Because of the heavy dose of the suppressant, Gabriel woke up late in the morning. He sat up and rested his head on the headboard of the bed while keeping his eyes closed. His Adam apple bobbed up and down as he felt parched.
Leaning toward the bedside table, he grabbed the water jar and poured a glass of water for himself.
He drank the water before picking the phone from the table. "How much did I sleep?" Gabriel muttered and called Alie. However, the call wasn’t answered.
"She must be busy." Gabriel let the phone rest on the mattress and got down. He headed to the washroom and freshen up. After taking a refreshing bath, he entered the room wearing his bathrobe only to find Albus there.
"Good morning, my lord. Your attire is ready. Please dress and co downstairs. The Alpha King and Luna Queen are eagerly awaiting your presence," Albus said with a courteous bow, his gaze lowered and a subtle smile playing on his lips.
Gabriel’s eyes drifted to the royal outfit laid out for him. Albus took a few steps back before silently exiting the room, closing the door behind him.
After drying his hair, Gabriel quickly changed into the formal ensemble. He adjusted the collar, slipped on his polished black shoes, and neatly styled his hair in front of the mirror. Once finished, he gave his hands a final rinse and made his way downstairs.
His eyes slightly grew big in surprise seeing his entire family there. His siblings had returned from the hotel, sitting with their parents in the spacious living room.
"Wow! Brother looks so handso in the royal outfit!" Katelyn imdiately rose to her feet as she joined her hands together in admiration. She was quick to click the picture of Gabriel, who glared at her.
"At least, smile today! I am going send the picture to Alie," Katelyn said.
Promptly, a smile appeared on Gabriel’s face and he gave out a nice pose too. Katelyn captured the picture, ready to send it to Alie.
"Don’t send it," Mabel said.
"What? Why, Mom?" Katelyn complained, her thumb hovering over the ’send’ button.
Gabriel, on the other hand, looked at his mother in disbelief. However, her next gesture touched him when she approached him with a brooch in her hands.
"This brooch belonged to your father. He wore it the day we were mated. It was a gift from your grandmother," Mabel said as she gently pinned the antique gold piece with vibrant stones onto Gabriel’s navy-blue overcoat.
Casaio and Dominick exchanged glances with each other while Raidan smiled seeing the mother-son duo.
Mabel took a step back and continued, "Have your breakfast. Your father and I will leave first. Katelyn will co with us."
"Sure, Mom," Katelyn said enthusiastically. She clicked Gabriel’s picture and sent it to Alie’s number.
’Look at your handso mate. Isn’t my brother radiating too much?’ She typed the ssage and sent it.
Seated in front of the mirror, Alie was adjusting her earrings when the ping of her phone caught her attention.
She glanced at the screen and saw a ssage from Katelyn.
Tapping it open, her lips curved into a soft smile as Gabriel’s photo filled the screen. He was dressed in his royal outfit, looking every bit the noble prince, and yet, it was the gentle smile he wore that made Alie’s heart flutter wildly in her chest.
Across the room, Flora sat quietly on a chair, her hands folded in her lap. She had been watching Alie through the reflection, noticing the subtle shift in her expression, the kind of smile that only appeared when soone was lost in a special thought. She wanted to ask, to start a conversation, but hesitation held her tongue.
A second ssage popped up from Katelyn:
’We’re on our way to the venue.’
Alie replied briefly, then set the phone aside on the table.
"What were you smiling at?" Flora asked finally.
Alie turned her head slightly so their eyes could et.
"Never mind, if you don’t want to tell ," Flora murmured, averting her gaze.
"They’re on their way here," Alie replied gently.
"I see," Flora said.
Before either could say more, a knock sounded at the door, followed by a bright, cheerful voice.
"Your wedding dress is here, Miss Alie!"
The assistant entered the room, gently pushing a rolling stand on which Alie’s wedding gown hung in all its elegance. The soft rustle of the fabric and the shimr of embellishnts under the light imdiately drew Alie’s attention.
Her face lit up with excitent as she admired the dress through the mirror. At that mont, the hairstylist secured the final pin and stepped back, giving a satisfied nod. "All done, Miss. You can stand now."
Alie rose without wasting another second, to check the gown. From across the room, she admired it. Though she had checked it once on herself, but looking at it now was a feeling that wasn’t easy to explain in the words. felt like the beginning of a beautiful dream.
"You may change into it now," the assistant said warmly, gesturing toward the dressing area.
As Alie walked toward the gown, Flora remained standing in silence. Her gaze lingered on the dress, but her mind wandered elsewhere.
The sight of the bridal gown pulled her back to a mory, which didn’t even have faded yet. Her own wedding dress, the one she had once worn with so much joy.
But that mory had beco the worst nightmare of her life.
The vivid flashes of that cruel evening surfaced, how she had been dragged out of the aisle, and how her dignity shattered in front of everyone.
The pain hadn’t dulled over ti. In fact, standing in this room, watching her sister live the mont she had once dread of, made it ache more. But it wasn’t envy.
It was grief... and guilt too.
’It was my fault from the very beginning,’ Flora thought, her eyes still fixed on Alie. ’I chose the wrong man. I betrayed not only my sister, but myself too. I was desperate to have Alex, who was once the pack’s alpha. And I paid the price.’
She exhaled slowly, trying to push down the rising ache.
Alie noticed the sadness in Flora’s eyes before the assistant drew the curtains closed around her.
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