The Bride He Forgot to Love

That's where my eyes drop to his watch on the table. My brows furrowed on the initials. ET&OD. Wow. Elvie Thompson. Osmond Decker. Their initials shimmered under the soft light of our living room, engraved on the leather strap of the gift I’d bought for Osmond—a customized smartwatch. It was supposed to be a surprise. Turns out, I was the one surprised. I’d paid extra to have our initials—OD and CD—intertwined. I’d triple-checked the order form to make sure it was perfect. So why, of all things, were HER initials on it? When I showed it to Osmond, he barely looked up from his phone. “It’s just a mistake, Camille,” he said, shrugging. “The store probably screwed up. No big deal.” “No big deal?” I repeated, staring at him. “Osmond, they engraved *her initials.* How does that even happen?” He sighed like I was being difficult, finally setting his phone down. “I don’t know. Maybe someone else’s order got mixed up with ours. I’ll deal with it.” “When?” I pressed, folding my arms. “Because this isn’t just some random mix-up. You need to—” “Camille, you’re making this into a thing,” he said, cutting me off as he stood up. “It’s a watch. Just drop it, okay?” Before I could respond, he reached over and snatched the watch out of my hand. “You’re just going to overthink this,” he muttered. “Osmond—” He grabbed his coat from the chair, brushing past me. “I’m heading out. Got patrols tonight. Don’t wait up.” The door clicked shut before I could say anything else. I stood there holding the watch, my stomach in knots. A mistake. That’s all he said it was. But it didn’t feel like one. As soon as I heard his car pull away, I grabbed my phone and dialed the shop’s number. “Thank you for calling Elite Engravings,” a cheery voice answered. “How can I assist you today?” “Hi, I ordered a customized smartwatch from you recently, but there’s been a mistake with the engraving. It has the wrong initials.” “Oh, I’m so sorry about that! Let me look into it for you. Can I have your order number?” I rattled it off, pacing the room. “Hmm,” the woman said after a few seconds. “According to our records, the initials were updated per the customer’s request before production.” My heart dropped. “Updated? What?” “Actually, I can pull the security footage if you’d like confirmation.” I swallowed hard. “Please do. And send it to my email.” A few minutes later, the video arrived. With shaky hands, I opened it. There they were—Osmond and Elvie, standing at the counter, laughing like they didn’t have a care in the world. Elvie was the one who spoke to the clerk, pointing at the screen to show the initials she wanted. Osmond stood beside her, his hand casually on her lower back. The realization hit like a punch to the gut. My gift—the watch I’d spent weeks planning—had been thrown away. Osmond didn’t care. He’d let Elvie replace it like it was nothing. I sank onto the couch, the room spinning around me. It wasn’t just a mistake. It was a choice. *** The next morning, I decided to focus on something else. It was supposed to be a big day—my bridal fitting. Osmond had promised to come, but I already knew he wouldn’t. As I stepped outside, a familiar black SUV pulled up in front of the house. Osmond rolled down the window, his expression as unreadable as ever. “What’s with the makeup?” he asked, his tone flat. “You don’t usually wear that much.” I clenched my fists, forcing a smile. “I’m going to the bridal shop.” “Good,” he said, motioning to the passenger seat. “Get in. I’ll take you.” Reluctantly, I opened the door—and froze. Sitting in the passenger seat, looking far too comfortable, was Elvie. “Hey, Camille!” she said brightly, flashing a cheerful smile. “Osmond invited me along. Hope you don’t mind!” “Why are you here?” I asked, my voice tight. “Oh, don’t worry,” she said with a breezy laugh. “I’m just here to help. You know how clueless Osmond can be about these things. Someone’s gotta make sure he doesn’t ruin your big day!” I turned to Osmond, searching for an explanation. He just shrugged. “Elvie knows more about this stuff than I do. Figured it wouldn’t hurt to have her tag along.” My jaw clenched, but I climbed into the back seat anyway. My hands trembled as I buckled my seatbelt, the tension in the car so thick it was suffocating. Elvie and Osmond chatted like old friends, laughing and joking like I wasn’t even there. “Oh, this song,” Elvie groaned when a familiar tune came on the radio. “Ugh, next it. This one’s so ugly.” Osmond reached for the controls, but I stopped him. “That’s my favorite song.” Elvie turned around, her face full of fake pity. “Really? It’s so… old-fashioned. Don’t you think, Osmond?” He chuckled. “Yeah, it’s not exactly trendy.” My chest tightened. Just months ago, he told me this song reminded him of us. Now, it was just something else for them to mock. Elvie changed the station to a loud pop song that made my head throb. “Much better, right?” she said, smiling. I looked at Osmond through the rearview mirror, hoping for some acknowledgment of how I felt. But his face gave nothing away. Derick frowned, clearly annoyed. “What’s your fucking deal? You’re mad over a song again?”

