The Fated Bond

Violet's POV “And now we present the bride!” The voice rings out from up on the beautifully decorated stage set with bright red roses, white garland, and twinkling lights. The place where the smartly dressed groom stands with his black tux and his slicked-back hair that was fixed purely for this occasion. Just beyond that is the crowd filed into white chairs that were set perfectly for friends and family for this very day. Those in attendance stand immediately, preparing for the star of the show, the bride dressed in a form-fitting lacy white dress with a puffy skirt that surrounds her like a cloud. Their voices whisper together as their hands clap while she appears with the groom’s father beside her since her own couldn’t be in attendance. It’s a beautiful scene, one from a fairy tale and something that everyone dreams of, even me, but that will never happen. Not when I couldn't seem to make the right choice in men. It was like no matter what I did or who I chose, they all ended up being deadbeats, cheaters, or wanting to use me to get close to my best friend, Noel. Sighing, I turn my gaze to the woman in question, who now stands on stage with her soon-to-be husband, only to find that she looks panicked. No. I hiss inwardly, remembering all the times I’ve seen that look on her face before. Noel was known for fleeing when things were getting serious, but maybe that was just her succubus nature? She was no stranger to engagements and weddings, but no matter how many times she walked down the aisle and stood on that stage, she never seemed to tie the knot. Eighteen weddings. Eighteen weddings she fled from and now she was possibly going to do the same thing for number nineteen even though she told me how different Trevor was from the rest. How much he got her, how good their chemistry was, but with each passing minute, her face grows more and more scared until the sound of shattering glass rings out as if indicating the destruction of yet another almost wedding. After that, I can almost see her running, given the fear in her eyes, but before she can do anything, a man steps out from the line of men beside Trevor. He’s a handsome man, with white blonde hair that almost seems to glow iridescently around his perfectly chiseled face. He’s tall, with a lean build, but it’s easy to see the muscles that hide under his tux. Who is he? I think as he steps up to Noel and begins to slowly whisper something that seems to calm her, and once she gives a small nod, he turns to Trevor and begins to talk to him too. Once he is finished, Trevor says something and then nods toward the mic, urging the man to speak, and when he steps up, his lips flashing into a perfect smile, his icy blue eyes shining, I feel my heart skip a beat. “Good evening, everyone!” He announces in a deep voice that sends a shiver through me. “Sorry for stealing the show for a moment, but I just wanted to say a few words before the two behind me say their vows.” Continuing to smile, he looks around, taking everyone in, and when his eyes come to rest on me, I can almost see something in them saying that you’ve got this. But the odd thing is, I don’t quite know what it is that he’s telling me. This thought stays with me as he tears his gaze away and then focuses on the crowd as a whole, forgetting about me completely. “First,” the man continues, completely ill-at-ease as he commands the stage and the crowd. Something that I could never do. “My name is Lance Blackwell, and I’m the reason that the two behind me met. You see, Trevor and I go way back, and when he asked me to help set him up with his soulmate, I just couldn’t let him be.” Set them up? I think inwardly, perking up. Did he just say that he set them up? What was he? Some kind of matchmaker? Was that why he was so calm up there in front of people? Because working with many people was his thing. “You see, I feel that everyone in this world should be able to be happy with the one that completes them.” He says, shooting Trevor and Noel a look. “That’s why I made it my mission to help people connect and find who they’re missing while also helping them discover who they really are as well…” As he speaks, I listen on intently while feeling as though he’s talking to me. Was it because his words were meant to make everyone feel as though maybe, just maybe, they stood a chance at happiness and forever, or was I feeling like this because just before this wedding I walked away from the one that I thought was meant for me? “I want to say this to them and to all of you in the crowd as well.” Lance booms, snapping me out of my head so that I realize he is ending his speech. “Just because you feel like you aren’t meant to find happiness, you should continue to look around, searching for it instead of letting it go. Imagine if Noel here did that,” he chuckles, turning to Noel, who is now blushing. “If she didn’t give herself one last chance and come to find me, then she wouldn’t be standing here now marrying her other half. With that said, congratulations to the happy couple. I wish the two of you and everyone else here all the happiness and joy.” Finished speaking, Lance gives a slight bow, and then he is moving, taking his place back in line with the rest of Trevor’s groomsmen. And when Noel and Trevor become the center of attention once more, I can almost feel the tension growing around me as Noel steps forward and hikes up her dress ever so slightly, revealing the running shoes beneath. Smirking, she turns and pretends to move while everyone gasps, but before chaos can ensue, she is curtsying and then bursting into tinkling laughter that soothes the tension instantly. The rest of the wedding goes smoothly, with Noel and Trevor exchanging vows and saying their “I do’s” and then giving each other a ring. And once it’s all over and everyone is clapping, I can’t help but feel a slight bit of courage rush into me. Maybe that’s why my eyes find one of Trevor’s groomsmen, one with a buzzed head, tan skin, and a large muscular build. He possesses a strong aura that radiates a brilliant gold making it clear from where I’m sitting that he’s a wolf, and because of that, he would be perfect for me. One more time. I think to myself, trying not to remember all of the rejections and betrayals I’ve suffered until this point. Just one more chance. Maybe I was meant to hear that speech today so that I wouldn’t wallow in self-pity and would get back on the horse and try again. And with this thought in my head, I waste no time finding the man in question during the after-party and approaching him after downing a drink. “Um…” I say, stepping up behind him and tapping his shoulder so that he turns and fixes his deep, dark eyes on me. “I’m sorry to bother you, but…” “But what?” He growls, not bothering to hide his disgust toward me. “You want to talk to me? You saw me from across the room and just had to come speak to me? You’re all the same!” He spits, baring his teeth while those around us watch on curiously. “Can’t you see that I’m not interested in some random slut who is just trying to approach me because of my looks? Now get away from me.” Eyes widening, I feel everyone’s gazes come to rest on me. And when snickers and whispers start to erupt around me, I can feel myself shifting until my ears and tail are visible and everyone is laughing. Oh no! I hiss, looking around for an escape but finding that I’m surrounded. No! How can this be happening? “Hey!” The voice rings out from just behind me, and as I turn to see who it is that is talking, a jacket is being dropped on me and an arm wrapped around me. “Don’t you know that isn’t any way to speak to a lady?” The one who spoke continues, his body pressing against me “Don’t you think you owe her an apology?”