calmly but I didn’t miss the slight sneer on her pretty face, a complete contradiction to the sweet young lady who I had seen the first night in the restaurant. Her facade seemed to be slipping a little, it was clear she was no different than any other female trying to get in the Alpha’s bed.

“ I’m sorry, who are you?” I asked with my best puzzled expression, I hid my smirk when she looked at me in surprised, her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water but she quickly recovered.

“ I’m Natalia clawson, learn the name well because you’ll soon be grovelling to it, omega” she said through gritted teeth. I turned my head sideways studying her for a second. Did she just say clawson?.

“ don’t you mean Coleson ?” I asked not even trying to hide my smirk. Her grip on my arm loosened a bit.

“ what?” She frowned in confusion.

“ isn’t your name Natalia Coleson? Not clawson” I asked, smiling at her, she looked around nervously checking to see if anyone else was watching the exchange.

“ oh y..yes that’s what I meant” she stuttered realising she made a mistake just now. I scoffed, my guess was her name wasn’t either Coleson or Clawson, so who the hell was this woman.

“ doesn’t seem like that’s what you meant” who forgets their own surname… no one. My gut was telling me there was a little more to this Natalia than she had meant to let on.

“ hush, your Luna doesn’t like arguing with omegas that should do as they are told” she spat in anger, she was losing her cool. There was snake in the pack and now her little slip up meant I was on to her.

“ and MY Alpha doesn’t like liars” I whispered getting right in her face. Natalia gave a smug grin that made me step back slightly, ok wasn’t expecting this.

“ well he didn’t seem all that bothered when I was in his bed the other night” her smile grew wider knowing she had taken me by surprise “ he called me Rose, he wants me because I remind him of her, I’m his second chance and I won’t let anyone get in the way of that” the other night , did she say the other night, was that the night I had picked Mitchell up off the floor of the nursery in a state. Was that what he had feel guilty about ‘ it wasn’t her, nothing will ever be her, she’s gone’ that’s what he’d said. My chest ached at the thought that he had been with this female. She was just a wanna be rose, a poor man’s clone but clearly he had fallen for it. His need to be with Rose was too great. She had told me to help him but this couldn’t be what Rose had meant. It was clear just from one conversation that this girl was just another title chaser she didn’t care about Mitchell. He deserved to have someone who loved him.

Mitchell had seemed like a man full of regret that night, could he have slept with this Natalia girl and regretted it. The thought of them together hurt more than I wanted to let on, I resisted the urge to clutch my chest as the pain only got worse, even my wolf was whimpering. I looked toward Mitchell who was now consoling my nervous brother. He seemed to sense me looking because his eyes immediately found me. He smiled for a moment before he noticed who I was standing with. I watched as his handsome face dropped and contorted as though he was in pain before he dropped his head and averted his gaze. It was true then, he did sleep with her. The knowledge that he had been with this woman made me feel sick to my stomach. I clutched my chest feeling like I couldn’t breath forgetting that natalia was watching my every move.

“ So it is true…you're in love with him” I heard Natalia whisper with a tone of smugness in her voice. I looked back at her, seeing the satisfaction in her features. I’d been played. She was fishing to see if I had feelings for Mitchell, I wasn’t sure if Nathan had put her up to it or if she was doing it on her own but now she knew. I didn't know what to say to her, love? I’ll admit there were feelings there and I may have entertained the idea he may have feelings too but clearly I was wrong and I can’t deny it hurt like hell.

“ I understand this must be hard for you but if I may give you a piece of advice, keep it in your dreams, don’t make a fool of yourself by telling him, he doesn’t want you…how could he when you’re just a constant reminder of what he’s lost.” I couldn’t help but show the pain I felt at her words, why did this hurt so much, why had I let myself develop feelings for our alpha. Natalia didn’t seem to be able to stop digging the knife in deeper.

“Alisha all he will ever see in you is the girl that wasn’t strong enough to protect his mate, you may not have been to blame but it doesn’t change the fact you were there and she still died” I think I could almost hear my heart break from her words and I couldn’t hold back knowing my eyes were watering. I took a deep breath trying to calm my raging emotions, was I really this stupid had I really thought Mitchell was being anything more than a concerned alpha to me. Had I really imagined it all in my head.

“ I admire your loyalty to him Alisha I truly do, I hope to gain such loyalty from you too when I am your Luna” she patted my arm like I was a wounded animal which I suppose I was. I’d opened up to Mitchell and allowed myself to believe there was something special about me,just like with Lucas. Natalia was right. I was a fool, always the fool and such thoughts were better left buried. Maybe Nathan was right, maybe I wasn’t worthy of being loved by anyone.

I was so lost in my thoughts giving myself a mental kicking I hadn’t noticed that Natalia had moved away from me to sit beside Nathan I could only see their backs but I heard a faint chuckle coming from both of them and I knew they were laughing about me, that’s all I was to everyone one big joke. Feeling completely deflated I sagged my arms dropping what was left of the programs to the ground and walked away. I heard someone scalding me but I couldn’t hear who. I didn’t stop until I reached the main doors where all the bridesmaids and groomsmen stood.

