Chapter 3

Back home, I didn't bring up the party.

Darren seemed to realize he'd been too harsh and sat down beside me to smooth things over.

"Zoey, don't be mad, okay?"

"I'm not mad."

"Then why aren't you talking to me?"

I didn't know whether to tell him the truth. I really wasn't mad. I just didn't want to talk to him. He exhausted me.

"Come on, Zoey, we're fated mates, brought together under the Moon Goddess's guidance. No one could ever take your place in my heart."

"How about we go to Iceland for our honeymoon, to see the northern lights? Isn't that what you've always wanted?"

I blinked.

I used to want that more than anything. I had begged for it, only to be rejected every single time.

As if remembering something, he said solemnly, "This time, no Fiona. Just the two of us."

I almost laughed.

Just last year, when I'd suggested seeing the northern lights in Iceland, Darren hadn't agreed. Instead, he'd immediately asked Fiona what she thought.

"You'd better not let Zoey go. She's still recovering from the wolfsbane. It's too cold there. She'll get sick."

"But we could go first and see how cold it is, so we'll know how to prepare when we bring her next time."

Darren agreed without a second thought.

So the trip I'd suggested never happened, but I saw their photos together under the northern lights on social media.

Now he was offering to take me. I felt nothing but disgust.

Since I was never his first choice, there was no point tagging along.

Darren took me to a high-end restaurant.

"Zoey, even though our wedding ceremony will be held back in the pack, we should still host a reception for our friends here. How about we book this place?"

He'd never discussed this with me. I'd actually been looking into venues myself but hadn't found anything I liked.

"When did you book this?"

He smiled, looking pleased with himself. "Fiona helped pick it out. She said you weren't suited for this kind of thing and that she'd handle it. I trusted her completely."

Right on cue, Fiona appeared with flawless makeup and casually slipped her arm through Darren's.

"I think this place is perfect. For the decor, we should use ivory white, and tie light purple bows on the chairs. It'll keep things from looking too plain."

A server nearby nodded. "Absolutely, sir. Your fiancée has excellent taste. We also offer our VIP guests a complimentary signature dish."

Darren didn't object. He didn't even correct the server for calling Fiona his fiancée.

I walked over and ripped the bow off a chair.

"I don't like light purple."

Fiona offered her opinion quietly. "I just thought purple was more romantic. It suits a wedding."

I said nothing and pointed at the dishes already laid out on the table. "Did you pick these too?"

She nodded. "They're all delicious, and they're classics. You..."

"I don't like them."

Fiona's smile froze on her face.

Darren immediately came over and grabbed my arm. "Zoey, Fiona was being thoughtful. You shouldn't reject her help."

I looked at him coldly. "Really? It's my wedding, and I don't even get to choose the decor and the menu?"

Darren fell silent. Fiona, pale-faced, hurried over to apologize.

"I'm sorry, Zoey. I just thought you'd like these dishes, and that something upscale would be more appropriate for the reception."

"Your guests or mine? Your wedding or mine?"

"Zoey!"

Darren cut in sharply. "You can't talk to Fiona like that. She's doing everything for your sake. She would never hurt you."

Fiona's eyes reddened. She lowered her head like a child caught doing something wrong.

"I'm sorry. I overstepped."

The server stood awkwardly to the side and asked gently, "Excuse me, which two of you are getting married? If there are any changes you'd like, we're happy to accommodate."

I put on a smile and gave Darren a little push, nudging him toward Fiona.

"Those two. Let them decide."

Then I walked out of the restaurant.

A text from my father flashed on my screen—the ticket was ready. Behind me, Darren and Fiona scrambled to block my path.

Fiona kept apologizing. "Zoey, please don't be angry with me. From now on, whatever you say goes. I won't make any decisions for you."

But Darren didn't seem to agree. "You have nothing to apologize for. You're her sister. It's only natural that you look out for her."

Fiona looked down at her feet. "But she didn't like anything I chose."

Darren turned to me. "Zoey, apologize to Fiona."

I scoffed. "I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?"

Fiona's head snapped up, as if she hadn't expected me to refuse.

Her shoulders shook, and she began to cry softly.

Darren stared at me, expressionless. "Zoey, if you don't apologize, the wedding is off."

Fiona immediately tugged at his sleeve. "Don't do that, Darren. Zoey didn't mean it. I'm the one who went too far."

"Stop making excuses for her. Can't you see she doesn't care?"

Darren turned to me again. "Do it now!".

"No."

He froze, never expecting me to stand my ground this time.

"I'm not joking, Zoey," Darren snapped. "Apologize to Fiona, or the wedding is off."

"Fine by me."

I shrugged. "This wedding was never really for me anyway, was it? Go ahead and cancel it."

Without another word to either of them, I hailed a cab and left on my own.

Behind me, Fiona scrambled to chase after me, but Darren held her back.

When I got home, the plane ticket and a health report my father had prepared were already waiting at the door.

I enjoyed a quiet dinner, took a shower, and walked out with my suitcase.

The moment I arrived at the airport, Darren sent me a message.

"Zoey, I'm telling you one last time. Come back right now and apologize to Fiona. She's crying her heart out."

"Apologize, and we'll go ahead with the wedding."

The boarding call echoed through the terminal.

I powered off my phone and walked straight to the gate.

The wedding was canceled. Good. After all the boundaries they'd crossed in the name of caring about me, they could marry each other for all I cared.