Chapter 358

My hands shook as I slipped the engagement ring Victor gave me off my finger and placed it on the coffee table. My heart was breaking, but I had to stay strong for him.

“No!” Victor shouted and took me into his arms. “I don’t care what they say. I am marrying you, my fated mate, and no other.”

“But marrying me could destroy your career,” I argued. “I can’t destroy your life.” I forced back tears. “Alphas will quiet down again if we aren’t together.”

“No, Daisy,” Victor held me close. “I don’t care what Councilor Getty or any Alpha wants. If I can’t have you, I don’t want the leadership of The Association. I love you, Daisy.”

“And I love you,” I said. “But I can’t destroy your life.”

“Without you, I won’t have a life,” Victor insisted. “Who in werewolf society has ever been forbidden to marry their fated mate? It's illegal and immoral. I won’t stand for it!”

He picked up the ring from the coffee table and took my left hand.

“Sweetheart, do you love me enough to marry me?” Victor asked.

“Yes, I love you with all my heart and soul,” I replied.

“Then we are getting married.” He put the ring on my finger. “They will not keep us apart.”

I burst into happy tears and threw my arms around his neck, our souls touching as we kissed.

“You better get busy planning our wedding, my love,” he said. “I’ll wait no longer than two weeks from today to make you my wife.”

Pure joy radiated from my soul as the reality hit me. I will be Victor’s wife in two weeks! There was a lot to do before then.

“Who should we invite?” I asked as I rubbed his nose with mine. “I don’t want a huge wedding, but we can’t forget any of our friends.”

He smiled into my eyes. “We need to make a list.”

I grabbed my laptop and opened a notes app. “Let’s start with your mom and dad, Amy and Justin .…”

A half-hour later, we had a list of over fifty guests. Planning my wedding was getting me stoked. It was really happening. Victor and I were finally getting married!

“I’ll take our list to Benson, and he’ll get the invitations out.” I printed the list and kissed Victor again.

“Where are we having the wedding?” Victor asked.

I giggled when I realized we hadn’t discussed it. Yet, I knew where I wanted the ceremony to take place.

“The ceremony should be at the Association Chapel,” I replied. “You are the leader. The reception can be here. I better tell Benson. There is much for us to plan.”

Benson was surprised, but planning events was his happy place. We ordered invitations to be delivered the next day, chose the wedding cake I wanted, and debated the menu for the reception.

Benson even sent Anna to get copies of the latest bridal magazines to help me decide on my wedding dress.

Our wedding was going to be magical.

Victor and I were blissfully happy all week despite the bad press we were getting.

That no longer mattered. I had a mate who adored me, and I no longer cared what anybody said about me. We rarely watched the news or browsed social media during the idyllic days of planning our wedding.

A week after the invitations went out, Victor and I finished a sample dinner of the wedding reception menu and decided our waltz and tango needed some practice.

Eagerly, we headed to the ballroom, started the sound system, and began to dance. Looking into Victor’s eyes as we twirled around the room was blissful.

Nothing bad could happen to us as we moved to the music. We were together, and we were happy.

But then I saw Benson in the doorway with a grim expression on his face. I ran to him to find out what was wrong.

“Benson, what is it?” I said.

“I’m sorry to have to tell you this, Miss Wilson,” Benson said. It was one of the few times I’d seen him cringe. “Most of the RSVP cards have come back in today's mail.”

“Who isn’t coming?” I asked. It must be someone important to me to make him think I’d be upset.

Benson’s eyes were sad as he held out a thick pile of RSVP cards. “They all declined to attend your wedding.”

The words hit me like bricks. “That entire stack of RSVP cards are from people who have declined to come to my wedding?”

Benson nodded.

Victor stood behind me. He reached for the cards and started going through them.

“William and Penny decline with regret,” he read. “Heather Woodward also checked decline with regret. My parents also decline, as do Amy, Justin, and Elliot!”

“What is going on?” I took the cards and went through them myself. There were many more names of our friends who declined. “Why won’t they come to our wedding?”

“Let’s call them and find out,” Victor suggested. “Maybe there’s a misunderstanding.” He put an arm around me, and we walked to the living room.

“I’m calling Amy,” I said as I collapsed onto the couch.

I dialed Amy’s number as I heard Victor talking to Lana.

Amy answered on the third ring. “Hey, Daisy,” she said without her usual enthusiasm when I called her.

“Amy, why aren’t you coming to my wedding?” I asked, trying to hide that I was close to tears.

Amy sighed. “I should have called you before I returned the RSVP card, but I’ve been busy with problems at the shelter.”

“I can’t believe my best friend isn’t coming to my wedding,” I complained. “I need you to be my witness.”

Before Amy could respond, I heard Victor yell into his phone at his mother, “What do you mean we should elope?”

Putting a finger into my ear, I concentrated on what Amy was saying.

“I am your best friend, but aren't you and Victor watching the news lately?” Amy asked. “Your wedding and reception will be prime targets for the gangs of Alphas committing violence all over the city every day.”

“But this is my wedding,” I whispered. My mind was reeling from the fact that my wedding to Victor was ruined.

“Daisy, I talked to Heather, Dad, Lana, and William,” Amy said. “None of us believe you want the people closest to you to get hurt. But if you have your wedding right now, we could get hurt or even killed.”

“Of course, I wouldn’t want you or any of our friends to get hurt,” I said. “I’ve been going crazy planning the wedding, and I haven’t seen the news in a week. How bad is it?”

“I had to have security shutters installed over all the shelter windows and bars over the doors,” Amy replied. “It’s like a prison for the people staying here.”

I blinked back tears. “I’m sorry, Amy. I didn’t know. I guess we’ll wait until a better time to get married.”

“It’s not your fault.” Amy sounded relieved and stronger. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out for you.”

The lump in my throat wouldn’t let me speak.

“You could get married in secret,” Amy suggested. “Have a ceremony at the mansion with a few people and then have a big celebration later when things calm down.”

“I don’t know,” I said. Disappointment was crushing my spirit. “I’ll talk to you later, Amy. I’ve got plans to cancel.”

I disconnected and glanced at Victor. He had finished talking to Lana and looked stunned.

Picking up the stack of bridal magazines on the coffee table, I tossed them into a nearby trash can. They were of no use to me now.

“I’ll be back,” I mumbled and went out the front entrance.

Anna ran out the door behind me. “Daisy, it’s not safe for you to go anywhere alone. Please let me go with you.”

I tossed my hands in the air. “Whatever.”

She climbed into the passenger seat of my truck. “Where are we going?”

“I’m going to the bakery to cancel my wedding cake,”

I told her and clutched the steering wheel.

We were silent on the drive to the little bakery just outside of the city limits. It produced the prettiest and tastiest cakes around.

But I no longer needed a wedding cake.

I parked and went inside, where I told the baker my wedding was canceled and told him to keep my deposit. Spinning around to leave, I bumped into two men.

“Excuse me,” I mumbled and hurried outside toward my truck.

But I only got two steps from the bakery door when a strong arm clamped down on my wrist.

“You’re not going anywhere, Daisy,” a man growled.