4
~Elara's POV
The sunlight hit my face before I even opened my eyes. It felt cruel, almost mocking, like the world dared to go on shining when everything inside me had already fallen apart.
"Elara?"
That voice, soft but panicked. Janae.
I forced my heavy eyes open. She was standing at my door, her hair messy, still in her oversized hoodie, and she was carrying a big bag, her expression a mix of worry and heartbreak.
"God, Elara…" She gasped when she walked in, taking in the state of my room, clothes scattered everywhere, an empty glass on the nightstand. "You look like you haven't slept all night."
"I didn't." My voice cracked as I sat up, the blanket slipping off me.
She sighed and dropped beside me on the bed, holding my cold hands. "You can't keep doing this to yourself, Elara."
"What do you want me to do? Smile?" I laughed bitterly. "It's my wedding day, Janae. My wedding day, and I feel like I'm about to be executed."
Her grip tightened. "You don't deserve this, girl. None of it."
Before I could answer, a sharp knock came at the door.
Janae frowned. "Who is that this early?"
The door opened before either of us could move.
A maid stepped in, accompanied by four other women. Two were carrying a box full of makeup kits and brushes, while the other held a long, white gown draped carefully over her arm.
They looked like they'd stepped straight out of a fancy magazine, all dressed neat and polished, faces full of judgment.
"Bring it here," the maid ordered, gesturing toward the bed like she owned the room.
I swallowed hard, still sitting there on the edge of the mattress. "What's going on?" I asked quietly, even though my heart already knew the answer.
The maid rolled her eyes. "What does it look like, Elara? The stylist and dress team are here to make you look presentable." She emphasized the last word as if it was an insult.
One of the women chuckled softly. "Presentable? That's a big job," she murmured, looking me up and down with a smirk.
My cheeks burned. I looked away, wishing I could disappear.
"Mind your tone," Janae snapped suddenly, stepping in front of me. "You don't talk to her like that."
The maid frowned. "Excuse me? You're not part of this, so you should stay quiet."
Janae glared at her. "And you're not her master, so you should watch how you speak."
The maid hissed under her breath and turned back to me.
"Elara, stand up. We don't have time to waste. The Luna said everything must be perfect before sunrise, though," she added with a fake smile, "I don't know how perfect you can look in one night."
She left after saying that.
The silence that followed was heavy. Janae turned back to me. "Elara, are you going through with this?"
"What choice do I have?" I whispered.
"You always have a choice."
I smiled weakly, but it didn't reach my eyes. "Not in this pack."
Within the hour, I was sitting in front of a mirror while stylists swarmed around me. One was curling my hair, another was layering foundation thick enough to hide the bags under my eyes, and someone else was fitting the lace of my gown tighter than my lungs could handle.
The reflection in the mirror didn't look like me.
Her eyes were red-rimmed. Her lips trembled even though they'd been painted into perfection.
She looked… lost.
"Hold still, miss," one of the stylists said, tugging at my hair.
"Sorry," I muttered.
Janae hovered nearby, arms folded, clearly annoyed with how they handled me like a mannequin.
After a while, she sighed, grabbed the bag she'd brought from her place, and disappeared into the bathroom.
When she came out, her hair was damp, her skin glowing fresh against the soft gown she'd slipped into.
She caught my reflection in the mirror and smiled faintly. "If I'm going to fight off annoying stylists today, I might as well look decent doing it."
Despite everything, a small laugh escaped me. "You look beautiful."
"So do you," she said, stepping behind me and meeting my gaze through the mirror.
Then the door swung open.
Lira strolled in, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. Her gown sparkled under the light, and her smile was as fake as the sympathy in her eyes.
"Well, look who's finally pretending to be a bride," she said, tilting her head. "You almost look human, Elara. Almost."
I swallowed hard, my fingers digging into my dress. "What do you want, Lira?"
She laughed softly. "To see the maid finally serve her purpose." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Enjoy the wedding, Elara. It's the only crown you'll ever wear."
Then she turned and walked out, leaving silence behind.
The door shut behind her, but the ache they left lingered.
My throat burned. "Why… why did she have to do that?"
"Because she's Lira," Janae said, brushing a tear off my cheek. "She feeds on reactions. Don't give her one."
"I hate her," I whispered.
"No," Janae said softly. "You hate how much she gets away with. You hate that no one ever defends you."
I looked at her through the mirror. "You do."
"Yeah, well," she smiled faintly, "I'm not your family."
Not long after, the door opened again. The Luna came in first, her heels clicking loudly on the floor, followed by the Alpha. Her face was hard and cold, like she didn't want to be there.
"Luna…" I started to speak, but she cut me off.
"Don't talk unless I ask you to," she said sharply.
Janae shifted beside me, but I gave her a small shake of my head, begging her not to say a word.
The Luna's eyes moved over me slowly. "At least you don't look too bad," she said. "Remember, you carry this family's name today. Don't embarrass us."
"Yes, Luna," I whispered.
She sighed and turned to the Sire. "It won't be an elaborate wedding," she said in a flat voice. "It's just a business deal. No need to waste time or money."
The Sire nodded once, his face as blank as stone. "Make sure she doesn't ruin it."
And just like that, they both turned and walked out, leaving me standing there, feeling small and unwanted.
They left as quickly as they came.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Janae…"
She hugged me tight. "You can still back out. Just say the word."
I shook my head. "They'd never forgive me."
"Then screw their forgiveness."
"I can't," I whispered. "I wish I could, but I can't."
The ride to the venue felt like forever. Janae sat beside me, trying to make small talk, but I could barely respond. My hands were cold, and my heart wouldn't stop racing.
When we finally got there, the place wasn't as grand as I expected, no crowd, no cameras, no flowers. Just a few people standing quietly, doing their jobs. It wasn't a wedding; it was a deal being sealed.
I was waiting in a small room with Janae when a woman walked in.
"It's time," she said softly. "They're ready for you."
I swallowed hard. "So I'll be walking alone?" I muttered under my breath.
Janae gave me a sad look. "Elara, are you ready?"
No. I wasn't. But I still stood up.
The door opened, and soft music began to play, not loud or joyful, just enough to fill the silence. I stepped out, my feet heavy, my breath shaky.
Janae whispered, "You'll be fine."
I nodded, though I didn't believe it. I had told myself to expect the worst, an old man, a cruel one, someone whose touch would make my skin crawl.
But when I looked up and saw him… my heart froze.
He wasn't old.
He wasn't cruel-looking.
He was calm. Strong. Almost too perfect.
Tall, with broad shoulders under a dark suit. His face was sharp and steady, like nothing could shake him. And his eyes, cold, deep, and unreadable, found mine and held them.
The small room, the music, everything faded away.
I forgot to breathe.
He wasn't what I expected. He was something far more dangerous, someone who could ruin me without even trying.
Then he smiled. Slowly. Like he already knew what I was thinking.
And in that quiet, simple room where no one clapped or cheered, I realized one thing: this wasn't just a business deal anymore.
It was the beginning of something I might not survive.