Elvie pulled a mock-pity face, her lips curling into a pout. “Osmond, that’s so harsh. Girls’ hearts are fragile, you know. Even small comments can sting. Be nicer to Camille.” “You’re a girl, too, and you don’t get upset so easily,” Osmond shot back with a smirk. “So what’s the big deal? Tsk.” Elvie stifled a laugh, her eyes glinting as they flicked toward me. She was loving this—her little win over me, and she wasn’t even trying to hide it. I clenched my jaw but kept quiet. Let her have this, I thought. This wedding—or mating ceremony, whatever—wasn’t for me. It was to honor my mother’s dying wish to see me happy and settled. As for Osmond and whoever he wanted to parade around? I didn’t have the energy to care anymore. When we got to the boutique, it was nearly empty. A sales assistant greeted us warmly, her eyes lighting up as she approached. But instead of looking at me, the bride-to-be, her attention went straight to Osmond and Elvie. “What kind of gown are you looking for, miss?” she asked Elvie, her voice full of enthusiasm. Elvie burst out laughing. “Oh, no, I’m not the bride!” she said, casually pointing at me. “She is.” The assistant blinked, her face turning red as she turned to me, clearly thrown off by the dynamic. Osmond shifted uncomfortably, but before he could say anything, Elvie grabbed his arm and led him toward the seating area. “I’ll go take a look,” I said, keeping my tone even as I walked away toward the rows of dresses. Osmond glanced at me briefly but didn’t say a word, letting Elvie pull him toward the plush couches in the middle of the boutique. I didn’t waste time. I grabbed the first simple ivory gown I saw, barely glancing at the other options. The sales assistant hesitated, probably confused by my lack of enthusiasm, but I didn’t care. As she led me to the fitting room, I could hear Elvie and Osmond’s laughter echoing through the boutique. Inside the small fitting room, I stared at my reflection, fighting back the ache building in my chest. Six years. Osmond and I had been together for six years! We used to walk past this boutique, and he’d tease me about how amazing I’d look in a wedding dress someday. He even joked once that seeing me in one might make him cry. But now, as I stepped out of the fitting room wearing the gown, his reaction was nothing like I’d imagined. “That’s… kind of plain, isn’t it?” Osmond tilts his head. “You’re gonna be the Luna. Don’t you want something more dramatic?” I forced a smile, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I… I like simple.” Before I could say more, the curtain next to me opened, and Elvie stepped out. She was wearing a fitted, off-the-shoulder gown that shimmered with every move she made. “Oh my Moon Goddess!” she twirls slowly in front of the mirror. “This dress is EVERYTHING!” Osmond’s jaw actually dropped. His eyes traveled over her, and for a moment, it was like he’d forgotten where he was—or who he was with. Elvie smirked, catching his reaction. “What’s wrong, Osmond? Did I surprise you? Be honest—who looks better in their dress, me or Camille?” He blinked, dragging his gaze back to me awkwardly. “You look… nice,” he said, almost like an afterthought. Elvie laughed, playfully nudging his arm. “Wrong answer! You’re supposed to say Camille, you dummy!” Osmond chuckled, glancing at me with a weak attempt at guilt. But the damage was already done. I turned back to the fitting room without saying a word, pulling out my phone to snap a quick picture of the dress for my parents. By the time I came back out, dressed in my own clothes again, Osmond was standing with Elvie in front of the mirrors. She’d talked him into trying on a suit—a sleek, perfectly tailored one that made him look better than I’d ever seen him. They were laughing, snapping selfies together. Osmond, who always complained about dressing up, who never once wore anything I picked out for him, was now happily posing for Elvie like it was the most natural thing in the world. The knot in my chest tightened. six years of boundaries, rules, and excuses—none of which seemed to apply when it came to her. I grabbed my purse and headed for the door, not bothering to say goodbye. “Camille,” Osmond called after me, his voice tinged with annoyance. “We don’t have all day for dress shopping. If you don’t like this place, we can go somewhere else.” I stopped and turned back briefly. “This place is fine,” I said quietly. “I’ll take the dress I tried on.” He frowned. “You sure? You didn’t even look at the others.” “I’m sure,” I said firmly. The truth was, it didn’t matter. We wouldn’t be having a real wedding, anyway. Why waste anymore time?

