Remus.
I woke up with a knot in my stomach, the kind that only a day like this could bring. Today was my wedding day. I was going to become Remus' wife and be crowned as Luna.
The thought made me both excited and terrified. I couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that something was bound to go wrong. Elara had been disturbingly quiet ever since Tessa accused my sister of stealing. Tessa, on the other hand, continued to throw her usual nasty comments at me, but I was starting to get used to it. She was desperate to replace me, but deep down, I knew she couldn't.
I heaved a sigh, raising my hand to look at the ring Remus had placed on my finger two nights ago. I smiled, admiring the way it sparkled in the morning light. It was beautiful, a symbol of the love he gave me, but today, even that wasn't enough to calm my nerves.
A gentle knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. I sat up in bed, brushing my hair back from my face as I called out, "Come in."
The door creaked open, and Rachel stepped in, her face bright with excitement. "Good morning, Rhea!" she greeted cheerfully, her eyes quickly scanning the room before settling on me. "I thought I'd come and give you an update on everything."
I smiled at her, grateful for her presence. "Thank you, Rachel. How's everything going?"
Rachel began to talk me through the details—the decorations, the food, the arrangements—everything was in place, just as I'd envisioned. I listened, trying to focus on her words, but my mind kept drifting back to that gnawing feeling in my stomach.
Rachel must have noticed the worry in my eyes because she paused, stepping closer to the bed. "You're stressed, aren't you?" she asked softly, her hand resting on my shoulder.
I nodded, unable to hide the anxiety that was bubbling up inside me. "A little," I admitted. "I just... I can't shake off this feeling that something's going to go wrong."
Rachel squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. "It's going to be fine, Rhea. This is your day, and nothing and no one is going to ruin it for you. Not Tessa, not mother—no one."
Her words gave me some comfort, but the restlessness remained. I took a deep breath, trying to push the fear away. "I need to see the venue before I start getting ready," I said, the need to see everything with my own eyes suddenly overwhelming.
Rachel hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Of course, if it'll make you feel better. Come on, I'll take you there."
We made our way through the winding hallways of the pack house, the sounds of the morning preparations echoing around us. My heart raced as we approached the large double doors that led to the event venue. Rachel pushed them open, and I stepped inside, ready to see the beautiful setup I had spent weeks planning.
But as soon as I walked in, my breath caught in my throat.
The room was beautiful, no doubt, but something was terribly wrong. The floral arrangements that adorned the room were not the ones I had chosen. Instead of the delicate white roses and lilies I had picked, the room was filled with marigolds—vivid, bright, and completely out of place. In our pack's tradition, marigolds were a symbol of mourning and bad omens, not of love and new beginnings.
I stood there, frozen, my eyes wide in shock as I took in the sight before me. Rachel was the first to react. "What the hell is this?" she exclaimed, her voice loud and furious as she turned to the event planner who was standing nearby, looking nervous.
"Who changed the flowers?!" Rachel demanded, her voice sharp with anger.
The event planner stammered, clearly caught off guard by the outburst. "Mrs. Blackthorn... she insisted on making the change," she said quickly, her eyes darting nervously between Rachel and me.
My heart sank. Of course, it was Elara. Who else would have the audacity to pull something like this on my wedding day? I felt the tears welling up in my eyes, everything pressing down on me like a ton of bricks. But I couldn't break down. Not here. Not in front of everyone.
Rachel turned to me, her eyes full of sympathy. "Rhea, I'm so sorry," she said softly, reaching out to touch my arm.
I swallowed hard, forcing back the tears as I shook my head. "It's too late to change it," I whispered, my voice trembling with the effort to stay calm. "Besides, it's just flowers. This day is about Remus and me, not some flowers."
Before Rachel could respond, the sound of heels clicking on the marble floor made us both turn. Elara strolled into the room, her expression smug and satisfied. She looked at the marigolds and then at me, a faint smirk playing on her lips.
"Good morning, ladies," she said, her tone dripping with false sweetness. "I see you've noticed the changes I made. I thought these flowers would be more... appropriate for the occasion."
Rachel's eyes blazed with anger, and she took a step forward, ready to confront her mother. But I held up a hand, stopping her. "Don't," I said quietly, my eyes locked on Elara's.
Elara raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by my attempt to stand up to her. "Is there a problem, Rhea?" she asked, feigning innocence.
I met her gaze, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. "No, there's no problem. I just hope you're prepared for the consequences of your actions."
Her smirk faltered for a brief moment before she quickly recovered, her eyes narrowing slightly. "We'll see about that," she said coolly before turning and walking away, leaving Rachel and me standing there.
