Chapter 1: The Wedding

(Approximately Four Years Ago)

(Piper POV)

I am currently waiting in a dressing room on the fourth floor of the packhouse, studying my reflection in the full-length mirror.  My hair and makeup have been done expertly, and my white wedding dress hugs my curves in all the right places.  Despite my insecurities, even I have to admit that I look beautiful.

My fingers begin to trace the silver and diamond locket on my neck.  I find myself desperately wishing that my mother was here with me.

Through the open window, I can hear various voices from the wedding guests who are gathering in the courtyard below.  I can also hear soft violin music playing, and I can smell the vibrant rose and lily arrangements that have been placed everywhere.  And I can feel just a hint of the bright morning sun on my back.

Unable to resist the temptation, I walk over to the window and peer outside.  Like a magnet, my eyes land on Leo Bloodstone, who is greeting guests.  He is tall, super muscular, with dark hair.  In any other situation, I would admit he is rather attractive.  Leo looks up and our eyes meet.  My stomach skips a beat, and I quickly step away from the window.

If I did not know any better, I would think today was a day of celebration.  I might even think the feelings in my stomach are happy butterflies. 

But, today is not a day of celebration.

No, today is the day that I will say goodbye to my family, my friends, and the pack that I have known and loved all my life.  Worse, today is the day that my alpha plans to trade my life away to one of his enemies.

This less-than-ideal situation is the reason that I asked for a morning wedding.  In the werewolf world, anything truly joyous happens under the moonlight.  I have never been good at faking my emotions, and I did not want to pretend that I was happy about this situation.  The morning wedding was one of the few requests that I had that for the wedding that was actually honored; everything else was planned according to my groom’s wishes.

Not that I actually care.  But I had to pretend that I did.  Maybe I am better at faking than I give myself credit for.

“Piper?  Piper, we have to go.  Now.”

I spin around to see my alpha’s son, Xander, rushing into the dressing room.  As our eyes lock, he suddenly freezes.

“Piper  …wow … you look … amazing.”

Despite the seriousness of the situation, I cannot help but blush.  Xander has always had that effect on me.

“Thank you, Xander.  Do you have the clothes?”

Xander continues to stare at me.

“Xander?”

Xander shakes his head as he seems to break himself out of his trance.  He tosses a small duffle bag to me.

“Here.  Hurry… please go and change.  Fast.  We do not have much time.”

To Xander’s frustration, I look down at the duffle bag and find myself hesitating.  Again.  Although we have been planning this escape for almost as long as our fathers have been planning the wedding, the idea of running away still just does not feel right.

“Xander, are you sure about this?  I am willing to marry Leo if it means protecting the pack….”

Xander takes three large steps towards me.  He puts his hands on either side of my face and looks at me seriously.

“We have talked about this, Piper.  You marrying Leo Bloodstone will not solve anything.  My father is a fool to think that he can trust that pack.  Who is to say that you marry Leo today and they won’t attack us tomorrow?  There are other, better ways to defeat them.”

“But Xander, what if ---”

Xander put his finger gently over my lips. 

“There are no ifs, Piper.  You are going to leave this pack, and you will not come back until either I come for you or you have found and marked your mate.  You are only 18 years old.  You deserve a chance to be with someone who will love and cherish you.  I do not want you to marry someone like Leo Bloodstone who sees you as nothing but a toy or a tool in some sick game.  You have heard the rumors about him, just like I have.  I care about you far too much to let you end up with someone like him.”

"But if marrying him can save the pack---"

"It won't.  Today he wants you.  Tomorrow he wants what?  My sister?  Our northern lands?  Half our soldiers?  It doesn't make sense, Piper.  You should not sacrifice yourself.  Not now, not ever."

My eyes begin to water.  I wrap my arms tightly around Xander.  “I am going to miss you.  You are the best friend I could have ever asked for.”

Xander returns the hug.  “I am going to miss you, too, Piper.”  He kisses my forehead.  “Now, please, hurry and change.  The ceremony is supposed to start in twenty minutes.  We have to get you as close to the border as we can before anyone realizes that you are missing.”