Nora's POV

The entire hall fell into stunned silence. It was Calvin. He stood at the entrance, tall, panicked, sweating, his dark eyes locking onto mine like I was the only person in the room. His chest heaved, his jaw tight, and for a moment, the whole world seemed to stop moving. Then his voice broke through the silence.

"This wedding isn't holding," he said, his tone rough, trembling with emotion. "Nora is my mate."

Gasps rippled through the guests. Olivia narrowed her eyes, Daniel stiffened beside me, and my heart… my heart stopped beating for a second. Calvin's eyes softened as he took a slow step forward.

"Please," he said, his voice breaking. "Please forgive me, Nora."

I stood frozen, unable to move, unable to breathe.

He continued. "I wasn't rejecting you because of who you are. I was rejecting you because of me. Because I was scared."

He paused, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard. "You're everything I want, kind, selfless, brave. You make me feel things I thought I'd never feel again. That's what terrified me."

Whispers filled the hall, but he didn't care. His eyes stayed on me.

He took another step closer. "My first mate…" His voice cracked slightly. "She broke me, Nora. She betrayed me with another man, someone I trusted. I gave her everything, and she destroyed it. After that, I swore I'd never fall in love again. I thought the only way to protect myself was to never feel anything that deep again."

Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

He shook his head, his voice shaking now. "But then you came along. And you ruined that promise, Nora. You made me feel again. You made me want again. And that scared the hell out of me. So, I pushed you away. I made excuses. I lied to myself, to everyone, just so I wouldn't fall."

He stopped, his gaze softening even more. "But I already fell. I've loved you from the moment you walked into my life. I was just too much of a coward to say it."

I could hear people whispering around us, feel the weight of hundreds of eyes watching, but it was like the world had faded to nothing but him.

He came closer now, just a few feet away. "Nora," he said quietly, "I love you. Please… don't marry him."

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. The words I had waited so long to hear, the words I thought I would never get, hung between us like fragile glass.

But it was too late.

I blinked back the tears, forcing my lips to move even as my chest felt like it was shattering.

"Calvin…" My voice trembled. "It's too late."

He froze, disbelief flashing across his face.

I turned slightly toward Daniel, who stood stunned beside me, his expression unreadable. Then I looked back at Calvin, the man who had broken my heart long before I ever agreed to this wedding.

"You had your chance," I whispered, tears finally spilling down my cheeks. "You made me think I wasn't enough. You made me believe it. And now, when I'm finally trying to move on… you show up?"

Calvin shook his head, stepping closer, his voice breaking. "No. I was wrong. I see that now. Please, don't do this."

But I stepped back, my hand trembling as I held my veil. "You can't show up at my wedding and decide you want me just because you're scared of losing me."

His face fell completely. The pain in his eyes mirrored the one tearing through me.

"Please," he whispered again.

My voice cracked, barely a whisper. "It's too late, Calvin."

And before anyone could say another word, I turned away because if I looked at him a second longer, I might not be able to do what I wanted to do.

"Please, let's continue, Priest."

Calvin's voice broke through the murmurs again, louder this time, trembling, desperate. "No! This wedding can't continue."

I turned sharply toward him, my heart twisting. "What are you trying to do, Calvin? Use your Alpha authority to force me?"

His eyes widened, filled with hurt. "No," he said quickly, shaking his head. "I would never force you, Nora. I'm begging you… please."

His voice cracked on the last word. The strength I always associated with him, that firm, commanding presence, was gone. All that remained was a man on his knees emotionally, stripped of pride, pleading.

My wolf whimpered inside me, feeling his pain through the bond we both still shared.

My lips trembled. "Calvin, please… let me go."

He took a hesitant step forward, his voice low and trembling. "I can feel your pain, Nora. Don't do this. Don't end us like this."

I shook my head, my tears falling freely now. "You had months to fight for us. And you didn't. You had every chance to tell me how you felt, but instead, you made me believe I wasn't enough. You told me I didn't belong by your side."

"I was scared!" he shouted, the words slipping out in agony. "I didn't know how to love again. But I'm trying now. Please,"

I cut him off, my voice breaking. "And what happens when you stop trying? When the fear comes back? What if one day you look at me and realize you can't love me after all?"

He stood there, frozen. Silent. Because deep down, we both knew I was right.

My wolf whimpered louder, clawing at my chest, begging me to go to him, to forgive him, but my mind refused. I couldn't build my life on uncertainty.

"Please," he whispered again, softer this time, his voice barely holding together. "Don't marry him."

I closed my eyes. Every part of me wanted to run into his arms, but my head wouldn't let my heart win this time.

"No, Calvin." My voice came out barely above a whisper. "Let me go."

He stared at me for a long moment, eyes glistening, then slowly nodded. His lips parted, like he wanted to say something, but no words came out. Finally, he stepped aside, broken, defeated.

The hall was painfully quiet.

I turned to Daniel, my hands trembling. He looked at me with pity, not anger, as if he understood that no matter what happened next, this wasn't victory.

"Let's… continue," I said softly. My heart was breaking, but I forced my feet to move. The Elder hesitated, glancing between me and Calvin, but when I nodded, he began to resume the ceremony.

The moment felt heavy, suffocating. My heart pounded so loudly I could barely hear the words.

And then,

"This marriage cannot hold!"

The voice echoed through the hall like thunder.

Gasps filled the air again. I turned sharply, my breath catching in my throat.

At the entrance stood a pregnant woman.