Chapter 4: Chapter 4
"Don't come to the ceremony video shoot tomorrow."
I wasn't sure why he was suddenly canceling, but I was already planning to call off the bonding ceremony anyway. This just saved me the trouble of making an excuse.
Now that he'd brought it up himself, it made things easier.
I nodded, my tone even. "Okay. I'll let the photographer know it's canceled."
Damien hadn't expected me to agree so easily. He faltered, a flicker of awkwardness crossing his face before he smoothed his expression over.
"No need to cancel."
"Selene said she might never get the chance to have a proper ceremony, so she wanted to record a video with me."
"Just so she can feel like she's had her own bonding ceremony, so she won't have any regrets."
"Selene and I will go tomorrow. We can reshoot ours later."
His tone was casual, as if he were commenting on the weather, as if this were the most normal thing in the world.
There won't be a later, I thought.
"Okay," I replied softly, then turned to head back to the bedroom.
Damien watched me go, a strange sense of unease rising in him.
I was too calm. Not a single question. All the excuses he'd prepared were suddenly useless.
My placid reaction threw him completely off guard.
The next morning, I woke up as Damien was getting ready to leave.
As he put on his shoes, he issued his instructions.
"After the video shoot, I'm taking Selene to the Moonlight Hot Springs to recuperate."
"She's always wanted to go, and it's good for her health. I don't feel right about her going alone, so I'll go with her."
"As for the ceremony, just keep it simple. I don't have time for rehearsals or decorations. You can handle all the decisions; you don't need to ask me."
I lowered my head, chewing on a piece of toast. "Okay," I said faintly.
Keep it simple.
This ceremony would have no video, no guests… and no bride.
Seeing me calmly eating my breakfast, Damien hesitated, then added, "After the ceremony, let's go to Europe for our honeymoon. I remember you've always wanted to go."
The old me would have been thrilled at the mere mention of a honeymoon, already starting to plan the itinerary. I'd asked him to travel with me countless times, but he always refused, claiming it would interfere with his Pack duties.
Now, I didn't need a trip.
Damien started to say more, but a glance at the wall clock made him hurry. "We'll talk when I get back," he said, rushing out the door.
I picked up the calendar and drew a large X through "Ceremony Video."
Twelve days left.
After breakfast, I started purging the apartment, systematically erasing every memory we shared.
The handful of photos in the album, the dust-covered mate totem in the corner, the bonding ceremony gown I would never wear...
Every item that made this house a home had been brought in by me, piece by piece, over five years.
But if you looked closely, you'd notice Damien had never used most of them.
He'd once told me that even though I was his mate, he was still an individual. He hated using matching tokens, claiming they made him feel constrained.
In that case, he should be pleased I'm clearing them out.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone