Page 262 of Labor of Love

Irun my fingers over the soft and delicate lace, tugging on the ribbon bow of my white dress.

"We will have to do something with this hair of yours, I still think you should cut it short. A nice clean look would be perfect on you and I'm sure Vince will love it," my sister, Jill, mutters in my ear while running a comb through my thick blond curls.

My stomach knots at the thought of her coming anywhere near my hair with a pair of scissors and clippers. She's heard Vince complain about my hair getting in his face a few times when I lean my head on his broad shoulders. I loved feeling his strong body against my cheek, enjoying the rhythm of his heartbeat.

"I will not cut my hair," I protest, pulling away from my sister's reach. "I can brush it myself. Maybe you should make sure Mom doesn't need your help downstairs."

She glares at me, her nostrils flaring. "Fine, it's your wedding. If you want to look all frumpy walking down the aisle toward your soon-to-be-husband, then so be it."

She makes one last attempt at pinching my cheeks and I shove her hand away. "Vince is marrying me, not my hair or this dress. He likes me and I doubt he cares about mundane thingslike whether or not my hair touches my ears, or if my cheeks blush enough."

Throwing her hands up in the air, she storms out of the room, muttering something under her breath, and the only word I manage to catch isbridezillaspilling from her perfect pink glossed lips with her perfect blonde wavy hair flowing behind her.

I release a long sigh, turning back toward the mirror, my smile now as wide as before. I don't know why I let her get to me.

The flutters in my stomach increase the more I focus on my appearance. What if she's right? What if Vince changes his mind the moment he sees me?

The one who was usually good at calming my nerves was Vince. If only it was possible to see him before the ceremony. My heart settles a little at the thought of him smiling at me from across the way while he promises to love and cherish me forever.

I run down the hallway, the long train of my dress trailing behind me, ignoring all my family's superstitions. I pause when I reach the room he's supposed to be getting ready in. I suck in a breath, holding a closed fist in the air before letting it come down against the door in a steady knock.

The door doesn't open and there's no sound of approaching footsteps, so I knock again. More flutters take over the longer I go unanswered. I slowly twist the knob and find the room is empty. The bed is still made and there isn't any sign anyone has been here.

The air goes still and cold around me the longer I stand in the middle of the empty room. Maybe my stepbrother, Connor, will know where he is. He and Vince have always been close friends. It was odd for an omega to be friends with an alpha but not for a beta.

I always envied Connor for having more freedom than I do. I didn't even get to choose my own mate. I was promised to Vincewhen we were only teenagers and I've been patiently waiting for the day I officially get to experience my first kiss.

We were allowed more time around each other this past year but mostly under supervision. I hated it because it never allowed us to sneak in more than a hug. The sight of my alpha took my breath away the first time we met, but Vince had that effect on most people. The room always grew quiet when he entered and soon, he would be entering them with me on his arm.

I glance around as I tread lightly to my brother's room. His door is halfway open, and I pause midair when I'm about to knock. My brother isn't alone. There's another voice joining his. It's deep and familiar. My heart flutters when I recognize the smooth sound. Vince's voice is always like silk to my ears.

My excitement grows the more he talks, and in my eagerness, I accidentally push the door open. Anything good I felt before fades away when my gaze lands on my stepbrother kissing my fiancé. All the air leaves my lungs and my mind spins so fast I have to grab onto the wall to keep from collapsing to the ground.

So lost in one another's kisses and inappropriate touches, my presence continues to go unnoticed. I slowly back away from the door, struggling to move my heavy feet. I tightly press my back to the wall and close my eyes as I suppress my tears.

I don't think I can feel any worse and then Vince speaks again, the pain comparable to a knife being plunged into my chest when he whispers, "I love you. I wish it was you I was marrying, not him."

Instead of falling to pieces outside my stepbrother's room, I run down the hallway with hot tears streaming down my cheeks. The more they spill over, the faster I move one foot in front of the other, heading down the stairs and out the front door.

When I see my mother, I hide behind a man carrying floral arrangements and keep moving as soon as she passes us. Lifting my dress to my thighs, I curse myself for leaving my shoesbehind. Oh well, it's not like I'm staying in human form for long anyway.

I don't stop running, not even when I'm halfway through the woods near my house. As soon as I know it's safe and I'm confident I'm alone, I shift into my rabbit form. My dress falls around my body, and I leave it behind as I hop forward.

The woods grow darker the longer I travel through the trees and tall grass. Wary of predators, I don't look back because it'll only slow me down. Knowing I'm safer in human form isn't enough to convince me to shift back.

My rabbit form always calms me and helps ease the pain of my human emotions. I hurt less when I shift and I'm also faster. Being small gives me more of an advantage and I was always able to slip away easily when playing hide and seek with other omegas of different species growing up.

With aching feet, I hop out in the open onto the sidewalk. I'm completely vulnerable but I'm too exhausted to care. With heavy lids, my eyes close and my body goes slack on the pavement. It’s raining but that's the least of my worries.

Being lifted in the air by human hands makes me open my eyes again. When I glance up, caring green eyes stare down at me. The older man carries me out of the rain and into a warm building. The lights flicker on and the animals in nearby cages explain all the shuffling noises and light meows.I'm inside a pet shop.

"It's okay, buddy, I got you. I don't know how you managed to get out of your cage, but I'm glad I found you before something else did. You will be nice and warm in no time," the man says, rubbing a small towel over my shivering body. He does it a few more times before placing me inside a small wire cage filled with soft, warm bedding that feels wonderful on my paws. My eyes are about to close again when the loud rattle of the cage has them widening in realization of where I am. Soriddled with exhaustion, I was ready to nod off, not really letting everything around me fully sink in.

I'm inside a cage in a pet store. This man thinks I'm a pet.

Perhaps running away from my pack wasn't such a good idea after all. I'm not safe here, but I no longer felt safe at home either.

The absolute betrayal I feel destroys my love for my alpha, shattering me on the inside. The danger out here could never hurt me more than that. When I get the chance, I'll make my escape, but I'm not in a hurry to face the repercussions my father will dole out. I embarrassed him today, sinking our family's reputation.

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