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Katy

The wedding invitation sat in the center of our coffee table like a piece of evidence at a crime scene.

“Celeste and Jerald.

Request the honor of your presence…”

My keys slipped from my fingers and hit the hardwood with a crack that made my mother flinch. She didn't look up from her knitting.

That damn scarf she had been working on for weeks. I wouldn't be surprised if it was Celeste's.

"You can't be serious." My voice came out flat as I looked between my parents.

Dad folded his newspaper with deliberate precision. "The whole family has been invited. We are going." He announced,too casually, like he was stating the weather.

"The whole family?” I repeated, letting out a sharp and bitter laughter. "She invited us to watch her marry my mate. You understand that, right? She's marrying my mate." I cried.

"Former mate," Mom corrected.

"Jerald chose Celeste. It's been six months, Katy. Move on."

Yes.

It has been six months.

Six months since I'd felt my bond fracture like glass. Six months since I'd found them together in his apartment.

His hands were in her hair as they remained tangled in bed, both of them freezing when they saw me in the doorway.

"I'm not going." I announced and picked up the invitation.

My fingers left ink smudges on the expensive cardstock. The ink from my tattoo gigs had not dried in my hands yet.

“ I am not standing there while everyone watches me…"

"Watches you what?" Dad's eyes flashed yellow, a sign that his wolf was pressing ahead, fighting for control. That meant one thing, he was pissed.

"Everyone watches you throw another tantrum? Make another scene?"

His words felt like a dagger driven straight to my heart.

"A tantrum. Is that what you call it?"

"You've embarrassed us enough." He stood, pinning a disapproving gaze at me.

“Your cousin is getting married. We will attend as a family, and you will conduct yourself appropriately. That's final."

Mom finally looked up. Her face was smooth, pleasant but also empty.

No emotions.

"It wouldn't hurt you to be happy for her, sweetheart. Celeste didn't steal him. Jerald simply... found his true match."

Something in my chest cracked open.

True match they say.

Then what was I? His fated mate?

Was I nothing but a placeholder? A mistake?

"Don't make this look like it was my fault. I never asked for it.” My hands were shaking

"We are not saying it's your fault, Katy." Mom said, in that reasonable tone that made me feel insane.

"We're simply saying you need to accept reality. You're twenty-two,still young. You can start over.This obsession isn't healthy."

"Obsession." I tasted the word. Is that what they thought this was? My pain was some sort of obsession in their eyes?

"I'm fixated on the fact that my mate cheated on me with my cousin? That she sent this invitation to humiliate me? That you're…" My voice broke. "That you are taking her side?"

"There are no sides," Dad said coldly. "There is just a family wedding. Which you will attend."

The jasmine scent that always made me feel home suddenly felt suffocating.

"Fine." I grabbed my keys off the floor. "I'll go to the wedding. And then I am done."

"Done?" Mom's needles paused.

"With this family and you constantly choosing Celeste over me. No one wants me here anyway.” I snapped.

I was out the door before either of them could say something else.

The night air hit my face like a slap, reminding me of the reality of my life.

I scrambled for my phone and made a call.

Nova answered on the first ring. ""Can I crash at your place?" My voice sounded strange.

"I just became homeless."

***

Nova handed me a beer the second I walked through her door. She always knew how to cheer up and that's probably why she was the first person I called.

"Your parents are insane," she said, dropping onto the couch beside me. "Forcing you to go to that wedding? I'm so pissed I could…"

"I don't want to talk about it." I took a long drink. "I just need to not think for a while."

"Perfect." Nova's eyes lit up,definitely not the response I was hoping for. "Because I know exactly what you need."

I groaned. "Nova, no. Whatever you're planning…" She cut me off before I could finish protesting.

"An auction." She was already pulling me toward the stairs. "Go take a shower and I'll pick your outfit." She ordered.

"An auction?" I frowned. "Are you serious? I can't afford to breathe in a place like that, let alone…"

Again, she cut me off.

"Who said you are buying anything?" She shoved me toward the bathroom. "You're networking."

"I run a tattoo shop, not a financial company!" I groaned.

" You do have a dream to open a modern garage.” Nova pointed out.

“That's not happening if you stay stuck doing flash tattoos downtown."

Nova was right, that had always been my dream.

The tattoo shop was a way of making ends meet as I worked on actualizing my dream.

Minutes later, I stepped out with a towel wrapped around my body.

Nova has already laid out a black dress on the bed.

"Where did you even get an invitation?" I asked, toweling my hair.

"Dad." She answered without looking at me, already doing her makeup.

“He has been trying to get me interested in 'the family business' again." She made air quotes.

“ It's like I don't have better things to do." I could already imagine her rolling her eyes.

"You mean like talking about Darvis?" I asked.

"Hey,I don't talk about him that much."she protested and I shook my head helplessly.

"You've mentioned him four times in the last ten minutes."

Nova actually laughed at that.

“ I can't help it, Katy. Finding him was…"

"The best thing that ever happened to you?" I smiled despite myself. "I know. You've mentioned it."

She grinned, covering her mouth.

I was happy for her.Nova deserved someone who looked at her the way Darvis did, like he'd choose her anytime.

The fact that my own mate had looked at my cousin that way instead... well. That was my problem.

Thirty minutes later, we pulled up to a building that screamed money.

"I can't do this." My hands twisted in my lap. "Nova, look at this place. These people…"

"They are just people like you and me.” She turned to face me.

“ If we are really lucky, Alpha Lucian might show up."

"Who?" I repeated.

"Lucian Thorne. Alpha of the Crescent Ridge pack. He is a real estate mogul and the most interesting part? He is a street racer. You know what that means, right?”

“ If he is impressed with my idea, he would be willing to fund my startup”

Nova nods. “ That's not all. He is also gorgeous, filthy rich, and every woman's dream.” Nova's smile turned wicked.

I knew what she was insinuating.

I rolled my eyes, but something stirred in my chest.

"Seriously Katy, You have built a business from nothing. You just need one investor who sees what I see."

"What if…" I swallowed hard. "What if Jerald was right? What if I'm really not…"

"Stop." Nova's voice went sharp. "Jerald was a coward who blamed you for his own shit. He couldn't handle a woman who knew what she wanted, so he found someone easier." She grabbed my hand.

"You walked away from your parents' house tonight. You chose yourself. That's not weak, that is the strongest thing you could've done."

My throat tightened.

"Now." She squeezed my fingers. "We are going to walk in that room and you are going to be the Katy I know. The one who doesn't apologize for taking up space. The one who makes people lean in when she talks." Her eyes softened. "She is still in there. I can see her."

Her words warmed my heart.

"Okay," I said quietly. "Okay."

"That's my girl." Nova's smile was fierce. "Let's go make an impression."