Chapter 29
CHAPTER
TWENTY-NINE
Violet
I whisper the words: “Today’s the day.”
It’s my mating ceremony today.
No matter how many times I say it, the whole thing still doesn’t feel real.
Mom hasn’t stopped fussing with all the RSVPs that have poured in. I don’t even know who half the people are. I would have just liked something small, my family, Stephan and his family…
But he’s famous, and he’s the nephew of the Monarch, something I try not to think about. Secret nephew, because as far as I know, other than his aunt Pen and Heath no one else knows.
“O.M.G.! It’s your mating ceremony. Why aren’t you dancing or throwing up, or?—”
“Rue!” My mom admonishes her. Then she looks at me with a smile as she steps into the room. “I’ve been so busy working with Penrith to get everything just right that I fear I’ve neglected you.”
She hovers, and Rue suddenly looks as horrified as I feel.
“Mom, I don’t need the Alpha–Omega talk.”
Her cheeks start to turn pink. “I just wanted to check on you.”
There’s shouting and laughter from downstairs. The doorbell rings.
“I’m good, Mom.”
It’s a lie. I’m falling apart. Nerves leap, and I think I’m going to faint every five seconds. But I smile brightly for her.
“Your brother and Mr. Ashford should be back by now…” She gets up as the door rings yet again. “Is anyone going to get the door?” She hurries downstairs.
“It’s, like, seven a.m. Do you think they gambled and went to Emporia and found some high class?—”
“Stop watching old films, Rue.”
I’m worried Stephan’s decided he can’t mate with me. Or Heath’s gone and murdered him.
Both are equally possible.
“Did you see today’s Stitch from the QB? She’s running a poll to see if people think Asher’s run off and is going to leave you disgraced, jilted at the altar.”
“Give me that phone.” Iris stomps in and snatches the phone from Rue.
Rue tries to grab it, but Iris holds it above her head. “Iris!”
“No. Go do something. Go help Mom, or set out everyone’s outfits, including Mom’s. It’s going to come down to a screaming fight at the last second, so stay off your phone and help out.” Iris pins our little sister with a dark glare.
“But Mari and Dahlia are already at the cathedral.” Rue looks to me for help, but I’m a mess and I can’t spare the strength to intervene.
“Doing their part. Dahlia’s organizing the music, and Mari’s setting things up.” Iris motions to the door. “Phone later.”
When Rue goes, Iris chucks the phone onto the bed and grabs my hands. “Icy. Try not to be so nervous.”
“Do you have any idea when Heath will be back? He hasn’t even been answering Mom’s calls,” I ask softly. “What if everyone on social media is right?”
“About Stephan?” She laughs. “I was there when he almost broke through the door to get to you when you were in heat. And when he wouldn’t leave your side after you were done and resting. That last part means something to me more than the first. But they’re both important, Vi. Are you happy?”
Why does everyone keep asking me that?
“Yes.” I look at Iris. All the things I haven’t said press at me, but I keep them locked in. “Terrified.”
“He paid for the dress.”
“They’re going to judge me. It’s cream-colored.”
“Just a shade of white, Vi. And it’s satin and simple and so you . I’m not girly, but that was a fun shop.”
The dress was made for me, and Penrith had the best designers and seamstresses flown in to meet us at a local dress shop .
Iris laughs again and squeezes my hands. “We went on that shopping trip, and the looks on those other Omegas faces… Delish. I could eat off that memory, especially that little witch Alicia. She wore a sour expression all day.”
“I think…” I swallow. “I think Stephan knows her, somehow.”
Her lips press together. “In the past, right?”
I nod.
“Then my words stand.”
The front door slams, and Rue shrieks. “Heath!”
My sister turns to me. “Time to start getting ready.”
The day has a whimsical quality. Or maybe it’s just me, hyperaware of everything and unable to concentrate on anything.
I almost start hyperventilating when I peek out the window of the limo. There are so many people heading into the cathedral.
“The lookie-loos,” Iris says, squeezing my hand. “They want a glimpse of your dress.”
Heath leans forward. “You’re doing fine, Vi.”
“I might throw up.”
“Save it,” he says. “Throw up on Stephan.”
“Heath!” Iris glares.
My brother grins. “It’d make my day.”
“No one is throwing up.”
The limo pulls up and my other sisters are there waiting, Rue with my bouquet of wildflowers. Mom wanted roses, but the wildflowers were something I stood firm on.
Hothouse roses, fresh roses clipped from a gorgeous rose garden, it doesn’t matter where—not for me. I wanted something softer, less lofty. So Iris, Penrith, Mom, and I ended up with flowers that included the namesakes of my sisters and Mom.
Heath gets out of the car first, and then Iris, and finally me. The sun’s too warm as it hits me, and my toes are like ice in my shoes. But Iris smiles, adjusts the beyond-pretty veil she made for me, and then Rue runs up with my flowers.
The music starts, and the girls go in, my beautiful sisters.
How perfect this day would be if Stephan loved me, was falling for me the way I’m falling for him.
“Vi…”
I turn and look at my brother, who’s frowning thoughtfully.
“I know Dad should be the one walking you down the aisle, and really, you shouldn’t be in this position?—”
“No—”
“Hush, Vi, my turn. You always want to put others first and do the right thing for us. But for what it’s worth, for my…skepticism on this union, Ashford cares. He’ll look after you.”
“And the family.”
Heath glances away. “Not what I meant.”
“I know he’s good,” I say. “But?—”
“I love you, Vi. You deserve happiness. I hope…I hope you both find it. ”
“I love you, too. And…” I suck in a breath. I want to say I love Stephan, but I can’t. “It’s going to be a good match.”
A good match.
He doesn’t say Stephan told me he’s madly in love with you . He doesn’t say Vi, Stephan’s falling for you. He just looks at me in that Heath way, like he’s reorganizing a list, like he’s trying to make room for me if I stumble and break my own heart.
But I won’t.
I need to put him at ease.
“I’m going into this with open eyes.”
I expect him to breathe out in relief, to offer me platitudes or even warnings.
He doesn’t.
All Heath does is smile and hold out his arm.
One foot in front of the other. I grip my brother’s arm so tight, and I almost crush the wrapped stems in the bouquet.
The cathedral is huge. I feel swallowed by it, and yet in a way it also feels so small that I can’t escape.
I don’t look up until Heath transfers me to Stephan to take his place at his side.
The sight of Stephan lifts me high in the sky and then slams me back to earth. My stomach flips, and my vision hazes over. I’m overcome by something so enormous that I step back.
I’m going to run.