I froze.

Malcolm didn’t stop. He only pulled me closer, his voice low in my ear, “Don’t look back… or you’ll never leave.”

I ignored Nathaniel’s words and got into car, upon our arrival at the Black Widow Pack, my mom greeted us with excitement.

The wedding dress we'd ordered a few weeks ago had finally arrived, making her eyes gleam with joy.

I nodded silently to hide my unease. My heart wasn't in the wedding arrangements, but I forced myself to plaster on a smile, accepting my mother's cheerful chatter about the dress, flowers, venue, and everything else.

“Pumpkin, you're going to look absolutely stunning in this beautiful dress,”...