Chapter 1

Chloe slipped on the diamond earring, clipping it place, before dropping the curls, she was holding on her head. The curls slowly cascading down her back in perfect volumized curls. She looked at herself in the mirror, her porcelain cheeks were tinted with a light pink blush, her lips a calming pink, and light toned colours shadowing her eyelids. Jasmine had offered to do a more dramatic look, but Chloe had declined, saying natural was what she wanted. Well what she thought would look the best on her. Chloe didn't want to get married at 18. And she for sure didn't want to get married, to her closet guy friend. But the circumstance, one she distaste, had called for a husband. And Alek was the closet thing she had right now, that involved a guy that she loved. It wasn't as if Valentina had forced it upon her, as if she didn't have a choice.

She did have a choice.

Leave her home, and get fought over by Mai prides, or marry Alek, and be married for at least 4 months.

Now you'd think the decision was easy, choose Alek. He was a fine specimen, and according to her best friend, he was very fine. Especially his ass. But he was also one of her best friends, and sure she had noticed her physical attraction towards him, but she couldn't hurt him. Not again. No matter how much she wanted to explore her feelings for him, the ones that weren't platonic, she couldn't. Because she couldn't hurt him. Valentina had given her a choice of many faithful Mai, even a couple humans, who would pretend to be her lover, but she ultimately chose Alek. Because no matter what she knew he'd have her back.

"Can I come in?" Meredith's voice sounded through the large wooden doors. Chloe sighed, and picked her self up, and off the cushioned seat, moving away from the mirror. She straightened her white silk wedding gown, and moved to answer the door.

"Hey," Chloe whispered, fumbling to open the door. Her mother slid through, in her deep blue, knee lengthened dress. Her mothers face was made up with a light shade of purple painted carefully on her eyelids, and a mute coloured lipstick. Her mother looked absolutely stunning.

"Chloe," her mother sighed, taking a seat at the small couch in the corner, and turning towards her daughter. "Kiddo, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Mom, I have no other choice." Chloe told her, she could feel her throat knotting up and tears forming in the back of her eyes. She wouldn't cry, she couldn't cry because she couldn't afford to cry. To ruin her makeup.

"I know, Chloe but there must be other choices, something else."

"There's nothing mom, nothing. The can't fight for me, if I have a husband. Mai's take love very, seriously, I was told it's a one love thing."

"Than you'll be tied to Alek for the rest of your life?" Chloe's mother screeched, her eyes wide, with fear for her daughter, and shook at the new information.

"No," Chloe sighed, tugging at her white gold bracelet, the very one her mother had worn on her wedding day. Everything felt to real, and Chloe found with dismay that she kind of wished it was. "Once everything blows over with me saving the Mai, then none of the prides will care about me, or want me. I'll be plain old Chloe, and than I'll be able to go back to real life."

"I love plain old Chloe," Meredith scolded her, with a big smile on her face.

Chloe moved towards her mother, leaning over, and wrapped her arms around her mothers waist, pulling her in for a hug. Meredith, has accepted everything months ago, when Chloe had broken the curse, she had confessed to her midnight sneak outs, and her Mai claws. Telling her mother everything was hard, and Chloe couldn't have done it, without Alek. And maybe that's another reason she doesn't want to try things with him. Maybe Chloe was selfish, and she didn't want to lose her rock. Didn't want to lose the only person in her life, that understood everything, that would do anything for her.

"Chloe, its time."

Chloe backed away from her mother, and held up her hand, helping her up. Meredith consented, and stood up, straightening her dress, and than fixing Chloe's gown, before tugging her arm through Chloe's. Meredith would be the one walking her down the isle. She turned down the old fashioned hallway, her maid of honour; Amy, holding her dress up. Her bridesmaids; Jasmine and a couple of lady Mai's she had met through out the years were already inside the service room.

As Chloe walked through the arch way, the church's band started playing. Everything was set up perfectly, the chairs of the audience, were classy, and comfortable. The lighting was light, and set the mood in the large room. A vary of white beautiful looking flowers adorned the ends of each isle seat, complementing her beautiful dress. Chloe found her fake, unnatural smile slipping away, and a real one taking its place, as she looked towards Alek. He was dressed, in a fancy tux, his hair gelled back, but that wasn't what fazed her, what fazed her, what pulled at her heart strings, was his natural beauty. The way he smiled, white teeth gleaming, and the crinkles by his chocolate brown eyes. Everything was perfect. And that's what hurt the most, the realisation that this wasn't real, that it would never be. And she wanted, so badly for it to be real.

Alek spun her around her white silk gown, spinning around her, in a beautiful spiral. Chloe could here the awe's from the on lookers, and her cheeks turned scarlet, as she felt the eyes pry into her back. Alek's soothing touched, moved to her bare back, tugging her closer as he waltz around the dance floor with ease. Chloe had dancing lessons prier to her wedding, Alek who down right rebutted the idea saying no man takes dancing lessons. She had told him she couldn't wait to see him fall on his face, and he had just shrugged a smirk playing on his lips. Chloe looked up from their moving feet, and at Alek. He was staring intensely down at her, Chloe's heart beat picked up, and she turned to look around her.

"This isn't that bad," Chloe confined in him. Alek had taken everything with a shrug, and a wink. He had thrown comments, about sharing beds, and other innuendoes but never once complained. Taken it in stride. And Chloe was thankful, so thankful for him, and his calm and collect demeanour. She felt horrible for having to drag him into this mess, for god knows how long. But he had just smiled when she had asked him to help her, shaking his head, saying how it'll be tough keeping the ladies off of him for that long. But he had done everything she had asked, soothed her down when she thought the other Mai's would catch on. They didn't, of course they didn't. Because Alek and Chloe were the best of actors.

"Of course it isn't, I'm holding you aren't I?"

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed it, and it would make me very happy if you'd take some time to review!