That night in the pack house, I was in the kitchen, finishing up dinner for Osmond and Elvie. She was lounging on the couch like she owned the place, flipping through her phone while Osmond’s favorite show played on the TV. I could hear her occasional giggles drifting in, each one grating on my nerves. I tried to ignore it, focusing on the food instead. The smell of roasted chicken and herbs filled the air, but it didn’t feel comforting. Not with Elvie here. The front door creaked open, and Osmond walked in, tossing a stack of papers onto the counter like they were nothing. “Hey,” he said casually, like he hadn’t just spent the day God-knows-where with her. I glanced at the papers. The bold letters at the top read 'Wedding Invitation'. My stomach twisted. Osmond tapped the stack with his fingers. “Look, Camille, we’re not doing this wedding with your family in the picture. I don’t have time for that drama. This is OUR day, so it’s gonna be a pack-only thing. Got it?” I didn’t respond right away. His words hit harder than I expected. His tone was so matter-of-fact, like he was negotiating a business deal, not planning the most important day of our lives. I swallowed, keeping my voice steady. “Fine,” I said after a long pause. “We’ll move the wedding up. Three days from now, right?” Osmond’s eyes lit up, but not with excitement. It felt more like relief, like he’d just checked off a to-do list. “Exactly. No need for extra fuss. You’ll have your pack there, and we can call it done.” “And my family?” I asked quietly, already knowing what he’d say. His smile was thin and dismissive. “Better they stay out of it. The pack’s what matters now. I’ve got enough on my plate as it is.” Elvie stretched lazily on the couch, chiming in with her syrupy tone. “He’s right, Camille. Family can be so… complicated. Besides, this way, you don’t have to worry about impressing anyone.” I swallowed my frustration, forcing myself to turn back to the stove. The chicken was nearly done. Osmond leaned against the counter, watching me with a frown. “You’re acting weird, Camille. What’s going on with you? This isn’t like you.” I wanted to laugh at that. Of course, it wasn’t like me. The person I’d been—the one who trusted him, who believed in him—was gone. He just hadn’t noticed. “Nothing’s wrong,” I muttered, stirring the vegetables. “I’m fine.” Elvie piped up again, smiling sweetly. “She’s probably just stressed. You know how weddings are. You’re supposed to be comforting her, not making it worse.” “Comfort her?” Osmond snorted. “I’m not her therapist. I’ve got enough going on already.” “Uh-huh,” Elvie said, smirking. “Wouldn’t want her backing out, though. That’d be a disaster for you.” The words froze me in place. Back out? I hadn’t even considered it. But now, the thought sank in, heavy and cold. Osmond laughed bitterly. “Back out? Seriously? Camille, you’re almost thirty. Who else is gonna marry you? You should be *thankful* it’s me.” The sting of his words felt like a slap, but I kept my face neutral. “Thanks, Osmond,” I said flatly, barely above a whisper. “I’ll remember that.” Elvie giggled from the couch, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “You really should. A guy like Osmond doesn’t come around every day. You’re lucky, Camille.” I bit my tongue, holding back the retort bubbling inside me. Instead, I plated the food in silence, placing it on the table. Osmond barely glanced at it. “Actually,” he said, grabbing his coat, “we’re heading to Elvie’s place. She offered to cook tonight.” “Yeah,” Elvie said, sliding off the couch and grabbing her purse. “You don’t mind, do you? Your food’s… nice, but I’m craving something different.” I clenched my jaw but didn’t say a word. Osmond didn’t even bother looking at me before walking out the door with her. As soon as they left, I went to my room and grabbed a suitcase. I didn’t cry, didn’t scream. I just started packing. Clothes, shoes, a few personal things. Six years with Osmond, and all I had to show for it were a few boxes of belongings and memories I was ready to leave behind. That night, I slept alone in the pack house. No calls. No texts from Osmond. Just silence. By morning, the courier arrived to pick up the boxes. I handed them over, feeling a strange sense of relief as he drove off. It was like a weight had been lifted, even if I wasn’t ready to admit why. But just as I was about to lock the door behind me, Osmond burst in, panic all over his face. “What’s going on with all the boxes? What are you doing?” I barely glanced at him. “Just sending some things to my parents. No big deal.” He opened his mouth, about to argue, but his phone buzzed. Without thinking, he glanced at the notification. I knew it was from Elvie. She’d posted just minutes earlier, hinting at a wild two-day hunting trip for Osmond before he ‘settled down.’ A celebration of his ‘last days of freedom,’ with her planning the whole thing.

