26

Word Count: 3065

~Dove

Fawn Gardens is an extravagant piece of land at the heart of the city.

Once we walk past the gates, it swallows us whole. Massive trees enclose the space, the city vanishing around us as we walk down the pretty cobbled path toward where the wedding ceremony will occur.

There is green all around. The placement of flowers is random and wild, everything blooming as if it can sense the love between the two mates present here today. It's so beautiful emotion swells deep in my chest.

This is everything Eden ever wanted, ever since we were little girls.

The sun, just starting to set beyond the trees, is a stunning enough sight to distract me from Varian's stare on my back as he walks behind me with Claude.

Almost.

As if sensing Varian's watchful gaze, Deven sidles up closer to me as we walk, sliding his arm around my waist, tugging me until our hips brush together.

"I'm going to need a motivation," he says, his hand on my ribs keeping me upright as we walk over a pretty ivory bridge that curves atop a wide stream.

"Motivation?"

"Like a reason why I fell in love with you." He holds his hand out in front of me, as if he can envision the storyline he's building in front of him.

I roll my eyes. "Oh please."

"I need to build my character as to avoid any awkward encounters with obvious lies," he amends.

I huff out a breath, massaging my temples. This is what I get for conjuring up a ridiculous lie and dragging the most over the top person I know into it.

There is nothing to prove to Varian. My life is none of his business.

Admittedly, though, seeing that flicker of jealousy pleased me immensely.

"Just avoid speaking to him at all costs, please," I beg halfheartedly. One wrong word and this is all going to unravel spectacularly, leaving me with only scraps of my dignity.

"If he detaches my head from my body because he can't handle seeing you with another man, I'll never forgive you," he states decidedly.

I nudge his ribs with my elbow. "At least you won't be able to run your mouth a moment longer. He'd be doing me a favour."

We emerge into a pretty grass clearing surrounded by towering trees and a riot of wildflowers. The assortment of colours are so vivid my eyes almost water. A large frame is set up in the centre, lush greenery is weaved around the lattice, flower stems slid into them at random.

We take a seat on one of the front pews facing the frame where Eden and Ciella will exchange vows.

I risk a single passive glance over my shoulder to see Varian sitting down on the opposite side of the aisle, a few pews back. Claude and his stunning date sit next time him, along with other guests I don't recognise.

After a minute or, Dev stiffens and leans closer.

"Look, he's glaring at me." His voice has risen a touch and sweat is gathering in his hairline. He's lucky the low chatter occurring around us is obscuring his meltdown.

"Ignore him." I adjust my dress busily.

He fans himself. After risking another glance back, his head jerks back to face the front, a grimace twisting his features.

I keep my back straight, although the weight of Varian's stare is almost unbearable. I would like to think his intimidation of Dev isn't working, but I'm afraid I would be wrong.

"I think I'm going to sweat through this suit." Dev flaps the wings of his jacket in an attempt to air himself out.

"Keep it together," I mumble, wiping my mouth to cover my words in case someone is watching this debacle unfold.

I watch the pews fill with more people, my heart saddened at how little of them I recognise. I'm so far out of Belle's life, and this makes me feel as though I'm hopelessly searching for a foothold that isn't there.

"Remind me, why is he so obsessed with you again?" Dev question, yanking the handkerchief from his breast pocket, dabbing its fine edge against his forehead.

"He's not, he's just trying to prove a point." I press my hair back over my shoulder. "He knows he has a claim to me, and he wants to capitalise on it."

Eyes linger on me as people pass by, their heads lowering to whisper covertly in each others ears.

Can the scent Varian's mark, or were half these people in the billiard room when he brought me to orgasm right in front of them?

"What does that even mean?" Dev asks.

"He wants to use me to get to Matthias," I amend.

That must be it. Now that he knows I was once in love with his enemy, he's trying to terrorise me. It makes the most sense.

Dev leans so close his breath tickles my neck. "Or maybe he wants a repeat of your moment at the party last year-"

"Keep it down, won't you?" I scan people's faces, my own warming from the memory. "Remind me to never divulge anything to you ever again."

Varian is probably watching on, wondering why we are bickering.

Dev peels off his jacket, forgoing etiquette. "Are you kidding me? These secrets were long overdue. I can't be blamed for my present commentary."

"Whatever." I straighten my shoulders back. "I'm forever done with Alpha's and their bullshit."

He laughs musically. "Fair enough."

The wedding soon starts, Ciella and Eden walking down the aisle together, their arms linked. I watch on, my breath drawn, admiring every moment of the ceremony.

It goes by far too quickly. They exchange vows, slide rings onto their fingers, and kiss as everyone around them launches from the pews to cheer.

Eden is glowing as she runs down the aisle, her hand gripping her wife's. Everyone disbands around the park for the rest of the afternoon, drinking and sharing stories about Ciella and Eden's relationship.

