Chapter 1

TANA'S P.O.V.

"Hurry up!" I heard my mother yell from outside but all my thoughts were surrounded by the man I love the most - my father, but unfortunately, he wouldn't be able to attend my biggest day and walk me down the aisle like any father would.

Wiping the tears that threatened to roll off my cheek, I walked out of the room with a bright smile on my face. I wish he was here, but he wouldn't want me to be sad about him being gone forever.

Mother looked at me in awe as I walked down the stairs, and she hugged me tightly before letting go.

"You look lovely." She gave out a smile, but I could see the sadness deep within her eyes.

"Dad would have said, never let a single tear ruin the happiness of the entire day." She let out a laugh as she wiped it away.

"He will be so proud after all, now let's get you married because he begins to communicate from the heavens."

"That's impossible!" We both laughed before getting into the car, and we were on the way to the altar.

Finally, we arrived at the wedding venue. My heart was racing as I thought about our lovemaking the previous night. I couldn't forget how he brought me to this room, carried me to the bed, and stripped me naked, in the most romantic way ever.

The way he grabbed my boobs and pressed them tenderly in his hands was so pleasurable. He made love to me with care after I told him that it was my first time.

The memory of the romantic night I had spent with Philip was burned into my mind, a treasured moment I knew I would never forget. Even as I stood at the altar, dressed in my wedding gown, I couldn't stop thinking about how he had made me feel so special, so loved. I remembered the way he had looked at me, the way his hands had felt on my skin and the soft words he had whispered in my ear. It was a night that had changed everything, and I knew I would never be the same. He had made me feel like the most special person in the world and I was eager to say yes I do on the altar.

As I stood at the altar, waiting for him to arrive, I noticed something was off. Philip's aura was different, his expression solemn and distant. Gone was the romantic smile that I remembered from the night before, replaced by a fierce look. A shiver ran down my spine as I wondered what could have changed his mood so drastically. Did he regret what had happened between us? Had he only been pretending to care for me the night before? The questions swirled in my head as the priest cleared his throat, bringing me back to the present moment. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off my doubts and focus on the ceremony.

"Say your vows" The pastor urged me as I looked into his eyes through the thin layer of veil covering my face.

"I take you as my husband. To have and to hold, until death do us part. I give you my hand to be your kin and your love. Loving what I know of you and trusting what I don't yet know, I give you my hand. I give you my love. I give you myself, the good, the bad, and the yet to come." I smiled, but his expression didn't change, what world has he gotten himself into?

"Your vows?" The pastor turned to Philip, but he looked him dead in the eyes with no emotion written on his face.

"I'm not saying any vows" My body remained frozen as I was driven into shock by his words and I could hear the whispers from the crowd, but my attention was fully on him

I opened my veil to look at him, but his face remained emotionless like he didn't just cause a commotion he shouldn't

"This must certainly be some joke…" I spoke lowly as I got closer to him, "... Philip, what are you…"

"I'm not saying any vows and that's it" He snarled towards me which made me take a few steps back with tears slowly filling my eyes.

"She's using the mate bond against him!" I heard Veronica's voice from the crowd as she suddenly began to cry.

"What the hell are you talking about?!" I tried to walk to her, but my mother held me back, which made me stop.

"Tana knew Philip and I were in a relationship and now she's not only using the mate bond to take away the man I love, she also wants to render my unborn child fatherless!" I looked at my step-sister in disbelief and I looked back at Philip who now looked angry.

"What the hell is she talking about, Philip? We are mated to one another and just like always, we were meant to get married, why is Veronica…"

"This is what I'm talking about. Everyone looked at her. She knew Philip had marked me that's why she is behaving like this" Veronica directs everyone's attention towards me "... She's at it again. Philip has no choice, he loves me, but he would rather not cause her pain with the mate bond. Philip is so kind-hearted yet she chooses to be self-centered about the situation." Veronica fell to the ground and right before my eyes, Philip began to walk down the stairs, but I held him, and he yanked his hands out of mine while looking at me with an angry face.

"Don't you dare touch me again" He growled, and I watched him walk toward Veronica

My heartbeat increased the more I looked at what was happening, it was more like a dream, but it was happening way too fast for me to understand

All this while I had thought we were in love, considering what had happened last night, it was the best night of my life, and he claimed the same, and out of the blue he was in love with Veronica, and they were having a child?

"This isn't true, Veronica, tell them the truth!" I snapped at her, but all she did was cry more and more into Philip's arms.

"Enough!" Philip snapped, making me jump "... This wedding and everything that is going on in the place is being canceled, everyone go home, there's no more weddings!"

"Philip you just can't do…"

"I said enough." He stood up on his feet and gently picked Veronica into his arms, "... Let's get out of here, sweetheart"

"Philip…"

"Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Taking a pregnant woman's husband" The crowd began to throw words as tears rolled down my eyes and my mum grabbed my hands before guiding me out.

Was this truly the wedding of my dreams?