CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE
BURKE’S POV
I wore blue suit pants and jackets because that’s Catherine’s favorite color.
The only thing I could think of was Jack, who would have been my best man on my wedding day, but now I’m stuck with Diago, who is my right-hand man and acting second in command till Jack’s son comes of age to take his rightful position.
I stared at the mirror, admiring myself and how the suit jacket clung to my well-defined shoulders.
“Have cold feet?” Diago, who had been sitting in the empty chair in my room, finally spoke up; he is a man of few words, meaning he rarely talks.
“No, I’m just nervous,” I said, adjusting my suit jacket.
The kids were already at the garden where our wedding ceremony was supposed to be held. They are overly excited about our union but not as excited as I am.
“What about your sister?” Diago asked, noticing he had not seen Ava since he came here.
Diago has always had a soft spot for Ava, but she doesn’t see it, or rather, she doesn’t want him because she claims he is too reserved. Diago has not stopped trying to get her attention, making me the middle man most times.
“I don’t know, probably out there, looking for a lover,” I said, not interested in talking about Ava.
Ava had been angry with me for allowing Susan, the Vampire maid, to be Catherine’s bridesmaid. I tried telling her it was not my duty to pick a bridesmaid for Catherine, but it fell on deaf ears.
“I think she has a boyfriend; she’s hiding him from you,” Diago said, and I scoffed. Ava would never hide her boyfriend from me; we are way too close for that.
“She doesn’t Diago, I assure you that,” I responded, wearing my shoes on.
This is the longest conversation Diago and I have ever had, and it felt weird talking to that extent, especially when we aren’t at the board meeting; I think he feels that way, too.
“Not that I’m trying to intrude, but I saw a guy, a human, to be specific, sneaking into her room the previous day I came for a board meeting,” He said, picking up a newspaper to read.
He buried his face inside the newspaper, so I could hardly see his reaction if he was serious or if he was joking.
“That’s not possible, Diago; Ava doesn’t sneak around; can we stop talking about personal matters?” I asked, getting exhausted from talking to Diago about my family. It feels like talking to a stranger even if Diago is now my second in command.
He nodded his head; even if I could still see he had a lot of questions to ask; he knew better than to disrespect his Alpha.
I went to the window to get a view of the garden before the pack’s oldest man, that’s Diago’s father, came to start the wedding.
Almost all the members of the pack were present, even members of the neighboring pack, except for Hoang’s pack; they weren’t yet on good terms with my pack.
The chairs were decorated with blue and black, which was on my order because that’s our favorite wedding. I had always wanted an outdoor wedding, and I was glad Catherine didn’t object to it.
“It’s your wedding day, man; instead of admiring it from here, why don’t we go downstairs? My father would be here in less than five minutes,” Diago said, distracting me from my thoughts.
“That’s true,” I said loudly, ready to leave the room when I felt a sharp pain in my chest; it felt like I was losing my mate bond with Catherine.
“Are you alright?” Diago asked, seeing that I was in pain.
“Fuck yes, I think the moon goddess is doing something crazy again,” I murmured, before ignoring the pain.
I got out of my room with Diago behind me, and we headed towards the garden.
Arriving at the garden, my people were clapping and cheering at me, happy about the fact that they were about to have a Luna, although I was more excited than they were.
My kids were seated in the front seat, clapping their hands and cheering at me.
“We love you, Daddy,” They yelled, and I grinned at them.
I got to the front, where Diago’s father was, holding a book that would bind Catherine and me as Alpha and Luna. This binding helps to protect the pack from any curse the witches would want to place on us, that’s why an Alpha needs to have a Luna.
Diago stood at my back as I looked at his father’s wrinkled face; his eyes were hardly visible because they had grown inside due to old age, I guess. His hair was white and rumor has it that he had lost count of his age.
“Where is the bride?” Diago’s father asked me, and it was then I realized Catherine hadn’t arrived at our wedding avenue at this time; she is always punctual, and it is unlike her to come late for her wedding.
I turned to look around but Catherine was nowhere to be found.
“Is she having cold feet?” I asked myself, afraid that Catherine might have left for Chicago, probably because is not interested in getting married to me.
“Relax Alpha, probably they got stuck somewhere,” Diago assured me, as if he was reading my mind.
I relaxed a bit, as we all waited for Catherine to show up.
The members of the pack were already whispering within themselves when there was no sign of Catherine or Susan anywhere.
“Daddy, why’s mummy not here yet,” Ricky asked. I didn’t even know when he got up from his seat because I was lost in my thoughts.
“I can’t say a particular reason, but I’m sure she is on her way,” I said, assuring him when there was none.
Ricky went back to sit with his siblings, as I began to pace around aimlessly.
My mind was settled; I felt something bad might be happening, which is why Catherine had not shown up yet.
“Tell the guards to go to Catherine’s house and see what’s happening,” I told Diago, and he nodded his head as he was about to leave. My sister ran inside the wedding venue, crying profusely.
Her hair and clothes were tattered, and she ran to meet me before landing on the floor, still crying.
“What is it, Ava?” I asked, wanting to know what made my sister cry this way.
“It’s Catherine, Burke,” She said, still crying.
“Speak the fuck up, Ava,” I commanded her, getting impatient; hearing this is about Catherine made me more impatient.
“Catherine is dead,” Ava said, dropping the bombshell, leaving gasps and murmurs among the people.
I stared into blank space, My mate is fucking dead