{Chanel's POV}

The rehearsal went as smoothly as I had hoped and soon we were all heading back to the pack house for a small dinner.

"After you my dearest." Grand poppy sounded.

"Oh Kingsley, Chanel doesn't have to ride with us now that Vincent is here." My father put in.

I looked back at Vincent and he smiled, "your father is right Chanel, why crowd into the car when you can simply ride with me."

"A-actually I was wondering if Chanel could ride with me." Evalina suddenly sounded, "I wanted to talk with her about tomorrow's big day...Cesare you don't mind going with your uncle do you?"

I was thankful for my best friend and Cesare, they don't know just how much I didn't want to be left alone with Vincent anymore.

"Then it's settled." I smiled. "I'll go with Evalina to iron out any last minute details, Cesare will go with Luca and everyone else is going just as they came."

Everyone nodded but I didn't miss the hard stare Vincent gave me.

Evalina and I waited until my family and Vincent had departed.

All that was left were us and the guys. Cesare pulled Evalina to the side giving Luca and I the briefest moment of privacy.

I didn't waste any time as I ran forward and kissed Luca openly. It felt amazing to be in Luca's arms once more...those familiar flames as he touched me ignited my skin with want and I no longer simply wanted to kiss him, I found that I needed to kiss him.

But all too soon he was pulling away.

I looked at him confused.

He gave me a sad smile as he reached out and caressed my cheek. "Soon Pussycat, I promise once we're home then I'm never leaving you alone ever again."

I smiled, "so you want me to move onto your land?"

At this he chuckled handsomely, the sound filled me up and made me happy.

"Pussycat do I want you to move in with me...you're my mate, my future Luna, where else would I ever want you to be?"

I shrugged "I guess I just needed to hear it come from you."

After that a throat cleared, we turned to see Cesare.

"We're gonna have to speed over to the pack house before they grow suspicious."

A hollow feeling filled the pit of my stomach at the very thought of both having to be away from Luca, and having to go back to Vincent.

"None of that now" Luca sounded upon seeing my hesitation. "Just one more day and we're home free, remember."

I nodded, "one more day."

The boys got into their vehicle and soon Lina and I followed them as we raced down the roads to the pack house.

"Open your window."

"Why, my hair will mess up?!" I protested.

Evalina sighed, "you have Luca's scent all over you."

This time I blushed and did as she said. Upon arrival to the pack house, my hair was a huge mess but I smelt of the outdoors instead of my mate.

"My apologies" I said as I walked into the pack house. "The weather here in Texas surely does a number to my hair, if you'll excuse me while I freshen up."

No one protested so I made my way into the study on the first floor, there was a restroom in there where I made quick work of my hair.

"Chanel"

I exited the bathroom and found my father standing in the study.

"What's going on daddy?"

"Well, I'm gonna be honest here...I went back and forward for a very good while, I mean I know you sweetheart and I know that you initially weren't in this one hundred percent...then I get here and well I mean, how could I not sign after seeing you so happy?"

"Dad what the hell are you talking about?"

"The treaty, that's what you wanted to talk to me about right?" He asked genuinely as confused as I was. "I mean I nearly lost it when Vincent first sent the documents over, then he explained how you two had gotten engaged... Of course your grandfather and I didn't believe it, but here, I mean...you're clearly engaged." He said as he gestured toward my hand.

I was at a loss for words.

"No," I whispered and pulled the ring off of my finger. "I-I'm not engaged, Vincent asked me to wear this for appearances...daddy I don't love him....He's not my mate."

My father was livid.

"Dammit Chanel!" He growled "how fucking childish are you...you have no idea what I've just done, all because..."

"Dad I'm sorry...but couldn't you have just called or something first?"

"Well there's not much we can do now, seeing as you've accepted the ring and so willingly gone along tricking people this whole time...you're just gonna have to marry him."

"NO!" I shouted.

"It wasn't a question Chanel."

"And it isn't even an option Dad, I have a mate and I will NEVER marry Vincent, nor would my Mate allow it."

"What's going on in here?"

I found my grandfather and Luca at the door, my shouting must've gotten their attention.

"My father is trying to force me into marrying Vincent."

"Like hell you are!" Luca sounded.

"Where do you get off coming in here and saying anything?" My dad asked.

"She's MY mate!"

"Oh how I love family reunions." Vincent suddenly sounded.

Luca came over to my side along with my grandfather, Evalina, Kammie, and Cesare. My father stayed on his own side and Vincent seemed to own the room from the doorframe.

"You see Chanel, I don't care if you have a mate or not...your father has signed you over to me, you are mine." Vincent sneered.

"I'm not something to be signed away!"

"You're right, technically you could walk away from this whole thing...but then your father would have to give me half of his pack."

"Why would you do that Garland?" Grand poppy asked.

"I-I knew Chanel wouldn't just go and get engaged to someone she didn't fully love...she's like her mother in that sense, so when I saw the ring earlier...I thought I was doing the right thing."

"There's no use in fighting this...Chanel you will either marry me and become my Luna OR you can put thousands of people's lives at jeopardy as I will turn each and every one of your father's pack members into rogues, old people, children, the disabled, the mated...all out on the streets just because I can."

I threw the engagement ring at him "go to hell!"

Vincent merely laughed at my words.

I noticed Evalina and Cesare were both on their phones, hopefully help would come...would it be too late?

"There is NO way in hell I'm letting my mate anywhere near you, you murderer."

The room gasped, myself included.

"You shouldn't bring up things you have no idea about." Vincent remarked cocky.

Luca leaned down as Vincent spoke and whispered "I'm so, so sorry about this." He sounded sadly now. I looked into his handsome face and could see the sadness and desperation from the moment before I felt his teeth sink into my neck. I knew exactly what he was doing and why...I just hated that this was how I was being marked.