Nova
"I need to stop a wedding."
The words barely registered. My mind was still struggling to catch up—still reeling from the reality that I had just met my mate, that my entire life had changed in an instant. And now… now he was talking about a wedding?
Then it hit me.
This was his bachelor party. His.
He was getting married.
To someone else.
My stomach dropped. The world around me blurred, the edges of reality tilting as the weight of that realization sank into my bones.
I didn't even realize I had gone silent until Kain's voice cut through my haze.
"Nova, are you okay?"
I blinked at him, my throat tightening.
"You're… you're getting married," I whispered. I hadn't meant to say it out loud, but it slipped past my lips anyway.
His jaw clenched. "Not anymore," he said, his voice firm. "At least, not to her."
He was already shrugging off his suit jacket, his movements smooth, effortless. Then, with the same certainty as his words, he draped it over my shoulders, the fabric swallowing my exposed skin.
"You must be cold," he murmured. Then, softer but equally possessive—"And I don't want anyone looking at you."
I gripped the lapels of his jacket instinctively, feeling the warmth of his body still lingering in the fabric. His scent—rich, intoxicating, undeniably him—wrapped around me, grounding me, overwhelming me.
I swallowed, tilting my head up to look at him. His amber eyes burned into mine, softer now, but no less intense.
Like he saw me.
Like he actually wanted me.
"Thank you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
His lips twitched into a small smile—but this time, it reached his eyes. And God, he was even more beautiful when he smiled.
For a moment, it felt like the world had shrunk down to just us.
But then he stepped back, the warmth between us fracturing.
"I have to go," Kain said finally. His voice was rougher now, like it pained him to say it. "Marcus will take you to the pack house."
I blinked. "Wait. You're not coming with me?"
His eyes darkened, his jaw tensing. "No," he said, and this time, his voice was cold. "There's something I need to deal with first."
Something.
The word echoed in my mind, sending a fresh wave of unease curling through my stomach.
Was it about his marriage? Was he actually going to call it off? A wedding that had probably been planned for months?
Was he doing this… because of me?
The thought made my chest tighten.
I didn't know how to feel.
The idea of him with another woman made me ache—more than it should, more than I was ready to admit. But at the same time…this was too much, too fast.
He was an Alpha. I was nothing.
How could I possibly be enough for him?
The thought clung to me as we stepped outside. The night air was cool against my skin, but Kain's jacket kept me warm, kept me safe.
He walked ahead, heading straight for Marcus, who was still waiting by the car.
I hesitated, my eyes flicking through the small crowd of stragglers. Searching.
Cami.
I found her near her car, still waiting. The second she saw me, her face lit up, and before I could prepare myself, she sprinted toward me, throwing her arms around me in a crushing hug.
"Oh my God," she gasped. "What happened Why did you guys take so long—"
Then she pulled back, her gaze falling to the fabric covering my shoulders.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Whose jacket is that?"
I said nothing.
Her eyes darted to mine. And then—her mouth fell open.
"Oh my God."
I could see it clicking in her head. The realization. "Oh my fucking God."
She grabbed my shoulders, shaking me slightly. "Alpha Kain is your mate?"
I pressed my lips together, suppressing a sheepish smile.
Cami let out a delighted shriek. "That's why y'all took so long in there… Oh my God, you nasty—" she cackled, nudging me playfully.
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, please. When you met Dalia, you two were absolutely disgusting."
"Well, yeah" she rolled her eyes with much more sass "But wow, that was dramatic. Telling everyone to leave just so you could get freaky with your mate? Such an Alpha thing to do."
We both dissolved into laughter.
Then, just as quickly, the humor faded from her face, replaced by something softer.
"I told you your mate would be amazing," she whispered. Her voice was thick with emotion, her eyes glossy. "And I was right."
The words broke something in me.
Tears blurred my vision, spilling down my cheeks before I could stop them. But this time…
For the first time, they weren't tears of pain.
Cami pulled me into another hug, holding me tight.
"He's gonna have to call off a whole-ass wedding," she sniffed, pulling away slightly. Then her eyes widened. "Or maybe—" she gasped dramatically. "Maybe the wedding will still happen, but you'll be the bride."
I let out a choked laugh, wiping my tears.
"About that…" I hesitated, my smile fading slightly. "Kain wants me to come to the pack house. Right now."
Cami frowned. "And he's not coming with you?"
"No," I exhaled. "He said he has things to deal with."
She studied me for a moment before sighing. "Yeah… Calling off a huge wedding isn't gonna be easy. He probably has to clean up that mess first."
I nodded, but something in my chest still felt tight. "What if he can't?" I murmured. "What if the wedding happens anyway? What if… this is a mistake? What if the high of meeting his mate wears off and he realizes he doesn't l actually want me? What if this is some sort of fluke?"
Cami's expression darkened. "Nova."
I swallowed trying to continue. "What if—"
"Stop with the 'what ifs,'" she cut me off. "Calm down, okay? That man basically claimed you in front of everyone. He's not letting you go."
I bit my lip, uncertainty gnawing at me.
She softened, reaching out to squeeze my hand. "And this isn't a fluke. You're his mate. You're going to be Luna."
Luna.
The word made my stomach twist.
"Chin up," she whispered, pulling me in for one last hug. "Everything's gonna be fine."
++++++++++++++++++++++
Convincing Cami to leave was harder than I expected, but eventually, she drove off, leaving me with Marcus.
Kain handed me over to him without a word. No explanation. No reassurances.
Just a curt goodbye.
And then… he was gone.
The warmth I had felt inside the house? The gentleness? The affection? All Gone.
Like he was an entirely different person.
The silence in the car was suffocating. Marcus hadn't spoken, and I didn't feel like filling the void.
I stared out the window, chewing on the inside of my cheek, feeling something I hated.
Abandoned.
I barely noticed when we pulled to a stop.
Marcus glanced at me through the mirror, smiling slightly.
"We're here, Purple."