On the day of the wedding, Lucian donned a black tailored tuxedo, his mask firmly in place to conceal his face. The mafia wedding theme was black, and everyone was dressed accordingly. Emerald, the bride, stunned in a long black quince dress, her hair styled in a slightly messy bun that accentuated her beauty.
As Lucian waited at the altar, he grew restless, his senses on high alert. Suddenly, he caught a whiff of an intoxicating scent that made his wolf sit up and take notice. The aroma was a heady combination of honey, earth, roses, and rain, and it seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment. Lucian's wolf growled with interest, eager to identify the source of the scent.
As Emerald entered the hall, the scent became stronger still, and Lucian's wolf screamed "mate". Lucian scanned the hall in shock, his eyes locking onto Emerald's bright gray eyes, which had lost all radiance. He was taken aback, realizing that his mate.
As Emerald approached Lucian, she felt an inexplicable attraction to him. "You look stunning, Emerald," Lucian said, his voice low and husky. "I'm glad you like the dress," Emerald replied, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks.
After the ceremony, Damien and Felicia congratulated Emerald on her wedding. "We're so proud of you, dear," Felicia said, tears in her eyes. "You deserve all the happiness in the world."
But amidst the celebration, Sarah's gaze lingered on Emerald, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized her. "What's your secret, Emerald?" Sarah asked, her voice laced with venom. "What do you have that I don't?"
Emerald felt a shiver run down her spine as Sarah approached Lucian. "Congratulations, Lucian!" Sarah exclaimed, her voice high-pitched and overly enthusiastic. "You've finally found the perfect wife!"
Lucian's expression remained stoic, but Emerald detected a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. "Thanks, Sarah," Lucian said curtly. "I think."
Sarah's gaze locked onto Emerald's, her eyes flashing with jealousy. "I'm so happy for you both," Sarah said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm sure you'll be blissfully happy together."
Emerald forced a smile, feeling uneasy about Sarah's behavior. "Thanks, Sarah," Emerald said, trying to sound gracious. "That means a lot coming from you."
But Sarah's words were laced with malice, and Emerald knew that she had to be careful around her. Little did she know, Sarah's true intentions were far more sinister than she could have ever imagined.
Emerald's beauty and innocence only accentuated Sarah's feelings of inadequacy. Sarah had always felt like she lived in Emerald's shadow, and it was a constant source of frustration for her.
"Why did he have to marry her?" Sarah asked herself, her voice laced with venom. "She's so...perfect. And now he's taking me out for sightseeing on their wedding night? It's just not fair."
As they walked through the city, Sarah couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. She had loved Lucian for as long as she could remember, but he had never seemed to notice her in that way. Instead, he had always treated her like a close friend and confidante.
"Lucian, can I ask you something?" Sarah said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course, Sarah. What's on your mind?" Lucian replied, his eyes scanning the horizon.
"Why did you marry Emerald? You know I've always been here for you, and I've always loved you. Why did you choose her over me?"
Lucian sighed, his expression softening. "Sarah, I care about you deeply, but I couldn't marry you. You're like a sister to me. And Emerald...she's different. She's special."
Sarah felt a stinging sensation in her eyes as tears began to form. "Special? What's so special about her?"
Lucian hesitated, his eyes darting around nervously. "It's just...she's the one I'm meant to be with. I know it sounds crazy, but I feel it in my bones."
Sarah nodded, trying to understand. But as they continued their walk, she couldn't shake off the feeling of rejection and heartache.
Meanwhile, Emerald waited patiently for Lucian to return home. She had tried to stay awake, but her eyelids had grown heavy, and she had eventually fallen asleep on the sofa in the sitting room.
As she slept, Emerald's mind wandered to her parents and the pain they had caused Lucian's family. She thought about how much she wanted to make things right between their families and how much she wanted to be with Lucian.
"Lucian, I love you," Emerald whispered in her sleep, her voice barely audible. "I want to make things right between us. I want to be with you forever."
Emerald lay on the sofa, her mind racing with thoughts of her future. How would her life change now that she was married? Would she ever find happiness again?
Just as she was starting to drift off to sleep, she heard the sound of the front door opening. Lucian had returned home, and he was accompanied by Sarah.
Emerald's heart sank as she watched Lucian walk straight up to his room without even checking in on her. She felt a pang of rejection and hurt.
Meanwhile, Sarah went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. But as she was walking back, she "accidentally" dumped the entire glass on Emerald's sleeping form.
"Oh dear, I'm so clumsy!" Sarah exclaimed, pretending to be apologetic. "I'm so sorry, Emerald!"
Emerald woke up with a start, feeling the cold water seep into her clothes and hair. She sat up, looking at Sarah in disbelief.
"Was that really an accident?" Emerald asked, her voice laced with suspicion.
Sarah just giggled and continued to pretend like she had made a genuine mistake. But Emerald knew better. She knew that Sarah was trying to hurt her, and she was determined to stay vigilant.
Sarah offered to help Emerald clean up the water, her voice dripping with false sincerity. "Oh, Emerald, I'm so sorry about that! Let me help you clean up, I feel terrible." Emerald hesitated for a moment, unsure if she wanted Sarah's help. But with Lucian still striding up the stairs, she didn't have much choice. She nodded reluctantly, and Sarah began to help her clean up the water.
As they cleaned, Sarah continued to apologize incessantly, her voice grating on Emerald's nerves. "I'm so sorry, Emerald! I feel awful! Please forgive me!" Sarah begged, her eyes wide with fake remorse.
Emerald didn't respond, her silence a clear indication that she wasn't buying Sarah's act. But Sarah didn't seem to notice, or maybe she just didn't care. She continued to prattle on, her apologies becoming more and more exaggerated.
"I'm the worst, Emerald! I'm such a clumsy idiot! I don't know what I'd do if I hurt you!" Sarah wailed, her hands fluttering around Emerald's face.
Emerald rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. She knew Sarah was trying to act all her, but she didn't know why. Was Sarah trying to distract her from something? Or was she just trying to make Emerald look bad in Lucian's presence?
Whatever Sarah's motives were, Emerald wasn't having it. She pushed Sarah's hands away and stood up, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "Just stop, Sarah! Okay!? Just stop!"
Just as Emerald was starting to feel anxious, Lucian's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking between Emerald and Sarah, then he smirked and walked back into his room, shuting his door, leaving her alone with Sarah. And that's when things took a dark turn.
Sarah's face twisted in a snarl as she pulled Emerald's hair, her grip like a vice. "Stay away from Lucian," Sarah hissed, her eyes blazing with jealousy. "Else I'll rip your throat out."
Emerald tried to struggle, but Sarah's grip was too strong. She couldn't do anything but stand there, tears burning her eyes as she tried to pry Sarah's fingers loose from her hair.
"Let me go," Emerald whispered, her voice shaking with fear.
But Sarah just laughed, her eyes glinting with malice. "You think you can take Lucian away fro
m me? I don't think so."
As Sarah's grip tightened, Emerald felt a surge of panic.