Chapter 1

Fiona POV

Today is my wedding day. But here I stand in my wedding gown—not at a church, but at the prison gates.

Yes, today's the same day I get out. My boyfriend Andy proposed to me the day I went inside, who promised me a fairytale wedding on my release day... "Don't worry your pretty head," Andy have said. "I've got you covered for life." He must've truly loved me to say that.

I dial Andy's number, only to be greeted by his voicemail. Truth is, he haven't visited me in six months—but he must be knee-deep in wedding preparations. He has to be.

The prison guards look at me with a strange look in their eyes…Was that pity?

Ignoring the strange look, I turn away. I don’t owe them any kindness and shouldn’t be worrying about it. After years of pain and punishment at their hands and countless uncalled for times of being drugged and suppressed, I’m more than ready to leave.

My anger simmers beneath the surface, but as I look back out at the sky, it’s overshadowed by excitement that’s making me feel a bit dizzy.

In just a few hours, the dream I've held onto my whole life - becoming one with the person who owns my heart - is finally coming true.

My mind keeps drifting back to that old bench by the lake in Central Park - our spot. Back when we were dating, I always made a point to be there first, watching the ripples while waiting for Andy's footsteps.

Maybe Andy's waiting at our spot right now, trying to pull off some surprise. I think I'll swing by and check.

I run my fingers down the white gown, thinking about how I did my best to make it fit again. However, it’s been three years, and I’ve lost weight, but I wasn’t going to get married without it, especially since it was chosen by Andy. He’d given it to me when he proposed, along with his grandmother’s ring.

The little velvet box in my pocket pokes against my thigh, and I pull it out as I climb into the taxi. The tiny diamonds surrounding the moonstone shimmer and sparkle in the sunlight, making my heart flutter. The prison confiscated the ring from me, but now, I have it back, and I can’t wait for Andy to put it on me.

After being stripped of my freedom, I can’t wait to get back to my life with Andy. Prison life was painful, but the thing I found the hardest was not seeing him. We’d been together for years, and then we’d been ripped apart, but now everything will be perfect.

Growing up in an orphanage and seeing families everywhere, when I didn’t have one, made me desire the day that I could find my mate and make a family of my own.

Then, I met Andy. He was, and is, everything I dreamed about. Strong, popular, handsome, kind, and most importantly, he pursued me after we met for the first time. I can remember the first time we met, like it was yesterday. In fact, it still gives me butterflies in the best way.

It had been two weeks into my second year of college, and I’d been walking across campus with my nose buried in a book about pharmaceutical technology.

“Look out!” Someone had yelled, but I wasn’t paying attention and didn’t see the football flying toward me. Then, strong arms were grabbing me, a large body curled protectively around me, and a male voice spoke to me.

“You should be more careful,” he said, and I finally pulled my head out of my book. We straightened up, and the gorgeous guy smiled and held his hand out, “I’m Andy.”

“Fiona.” I’d whispered, starstruck. His smile was blinding and my heart decided it was the perfect time to do summersaults.

After that first meeting, we met twice before he asked me out. I loved that he took the initiative, and since then, we’ve been in love. I was so in love with him that I was willing to do anything for him, even go to prison when he was charged with patent plagiarism by a pharmaceutical company.

It didn’t matter to me, though. If it kept him from getting hurt, I’d do it.

Now, we can finally plan our future.

I giggle at the thought and slide the ring box back into my pocket. The taxi drop me off town right by our spot.

“In a moment, everyone, we’ll be back with a highly anticipated update on the newly appointed Alpha King. Alpha King also has a message for every werewolf…”

I don’t listen to the rest of the news broadcast and keep walking. The Alpha King seems to be very popular with the public. But I don’t need to know about who is the new Alpha King, and besides, nothing that news woman could say will be more important than my wedding.

While I walk, I study the town around me. As I pass people, they laugh and talk. I also notice the stares they send my way. Some people raise their eyebrows, some whispers, and some point. A teenager even laughs with her friend while whispering behind her hand.

But I don’t care. Nothing could ruin this day for me because soon, I’ll be marrying the man I love more than anything. Getting to him is my only goal right now.

And speaking of Andy… I look up and bite my lip as the sun begins to set. I can’t be late for my own wedding.

Pulling my phone out, I dial his number again and hold my breath when it rings. The line rings and rings and rings before going to voicemail, so I try again.

He still doesn’t answer.

Disappointment tugs at my heart, but I shake it off. I guess he must be too busy to answer.

Again, I note the time growing later and decide to just head to the venue and meet Andy. It’ll save both of us time and the pain of waiting. As I flag down another taxi, I check my wallet and find it nearly empty. It’s fine. I’ll have just enough to make it.

I rattle off the venue address and nervously fiddle with the skirt of my dress as we zoom through town. It’s a lot closer than I thought, and when the taxi pulls up the long drive, I gasp.

Flowers, tulle, and many other decorations make the venue look like a princess’s dream wedding. It’s all so beautiful that my heart flips again. Andy put so much thought and effort into our wedding. I don’t think I’ll be able to stop myself from kissing him when I see him.

It’s all so romantic that my heart flutters again.

“Invitation,” a large security guard barks, stopping me from entering.

“Wh-what?”

A woman in a red dress is admitted, but again, the guard stops me, demanding an invitation. Can’t he see that I’m the bride? Annoyance and confusion fill me as I speak.

“This is my wedding. I need to go in so I can get ready.”

“This is the wedding of Princess Chloe, the daughter of Alpha King Nolan,” someone behind me says, and then something presses against my side. “Anyone without an invitation is not welcome.”

I gasp when I look down to find a high voltage taser pressing into my waist. Are they crazy? The serious look on their faces tell me they’re not.

Do I have the wrong venue?

“Are there any other weddings happening around here?” I ask, desperate to know. I can’t miss my own wedding. What would Andy think if I don’t make it in time? He would be devastated. I never want him to think I’ve changed my mind because being without him for three years has been painful enough.

“No,” the guard rumbles again, pushing me away from the door. If I keep trying to get in, they’ll use the taser. Their hardened, narrow-eyed glares tell me that very clearly. Just like the guards in prison, these men will have no trouble forcing me away and hurting me in the process if need be. I push away the upset feeling bubbling within me.

“Fine. I’ll go,” I mutter, turning away.

There’s no way Andy changed the venue, which means he’s inside somewhere, waiting for me. So I sneak around to the side of the building, jiggling door handles until one opens, and I slip inside unnoticed.

“Do you take this woman as your wife to love and cherish, to protect, to care for until death do you part?” A man’s voice asks, and I look up. A bride and groom stand on a dais, holding each other’s hands and staring lovingly into each other’s eyes.

“I do.”

My chest tightens painfully, and I have to cover my mouth to hold in the gasp of pain as the man lifts a ring to the woman’s finger. The same ring that sits tucked away in my pocket. How is that possible?

The groom slides the ring onto the woman’s finger, smiling down at her while simultaneously shoving a knife into my chest. This scene is worse than any pain I’d felt in prison and worse than the long, lonely separation from the man I love.

He would never betray me like that.

“You may now kiss the bride.”

Everything blurs, growing heavy and fuzzy. Disbelief and denial slam into me just as the pain begins to spread from my heart to the rest of my body. People shout and cheer as the bride and groom kiss, but I want to scream as I stumble back to the door.

“For the first time, I’d like to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Andy Thorton,” the preacher announces.

And with that, a handful of words shatter my entire world.