EDINBURGH CITY, SCOTLAND...
"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" Kiera asked, her voice tinged with a hint of apprehension.
"Nervous?" Serena scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. "Why would I be nervous about marrying a man I don't love?"
Kiera bit her lip, casting a wary glance at her friend. She had grown accustomed to Serena's abrasive manner, but it still grated on her nerves from time to time.
"I suppose you're right," Kiera murmured, her gaze drifting to the ground.
The cold Scottish wind whipped through Serena Sinclairs' dark hair around her shoulders, as she strode towards the exclusive boutique where her wedding dress awaited.
At twenty-eight, Serena had already made a name for herself in the fashion business world, but her impending wedding was not born of love or desire.
Instead, they were the result of a cold and calculated alliance between two powerful billionaire werewolf families, to strengthen their empires.
Beside Serena was Kiera Johnson, her only closest friend from the countryside who is three years younger. Unlike Serena, Kiera is calm and always tries to do everything to meet Serena's standards.
As they approached the boutique, Serena's steps quickened. Inside, a flurry of activity greeted them as attendants bustled about, preparing for Serena's arrival.
A young woman with doe-like eyes and a nervous smile approached them, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.
"Welcome to La Belle Couture," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "How may I assist you today?"
Serena gave her a withering look, her lip curling in disgust. "I'm here to pick up my wedding dress," she said curtly. "Where is it?"
The attendant's smile faltered, but she quickly recovered. "This way ma'am," she said, leading Serena and Kiera towards the back of the shop where the dresses were kept.
Along the way, Serena's eyes roamed over the racks of gowns with barely concealed contempt.
"I can't believe I have to wear one of these monstrosities," she muttered under her breath.
Kiera shot her a reproachful look, but Serena ignored her gaze, her attention fixed on the wedding dresses in the store.
"So, have you seen Damon recently?" Kiera asked, trying to fill the awkward silence.
Serena scoffed. "Unfortunately, yes. He's as insufferable as ever."
Kiera raised an eyebrow. "You don't seem particularly fond of him at all. Why marry him?"
Serena rolled her eyes. "Fond is an understatement. The man is a walking nightmare. And, stop pulling my legs because you know I had no choice of saying NO to the marriage."
Kiera chuckled. "Well, at least you two have something in common."
"That we do," Serena smirked despite referring to herself.
Finally, they reached a secluded corner of the shop where Serena's dress hung resplendent in the dim light.
The attendant stepped forward, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for the garment. "Here it is, Miss Sinclairs," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Your wedding dress."
Serena's eyes narrowed as she surveyed the dress, her expression unreadable. "It will have to do," she said dismissively, waving a hand in the air. "Let's get this over with."
The attendant nodded and disappeared into the back room, returning moments later with a handful of pins and a measuring tape. Serena stood stiffly as the attendant began to adjust the dress, her mind elsewhere.
The attendant finished her adjustments and stepped back to admire her handiwork. "There we go, Ms. Sinclairs. Your dress is all set for tomorrow."
"Good...You can go." Serena said, and the attendant immediately stepped out.
Kiera moved forward, her eyes wide with admiration as she reached out to touch the delicate fabric. "It's beautiful, Serena," she said softly. "You look stunning in it."
Serena snorted with scorn. "I couldn't care less about looking stunning," she said brusquely. "All that matters is fulfilling my duty to my family."
Kiera's expression fell, her shoulders slumping in defeat. Serena turned this way and that in front of the mirror, looking unsatisfied with the dress.
"Well?" Serena demanded, her voice cutting through the silence.
Kiera hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "It looks... lovely," she said finally, in a low voice.
Serena immediately scoffed, her lip curling in mockery. "Lovely?" she repeated, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Is that the best you can say?"
Kiera's cheeks burned with anger as she struggled to find the right words. "I'm sorry, Serena," she stammered. "I just... I thought..."
"You thought what?" Serena interrupted again, her voice icy. "That I would actually care what you think? Well, I don't."
Kiera flinched, her heart sinking with every word, but remained calm.
As Serena began to disrobe, Kiera turned away, her gaze fixed on the door as she struggled to contain her disappointment with Serena's constant rude behaviour.
Tomorrow, Serena would become the wife of Damon Blackwood, a man as ruthless and unyielding as she was herself.
As much as Kiera wished she could do something to change that, she knew deep down that their fate had been sealed already.
With a dismissive flick of her wrist, Serena picked up her former dress on the nearby chair. She reached for the back of the wedding dress, her movements efficient and devoid of any emotion.
"Help me with this, Kiera," Serena commanded, her tone harsh.
Reluctantly, Kiera turned back towards Serena. She approached cautiously, her fingers trembling slightly as she reached out to assist Serena with the dress.
As Kiera struggled to unfasten the intricate buttons and delicate lace, Serena's impatience grew. She sighed heavily, her eyes flashing with irritation as she glanced at herself in the mirror.
"Hurry up, Kiera," Serena snapped, her voice sharp and commanding. "I haven't got all day."
Kiera's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she redoubled her efforts, her fingers fumbling nervously over the fabric. She could feel Serena's eyes boring into her back, a constant reminder of her inadequacy.
After what felt like an eternity, Kiera finally managed to secure the last button and stepped back.
"You can leave now!" Serena ordered.
Kiera turned away, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She had hoped that their friendship might be enough to bridge the gap between them, but now she knew that such dreams were nothing more than foolish fantasies.
