The wedding cake exploded across the room.
Kael ducked as chunks of chocolate flew past his head. Maria Santos, still in her white dress, stood frozen in shock. Her new husband Jake, a werewolf from the neighboring pack, growled at the masked figures who had just crashed through the church windows.
"No mixed marriages!" the lead attacker screamed. "This is against God's plan!"
"And against nature!" another shouted, pointing a silver weapon at Jake.
Kael's heart sank. Today was supposed to be perfect. The first official wedding between a human and a werewolf. A symbol of hope for everyone.
Instead, it had become a war zone.
"Get Maria to safety!" Jake yelled, his eyes already glowing as his wolf tried to emerge.
But Maria stepped in front of her husband. "No," she said firmly. "I'm not hiding on my wedding day."
"They have silver bullets!" Kael warned.
"I don't care," Maria replied. "This is my choice. My life. My love."
