Rhea.
"Are you sure you want to have this wedding next week? It feels like you're both rushing," Aria asked, her voice soft but alarmed as she held my hand. We were sitting on the edge of my bed, the familiar comfort of the room doing little to ease the growing hesitation in my heart.
I forced a smile, even though deep down, I wasn't sure at all. But I nodded anyway, trying to sound confident. "We're going to have the wedding eventually, so why wait?" I said, forcing a chuckle that felt hollow even to me.
Aria gave me a knowing smile, her eyes reflecting the worry I tried so hard to hide. She sighed, nodding slowly. "But you have so little time to prepare," she reminded me gently.
"That's why you and Mom are here… to help me get ready," I replied, standing up as if the movement could shake off the doubts weighing me down. "For my wedding dress, I'll start fitting today. I just want something simple," I added, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
Aria rose to her feet, her expression softening as she reached out to squeeze my hand. "Alright," she said.
"Let's go find Rachel. She's waiting for us," I said, leading us out of the room.
We left my room, the echo of our footsteps filling the quiet hallway as we made our way to Rachel's room. I tried to focus on the excitement that should come with planning a wedding, but the pit in my stomach only grew.
As we neared Rachel's door, the muffled sound of raised voices reached us. Aria shot me a disordered glance, and I could feel my heart sink. When we stepped inside, we found Rachel and Elara locked in a heated argument.
"You can't seriously expect everything to be ready in just a week!" Elara was saying, her tone sharp and dripping with disapproval. "This wedding should be postponed until everything is perfect. What will people think if we rush it?"
Rachel was trying to remain calm, but there was a firmness in her voice that I rarely heard. "Mother, Remus and Rhea have made their decision. We should support them, not create unnecessary obstacles."
Elara scoffed, her eyes narrowing as she turned her gaze on me. "So, this is what you want? A rushed wedding, without any thought for tradition or the reputation of this pack? You might not care about those things, but we do."
Her words were like a slap in the face. Aria, standing beside me, looked shocked and confused. She glanced at me, searching for an explanation, but I didn't have one. Elara's harsh words were meant to cut, and they did.
"I—" I started to say, but Elara cut me off, her voice cold and dismissive.
"Of course, you wouldn't understand. You've never had to consider what's best for the pack. It's not just about you and Remus; it's about all of us."
The room fell into a tense silence. I could feel the tears stinging the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn't give Elara the satisfaction. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to stay composed, even as the pain of her words settled deep inside me.
"Let's just get on with the dress fitting," I said quietly, my voice steady notwithstanding the uproar inside. "We don't have much time."
Elara's eyes narrowed as if she was about to say something more, but Rachel quickly intervened. "Mother, that's enough. We're going to make this work, and it's going to be beautiful."
Elara huffed, clearly dissatisfied, but she didn't argue further. Instead, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, leaving a tense silence in her wake.
Aria looked at me, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Why is she like that?" she whispered, still reeling from the encounter.
I gave her a small, tight-lipped smile, hiding the hurt behind it. "It doesn't matter," I said, trying to brush it off. "Let's just focus on what we need to do."
Rachel gave me a sympathetic look, her hand resting briefly on my shoulder in a gesture of comfort. "Don't let her get to you, Rhea," she said softly. "We'll make sure everything is perfect, no matter what."
I nodded, grateful for her support, even though my heart felt heavy. Together, the three of us left Rachel's room, heading out to start with the dress fitting. I knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but I had to stay strong. For myself, for Remus, and for the life we were about to build.
We headed out and a car was already awaiting us out front. We hopped in and zoned out of the premises and headed into the city. It felt so unreal to blend with the outside world. I felt a bit awkward because this was the first time I was outside like this.
The moment we stepped into the bridal boutique, I felt a flutter of excitement, but it was integrated with an undercurrent of anxiety. The shop was charming, with elegant gowns displayed on mannequins, each one more beautiful than the last. The walls were lined with mirrors, reflecting the soft glow of the chandeliers above. It was like stepping into a dream—a dream that I was still unsure about.
Rachel led the way, her enthusiasm contagious as she started flipping through the racks of dresses. "This place has the best collection in town," she said with a smile, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "You're going to find the perfect dress, Rhea. I just know it."
Aria followed behind us, her gaze sweeping over the gowns with curiosity. "These are all so beautiful," she murmured, almost to herself. "But I think something simple would suit you best, Rhea."
I nodded, trying to focus on the task at hand. I didn't need anything extravagant. I just wanted something that felt like me. Something that would make me feel like a bride, even if I still couldn't quite believe I was about to get married.
Rachel pulled a dress from the rack, holding it up for me to see. It was a gorgeous gown, but too elaborate for my taste—layers of lace and beading that sparkled in the light. "What do you think?" she asked, her voice eager.
I smiled, shaking my head. "It's beautiful, but maybe something a little less… much?"
Rachel laughed, nodding in understanding. "Got it. We'll find something more your style."
Aria moved to another section of the shop, her eyes lighting up as she spotted a dress on one of the mannequins. "What about this one?" she called, waving us over.