She's just a commoner, a lone wolf from the countryside whilst Serena is an heiress, who has everything under her fingertips.
Kiera had known Serena for almost four years and had stood by her side through thick and thin, but it was moments like these that reminded her just how vast the divide between them truly was.
With a heavy heart, Kiera made her way towards the door, desperate to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the boutique.
Shortly after she left, Serena gathered her composure and left too, her steps brisk as she made her way toward her car.
Her thoughts were a tumultuous whirlwind of resentment and frustration just by thinking about tomorrow's wedding.
When she finally arrived at her parents' mansion, Serena was greeted by the imposing figure of Damon Blackwood, her soon-to-be husband, who was about to leave.
Damon stood tall and imposing in the grand foyer, his expression stoic as he surveyed her with cold indifference.
"Serena," Damon called out, his voice smooth and devoid of emotion. "I trust your errands went smoothly?"
Serena resisted the urge to roll her eyes, her distaste for Damon growing more. "As smoothly as could be expected," she replied curtly, brushing past him without a second glance.
Damon watched her go, his eyes lingering on her retreating form with mild interest. He had never harboured any illusions about their marriage, knowing full well that it was nothing more than a business arrangement between their families.
As far as he was concerned, Serena was nothing more than a means to an end, a pawn in his family's quest for power and influence.
"Hope you're looking forward to tomorrow's wedding?" Damon asked, his tone tinged with sarcasm.
Serena instantly stopped in her tracks, her fists clenched at her sides as she turned to face him. "As if you care," she spat, her words dripping with venom. "We both know this marriage means nothing to us."
Damon raised an eyebrow, his expression indistinct. "You're right," he said evenly. "It means nothing to me. But that doesn't mean I won't enjoy watching you squirm."
Serena's jaw tightened with anger, her nails digging into her palms as she fought to maintain her composure. "You're despicable, Damon," she hissed.
Damon's lips curled into a sardonic smile, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "And yet, here we are," he replied, his voice dripping with condescension. "Bound together by our families' ambitions."
With that, Damon turned and strode away, leaving Serena seething with rage in his wake.
Serena found herself consumed by fury. She would marry a man she neither loved nor respected, condemned to a life of misery and regret. And yet, despite her best efforts to push him away, Damon Blackwood remained an ever-present reminder of her grim reality.
With her heart aching, Serena retreated to her room without going to greet her parents, who were busy preparing for tomorrow's occasion.
As the clock struck 9 pm, Serena lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling with a sense of restlessness gnawing at her insides. Sleep eluded her just with the thoughts of Damon.
With a frustrated sigh, she reached for her phone, dialling Kiera's number in a desperate bid for companionship. But after several rings, it became apparent that Kiera was not going to answer.
"Typical," Serena muttered bitterly, tossing her phone aside with a huff.
Frustration simmered beneath the surface as Serena's anger grew, fueled by the overwhelming sense of isolation that threatened to consume her.
With a sudden surge of defiance, she threw back the covers and slipped out of bed, determined to escape the suffocating confines of her parents' mansion.
Quietly, Serena made her way downstairs, careful to avoid any prying eyes as she slipped out the back door and into the cool night air.
It didn't take long for Serena to find herself standing outside one of the city's most exclusive clubs, the pounding bass reverberating through the walls as she made her way inside.
The low light interior was a stark contrast to the chaos of the outside world, everywhere filled with the scent of alcohol and sweat.
Without hesitation, Serena made her way to the bar, ordering drink after drink to drown out the cacophony of thoughts swirling in her mind.
The alcohol burned hot as it slid down her throat, numbing the pain of her reality even if only for a moment.
As the night wore on and the alcohol flowed freely, Serena found herself sinking deeper into despair.
It was amid this drunken haze that she caught sight of two figures entwined in a passionate kiss across the room.
Her vision swam as she stumbled closer, her heart pounding in her chest as she realized who the figures were.
"Damon?" Serena slurred, her voice thick with disbelief. "Kiera?"
The two immediately pulled apart with a startle, their expressions mirroring Serena's shock as they turned to face her...
Damon's face was a mask of cool indifference, his eyes gleaming nonchalantly as he took in Serena's dishevelled appearance.
"Serena," Damon uttered, his voice filled with faux concern. "What are you doing here?"
Serena's eyes flickered between Damon and Kiera, her heart pounding in her chest as she struggled to make sense of what she was seeing.
"What... what are you doing here?" she demanded, her voice trembling with anger and hurt.
Kiera's eyes widened with guilt as she took a step back, her hands trembling at her sides. "Serena, I..." she began, her voice trailing off into silence.
"Shut it, Kiera!" Serena abruptly cuts in. With a bitter laugh, she turned and stumbled away.
She didn't bother looking back as she pushed her way through the crowded club, desperate to escape those two betrayals.
She had known deep down that her marriage to Damon was nothing more than a charade, but to see him in the arms of her best friend was a betrayal she could never have imagined. Not even Kiera.
As Serena made her way home, her steps slow and unsteady, she couldn't help but wonder what might have been if she had never agreed to this marriage.
But, she knew that such thoughts were nothing more than wishful thinking, destined to remain forever out of reach.
Immediately she stepped back into her room, tossed herself onto the bed and whispered gently.
"There's no way I will lose to Kiera of all people. Even if I don't love Damon, I'm getting married to him!"