Rachel let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through her hair. "I can't believe her," she muttered, shaking her head. "How could she do this to you?"
I forced a small smile, though it didn't reach my eyes. "It doesn't matter, Rachel. This day is about marrying Remus, and nothing she does will change that."
But as I said the words, I couldn't ignore the heavy feeling in my chest. Elara was trying to sabotage my wedding day, and deep down, I knew this was only the beginning. I just hoped I could hold it together long enough to make it through.
I turned away from the venue, the beautiful flowers I had envisioned now replaced with symbols of bad luck. I had to keep reminding myself that marrying Remus was more important than any of this, but the bitterness lingered as Rachel and I made our way back to my room.
Once inside, I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging inside me. I couldn't let Elara win. Not today.
I pushed off the door and headed to the bathroom for a shower, needing to wash away the anger and hurt. As the warm water cascaded over me, I let the tears I had been holding back finally fall, the sobs wracking my body. But I was set to not to let anyone see the evidence of my breakdown, so I scrubbed my face until there was no trace of my tears left.
I wrapped myself in a towel and sauntered out, feeling the warmth of the water slowly fading from my skin. The moment I opened the bathroom door, I was met with the sight of Aria and Rachel in my room, their faces pale with worry. My heart sank instantly. Something was wrong.
I hesitated, my pulse quickening. I wasn't sure I could handle any more bad news, not today. But I forced myself to speak, my voice trembling. "Wh-what is it? What's wrong?"
Rachel stepped forward, holding the garment bag that contained my wedding dress. My heart skipped a beat, a sense of dread washing over me.
Aria bit her lip, exchanging a nervous glance with Rachel before she spoke. "Rhea...your dress...it's been switched."
For a moment, the words didn't register. "Switched?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.
Rachel unzipped the bag with trembling hands, revealing the gown inside. It was nothing like the dress I had chosen, the one that was supposed to make me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. Instead, what hung before me was a less flattering, ill-fitting gown, plain and unremarkable. It was like a cruel joke, a nightmare I couldn't wake up from.
I felt a lump form in my throat, tears stinging my eyes as I stared at the dress. "No..." The word escaped my lips as a whisper, barely audible. I was devastated, my dream dress replaced with something that made me feel anything but special.
Aria quickly stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Rhea, it's going to be okay," she said softly, her voice filled with reassurance. "We'll make it work. I promise."
Rachel nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with promise. "We can adjust it, make it fit better."
I wanted to believe them, but all I could see was the ruined image of my wedding day. I hated the dress, every inch of it. It wasn't what I had dreamed of, and now I was supposed to wear it on the most important day of my life. I felt the tears I had been holding back start to spill over, and I turned away, not wanting them to see me break down.
At that moment, my mother walked in, her eyes immediately taking in the situation. She asks them what happened and Rachel told her everything. She crossed the room and wrapped me in a warm embrace, holding me tight. "Shh, it's okay, my love," she whispered, her voice soothing. "It's just a dress. It doesn't define your day, or your love for Remus. You are beautiful, and nothing can change that."
Her words, though simple, brought a small sense of comfort. I leaned into her, letting the tears fall freely now. I cried for the dress, for the stress of the day, for everything that had gone wrong. But as my mother held me, and Aria and Rachel stood by my side, I knew I wasn't alone in this. They were with me, helping me through it, and that gave me the strength to face whatever came next.
After a few moments, I pulled back, wiping my eyes. "Okay," I said, my voice steadier. "Let's do this."
Aria smiled, picking up her makeup kit. "Let's make you the most beautiful bride anyone has ever seen," she said, her voice full of encouragement.
Rachel carefully adjusted the dress, pinning and tucking where she could to make it fit better. It still wasn't the gown I had dreamed of, but with each adjustment, it started to look more like something I could wear with pride.
Aria worked her magic with the makeup, transforming my tear-streaked face into something radiant. She knew exactly how to highlight my best features, making me look and feel more confident. My mother stayed close, offering words of comfort and love, reminding me that this day was about more than just the dress.
Finally, when they were done, I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. It wasn't perfect, and it wasn't what I had planned, but it was still me. And with the love and support of my family, I felt ready to face whatever challenges the day would bring.
"I guess this will have to do," I said with a small smile, trying to make light of the situation.
Aria and Rachel exchanged relieved smiles, and my mother squeezed my hand gently. "You look beautiful, Rhea," she said, her voice full of pride. "And no matter what happens today, remember that you're marrying the man that would fight for you in every situation. That's what truly matters."
I nodded, taking a deep breath. It was time to face the day, no matter what twists and turns it might bring. I had my family by my side, and I knew that together, we could get through anything.