Fated To Three Betrayed By All Until She Rose (Leilani) by Ahvahh novel Chapter 137

**Healing Slowly But Surely**
**By R. Joseph**

You may mark your bride!

Kael.

1

As I walked down the aisle alongside my brothers, my heart pounded violently in my chest, betraying me with its frantic rhythm. We were dressed in our tailored dark tuxedos, a stark contrast to the vibrant energy of the crowd that surrounded us—family members, business associates, and friends gathered to celebrate this momentous occasion.

I scanned the sea of faces, desperately searching for a glimpse of Leilani, but she was nowhere in sight. The absence of her presence felt like a heavy weight settling in the pit of my stomach, an uncomfortable boulder that refused to budge.

Why did it matter so much that she wasn’t here? I questioned my own feelings, grappling with the longing that twisted within me. Was it possible that I had secretly hoped she would burst onto the scene, disrupting the carefully orchestrated wedding and forcing us to flee together?

As we approached the altar, a tightening sensation gripped my chest, and I felt my knees weaken, as if the very ground beneath me had become unsteady.

Zevran leaned closer, his hand resting reassuringly on my shoulder. To an outsider, it may have appeared as a supportive gesture, but we both understood it was our silent pact—a way to hold each other up amidst the impending chaos, a way to find solace in one another as we faced this disaster together.

Moments later, the grand doors swung open, and Chalice emerged, looking like a vision straight out of a fairy tale.

I couldn’t deny her beauty; she radiated an allure that was undeniable. Yet, in this moment, she wasn’t the woman I yearned to walk down the aisle with. She wasn’t the one who ignited a fire within me with just a single glance.

She wasn’t my mate.

Chalice’s bright smile, adorned with what seemed like a special kind of makeup, made her look radiant. Instead of easing the tightness in my chest, it only intensified the ache.

As she made her way toward us, struggling slightly with the last set of stairs leading to the altar, I felt a pang of guilt for not rushing to assist her. Neither did Zevran, nor surprisingly, did Caelum.

Her expression shifted to one of frustration as she looked up at us, whispering, “I’m stuck.”

Yet, I remained frozen in place, unable to move. My brothers mirrored my inaction, caught in a web of our own emotions.

Chalice’s face fell, embarrassment washing over her as she lowered her head, but it quickly lifted again when her father’s large arms wrapped around her.

He smiled down at her, “Honey, are you experiencing cold feet?”

She shook her head vehemently. “No.”

“Then go on!” he encouraged, “Your husbands are waiting!”

The moment Beta Malakai uttered those words, a surge of anger coursed through me. I shot him a glare, mentally vowing to have a serious conversation about his position soon. At least his son showed more competence these days.

“Kael?” Zevran’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I turned to find him watching me, his expression mirroring my own frustration as Chalice stood before us with that blinding smile.

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