“ hey you ok what did nathan and that Natalia girl want they seemed to have a lot to say?” Johnny frowned with concern looking over my shoulder but I didn't want him to worry,not now.

“ It's fine, nothing that surprised me” I said looking at Mitchell who finally met my gaze and the sadness in his expression spoke volumes, it made my wolf cry in pain. I felt like screaming but instead I turned to my brother and patted his shoulder.

“ you better head up there brother Tammy will be here soon” I reminded him smiling brightly as if I were so happy about my brother getting married.

“ s**t yea this is really it” he said nervously rubbing his hands together before slapping Mitchell on the back. “ See you up there man” he smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“ make sure my sister gets down the aisle in one piece” he shot back, heading towards the doors that lead out of the foyer and into the main room. Dread filled me as I realised Johnny had obviously asked Mitchell to walk me. Without thinking I just spoke up before Johnny moved away.

“ Oh actually I promised Joel he could walk me down” I interrupted making Johnny stop mid stride, he turned back to me frowning looking at Joel who was holding his hands up shaking his head silently telling Johnny it was the first he was hearing of it.

“ Besides we wouldn’t want anyone thinking the alpha was playing favourites and giving off the wrong impression would we?” I smiled sweetly between the two just as Rachel reappeared next to Mitchell fluttering her eyelashes making me want to rip her head off.

“ I’d be honoured for you to walk me up the aisle alpha” she tried to clutch his arm but he growled at her and she backed up but didn’t move away from him. Mitchell was clearly irritated he was now lumbered with Rachel, he scowled at me but said nothing. I ignored everyone, not caring, this thing with Mitchell was clearly all in my head and I needed to stop deluding myself, if he was sleeping with Natalia he clearly didn’t think anything special about me.

I walked over to Joel who still seemed shell shocked, everyone began to line up and Johnny made his way to the front with his eyebrows raised, he gave Mitchell one final glance and shrugged before heading inside.

Wanna tell me what that was just now? I heard Johnny mindlink me. I sighed, Johnny didn’t need this drama right now.

I told you, it looks bad If he plays favourites. I tried to mindlink convincingly but I could tell by his chuckle he wasn’t buying my excuse.

I need to teach you to lie better kid. I scoffed thinking about where all his lies had gotten him. If only he knew how screwed he’d be right now if I hadn’t intercepted Heather earlier.

Good luck bro, I love you. I said to him deciding not to tell him and just let him know I was always there for him no matter how much of a dumbass he was.

“ Just to let you know I’m not interested in you one bit no matter how hot you are, just in case you thought you could get in my pants”Joel whispered, seriously did the kid just reject me? He was barely eighteen and acted like a d**k most of the time.

“ Fair enough, just so you know if you even try to touch me I’ll cut off your favourite body part and shove it down your throat” I growled making him flinch, since we were making ourselves perfectly clear. I glanced sideways at Joel taking his arm as music began to play in the background. Joel’s eyes were wide in fear, the little twit could stand to be taken down a peg or two. Johnny always assured me Joel was a good guy but that just meant he was a good warrior. When my brother was training, that's all he saw. He would judge the guys by how good a warrior they were being equal to their personality, he thought the two went hand in hand. Which was fine for work I guess but not so fine when trying to make friends. He didn’t seem to get a guy could be a great fighter and a complete asshole at the same time.

From what I knew of Joel he was a bit of a sheep his personality depended on the crowd he was in, and since he hung out with a bunch of assholes whose only goal was sleeping their way through the pack it was no surprise he was a bit of an ass himself who suddenly had no respect for woman.

The front doors opened slightly from outside making us all turn to see a fussing Tammy shouting at one of the assistants about the skirt of her dress not being straight, she was flapping with her veil that was blowing in the wind while the photographer snapped her.

“ i***t!!! Does this look like a moment I want to remember arrghhh” she growled at him like he’s ruined the whole day. “Just get inside and make sure you get my entrance…. What the hell!!” She screamed seeing all of us watching her, at first I thought she might actually be embarrassed by her outrageous display but we soon realised it was that we had seen her at all.

“ Who opened those doors no one is supposed to see me until my big entrance….. you ruined everything” she whined like a little kid, even stomping her feet for good measure a couple of assistants in blazers rushed at the doors closing them on us leaving an hysterical Tammy behind.

“ Wow bitches be crazy right?” Joel said to me obviously trying to make conversation but I just ignored him, the little prick had his chance to get on my good side but his ego had f****d it up for him.

I turned to the front just in time to see Mitchell staring at me while the others were exchanging comments. Rachel was trying to flirt with him but he was ignoring her, something passed over Mitchell’s features like sorrow or something but it was gone too quickly. I simply smiled at him not wanting to cause him upset. I wasn’t mad at him, it was me that had misjudged the situation. I had no one but myself to blame. I just needed to distance myself for now so people didn’t get the wrong idea about us, based on Natalia’s comments the rumours were probably already circulating. He was still my alpha and hopefully my friend I could protect him and myself in the process, I didn’t want to get hurt anymore and being mad at Mitchell wasn’t fair, it wasn’t his fault I’d misread his feelings for me.