Eventually dusk douses the sky in shades of midnight blue and plum. Tiny lights and torches are lit as we are lead to another area of the park to have dinner.

Dev and I take our respective seats at the lengthy table. Tiny bouquets of blooming flowers decorate the middle, slender candles bleeding pale wax down themselves right before us.

A hand lays on my shoulder from behind me.

Dark waves come into view as I turn my head to see Ciella. The last time I saw her was when Varian took my father and I captive.

"Hey Dove, thank you so much for coming." She smiles warmly, glitter speckling her skin in random places. She looks a little tipsy, clearly enjoying her wedding celebration.

I turn in my seat. "That was such a beautiful ceremony. Congratulations."

Dev leans closer. "Ciella right? I need to speak to you about how you're a living goddess and everything you do deserves endless praise."

She giggles while I shoo him away.

"Talk later, please," I insist.

"Thank you so much," she directs at Dev before turning her attention on me. "I wanted to say I'm so grateful that you came to the wedding. We've both really missed you."

"I'm glad I'm here too."

She bites down on her lower lip, looking down the table anxiously.

"About Varian—"

"I get it, he's your friend. I'm over it," I assure her tightly, clearing my throat. Now doesn't seem like the time to launch into that conversation.

Plus, I hold no resentment toward Ciella. She knows Varian far better than me, and is naturally going to do what she can to protect her wife.

"Can we talk some more later? Before everyone gets super drunk?" She asks softly.

"Sure." I nod. "Enjoy your dinner with your wife."

"Thank you. And don't worry, I've seated Varian on the other end of the table." She looks down the table for him, but he isn't in view. She frowns, but shakes her head.

"I appreciate that," I tell her anyway.

She gives me shoulder one last pat before she walks off to take her seat. I adjust my place setting, moving to the side so I server can fill my glass with more wine.

Just as I shift back into place, Varian slides into the empty seat to the right of me. I jump at his sudden and unexpected presence.

"Dove...hey," he greets.

"You're not supposed to be sitting here," I blurt out. Ciella assured me he would be sitting away from me, and now he's claimed this seat like he owns it.

Although I suppose in this pack, he owns everything.

"I switched place settings with Ida. I wanted to speak to you." He gestures down to the tiny folded card with his name written on it.

Casting a look down the table, Ida is sitting where Varian must have initially been placed. She clearly doesn't see anything wrong with the new arrangement, laughing animatedly with a couple opposite to her.

"I have nothing to speak to you about," I mutter.

He hasn't gotten the hint, even with my supposed boyfriend sitting right next to me. Dev has slipped into conversation with the woman next to me, leaving me alone with this Alpha.

"You look absolutely incredible this evening." He inclines his head, taking me in with a heavy gaze. "I wondered if I had conflated your appearance, your scent...your smile, with time. I was wrong."

"You're a shameless flirt and you should be embarrassed about it," I snap back.

I'm getting flashbacks to the dinner party at Ciella's where Claude and Varian were seated on either side of me. If the latter isn't careful, he's going to be the one ending up with a fork in his thigh.

His smirk is unrelenting as he considers me. He's taunting me, trying to get under my skin. I'm just a toy for him to fashion at his will, no consequences coming from his torment as I'm not even one of his pack members.

This must be some kind of revenge for being close to Matthias.

"I can't help myself." He leans closer, angling his head as his gaze dips below the table. "I can smell my mark."

"I can assure you once I have the money to remove it, I'll have it done," I respond tightly.

His expression cools as he leans back in his chair. I almost sigh from relief, every inch between us relieving me of the burden of his intensity.

So much has changed in the year since I've seen him, and yet nothing at all.

My body continues to react to him in ways beyond my control. I'm sure it's from the mark as it calls to him, beckoning for him. It makes me squeeze my thighs together tighter, as if to smothers it's effects.

Varian himself looks the same. His eyes are still hard and intense, his face still irritably perfect. I'm learning not to trust that kind of perfection, to know that there is always something lingering beneath that poisons it.

"Allow me to give you as much money as you need to have it removed," he offers gently, his eyes passing over the faces of everyone near, ensuring they aren't listening.

I frown. "Why would you do that?"

"I'm assuming there is no purpose for it anymore." He raises a questioning brow. "Would I be right?"

In other words, he wants to know if I'm still in contact with Matthias. Luckily for him, his presence in my life burned the bridge between Matthias and I long ago.

"I'll take your money then." I give him a quick look, to see if he expected me to turn him down, but he doesn't look fazed. I'll happily take his money and get this thing off me.

"Let me accompany you to have it removed," he offers smoothly.

"Why?"

Servers appear behind us suddenly, sliding the first course of food in front of us before filling our glasses again. I resist the urge to drain the wine immediately, needing keep my cool in front of Varian.

"It's a harrowing experience to have a mark removed." He sweeps his perfectly styled hair back, mussing the lengths slightly. "I know someone who is very legitimate and careful about removal."

