I placed my hands over the beautiful white dress which tightly hugged my upper body, my stomach was doing flips as I gazed at myself through the long mirror, similar to the one that I had back home in the Castle.

The gown hugged my upper body like second skin, lace detailing decorated the whole entire bodice elegantly, while the rest of the dress fell downwards into a sheer kind of material until it hit the ground with more lace on the ends.

I bit back a smile at how amazing this dress looked on me, but my breathing came out labored, I couldn't explain why but my poor heart was clenching tightly, as if it was protesting against this marriage.

I knew that I wasn't marrying someone that the Moon Goddess has granted me, but the man that she decided to give me, hated my guts and I his, but Xavier, he's different.

Even though he has similar characteristics as Dustin, Xavier has something that Dustin could never have, a heart.

I shook my head and dusted my dress off, deciding to compose myself.

I titled my head and finally brought my gaze up to my face, I inwardly cringed at how terrible I looked.

My skin was slightly pale, my cheeks flushed, my eyes wide and very bright, my lips tugged into a frown, and the crimson handprint was still visible but this time it was a lighter shade of pink.

I sighed and placed my own hand over it, rubbing my cheek gently, giving myself some comfort.

I took in a deep breath and turned around, my tongue shooting out to lick my dry lips.

"Mary! I'm ready!" I called out to one of the ladies that Xavier told me would be helping me get ready for our wedding, my hands absentmindedly fisted by my sides as I gazed at the wooden door.

"Coming!" She yelled back before the sound of running footsteps rang in my ears and the wooden door slowly creaked open, Mary came in and quickly shut the door behind her, I smiled weakly once her gaze fell on my own.

Her eyes roamed my body and she let out a loud gasp making my head fall in disappointment , I probably looked very bad in her eyes.

"Oh my goodness! You look amazing sweetheart!" She gushed happily making my cheeks warm up, I slowly raised my head and shook it, she was nodding and smiling widely.

Her black hair swung with her movements making the gray roots on her head catch my attention, her brown eyes - slightly lighter then my own - twinkled happily while her lips tugged into a cheshire smile.

"Thank you." I whispered and she sighed, then she quickly composed herself and tilted her head while eyeing my messy hair, I quickly raised my hand and played with the split ends of my hair feeling insecure of my features again, her eyes lit up and she clapped loudly making me flinch and take a step back, she chuckled before quickly grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the chair that was in front of a large vanity, but making sure not to step on the long dress which swayed with all my forced movements.

Once I sat down, I bit my bottom lip and eyed her warily through the circled mirror in front of me, she was digging through the fanny pack which I just noticed she was carrying around her hips, her lowered head made her thick black hair cascade around her face like a curtain, all these vampires had such enhanced features and characteristics.

I watched as she pulled out some silver scissors making me gasp loudly, she heard and let out an amused chuckle while raising her head, her eyes finding my own through the mirror.

"Don't worry, I'm just going to cut off all your dead ends, and honestly short hair is a benefit, it takes less time to fix up." She explained with a wink, easing my worries and making me relax on the seat, the dress crunching under my movements.

She smiled and moved beside me, I placed my hands over my lap and felt the material of the dress tickle my skin, my skin forming goosebumps from the uncomfortable feeling all the way up to my shoulders which were also bare because the dress was sleeveless, I took in a deep breath and shook my head.

Mary placed a black, towel like thing around my upper body, to prevent any hairs from getting on my dress, I was thankful for that.

"Ok! You ready?" She asked excitedly, I bit back an amused chuckle and nodded, she let out a shriek making me flinch but calm down right away, Mary was happier then me and it's my hair.

I held my breath as I watched the scissors get closer to my long brown hair, and once I heard the snip and watched the hair fall, I exhaled lowly and knew, that change was probably best.

•
•
•

A couple of minutes later, Mary had finished cutting my hair and styling it, now it was curled and cut short.

My hair was over my shoulders and right below my ears because the tight curls pulled my hair up more, if it was straight, the hairs would probably be touching my shoulders.

I actually liked how my hair looked and my head felt lighter, as if all the long strands from before kept weighing me down.

I took in a shaky breath and exhaled, Mary was staring at me in pure admiration, she was evidently a very good person.

"Thank you so much Mary, I really love it." I stated truthfully, flashing her a wide smile and making her shriek loudly once more, even though she was a bit older then me, she acted like a teenager and for that, she was a breath of fresh air around here.

She reminded me of Marina. I felt my stomach drop at the mention of her, I really missed her.

"Anything for you Celine." Mary said, bringing me back to reality, I sighed and smiled while nodding thankfully, then she somehow, turned my whole entire body around, including the chair and made me face her.

My eyes were wide and my hands never moved from my lap, the huge dress unaffected by all her moving, and she just chuckled.

"Time for makeup!" She sang happily making me sigh and shake my head at her behavior, and then I watched her dig through her fanny pack once again.

•
•
•

"You look beautiful." She whispered, before adding a touch of lipgloss on my lips, I felt my cheeks warm up.

Once Mary pulled away, she placed the lipgloss back into the fanny pack and closed it, then she took my hand and slowly pulled me up from the chair, my dress puffing out once I stood on my numb legs.

She slowly turned me around, all while making sure the dress was intact, and once my gaze fell on my own through the mirror, I gasped.

I truly looked like a different person, my under eye bags were completely concealed and gone, my flushed cheeks looked like a blush over the tan foundation that she put on my skin, the one evident handprint on my cheek was long gone beneath the make up, my frowning lips were shimmery and pulled upwards into a small smile, all while my eyes were shinning brightly, not like before because this time, I felt like a changed person, and for once my insecurities disappeared and I felt beautiful.

I shook my head in disbelief and felt my short brown hair sway with my movements, for once my hair felt healthy, and I loved the person that stared back at me through the mirror.

