Akira held her breath. It went against everything in her to. Her chest felt like it was pressed down by an invisible weight as she stared at the scene outstretched before her. Her cousin family that should have been a comfort was what Akira had just seen wrapped in the man's sheets that she had intended to dedicate her life to. Alpha Kaden, the powerful and upstanding leader which she had loved since she was a girl that knows what love is now played shocked before her.
Akira's eyes flickered once. Twice. What she saw before her was distorting, blurring at the edges as if her mind was trying to change what she was seeing. Maybe I'm wrong… maybe this isn't real… maybe but from all angles, from every breath, every beat of her heart she was brought back into the present. This was real. Too real.
Kaden went first. He sat up half way, trying to throw a blanket around his waist. "Akira--wait. It's not .
But he could hear her breaking with every word he spoke. Akira stepped back, a hand at her mouth as the scream rose in her chest.
Her cousin held sheets to her shaking body. "Akira, please—.
Akira is deaf to sound. Voices are a distant memory as if from below water. Her heart beats in her ears.
With a shuddered breath Akira spun around and ran out of the tent.
Cold wind hit her face the moment she stepped out, but nothing could quell the fire of betrayal that was within her. She ran, the tears blurring what was in front, she stumbled by the surprised pack members, knocked over chairs, passed young wolves that just looked at her as if she were from another pack.
"Akira!" Kaden's voice thundered behind her.
She ran faster.
Her white wedding gown which once represented her joy dragged in the dust as she rushed through the camp. She didn't care. Let it tear. Let everything fall apart. What did it matter?
Kaden got to her at the point when her energy left her and she tripped by the path which leads to the ceremonial grounds. He put his hand on her wrist, pulled her back with force that made her spin around to face him.
"Akira, listen to me—"
She screamed at him, pulling her hand away as if his skin were fire. Her voice broke, raw and shaking. "I don't want you to ever touch me again!
Kaden's face showed pain and distress. "It wasn't what it looked like—.
It looked the SAME as when it was that way! she said, tears running down her face. You chose her! My cousin! On the day we were to get married!
She saw him wince. Great. That he should feel but a part of what I am feeling.
"Akira, please—"
"No!"
Her voice rang out over the ceremony grounds. Dozen of decorated chairs were empty, waiting. The altar which had moonflowers and silver cloth on it shone softy in the morning sun. Everything around her was beautiful everything except her reality.
Akira drew in a shuddering breath which was at once a gasp and a wail, she tasted the poison of betrayal. Her past, present and hope which once had been hers - now all of that had broken like glass at her feet.
"I reject this wedding," she whispered.
Then stronger, more forceful, her voice echoed out:.
I, Akira Fang, which is also known as daughter of Alpha Fang, break off this wedding!
Gasps rippled through the pack.
Kaden's face paled. "Akira, don't—"
But at this point there was no turning back. Something in her broke.
Akira charged at the adorned tables and knocked over the first set of flower vases. The fine ceramics broke. She grabbed the baskets of ceremonial herbs which were for the blessing ritual and threw them to the ground, breaking them as if from pieces of her heart. She upturned the offering bowls, pulled down the silver cloths, and ripped at the ribbons tied in her honor.
Each scream each cry and that which is left of her heart broke free in destructive waves.
"Akira!" someone shouted, running toward her.
It was Ares.
Ares came to a halt, she was in shock as the once grand ceremony around her lay in ruins, what remained of the ritual sat at the center broken. Akira was in the middle of what was once decorated beautifully but was now a mess, her body shook from short painful sobs.
Ares didn\'t ask what transpired. From rumors alone she heard enough. Instead she ran forward and threw her arms around Akira, pulling her in for a tight embrace.
Akira broke down into her, putting her face into her friend's shoulder as she sobbed out her pain.
Kaden. my cousin. How could they ? The words escaped me, torn by sobs.
Ares ran his hand up and down her back. "I'm here Akira, I am. You're safe with me. Cry if you need to.
Akira fell to the knees, and Ares gently put them down, embracing her as a sister would a broken heart.
Behind them Kaden took a tentative step forward.
"Ares, let me talk to her—"
Ares turned to face him, her eyes on fire with rage. "Stay back.
Kaden froze.
Ares spat, "You've done enough, If you care for her at all, even a little, you'll stay out of it.
Kaden's jaw moved, guilt passing over his face, then he slowly retreated. The pack watched, murmuring, whispering, at a loss of what to do.
Ares wouldn\'t look away from Akira at all.
Akira was in her arms, breath catching, voice breaking as she asked, "Why didn't I do enough? .
Ares held her close. "Akira, listen to me. Your value is not set by his choices. Do you hear me? This is not your issue.
Akira weakly shook her head. "But I did love him.
And he didn't ear that love, which he shared.
Akira was drenched in her tears which fell into her best friend's shoulder. The world which surrounded her was far away, deadened like the air which follows a storm. It was a while before she stopped crying and still Ares didn't let go, didn't ease up at all.
Finally Akira's tears subsided although the pain in her chest stayed sharp and deep.
Ares swept a lock of hair from her wet face. "Come, I'll take you home.
Akira nodded weakly.
Ares rose to his feet supporting her. Akira stood there a moment and looked at the ruin which had been to the life she had planned for herself.