because we were at Maddie’s wedding, and a part of me secretly wished it was my wedding.
That thought was just another reminder that all of my mates were so perfect. How could I have chosen only one of them?
Except, one day, I would have to, I thought, glancing down at the engagement ring that I still wore every day. At this point, it was beginning to feel like a false promise—and not on their end, but on mine.
I had agreed to marry one of them, and here I was, not taking any steps towards picking anyone.
I wondered if there was something wrong with me. Any other girl would have wanted to choose just one, to have that romantic, once in a lifetime, happily ever after sort of love. Any other girl would have wanted to choose one so she could drag him down the aisle, ensuring her future with one of them.
But then there was me, perfectly connect with not just one but five soulmates. It was sick and twisted, but it was just the way it was.
I had to stop thinking about this right now and just enjoy my best friend’s wedding. I turned my attention back to the wedding ceremony.
“Do you, Madeline, take Branden to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, through sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?” the reverend asked.
“I do,” she said.
“And do you, Branden, take Madeline to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, through sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” Branden replied with a nod.
“Then by the powers vested in me by the state of Pennsylvania, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the reverend said. “You may kiss the bride.”
Pushing Maddie’s veil back, Branden kissed her.
The audience cheered and applauded, but suddenly, I was no longer paying attention. Because that was when I spotted him, out of the corner of my eye, as he took a seat towards the back.
His emerald green eyes locked on mine from across the lawn, and my breath caught in my throat as my heart did things that I didn’t even know it was capable of doing.
Kane.
Chapter 19
A wave of emotions washed over me as Kane continued to hold my gaze. His lips formed a slow smile.
How the hell had he found me?
Of course, I already knew the answer to that. A male werewolf could always hear his mate’s heartbeat; it was like a compass to help him locate her. As our Alpha, he could also listen in my thoughts whenever he wanted.
But still. This was the first time he had shown his face since July. Why now? Why tonight, of all nights? Why had he randomly decided to crash my best friend’s wedding?
All of these thoughts swirled around inside my mind as my body went with the motions. I followed the rest of the wedding party down the aisle.
But, as hard as I tried to just act natural, all I could seem to focus on was that Kane was actually here, in the flesh, right in front of me. And I wasn’t even sure how to feel about that.
I glanced over at the rest of the Darken, wondering if my other members had noticed that Kane was here. But somehow, none of them seemed to have noticed our Alpha standing just feet away from them.
I knew that wouldn’t last long. The one thing that I knew about Kane, both from the stories and from the vibes he gave me, was that he wasn’t the type of guy who just entered a room quietly. He always made sure his presence was known, and I was sure that would be the case now. He was the Alpha of the pack, after all. He was bound to throw his weight and power around at some point, especially now that he was one of the Triangle.
I always thought it was sort of weird that, for being one of the three most powerful Alphas in the entire world, he never even interacted with his pack.
“That’s because he’s too busy scheming. Once he devises a plan, he’ll be back,” Colton’s statement replayed in my mind.
Well, Kane must have figured out a plan. That was probably the reason he was back.
As everyone began to move deeper into the yard where the Mitchells had set up tents where the reception was being held, I glanced at the Darken once