It was an unseasonably warm day. It was burdening but also horribly ominous. My mother had come into the room, half-drenched in sweat to help me into my wedding suit. An omega, marrying an alpha, arranged. This weather didn't help. A part of me thought it would be an omen of heated times. My mother, understanding my fear and holding to her superstitions, gave me a simple string of amethyst beads. 

"They'll keep him cool, my mother gave them to me when I was pregnant with you. She said that the sun was very red when the announcement came. so she wanted to give me something that would protect me from conflict, evil dreams, and omens. Now, it is yours. Something old," she grinned sheepishly as she wrapped the beads around my neck, letting them drop to my chest. She hid them in my shirt, holding my shoulders. There was something in her eyes. It contrasted with her smile. She was smiling, but she was holding some pain in her. 

"I pray you will be happy, and bear good and healthy children, Edem." 

"I hope so too, Ama." 

She smiled, pulling my hands into hers before kissing the palms. 

"Whatever he says, Edem, remember that you are a beautiful, intelligent, and powerful young man and you are like the stars to some of us," she said, before leaving the room in a rush. I looked after her, the room going quiet without her.

"Ama?"

My sister-in-law came in after that, looking after my mother who went down the hall before entering. She sauntered over, watching me with a curious smile before saying:

"The wedding's about to start."

"I know," the sudden quiet in the room had begun to make it smaller, tight, and confining. She sensed the sudden tension and walked forward, holding my hands in hers. She smelled like cigarettes and cedar perfume but her eyes were removed from the adulthood she wore, they were childlike. They held innocence and youth, despite the smokey shadow that surrounded them. 

"You have a friend in me, in us. Just know that," she said quietly, pulling a strand of hair from my face and tucking it behind my ear. 

"Why is everyone on the same pattern? Is he... will he hurt me?" 

She looked through me, into some distant space. 

"Not physically, no, but he has a temper," she looked away, staring at a painting on the wall before turning back, "just know that we're here for you. If anything happens - just phone me." 

She reached into the sweetheart neckline and pulled a small case from her cleavage. It was flat, and small enough to fit in a bra. She didn't have a handbag. I  assume she didn't want the extra hassle. She opened it and pulled out a card with her number and details, putting it into the breast pocket of my shirt. 

"Heavens willing, you'll never have to use it. Now come, the sooner we get out of this damned heat, the sooner we get to eat gelato." 

I chuckled at her attempt to lighten the mood and she led me out by the hand.

When we came to the garden, the carpet was laid out with small petals, my mother was the first to greet me. She had been given a few smaller items to show her position as the one who would hand me to the new family. She held my arm and nodded reassuringly. Whether it was to her or me, I didn't know immediately. She sighed and took the first step as the tune began to play. As I walked into the aisle, my mother at my side, I became aware of the crowd who turned in their seats. There were none from my hometown. Granted, the family I was marrying into was rather rich, they had come to the village for a vacation and the father saw me preparing a garland for the temple. He had noted my deft hands, also the feminine form of my body which came with being an omega. He planned to marry me to his son, who had been taking lovers, in hopes that my nature would calm his. 

As I came in, saw the eyes, and felt the heat, I wasn't too sure. The amethyst beads became particularly heavy and my husband-to-be was at the arch with the priest. He looked over his shoulder at me bored, eyeing me up and down, before turning back to the priest. My sister-in-law shuffled to the bridesmaids' corner, and when she saw this, she held back a frown. 

Her brother shot her a glare, and she didn't bother breaking the contact. The amethyst beads grew heavier as we walked towards the altar. My mother handed me to the Father of the family, who then brought me to stand next to his son. I could hear the words of my mother:

"Whatever he says, Edem,"

The priest held out the ribbons which would tie our hands together, and the wedding would begin.

We were grateful to be out of the heat. A lot of the attendants flopped down onto chairs and used the briefs for the reception to fan themselves. My husband, Raiel, didn't wait. He left immediately and went to go speak to some of his friends at the bar. He had taken off his tie and unbuttoned the top of his shirt. My sister-in-law, Luisa, and my mother had taken to me immediately and brought me to a small corner of the room where they could chat.

"Long wedding," was all Luisa said. My mother's fingers tightened around my arm as she stared at my husband. Luisa had gestured for a waiter to come over then took two drinks from the tray handed them to my mother and I, and took one more for herself. My mother twirled the cup in her hands, watching my husband.

"Ama, are you okay?" 

"You must take care of yourself, and do not forget your values and knowledge," she said quietly. Her voice held a silent anger. She wanted to hit my husband over the head but that would have to wait. Luisa raised an eyebrow but said nothing, taking a small sip of her drink. 

"Remember, we're here if you need anything. Always here." 

The amethyst grew heavier, and the heat only worsened as the afternoon bore on and my husband became drunken.

AN: 

This wasn't the other story but it is one that I've had in the drafts for a while now. I decided to start pushing it and I hoe you guys enjoy it. There is some superstition and religious iconography involved.

Chapter 1: Edited: 2024/04/23,
Additions: Page Breaks
Letter formatting