"If it's in your pack, then no," I deadpan, stirring a spoon through the soup in front of me. "And I don't need your support. I have Deven."

Varian's expression drops, shifting over to my friend whose head pops into view, suddenly invested our conversation now that his name has been brought up.

"Hey—" he starts, but I push his head back.

The more words Varian and Dev exchange, the higher the chance of him realising the relationship I conjured up is a ruse. Thankfully my friend has no problem going along with this.

Varian leans forward to see Deven, assessing him with a docile gaze that I sense is deceptive.

"Deven, do you appreciate my mark upon her skin?" He asks thickly.

I freeze, trying not to wince as I turn my head to Dev. He's grinning loosely, shaking the red lengths of his hair out of his eyes.

"When I take her clothing off, it's the last thing I'm looking at," he purrs, winking at me. How he can say such things without laughing is beyond me, but at least Varian seems convinced.

A muscle in his jaw ticks. "It doesn't drive you mad knowing she's drenched in my scent?"

Dev just shrugs. "I'm an open minded man."

I watch the subtle changes in Varian's expression, surprised to see what looks like genuine irritation simmering beneath his skin.

"You should have never marked me. You should have never accused me of being a spy." I dig into the soup, although it's flavourless while I'm under Varian's scrutiny.

"I had every reason to believe you were."

I scowl at him. "I think I made my position pretty clear."

"Well, I admit I was likely mistaken, and I'm sorry for what transpired." He sighs, looking past the table and into the gardens that are overcome by shadows. "If I knew there was a chance of your father letting me use you in an effort to protect his Alpha, I would have never given that ultimatum."

"I have no relationship with him because of you," I grind out, my grip tightening on my spoon.

His eyes cool. "I only revealed what was always there."

I know he is right, but I don't want to admit it. Not when I haven't seen my father in over a year, and despite it being the best thing, all my problems can be linked back to when I first went to Varian's party.

He may have shown me a new way I wanted to live my life, but it wasn't worth what it cost me.

Even if I would be dead by now were it not for that night I met Varian.

"You had no right," I hiss regardless.

He takes a slow sip from his glass, looking thoughtful. All the lights around the place seem to glow brighter around him, like they are drawn to him.

"How is Matthias doing?" He asks after a long moment. "You've clearly moved on."

"Fuck Matthias, and every other Alpha who thinks they own me," I growl.

The servers appear again, taking our bowls of soup away. Everyone at the table is progressively getting louder as they drink more, although it's bleeds into a mindless buzz around me. All I can focus on is Varian and soft touch of his voice.

"You're welcome to move to my pack at any time."

"I think I would rather die, but thank you," he offers, the edge of his lip curving up in a way that would have many pulling their panties off right here.

Mercifully, Dev's hand slides into mine, tugging my attention back to him.

"Lovey Dovey—"

"Deven," I warn.

"Ding dong...sorry. Ah, pressing situation." He adjusts his jacket, eyes darting to Varian then back to me.

I eye him warily. "What?"

"I can't go another minute without having you," he says, trying to conceal his voice from everyone at the table except Varian, who is watching on keenly. "Meet me back where the ceremony was?"

"Yeah okay. Go, but don't make it obvious," I mumble, clearing my throat awkwardly as I pass a look over everyone's face to ensure they didn't over hear.

Dev stands, a little wobbly from too much drink. "Varian, you're welcome to join us—"

"Goodbye Deven." I give him a little wave.

He stalks off behind the bushes, not bothered that dinner hasn't been served yet. I don't care either, relieved that he's given me an excuse to get away from this table.

Varian grabs my wrist in a gentle grip as I stand. "Going with him?"

"Why wouldn't I?" I sound breathless as I tug away from him, following Dev's path through the garden.

Sure enough, my friend is lounging on a pew, lying flat against it. He waves a bottle of wine in the air as I approach.

"Okay, what's the situation?" I question, brushing his feet off the seat so I can sit down.

"I thought you might want a break." He hands me the bottle of wine, a wry grin on his face.

I laugh. "Ugh, I could kiss you."

He must have overheard my conversation with Varian and figured I wanted out of there. He has excellent social perception.

"And I wouldn't complain," he replies. "How are you going to get through tonight?"

I bring the rim of the bottle to my lips, drinking a few mouthfuls. "Like that."

Dev claps slowly. I'm sure he managed to commandeer this bottle from one of the servers with his unrelenting charm.

"I'm torn between being a good friend and telling you to pace yourself, but also wanting to be entertained by the absolutely shit show that's going to ensue," he exclaims.

"I won't get drunk," I promise. "But tonight I'm not taking shit from powerful men. You can hold me to that."

He smiles. "Oh I will, don't worry."

💜••💜

As always, you can read this book 16 chapters ahead on Inkitt and 10 chapters ahead on Radish!

Your support means a lot to me!

~Midika 🐈‍⬛💜