The music changed and Mitchell began to walk with an excited Rachel on his arm. She was practically bouncing all the way to the front of the aisle. One by one we all took our turn to walk down the extremely long aisle. Joel turned into a bag of nerves the second we stepped into the room, he even tripped and nearly went flat on his face dragging me with him but I managed to save him at the last moment clutching his arm to hold him up right, he gave me a grateful nod for saving him the embarrassment in front of so many people. As we got to the front I wasn’t sure who had escorted who up the aisle, we parted ways and I went to stand by the other bridesmaids. Johnny looked at me nodding his head and I realised that in my bid to distance myself from Mitchell I was now stood towards the bottom of the stage steps far away from Johnny who had wanted me close to him when the time came, apparently that wasn’t changing so I had no choice but to creep up the steps hoping no one would notice as the final bridesmaid and groomsman made their way up the aisle, everything was fine until I realised I’d have to get the others to move down a step so I could squeeze in and of course the girls couldn’t do it quietly there was huffing, puffing and a growl or two drawing attention from the crowd.

Once I was in position I gave Johnny a sheepish smile but he just winked at me with a huge grin on his face. d**k! He knew I’d have to awkwardly move everyone once I got here. He’d done that on purpose for walking in with Joel. I was going to mindlink him about it when the wedding March started up everyone stood and waited as the main doors opened revealing a perfectly angelic airbrushed Tammy. Completely different from the raging brat that had been shouting outside moments ago.

The pure white gown glistened so brightly it hurt my eyes, it was a huge ball gown, the tutu style skirt was so wide she couldn’t walk down the aisle with her father so he was waiting at the end with Johnny and the other groomsmen, the embellishments in tammys skirt matched the pearl encrusted corset that was partially see through at her waste, the corset was pulled so tight her already tiny baby bump was now invisible, I worried for my poor niece or nephew who was probably squashed into a tiny space just for their selfish mother to look perfect on her wedding day. Her red hair had been curled to perfection and piled high on top of her head. it looked so tight I found it hard to believe she wasn’t in pain especially when it was accompanied by the enormous glittering tiara, the wide veil she wore surrounded her shoulders leading to the floor that trailed behind along with her dress halfway up the aisle, figures her highness would have to have a giant crown on her pretty little head and a sparkling dress that no one would forget. After all, if you're going to be a princess for a day, why not go all out right?

She looked like the perfect princess yet her choice in dress wasn’t in keeping with the rustic, vintage style wedding we had chosen. For once her fashion sense had gone out of the window. I looked down at the front row where my parents looked anxiously towards the stage instead of at the bride, next to them sat Luna Jamie and Alpha Felix along with Mina who was looking wide-eyed and smiling at the fake princess making her way down the aisle towards my brother. I suddenly had a feeling of dread come over me.

I looked around the large room scanning for any sign of heather, now worried she would still be determined to cause chaos at the ceremony even after our little chat earlier. If she was going to cause a scene now would be the perfect moment to do it.

I didn’t really think she would suddenly come bursting through the doors or stand up from the crowd and announce her being pregnant by the groom. It wasn't her style, Tammy's maybe but not heather. I just couldn’t seem to shake the feeling of dread I felt, my wolf was on edge too I couldn’t stop looking around the crowded room. I wasn't even paying attention as Tammy made her grand entrance up the aisle.

I didn’t see her make her way to my brother until I heard her slight growl and realised I was standing way too close to my brother. I had somehow shuffled towards him as she had gotten closer without realising. Now I was at his back looking for any signs of danger, only the danger was already facing him holding his hand. I silently stepped back dipping my head blushing. There were a few small chuckles from the crowd which only earned me another glare from the bride.

As the bride and groom exchanged vows I looked on helplessly, my face was completely emotionless the same as my parents while other guests looked at the so called happy couple in awe, but inside my head I was screaming for this whole thing to be a bad dream and any moment I would wake up. I looked down at my father begging him to do something with my eyes but all he did was offer me a weak smile. This really was happening. I know I’d told Heather there was no way out but secretly I guess I was always hoping this moment would never come, now my nightmare was playing out right in front of me and I couldn’t do anything to stop it.

The moment came when they asked if anyone objected and I looked helplessly around as if someone would stop this whole sham or there would be so divine power or act of nature that would intervene, or the moon goddess herself would come storming in to say this is not part of her plan and she forbade the union to happen. Only she never came, I could feel the hopelessness draining me of everything, threatening for me to collapse to the floor. I felt so adrift. How can this be happening?

Suddenly I felt a hand slip into mine, their fingers laced with my own squeezing gently. I looked up to see Mitchell was standing next to me giving me a reassuring smile. Somehow he had moved without drawing attention to himself to stand next to me. Like everyone else there was nothing he could do to save my brother from his fate but he was letting me know he was there for me, he understood how much I needed him right now.

I smiled up at him genuinely. The tears I had held back up until now began to slowly flow down the side of my face. Today my heart was breaking.

A few more moments and it was done. The officiant announced that they were husband and wife. As the room went into an uproar of cheers and clapping. I squeezed Mitchell’s hand tightly feeling like I was dying inside but I knew he was there the entire time to anchor me.