'Is there any festival here?"

Watching glimmering lights from a far, Charlotte questioned Alpha, whose silence was mysterious. Upon reaching closer, she judged from the commotion that it was a wedding ceremony.


'Your friend is getting married, and you didn't tell me before. How can I meet others in this outfit?"

Stepping out of the car, she yelled at the top of her lungs, as the DJ was trying to test the highest volumes. The cruise part was bustling with efficient workers, preparations for the night were up to the mark.

'No one will mind. Come!"


'Sexy little lover" from the modern talking band was played when they joined the guests on that cruise ship. They screamed in unison,

'Surprise!"


Charlotte was gob smacked at her and Alpha's name, glittering with the neon lights.

'It's our wedding!"

Eric exclaimed excitedly; his college friends gathered around them.

'Dresses first!"

A red-headed beauty grabbed Charlotte's arm and guided her to the powder room, a topless red gown rendered her speechless. The delicate embroidery grasped her heart, although she was not a fan of dark colors or flashy gowns.

'I am Sarah, Star. I couldn't believe it when Eric informed us that he was getting married today. We took a twelve hour flight to meet you."

Her train of blabbering continued with her styling, Sarah took half an hour to make a revolutionary change in Charlotte's appearance.

'Is it my reflection?"

For an instance, she struggled to recognize the girl in the mirror, giving a strong competition to her version of a Heavenly Goddess: Sophia.

'Eric is lucky, Star. You are so pretty"

'And young."

Charlotte thanked her with modesty, Sarah's inner thoughts slipped in her mind. She didn't read her mind intentionally at first, then it became entertaining.

'So, Eric has a fetish for young girls."

That over friendly host escorted her out, it was fun to know that Eric was famous among his college fellows.

'What about Melinda, Eric? I thought you were married to her?"

On her way out, Charlotte heard that distant conversation.

'We are divorced now."

Alpha's serious time wasn't entertained by that curious investigator, he continued his personal attacks.

'You found another teenage girl after divorce? Her parents agree with this? More importantly, is she old enough for marriage?"

As the list of absurd queries was never-ending, Charlotte quickened her pace and entered the party area.

Envious gazes and words of praise welcomed her, her heart skipped a beat seeing the groom at the end of the aisle.

Dressed in a black wedding suit, Alpha was a living example of perfection. Charlotte forgot to take a step forward, frozen at the spot.

Flashes of the camera and soft music in the background added dreaminess of the atmosphere. Two little girls in matching dresses were throwing rose petals along the way before her on the way.

Eric spread his wide palm before her, his long arm reached her at some distance. She took a deep breath, placed her hand at his and bit her lips, which were adorned by Saigon red shade.

'It's time."

Beta Noah broke their trance, their gazes were locked in a haze.

'Please sign the certificate."

Charlotte chuckled and mouthed,

'Insecure!"

Before signing the legal papers of the marriage as Star Lockwood. Then they exchanged rings with the typical promises of staying together.

As the music on the stereo changed after their vows, Charlotte thought that they would be invited for a dance. But the guests circled her, Eric held the mic.

'This is for you, Star."

The change in melody replayed her distant memory, Alpha sang soulfully.

'Deep in my heart -there's a fire, burning heart,

Deep in my heart-there's a desire, for a Star,

I am dying in emotions, It's my world in fantasy,

I am living in my dreams,

You are my heart, you're my soul.

I keep it shinning everywhere I go..."

Idealizing Thomas Anderson in her teen aging, Charlotte didn't even imagine it in her wildest dreams that her crush would sing this song for her ever.

Her father took her to the live concerts for her obsession with this pop band, but these lyrics hit her differently when they came out of Alpha's mouth.

Gawking at him wide-eyed, Charlotte's breath got stuck in her throat, as the same coffin-faced Alpha she once met was a true lover boy for her. Indeed, fate is strange !

Laughing at the twist of fate and destiny, she was drawn towards Eric, as if they were bound together by invisible strings, attracting them in an eternal bond.

'Mine!"

Eric tittered and pulled her closer, other couples also joined them on the dance floor.

'This much effort just for a legal certificate. We could go to the registry for this. Waste of money."

Expressing her excuses in sheer denial, Charlotte pointed towards the lavish decoration and middle of the water venue.

'It's necessary to prepare a nice trap for a fish. And for you, I think I should have ordered a gold cage so that you could not leave me again."

Swaying with the rhythm of the melody, he leaned in and whispered.

'This is from Henry. He owes me a lot."

They both laughed and danced for a while. Eric's pulse thrummed like an epiphany in Charlotte's ear, the urge to taste him overwhelmed her.

The thorns in her barren throat hazed her mind. The warmth of her beloved's blood called her like nothing else.

She tilted her head involuntary for a bite, sudden screams of a grown man averted her mind.

'Mate!"

Squirming like a fish without water, Beta Noah was lying on the floor, fur erupting from his skin revealed his wolf's misery.

'What happened, Noah?"

Eric's Alpha tone failed to obtain a reply from him, as he screeched and lost consciousness.

Alpha rushed to attend his Beta and Charlotte glanced at the terrorized audience, who witnessed a growling, half-shifted werewolf for the first time in their lives.

'This is it for celebrations. Thank you so much for joining us."

She compelled every guest in person to avoid any inconvenience in the future, Alpha arranged a private jet in the meantime.

'Angie is not receiving my calls."

Charlotte called Angie countless times on the way, but no reply was consistent.

'There is something terribly wrong with Angie, little one. Noah is not a weak wolf. I hope that she is alive."

Eric deciphered Beta Noah's unconsciousness in short words, Charlotte prayed for her friend's safety throughout that four-hour flight.

…

Sitting in his office while surrounded by a considerable tower of files, King Casper was busy with his Kingdom's affairs when a sired vampire entered through double doors.

'This is the latest report, Master."

Pictures of Star Lockwood and Eric Dietor were trending in the business circle, their romantic wedding was the talk of the town.

His long finger's nails shredded a file before him, he spoke in a determined voice.

'It's time to ask you clearly about our bond, Star. You can't choose Eric without considering my love for you."

'Inform the Royal Court, I am leaving for America."

The inhumane glint in his bloodred orbs was threatening, his concealed acrimony found its way to register the murderous presence through those mirrors of his soul.