Chapter 2 - April

After nearly a decade, Mila and Ben finally decided to have a mating ceremony and end the tumultuous ups and downs of their relationship. It was at the urging of Luna Grace that Mila finally decided to say yes to a stable future with her mate.

The alpha and luna were not against having fun, of course, but after Madi's kidnapping last year, Lex had brought Ben in for a conversation about distracting the twenty-something wolves—especially Mila—from their duty to the pack. Ben had assured the alpha that he wanted to settle down with her, but that Mila had been resistant to the idea.

It took a little convincing from Grace, but since it was clear that Mila and Ben had true feelings for each other, she was heavily encouraged to accept his proposal and leave the partying behind.

Once Mila had accepted Ben as her mate, they both became model citizens in Sparkle Hollow. Everyone was thrilled with their match and excited for a mating ceremony where they could celebrate the future. Luna Madi from the Moonstone Pack had even offered her services as a party planner to the happy couple. Madi had hoped that involvement between the packs for milestones like this would be the key to building a stable alliance, and Luna Grace had agreed.

Mila, thrilled by the new luna's attention to her, had accepted without any hesitation. Which was why I now found myself sitting at an outdoor café in Wyoming, holding the remnants of my second mimosa, planning a wedding with the two of them.

"There's only one thing left to decide," Madi said.

Fresh spring air teased their hair and fluttered a few pages from Madi's binder as the bees buzzed in the flower boxes hanging from the patio railing.

"The dress!" Mila squealed, setting down her glass. She hadn't been excited about many of the plans up until now, but I could tell this was one choice she was passionate about. The entire reason we had left Sparkle Hollow today was to visit a specific bridal shop that Mila had scouted ahead of time.

I smiled at her enthusiasm, ignoring the pang of jealousy that sprang up.

"Do you know what you're looking for?" I asked.

"Something fitted, obviously," Mila said, indicating her hourglass figure.

I forced a laugh, but another pang of jealousy came to the surface unbidden. My body type was a little more full than Mila's, and hearing her praise her looks brought my attention back to my own perceived shortcomings. While I tried to love my shape, I had to admit that it was sometimes hard to do.

"I think a mermaid style would look great on you," Madi said.

We paid our check and walked a block over to the bridal boutique. Mila continued to chatter about all the elements her perfect dress would have.

It wasn't the wedding I wanted, although that was a part of it. My jealousy of Mila had more to do with how easy things seemed for her. For as long as I could remember, Mila had never had to try to get a man's affection. She was fun, witty, kind, and beautiful. It was like the world fell at her feet. Now, she was set to marry her love, and I was still alone. I wished that someday, I might have the chance for my dream wedding, but I felt like time was running out.

For years, Mila had her perfect man lined up, waiting for marriage. Instead of agreeing to be his mate years ago, she had spent her time testing the waters. She had taken him for granted, but had still been rewarded with a mate at the end of it.

Meanwhile, I had never even been asked on a date, let alone had a wolf from the pack express an interest in me being their mate. I wondered if I should blame all the stories of love I had read for putting the idea of a fairytale romance into my head. At the age of thirty, I doubted very much that I would find a charming, kind man who would want to make a life with me. Perhaps it was time for me to give up on my fantasy.

Madi opened the glass door to the boutique, and a small bell chimed overhead, alerting the staff that a new bride was in need of their attention. Mila stepped inside excitedly, but I hung back.

"Aren't you coming in?" Madi asked. She looked at me with concern, but I smiled in assurance.

"In a minute," I said. "I just need a little more fresh air."

Madi gave me a knowing smile. She may have been younger than me, but she was wise beyond her years. We had only spoken a handful of times before today, but she was a highly intuitive person I hoped to get to know better. I could tell she knew that I was struggling to be a supportive friend in light of my singleness.

"We'll get her started with measurements," she said. "I'm sure it will take a little while. I can hear her talking the ear off of that poor saleswoman right now! Take your time."

As the door shut behind her, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was nice to have a moment of quiet after such a busy day.

I took the opportunity to stand on the sidewalk outside the boutique and watch the passersby. Just a few minutes of people-watching should help me shake off my mood and be ready to re-enter the wedding preparations with gusto.

Pinedale wasn't a large town, but it was a little busier than Sparkle Hollow. There were plenty of pedestrians—mainly shoppers, making their way up the street with their purchases—as well as car traffic.

I saw a group of teenagers walking along the opposite side of the street. A few held ice cream cones, and I wondered if there was a sweet shop nearby that we could visit after we were done looking at dresses. A nice scoop of chocolate sounded divine right about now.

On a nearby bench, an elderly woman sat, crocheting something inside a canvas tote bag. I smiled, wondering if it was a gift for a family member or just something she did to pass the time.

My musings had lulled me into a sense of peace. I took a step toward the door, intending to rejoin the other women, when I felt Rae perk up. A sudden spike of adrenaline coursed through my body as Rae became more alert to our surroundings. My heart beat faster and my eyesight narrowed as I attempted to find the cause of Rae's unease.

Is everything okay? I asked her.

Something's coming. Be ready , she replied cryptically.

That's not very helpful , I said. What is coming?

I'm not sure … she trailed off. I could tell she was doing the same thing I was doing—looking for danger.

For a moment, I considered turning around and running into the boutique to get help, but a part of me was sure that I was still safe here. It was broad daylight in the middle of town. What could I possibly have to fear?

I took a few steps toward the corner, trying to get a better view of the street so I could ascertain where any danger might come from. Strangers continued to pass on the opposite sidewalk, but the area I stood in was empty now. I had just decided to head back to the dress shop to warn Madi and Mila when the hair on the back of my neck stood up and a shiver went down my spine. I was being watched.

I wheeled around, realizing that my back was to an alley. A man was standing less than two feet from me. I jumped, alarmed at his close proximity. My back made contact with the brick wall of the building as I stumbled backwards to get away from him.

"Goddess!" I cursed in shock.

The man and I looked into each other's eyes, and I gasped in shock. I recognized those eyes. Dark blue irises surrounded his wide pupils, like the eye of a hurricane that might swallow me up if I wasn't quick enough to find shelter.

"You—" I began.

Before I could say another word, he closed the distance between us and placed a rough hand over my lips. My eyes widened in fear as the expression on his face turned from casual observance to vicious intent. I prayed for someone to see me, but there was no one in sight.

In my peripheral vision, I saw a vial of red liquid with a needle at its base. I had seen this once before—the day Madi had been taken. My protests were muffled by the hand covering my mouth as he pressed the back of my skull into the hard wall behind me. I felt a pressure in my neck followed by an intense wave of pain before my vision went black and I felt myself falling into the darkness.