Chapter 7 The wedding

CATHERINE'S POV

The next day was Saturday, but not just any Saturday. It was a wedding day.

Normally, that would be enough to make me smile. I used to love weddings. They were celebrations of love. Weddings included promises made between two people who chose to face the world together. I loved everything about them-the decorations, the laughter, the glow in the couple's eyes, the vows. Especially the vows. I would always tear up at the way they spoke.

But not today.

Today, weddings felt horrible. This was my dad's wedding-to Ann.

Two weeks.

That's all it had been since we'd buried my mom, and now here he was, promising forever to someone else. And not just anyone-her best friend. They knew what they were doing was wrong. They invited only a small number of people to keep it quiet. Even their closest friends would think it was barbaric to marry so soon after my mom's death. They probably knew the whole town would, if anyone found out.

I sat in the back row at the temple, barely able to look at them. Everyone around me was dressed in their finest, but I didn't bother. I wore jeans and a t-shirt. I felt each person's stare on me as I sat apart, alone.

"Do you take Ann Jordan to be your lawfully wedded wife?" the priest asked "To love and to hold, in sickness and in health..."

"I do." My dad said softly as he looked into Ann's eyes.

My stomach twisted as I looked at them. It took everything in me not to throw up. I felt disgust, heartbreak and anger all at the same time. I had to hold myself from standing up and storming towards them to tell them a piece of my mind. The sane part of me told me to keep calm and not ruin their day even though they didn't deserve it.

How could he? How could my dad do this to my mom?

How could he look at Ann like that? Like she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. The look in his eyes made me want to puke. They were both disgusting. They didn't deserve my mom. My mom was the sweetest woman I knew.

How could he do this to my mom? Had he ever really loved my mom, or had he been in love with Ann all along? How long had they been having this affair anyway?

"You may kiss the bride," the priest announced.

They leaned in, and as their lips met, the crowd cheered. I felt sick at the sight of them. My mom deserved better than this betrayal, better than to be replaced as if her love had been nothing. It felt as if her memory was being buried beneath their smiles and congratulations.

After the ceremony, the small crowd moved back to our house for a reception. Our living room was filled with people. I could hear the people telling Ann and my dad how lovely they looked and how perfect everything was. Bunch of hypocrites.

Some gave me sympathetic looks as I carried trays of appetizers around the room. These were the same people who had stood at my mother's grave only days ago. Now, here they were, raising glasses to toast my dad's new happiness. The hypocrisy was suffocating.

I went to the kitchen to gather more cupcakes. I was just loading a tray when I felt someone enter behind me. I didn't have to turn to know it was him-Jack. My heart raced at his presence and not in a good way. Memories of that strange, tense encounter flooded into my mind. There was something uneasy about him. I'd done my best to avoid him since, but here he was.

"Hey, sexy," he murmured.

I didn't respond. Maybe if I ignored him, he'd leave me alone. Instead, I concentrated on stacking the cupcakes, hoping he'd leave.

He leaned in closer, so close I could feel his breath on my neck.

"I'll have you one day, baby. That's a promise," he whispered.

I felt his lips brush my cheek. My skin crawled. I felt like a thousand bugs were crawling up my skin. A shudder ran through me as he picked up a cupcake, winked at me, and left as though nothing had happened.

TYLER'S POV

I checked my watch for the tenth time. It was afternoon and still no sign of Cathy. I'd looked everywhere, searched every hallway, scanned every classroom. Nothing. She wasn't here.

A thousand scenarios raced through my mind.

Was she sick? Hurt? Why hadn't she told me? We'd spent Friday together. I'd replayed every minute of it all weekend, counting down the hours until I'd see her again. I couldn't describe how excited I was to see her. Now, I felt disappointed.

The bell rang for our test to begin but I couldn't focus. My pen hovered over the page as my thoughts drifted. I wondered what could have kept her away. I hoped she was okay wherever she was. My wolf stirred inside me. He was restless just like I was.

"Are you okay?" Stephanie's voice broke into my thoughts. She was sitting beside me, watching me with a concerned frown.

"Yeah, I'm fine"

"You sure? You look pretty out of it"

"I'm just looking for Cathy. I'm worried about her. That's all"

Stephanie's face tightened. "Why are you looking for her?"

I didn't bother answering. Whatever Stephanie was about to say was the least of my worries right now. I could care less about her and her stupid attitude. Cathy wasn't here, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

With every tick of the clock, my worry deepened. Where was she?

And why did it feel like I might be losing her already?