Masks and Wedding Dresses

Scarlett’s POV:

Lucian's question about the ring hung in the air between us. I stared at him, mind racing for an explanation that wouldn't reveal how much I knew.

"Scarlett?" His voice grew worried at my silence. "Talk to me, my love."

I lowered my eyes, letting him draw his own conclusions. It worked.

"It's because Lily's back, isn't it?" He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "You're feeling insecure."

"If only you knew what I saw in those woods," I thought bitterly.

"I understand she's from a noble bloodline," I said softly. "It's natural for people to compare us."

"There's nothing to compare." He pulled me into his arms. The same arms that had held Lily just hours ago. "You're my Luna.And she's just past tense, five years ago that is."

The next morning, he arrived at breakfast looking triumphant. A familiar box sat beside my plate.

"Open it," he urged, eyes bright with pride.

Inside lay the Heart of the Storm ring, its enchanted moonstone gleaming.

"I couldn't let anyone else have it," he explained, lifting it from the box. "Paid ten million over the asking price to make sure of it."

He took my hand, sliding the ring back onto my finger. Immediately, I felt its healing magic pulse through my veins, fighting against the curse's darkness.

"There," he said softly. "Where it belongs. You need this ring, my love. It keeps you strong."

I stared at the ring, remembering how he'd commissioned it specially, working with the most powerful shamans to infuse it with protective magic.

"I've been thinking," he continued, pulling me closer. "Scarlett, I thought about it all night last night, I owe you so much.We never had a proper wedding ceremony. I was just becoming Alpha then, the pack was unstable..."

I tensed in his embrace, the memory of him with Lily still fresh in my mind.

"You deserved better than a quick mating ritual," he said, misinterpreting my reaction. "Let me give you the ceremony you should have had. We'll go try on wedding dresses today."

The exclusive bridal boutique catered only to high-ranking pack members. The owner herself greeted us, bowing deeply.

"Luna Scarlett! Alpha Lucian! What an honor!"

"My mate deserves the finest," Lucian declared. "Show us everything."

Dress after dress was brought out. Silks, laces, enchanted fabrics that shimmed like moonlight. Each one more beautiful than the last.

But they all shared the same fatal flaw.

"Perhaps something with a higher back?" I suggested, trying to keep my voice steady as another backless gown revealed my scar.

The huge mark stretched from my shoulder to my hip, twisted and dark - a permanent reminder of the source of the pain I now suffered.

That day, after I had pounced on Lucian and deflected the fatal blow for him with my back, the cursed silver dagger plunged into my chest, but ShadowPack's Alpha didn't stop there, as he scratched more wounds into my back, forming a gruesome pattern.

"Poor little omega, since you're so heartbroken about this man, it's up to you to take the pain for him. "

That day, my blood stained the floor of my cell.

I remembered the old days and looked in the mirror.

"Is nothing suitable?" the attendant asked nervously after the tenth dress.

I caught my reflection - the gown was stunning from the front, a masterpiece of white silk and silver threading. But the open back displayed every inch of ruined flesh.

"The scar...It's ugly, isn't it?" I whispered, fingers tracing it through the fabric.

"Of course not. My brave Luna," Lucian murmured, appearing behind me. His arms wrapped around my waist."This is the wound you suffered for me, a beautiful medal, a pain I will never forget."

His scent surrounds me, and every pore on my body is screaming to push him away, but I couldn't. Not if I wanted to maintain this facade until my plan was complete.

"We'll have one custom made," he declared. "Price is no object. The most expensive, the most beautiful - worthy of my perfect mate."

His phone buzzed. I glimpsed Lily's name on the screen before he quickly turned it face-down.

"You're too good to me," I said softly, the lies burning my throat. "Lucian, I love you so much."

He kissed my temple, and I forced myself to lean into it. "Anything for you, my love."

We then selected the custom-made style of the wedding dress - fully covered at the back, made of moonlight satin, with a diamond-inlaid pattern of the moon on it. Lucien said this represents that I am his eternal Luna.

Looking at Lucian's serious and tender eyes as he said those words should have been the happiest moment of our lives, but at this point I just felt the irony of being so divided by the man in front of me. I didn't understand how he could sleep with Lily while being so tender and caring to me. Tears of heartbreak involuntarily welled up in my eyes.

Looking at my tears, Lucien's hands were busy getting tissues for me to wipe my tears, while gently holding my shoulders and comforting me by saying that he wasn't going to go to the office today, and that he was going to stay with me for the whole day.

I wiped away my tears, "It's okay Lucian, I just feel so happy. "I looked at him tenderly, knowing in my heart that he couldn't be with me all day.

Sure enough, his cell phone rang twice more while we waited for Tommy, the driver, to pick it up. "That's okay, Lucian dear, if something's wrong, you go ahead and get busy." I knew who it was, but I kept up my thoughtful and gentle image and looked at him with understanding eyes.

"Scarlett..." He hesitated, guilt flickering across his face. "There's an emergency at the pack hall. I need to handle it."

"Of course." I smiled encouragingly, playing my part perfectly. "Go. I can get home myself."

Precisely at that moment, the driver Tommy arrived, and Lucian looked apologetically at me, "I've asked Tommy to take you home."

"No need, I can go back by myself. "I waved my hand.

"No, your body is not yet fully recovered, let him take you back, I will feel more at ease."

Lucien's concerned gaze, and the person in the forest yesterday, seemed to be two different people.

I compromised, "Okay, I'll go back then. " After that I was ready to get in the car.

He quickly kissed me, then helped me open and close the car door like a gentleman. As we waved goodbye and he became smaller in the rearview mirror, I calmly told Tommy, "Turn around at the intersection from that road, I need to go to Pack Hall."

"But Luna, Alpha told me to take you home." From the rearview mirror, I saw Tommy's puzzled gaze.

"Alpha asked me to help him deliver a file." I lied casually.

My reasons were impeccable, and Tommy had no choice but to listen to me. He turned around in front and headed back, and I had him stop by the side of the road at Pack Hall.

Sure enough, five minutes later, I saw Lily's figure. She was wearing a deep V-neck red dress and swaying her hips as she walked through the big door.