I only wish this wasn't for a marriage but for myself.

I sighed and turned back around to face Mary, she was still smiling while her hands were crossed over her chest, she too was very beautiful, but it was expected since she was a vampire.

"Ready?" She asked, I gulped and thought it over, was I ready?

Did I even have a choice?

Instead of answering, I hesitantly nodded my head and motioned for her to lead the way, she nodded her head and started walking, my heart was breaking again.

I couldn't help but feel as if it was being crushed, forced between a wall in the middle of love and hate, and many secrets.

I sighed, and stopped behind Mary who was slowly opening the door, she moved aside for me and allowed me to walk out first, I nodded and started walking into the empty hallway while Mary quickly followed behind.

By the time we had reached the front doors, my feet felt as if they have been dragging my body all the way here, and I still couldn't feel any emotion other then pity, for myself.

I couldn't help but want Lia here with me, I wanted to know where she was and what happened to her, but how could I when nobody gave me proper answers?

"Okay sweetheart, we are going to go to the backyard, all the vampire members; including some werewolves are here, I will walk you to them but you're on your own once we get to the front of the aisle." She explained slowly, I scrunched up my face, not wanting to be left alone in the middle of strangers but I knew I had no other choice, so I just nodded.

She let out a large breath in relief before taking hold of my hand and guiding me to the backyard where the wedding will take place, my stomach was churning and I felt nauseous, maybe it was the fear or maybe the nerves, but I knew it had to be something bad to get my body reacting this way.

I grabbed hold of the bottom part of my dress where the skirt started forming and scrunched up the material, pulling up some of the fallen parts of the dress, keeping them clean and making it easier for me to walk.

Suddenly chatter started echoing through my ears making me want to turn back around and run away, but I sucked it up and continued walking, Mary - as if sensing my worry - tightened her hold on my hand reassuringly.

I bit my bottom lip while inhaling shakily through my nose, the grass crunching under my feet while a cool breeze hit me, I loved how it felt to finally be outside but I couldn't relish in the moment because of my anxiety.

My gaze fell on all the people that had gathered outside making me freeze in place, Mary stopped soon after and turned to look at me in worry.

My gaze wasn't on her, but on the people and my mind was spinning because I finally registered that I was getting married.

I shut my eyes and took in deep breaths, feeling the comeback of my heart as it hammered against my skin, punishing me for agreeing to this marriage.

But once again, I had no choice, I never do.

I opened my eyes and started walking again, sending Mary a weak smile to which she nodded warily and continued walking, my gaze found Xavier's back as he waited in front of the aisle, not bothering to converse with anyone.

I licked my glossy lips, the taste of the gloss invading my mouth making me cough, causing everyone's gaze to quickly turn to mine, my eyes widened.

Why did I do that?!

I lowered my head, feeling Xavier's burning gaze as I neared him, my dress swaying with me while my short hair flew with the wind, Mary suddenly let go of my hand and I stopped.

My head raised on its own accord and I came face to face with a grinning Xavier, I felt my heart skip a beat, whether it was in fear or admiration, I couldn't tell, the only thing I could feel was my anxiety.

"You look beautiful, my sweet." He whispered, his husky voice sending shivers down my spine making my heart hammer erratically under my chest, but I couldn't understand why.

I smiled gratefully and nodded, not knowing how to respond and even if I could, my voice would betray me and come out weak.

Xavier sighed and moved to my side, giving me a view of the aisle, which had a long red carpet on the ground going all the way up to the stairs which led to a stand, and there were many chairs on both sides of the aisle, where everyone stood and kept their gaze on us.

I took in a deep breath, Xavier taking my hand in his own and intertwining them, I bit my bottom lip, feeling a headache, wanting some form of happiness to enter my body but everything felt forced.

"Finally." Xavier whispered before music started playing softly in the background making me wonder where it came from, but I didn't have time to look because we had started moving towards the stand, there a table laid with a silver bowl and something that looked like a knife beside it making my stomach drop, the crown on the side didn't give me any reassurance because my gaze stayed glued on the knife.

I didn't want this, but at the same time I did, I just wanted something else, I couldn't tell what it is because Lia wasn't here to help me, I wish my family was.

Once we reached the stairs, Xavier went up first, all while holding my hand and then I carefully followed behind.

I gulped and turned to face the crowd like Xavier had, my hand - which wasn't held by Dustin - shook making me fist it tightly, my heart didn't stop beating crazily.

The wind around us picked up but it was tolerable, the trees swung while birds flew around us, the sky above us wasn't too bright but it was day, everyone was smiling, I was the only one that wasn't.

I sighed inwardly and managed to pull my lips into a small yet forced smile, but it probably looked more like a grimace.

"Welcome to my wedding everyone! Here you will be watching the joining of two souls, one being my own and the other being Celine's! I want you all to watch your King finally meet his match, I want you to watch as your King names this women his equal, his chosen and your Queen!" Xavier yelled out, his voice held authority, he was fit for a King and his kind words did nothing but scare me more, I shook my head and shut my eyes tightly, later opening them to watch as everyone hollered; all happy to finally have a queen, but I wasn't.

"I will join my soul, with her own, and anyone that has any objection speak now or forever hold your peace!" He yelled out loudly, I bit my bottom lip and let my gaze trail from everyone's face, my own probably fell in disappointment but I quickly smiled weakly again, masking my true feelings.

"Okay then-" Xavier was going to say something but a loud growl cut him off making me sigh in relief, my gaze falling on a figure behind the tree.

Xavier snarled and my eyes squinted, everyone else was either growling or snarling, they were alert.

Suddenly Axel came walking from the woods making my eyes well up, my heart clenching tightly inside me.

"I object!"