The dress she pointed out was exactly what I had been picturing—simple, elegant, and timeless. It was a soft ivory color, with delicate lace detailing on the bodice and a flowing, A-line skirt. The neckline was a modest sweetheart, and the back dipped just low enough to be graceful without being too revealing. It was perfect.
Rachel gasped when she saw it, her hands clasping together in delight. "Oh, Rhea, this is the one. You have to try it on."
I nodded, my heart beating a little faster as the sales assistant helped me into the dress. When I stepped out of the fitting room and looked at myself in the mirror, I felt a lump form in my throat. The dress fit me like a glove, the lace shimmering under the soft lights of the shop. I felt… beautiful. Like a bride.
Aria came up behind me, her eyes shining with emotion as she placed a hand on my shoulder. "Rhea, you look amazing," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "It's perfect for you."
Rachel nodded in agreement, a wide smile on her face. "You look stunning. Remus is going to lose his mind when he sees you in this."
I smiled, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over. "I love it," I said softly. "But it's just a fitting, right? We'll leave it here for now."
The sales assistant nodded, taking note of the alterations that needed to be made. "We'll have it ready for you in a few days," she assured me.
As we left the boutique, my mind was still spinning. The reality of what was happening started to sink in a little more. This was really happening. I was really going to marry Remus.
Our next stop was the bakery. The smell of fresh bread and sugar filled the air as we stepped inside, and I couldn't help but feel a little more at ease. The shop was cozy, with display cases full of cakes, pastries, and other sweet treats. It was a warm, inviting place that made me feel a bit more grounded after the whirlwind of the dress fitting.
We sat down at a small table near the window, and the baker brought out a selection of cakes for us to taste. Rachel and Aria were in high spirits, chatting animatedly about the different flavors as we sampled each one.
"This one's too sweet," Aria commented, wrinkling her nose as she took a bite of a vanilla cake with strawberry filling.
Rachel laughed, taking a sip of her coffee. "I like it, but maybe it's not quite right for the wedding."
I nodded, trying to focus on the task at hand, but my mind kept drifting back to Remus. What would he think of the dress? Of the cake? Of this entire wedding that felt like it was happening so fast?
Finally, we settled on a cake—a classic white cake with a hint of almond flavor and a light, fluffy buttercream frosting. It was simple, but delicious. Exactly what I wanted.
As we left the bakery, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the town. Rachel and Aria were still chatting about the day's events, but I was quiet, lost in my thoughts.
"Are you okay?" Aria asked as we walked back to the pack house.
I forced a smile, nodding. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… a lot to think about."
Rachel gave me a reassuring smile. "It's all going to work out, Rhea. Don't worry."
I nodded again, but the knot in my stomach didn't go away.
When we arrived back at the house, Rachel and Aria decided to head to their rooms to rest. I, however, knew there was one more thing I needed to do. I made my way to Remus's office, the knot in my stomach tightening with each step. I had to talk to him about the guest list, about the people we'd be inviting to the wedding. It was just a formality, but it felt like so much more.
When I reached his door, I paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before knocking.
"Come in," I heard his deep voice from the other side.
I pushed the door open, stepping inside. Remus looked up from his desk, his eyes softening when he saw me. "Rhea," he said, his voice warm. "How was your day?"
I smiled, though it felt a little forced. "It was good. We found a dress, and we picked out the cake."
He stood up, walking around his desk to stand in front of me. "I'm glad," he said, taking my hand in his. "I know this is all happening fast, but I promise you, everything's going to be perfect."
I nodded, looking up at him. "I know. I just… there's so much to think about."
He squeezed my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. "You're not in this alone, Rhea. We're in this together."
I looked into his eyes, searching for the reassurance I needed. And in that moment, I felt a little more convinced. Maybe this was all happening fast, but I wasn't alone. We were in this together.
"Let's talk about the guest list," I said softly, and he nodded, leading me over to the couch where we could go over the details together.
Remus reached for a folder on the coffee table. He opened it, revealing a neatly organized list of names. "I've already made the list of people I want to invite," he said, his voice calm but purposeful. "The invitations will be ready by tomorrow. I was just waiting for your list."
I stared at the paper, feeling a sudden heaviness in my chest. My list?
"The only people in my life are Aria and my mother. But then…" I said quietly, my voice almost a whisper. I tried to keep my tone steady, but there was an ache in my heart as I spoke.
Remus paused, his hand stilling on the paper. He looked up at me, his eyes searching mine. There was a flicker of something in his gaze—concern, maybe, or curiosity. "Then what?" he asked gently.
I hesitated, the words sticking in my throat. But I couldn't avoid it any longer. Taking a deep breath, I looked at him and quietly asked, "Are we going to invite Alpha Damien and his wife to the wedding?"
The question hung in the air like a dark cloud. Remus's expression shifted, his eyes narrowing slightly as his jaw tightened. The warmth that had been in his gaze just moments ago began to fade, replaced by something colder, harder.
He didn't speak right away, and the silence that followed was thick with stiffness.
And when he finally did, his voice broke the silence, low and edged with a sharpness that sent a shiver down my spine. "Why would you even ask that, Rhea?"