After two days of Osmond and Elvie together in the forest hunting, I didn’t mind. It was the same as always. But today, my wedding day, everything felt different. The sun was high, but the mansion felt oddly dark. The wedding day had arrived, but the air was thick with tension. There was no warmth, no joy, just this suffocating quiet between us. Everything felt wrong—no decorations, no family, no friends. It was like we were just going through the motions. When I showed up in my simple white dress, Osmond and Elvie were already there, chatting with a few pack members who’d come out of duty, not because they actually cared. No one seemed excited about the wedding—least of all Osmond, who had his back to me, talking away to some pack mates. I expected something grand, something special, but instead, I felt like an outsider in my own wedding. “Camille,” Osmond called when he noticed me. His tone was flat, not even a hint of excitement. “You’re early. You know it’s not starting for another hour, right?” “I’m ready. Let’s just get this over with,” I said, my voice deadpan. He looked a bit surprised, but didn’t press it. I glanced around at the guests—most of them strangers to me, people who came because they had to. The pack members were off to the side, laughing and whispering, while Elvie sat at the head of the table, looking like she owned the whole event. The old me would’ve tried harder to win everyone’s approval. I would’ve smiled through the awkwardness, pretended like everything was fine. But not today. If Osmond wanted to marry me like this, with his pack over my family, then fine. I wasn’t going to waste another second trying to please anyone. Osmond walked over, eyeing my dress with an almost disappointed look. “I thought you’d go for something... fancier. You know, for a wedding.” He said it like I’d broken some unwritten rule. “I didn’t realize the dress was supposed to make or break our marriage,” I shot back, keeping my voice steady. Before he could reply, Elvie chimed in from the side, all sweetness. “You look beautiful, Camille!” she said, but her smile was as fake as ever. I nodded, stiffly, not bothering to engage. My gaze shifted to Osmond as he walked away, chatting with more people, giving me only the barest attention. It was clear I was just a footnote in his world. After a while, Osmond called everyone outside for the ceremony. I followed the crowd, feeling like I was walking to my own execution. The lawn, the trees—it should’ve been peaceful, but instead, it felt like a stage for a drama I wasn’t sure I wanted to be part of. A few minutes later, the ceremony started. There were no formal vows, no rituals to signify the bond we were supposed to be sharing. Just an awkward exchange of ‘I dos,’ as if we were ticking boxes. Osmond grabbed the microphone, scanning the crowd, and then he started. His voice was steady but had this weird, familiar edge to it—almost like he didn’t even believe the words coming out of his mouth. “And I, Osmond, promise to always cherish and protect…” His words faltered for a second, and then I heard it. A slip of the tongue. “... Elvie.” I felt my stomach drop. But instead of letting the tears come, I smiled. A bitter, small smile. I walked to the front, heart pounding, and pulled the ring off my finger. Without saying a word, I walked straight to Elvie, who was standing there with a smug look on her face. Osmond rushed toward me, his face twisting in confusion and anger. “Camille, what are you doing?” I stopped just in front of Elvie, the space between us now symbolic of everything that had been left unsaid. I held the ring out to her, dropping it into her waiting hand. “This ring was always a bit loose,” I said softly. “Guess it was never really meant for me.” Osmond’s face turned red, his anger bubbling over. “What the hell are you talking about?” He glanced between me and Elvie, his eyes wide. “Camille, you’re making a scene. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be.” But I wasn’t looking at him anymore. I was done. I turned to Elvie, my words sharp. “You two are perfect for each other. I hope you both find happiness. You’ve earned it—at my expense.” The crowd gasped, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. Osmond snatched the ring back from Elvie’s hand, his face beet red. “Are you out of your mind, Camille?” he yelled. “You’re ruining everything!” “Ruining everything?” I repeated, my voice calm despite the rage swirling inside me. “I’m not the one who’s been playing with people’s lives. If this is what you want, fine. You two can have each other!” Elvie stepped forward, putting on a fake concerned face. “Camille, listen to him. There’s nothing between Osmond and me. You're just being dramatic! Don’t throw everything away like this. Don’t you want to be happy?” Her words were dripping with fake sympathy. I could see right through it, and it made me sick. But this time, I wasn’t backing down. I wasn’t going to let her manipulate me anymore. With a quick swipe on my phone, the photos flashed across the large screen set up for the wedding. The crowd froze. There they were—Elvie and Osmond, taken during her so-called “last day of freedom.” The photos were intimate, their bodies pressed close together in the dark of the forest, their hands tangled in each other’s hair, faces full of longing, of something far more than just friendship. And as Elvie’s face turned bright red, I finally felt something I hadn’t in a long time: power.