{Chanel's POV}

As I made my way back into the house I couldn't keep the giddy smile from my face.

Was this all real?

The images of my previous conversation filled my head but it was all cut too short when Vincent approached me.

"Where have you been?" He asked gently as he took both of my hands into his.

"Oh, I just needed some air...Vincent we need to talk."

He nodded it carefully pulled me into dance formation as a song had started up. I didn't mind, I knew at least here in the dance floor he couldn't make a scene.

"You can tell me anything."

"Vincent" I said softly, "I shouldn't have taken this ring when you offered it to me, further more I should not have worn it tonight, I've given you false hope and for that I am sorry."

He was silent but nodded.

His expression was unreadable but I continued.

"You have been an excellent boyfriend, one that I couldn't ever deserve but I would be lying if I said my heart's been in it... You are the most amazing guy and in many ways I do wish you were my mate, but the fact is that you are NOT."

"I would be lying if I said I haven't worried about this." He replied with a sad smile. He looked at my face then made a silent sort of internal chuckle, "you've already found your mate haven't you?"

I couldn't hide the guilt written plainly on my face.

"I'm not mad, but how about this... I suggest we prolong this...'coupling' until the end of the wedding, to save face in front of all of these people, namely your father."

My father.

For once I had forgotten about what he would think once he found out I broke up with Vincent.

Damn him if he can't accept my mate...Luca and I don't need him!

BUT Vincent did have a point about keeping up appearances for the wedding as well as his alliance with my father.

"I can go along with that." I smiled, I mean, I basically was already going to do that anyways and then leave with Luca the day after the wedding.

Suddenly I heard the back doors open and I stupidly turned, I'm sure he could feel my body tense a bit.

But my body relaxed and I even smiled a little when it wasn't Luca who walked through the door but rather Vincent's cousin.

I turned back and noticed Vincent studying me before he looked back over at his cousin.

Suddenly the song was over and I was more than aware of the fact that Vincent might have misread my reaction toward his cousin.

"I didn't realize Martin was outside with you."

To be honest neither had I, suddenly my heart began to race...what if he saw Luca and I, or worse what if he HEARD Luca and I. He would've heard my entire hearts confession for my intense love for my mate. He is Vincent's cousin of course he would end up telling him everything and then I would have to worry about my mate being on an angry wolfs land.

I just stood there without a reply but it seems I didn't have to.

"You should be carefully of Martin, Chanel." Vincent said, smothering the growing tension. "He's my cousin by blood, not by choice..."

I watched as he now struggled to maintain his perfect composure.

"Let's just say, even though he is the Beta of this pack...he doesn't have the cleanest record to his name."

And just like that Vincent walked away from me, I watched as he approached Kammie and asked her for the next dance.

On one hand I wanted to be happy, what better fit for Vincenr than Kammie, she is single, unmated, and wants nothing more than a stable home.

But on the other hand I couldn't help but notice how easily he seemed to just walk away after our "break-up"...I wasn't jealous, but it really strikes me as odd.

And what the hell is up with his weird cousin Martin?

. . . . .

{Luca's POV}

I walked up to the house and decided to re-enter the house from the front door instead of the back door, anyone could easy put two and two together and figure out that Chanel and I were outside together.

And now more than ever it was imperative that our secret remain just that.

I found Sasha easily, she spotted me as well and came to my side.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

I shook my head. "The plan has changed, you need to leave immediately."

She looked at me before nodding and excusing herself. I watched from the back wall as she apologized to Cesare and Evalina about having to miss their nuptials, I'm not sure what excuse she gave but they bought it.

Almost as soon as she exited the house I received a text message from her.

[SASHA: apparently I have a work crisis, I won't question you Luca, but remember to keep your cool, it will keep both you and your mate safe.]

I didn't reply, she didn't know how right she was.

Cesare looked over at me, silently asking me what was going on, I shook my head. As much as I wanted to tell him, so that he would be prepared...the last thing I needed was to freak him out. Plus Javier had instructed me to do everything to keep Vincent from finding out that I know something.

Truth be told I still wasn't sure what Vincent had done, only that he had done something.

My job now was to make sure I can get Chanel home safe and sound before it was too late.

I looked over at her, she was talking to someone on the staff, I looked around for Vincent and found him chivalrously dancing with Kammie.

The Alpha in me had more than woken up with Javier's warning and now I was doing everything in me to keep from going over there and protecting Kammie seeing as she IS a she wolf in my pack.

I couldn't watch anymore, I stepped into the kitchen and pulled out my phone. I found my Beta's number easily.

"Alpha." He answered.

Get me two tickets from Dallas back home, I will be arriving two days from now, around nine o'clock."

"Am or Pm sir?" He asked.

"Pm...I'm gonna be leaving the wedding a little early." I informed him.

"Yes sir."

"Also have the soldiers on standby if need be upon my arrival...oh and, if for some reason I don't make it home according to my planned flight, bring our guys, my brothers guys, and Alpha Garland's guys and come and get us the hell out of Texas!"

Once again I wasn't questioned. "Yes sir."

And with that we hung up.

"Luca?"

I turned to find to find Evalina walking over to me.

I hugged her and complimented her.

She smiled, "I appreciate you being here for us you know."

I nodded "of course, I couldn't stay away even if I wanted to."

She laughed sweetly, little did she know it was the dark truth.

"Well I feel like I've hardly seen you since being here." She pointed out, "will you dance with the bride to be?"

Now I smiled, even given the circumstances I didn't have to paste on a fake smile, here was my nephews bride, beautifully happy and completely unaware of the trouble around her.

"I would be honored." I said as I held my hand out to her.

I danced us around the floor along to the music but the whole while I couldn't help but wish this night would end and the wedding would come before shit really hits the fan. I'm not sure what's going to happen but the one thing I DO know for sure...I was going to make sure I got my family, my people and my mate home safe no matter what.